Radioactive Lantern Mantles

That's fascinating I thought as I was slogging through the world wide web earlier today. I happened upon an article on The Straight Dope website that explained how lantern mantles used to contain the radioactive material thorium oxide. It's an incandescent material that greatly increases the light output of the lantern when it's heated in the flame. At least until the early 90s Coleman used thorium in their mantles until replacing it with non-radioactive yttrium.
Seems thorium's radioactivity is mostly emitted as alpha particles which we all know don't travel too far from home. But it does explain Uncle Willard's problem with his right testacle which shriveled up like a raisin back in the 70s. Seems back in Willard's woodsman days he used to carry spare mantles in the watch pocket of his Levis.
Also explains why Cousin Cole has six fingers on his left hand.
Man can he play the banjo.

eBay Hot Sale - Late December

Hottest eBay sale of a 200A in the second half of December was a very sweet like-new 1966 model in a like-new clamshell case. Closed at a healthy $338.00 on 12/17. Woo-Hoo for somebody.
There's nothing particularly scarce or more desirable about a '66, this sold high based mostly on the wonderful condition. Also credit the seller with the 19 different photos of the lantern from every angle.

Sunshine Logo

Mark's looking for a Sunshine Logo that he can use to mark lanterns that he has rebuilt and customized. That's excellent thinking on his part. There's no good reason to be deceiving future collectors as to the nature of their shiny new finds.

To grab this logo, just right click it with your mouse and select the "Save To" command.

And Mark, we really want to see some pics of those restored 200A's!

Like A Coleman Candyshop

Shinzo Kono has quite a lantern collection. If you're ever in Chiba Japan just stop by the house and take a look see. Of course, Japan is a bit out of the way. That's why we commend Kono for taking the trouble of posting pics of all his lanterns. Seriously, its a wonderful resource with a page of 200A's showing the progression of design through the years. Check it out: Shinzo Kono's Gasoline / Kerosene Pressure Lamps & Lanterns.

Sunshine of the Night

Been working on a new Sunshine of the Night logo, something we can export over to CafePress and put on t-shirts and coffee mugs and clocks and skimpy ladies lingerie and mud flaps and other assorted campsite necessities. You might think that women's skivvies are not needed at any man's camp...but that's only because you've never seen Big Red's "Nailed that Sumbitch with a Single Shot" Victory Dance.
This design is born of the original Coleman "Sunshine of the Night" logo...that featured the sun pictograph with an underlined Coleman in block letters. The slogan "Sunshine of the Night" was then in smaller letters below that...always seemed like a throwaway to me. I've brought it up to a place of prominence and just left the Coleman off...this in deference to something called TM. No, not Tomato Mama.
On vacation starting tomorrow. Going to be driving around Oregon and Idaho and Montana. I've got this idea that if I get deep enough into the Nez Perce Forest, and look up at just the right branch on just the right tree, I'll find a real sweet old Forest Service lantern that my Uncle Milam left hanging in 1936.

1960s Parts List for 200A

Man, don't you hate it when you're tinkering on a 200A and you ask your wife to hand you a 6631 and she hands you a 6361. Sheesh, what's up with that?

Don't come crying to us. If I remember correctly, on your wedding day the suggestion was made to just go deer hunting instead.

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Like Moths To A Flame

In the back woods of Arkansas, Mr. Stewart's wife went into labor in the middle of the night, and the doctor was called out to assist in the delivery.
To keep the nervous father-to-be busy, the doctor handed him a 200A and said, "Here, you hold this high so I can see what I'm doing." Soon, a little baby boy was brought into the world.
"Whoa there buddy!" said the doctor. "Don't be in a rush to put that Coleman down... I think there's yet another one to come." Sure enough, within minutes he had delivered another little baby.
"No, no, don't be in a great hurry to be putting down that Little Red Lantern, young man... It seems there's yet another one besides!" cried the doctor.
The new father scratched his head in bewilderment, and asked the doctor. "Do you think maybe it's the light that's attractin' them?"

A Good Bath Never Hurt Anybody

When I get a new (to me) Little Red Lantern, it's usually one that's been sitting out on a garage shelf or hanging in some rafters. Minty-types in hardcases are nice, but not the rule.
First thing I do with my new gem is pour the contents of the fuel tank into my enamel wash basin. I then use that to give the lamp a nice bath. Wash the cobwebs off, remove some grime and soot, and generally make it look presentable. The object is not to make it look brand new...you just want it clean enough that polite people don't cringe if you hand it to them.
Of course there are some safety precautions to follow...you should probably wear gloves (I usually don't)...you should wear safety goggles (I usually don't)...and you should not smoke cigars during the process (I usually don't).
And seriously, hang the rag and let the gas evaporate from it and the basin. Don't just pour it out on the ground. Damn hillbilly.

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Gee Dad, I Slept Great

I think this ad from 1970 illustrates the truly amazing power of the 200A lantern.

It's plain in this ad that if you're out camping and you keep a 200A blazing a foot away from your face all night, then you can sleep like a baby on a field of glacial drift.

Kids were tougher in 1970.

A Site Well Worth Visiting

Terrence Marsh has built quite a wonderful website...Gas Pressure Lanterns, Lamps, Stoves and Irons. Over 1,000 images of antique lanterns and such...including about 100 old Colemans. Be sure and bookmark it as you'll want to revisit often to help ID your old lanterns.

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How Does It Go In?

As Big Red demonstrates in this 1960s company literature, the proper way to place a 200A in it's cardboard box is top-first...upside-down. Preferably on a cushion of foam rubber or crumpled newspaper.
This will take some of the strain off the mantle and extend its life.
And of course, when it gets to Japan it will be right-side-up.

The Coleman 200A

The Coleman Company has been making lanterns for a 100 years, but my favorite, the 200A, wasn't produced until 1952. It stayed in production until 1983. The basic design remained the same through the years...a red tank with a red ventilator, pyrex globe on an aluminum base.
Here's my 1953 model (4/1953). It's minus the globe and bail but still pretty decent shape. Notice in early '53 the globe base was black metal.

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Little Red #1

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