Crusty Coleman Lantern rundown also some encouragement and advice to newer collectors. 

I recently got into these & I'm also a VW bus guy. I only own 3 lanterns (Coleman 220J, Blue/black big hat Sears, "Avocado" green Sears) but definitely see more in my future. The thing I learned with my bus & lanterns is that they have a story and if it's beat & rusty it's probably been through some stuff which gives it character. I'd rather have a beat up, rusted out lantern that was used than something that's pristine, never fired and just sits on a shelf. When I buy stuff, I use it & have fun with it. I bought a Coleman 502 stove from 66' that was never fired and literally brand new in the box with all the paper work. The previous owner kept it as a show piece. Within a few minutes of me getting it, I fired it up and cooked dinner on it. haha

Yes nice collection of old Coleman naptha pressure lanterns there! Yes fall of last year & got into collecting lanterns of various shapes & sizes, even a few Adlake lanterns! Even got parts to get a few going & a new lantern from W.T. Kirkman lanterns! 🙂🙂 Yup subscribed to your channel!👍👍

Couldn’t agree more, I’m not really into the Coleman’s because there are not very many available where I am (Ireland) mostly Tilleys, bialaddin, and the hurricane oil lamps. But I love the ones with a bit of character and especially the ones that have had some mods or fixed up. I got a fuerhand atom if you are familiar with this lamp but it’s tiny. When I looked in the font there was a wick about 2ft long and dirty. I cleaned the wick and it turned out to be a boot lace. As the lamp is from around the Second World War period I can only presume that some soldier cursed when he broke his boot lace but then decided to repurpose it as a wick. How cool is that ! Thanks for the vid. Keep em lit.

Nice all around and informative video Blake! It took me a few years to finally appreciate those lanterns and stoves that have earned their history. Hopefully alot of the newer collectors take your advice. You did a fantastic job with hosting our last gathering! You’re a great ambassador to our hobby in my opinion. I’m looking forward to future videos my friend and have a blessed day.

What a great video. I always was torn between functional and beautiful. After watching this video I am definitely going the way of functionality over beautiful. My favorite lantern is a 1949 242C that I pulled out of a dumpster. I got around to cleaning it after watching videos and that really lights up the back yard! Thanks again for the stories behind the lanterns and the names. I now am going to name my lanterns, even though I have 6 right now.

What an awesome video! They call that patina, and for some folks it’s like a fine wine. I love it.

I’ve got an idea for a deal I’m going to do every few days. Think I’ll call it the “daily light”. Light up a lantern, talk about it a little bit and then have a Bible study/devotional type thing. Not very long. I can mess with my lanterns and will push me to dig into the scripture more. With all I’ve had going on lately I think that will help make me stronger and maybe help someone else.

Thanks for the video Blake. It’s a good message in general. Friendships, the stories, and the history is what this is all about. I have always believed that an original condition anything tells the story and history way better than one that is pristine. The big takeaway for me and something I wished I would have done was not to be so impatient and pay top dollar on eBay. I have a few that either need to sit for a few years or take a loss. Either way no biggie, I learned. My eye has always leaned to the crusty stuff and when that comes from a friend it becomes priceless.

Pretty new to the collecting thing but as I was getting ready to go to camp and went to pick out a lantern to take along. looking over some pretty nice almost new lanterns and what did I pick an old 288A that I got for a few bucks with a homemade reflector and bad paint job (vent and all) that I got from an older retired gentelman (I'm 71 so I mean old..lol) that was parting with some gear. It was his favorite fishing lantern. I think it needs to go back out again....lol Guaranteed it will never be altered..

Really dig the shed full. I feel the same. I like to take the oldies and just clean them up and make them live again with the grandson. He's only 2 but he knows how one goes back together belive it or not. He sees my petros,sears,duras,.. and will tell ya "not a Coleman "...

I'm new to the hobby (December 22) and so far I've found some nice stuff but my best runners are a little bit crappy. I've got a 59 220E that cost me $20, its crusty and rusty, the bail is tweaked, the clocking of the tip cleaner/frame etc is all off but it runs so good. That gives it character.

Wonderful video! Speaking of birthday lanterns, Michael Ramsey gave me mine. I like to say it has some rust, it's got some scratches, and a few dings. Just like me. You don't get through this world with out showing a few signs. I wouldn't have it any other way. Hope to see you at the next gathering.

Thanks for the video, and I appreciated your advice. I started collecting when I was probably 14 years old after I found a little 321b in an antique store. I'm 20 now and I have probably 40 lanterns and 8 or so stoves. I have probably six 247s and my favorite 247 is an all seafoam with half the paint missing and a vent that looks like its about to become 2 pieces. My user 236 has a cracked globe, a spun vent stud with a piece of threaded rod welded to it, and a wing nut in place of the vent nut. Sure my shiny ones are nice, but because they're so nice I never want to use them. And that makes them less special in a way because lanterns are supposed to make light, not sit on a shelf.

👍 amen!

Some nice lanterns there!

Good council, keep it fun

I'm looking to maybe collect a few. I'm not too old but I remember these when I was a child when my dad took us camping or if I was a camping with friends. Someone always had a coleman lantern or two lit up by dark . Or if our power went out a coleman lantern was there. They are definitely a cool piece of Americana and history.

Really great advice!

Hey Blake I hear ya Budd lot guys in the groups and forums can be straight jerks I try stay away from them I just love collecting a Coleman Lanterns I’m only in few Facebook groups not sure if we’re in the same ones at all just thought I’d say hey and very nice collection as long as they burn bright that’s all that matters 👍🏻 you gained a new subscriber 🙂

Nice video. I have a few colman stoves and lanterns. One of them has a few good old dings from 63 i run it alot as well as a recent score of a newer 2011 duel fuel lantern.

This is so cool . I am new to collecting and I feel the same might fix a few up but some of the history I would love to hear the history

Sage advice

Great video Blake and killer shack I gave you a subscribe man and hopefully I'll get to meet you someday at an event

Hey Blake , very nice collection . I hear that the Sears lanterns are actually made by a Japanese company not Colmen product . I have a stove and it seems to be a little better build . Yes I love Colmen products and collect them too . Up here in Canada there are not near as much stuff . You guys are lucky .

I've been collecting seriously for about a year. I am a member of a few forums but I find that there are a few people on there who just love to break you down, and then there are the purists who think you should not repaint anything and blast you when you do it. My feelings is that it is MY lantern how does it affect you if I paint MY lantern, if I want to spend however much for a lantern that I want no matter what type it is that's my business and it makes me happy. If I paint my Gold Bond purple, it's MY lantern and MY business not theirs.

My dad just gave me are 275 from our boy scout days.. 1980.. so now I have the bug just got me a 220b from a flea market for ten bucks and sent off to Coleman wait for it to come back

enjoy your videos. Question, what lantern did coleman make wherein the needle cleanout was at a right angle from the valve and was above the pump?

The first step is to admit that you have a problem… then buy more lanterns…

And I can find some crappy ones lol

dont paint it….it will remove it’s character and age