Old Coleman Lanterns, Show and Tell

[@kielbritton5829]

You have to preheat the generators on Milspec lanterns, the larger generator tip is because it was designed to run on regular gasoline. Place a beer cap(or something like that) under the generator with alcohol in it and light. Once the alcohol burns off, crack the valve and light the lantern. Preheating should take care of your flareup issue 👍 great lanterns!

[@OutdoorEnthusist]

I also have a Coleman model 252A Military Spec. lantern, and a couple other Coleman Lanterns. I must admit the Military Spec. lantern is very durable. I barrowed mine from my Army unit in 1979, and have used it since then. I mostly use it on Camping, Hunting, and Fishing trips (3 to 14 day trips). I like this site and really enjoy your videos. BTW; Happy Birthday!

[@WiggysWilderness]

Thank you! I picked up another mil-spec lantern since filming this, lol. The collection has a way of growing.

[@mattberry4457]

i bought a cl2 when they first came out. used it when i took the kids camping and it still works great. love the frosted globe.

[@jeepnicc]

Great video man! Thanks for sharing. It would be great if you had a 252A teardown and rebuild video... Hint hint hint!

[@maineiacacres]

UPDATE: I found my B-Day lantern last Summer (2018). A nice red 200a in good to excellent condition. But you done set me on a very slippery slope Wiggy! Last week I found a 1957 Winchester Model 70 (30-06) and I'm about to pull the trigger on a 57 Model 94 in 30-30. I'm also tracking for a Model 12 pump and a Model 77 in .22 LR. So my birthdays will have Light AND Action!

[@WiggysWilderness]

Great to hear it! I actually sold my model 70 this past summer. The model 12 is a smooth shooter that's hard to beat and you'll not regret the 30-30 or .22 either!

[@markeholbrook]

I just got an unused 1977 armstrong milspec today, and two birthday lanterns 200a and 220e, all from eBay. Fun times, but mine are from 8-58, time sure flies by!. My SMP mil-spec lantern lights very easy, and when it quits being squirrely in a couple minutes and burns steady, it will run a very long time without problems. I had been looking for my birthday lanterns for a long time, no luck, then there were four of them for sale. Mine are very nice, pampered looking lanterns, it's a great day!

[@WiggysWilderness]

+Mark Holbrook Good deal bro! Each lantern has their own personality, that's for sure, lol. Glad you found what you were looking for, it can be difficult sometimes.

[@johnstrunck3659]

You are 100% right about the 252A . I found a 73 model still in the box at a local flea market years ago. Loud and proud the 252A is. I am still looking for a Coleman U.S.F.S. model. Maybe one day. Lol John

[@cheekymonkey444]

I replaced all the internals with a double mantle set up from a 220 lantern. It is a direct swap of parts. I can restore the Mil-Spec if I want to. The only thing is you can't burn anything but camp fuel now. Works beautifully. I take it camping, and other Coleman "experts" don't even notice it's been modified. It has the "quad" globe marked U.S. It is a Coleman 1963 vintage. I have been on the search for my birthday lantern. I have one for my dad, mom, and brother. I've got every month around 9-52 . July, August, October, and November. No September.

[@Danzchannel1]

So cool! I restored one a few years ago, they are special. Happy Birthday to Wiggy.

[@WiggysWilderness]

+Danzchannel Thank you! I don't have a very large collection, maybe five or six in all, but they're all neat in their own way.

[@bobdillashaw4360]

Happy birthday, been trying to find one with my birthday, not easy!

[@WiggysWilderness]

Thanks! Yes, finding a birthday lantern can be hard, that's one reason why they're so special!

[@CalvinsCorner72]

Happy birthday, never heard of the birthday lantern saying. Never heard of a picket fence too. I do have many lanterns. I have a few of the 275 brown "terds" modles. Lol Thanks so much. I just loved the video. Great link.

[@WiggysWilderness]

Thanks, lol. I actually don't have any of the 275's yet. Have you checked out the Coleman Collector's forum? Lots of lantern enthusiasts on there!

[@jamespruitt6718]

Thanks lol. Right after watching this video, I snatched up an unlit Milspec lantern and finally found my "birthday lantern", both on eBay.

[@WiggysWilderness]

Awesome!

[@jamespruitt6718]

Just realized, I'm only a year behind you lol. Pretty cool someone the same age into Coleman's too.

[@jamespruitt6718]

KeeDx3 that would’ve been great. Mine was 10-85. I wound up with a 286, but would’ve rather had an older model.

[@MikeWitmerNatureJournal]

Happy Birthday to you! Great work. Enjoyed this episode. My old single mantle red Coleman (circa 1970s) needs some work. I just discovered it is leaking fuel inside. I am thinking a seal is gone or something is wrong with the generator? Possibly I can rebuild it. So many nice camping memories I hate to give up on it. I have a newer battery powered lantern that works fine but there is something neat about the gas ones.

[@WiggysWilderness]

+Mike's Nature Journal Thank you! You may have to pump some pressure in it and dunk it in water to see exactly where it's leaking. As long as it's not leaking from the fount (fuel tank) it can be fixed. It could just be that something is loose and needs to be tightened up. Sounds like a model 200A lantern.

[@Krankie_V]

I don't even know what Coleman was building in 1992 but now I gotta get a 'birthday lantern' thanks 😂

[@shanek6582]

I’ve been looking for one of those military lanterns for a while on fleabay because I thought they were cool lol, now I’m having second thoughts. Thanks for the video

[@maineiacacres]

I wonder what the odds are of me finding one made in 11/57. lol Cool stuff Wiggy

[@mikexxx11]

They are out there. I managed to pick up a 8-51 200a at a yard sale for $10

[@stacyboots1818]

I found a 200a marked 8 59 in the original box with packing completely full of mud wasp nests in the dump with a 228d nickel tank . what people throw away blows my mind! They will live again!

[@mathiasjohansson3670]

Really cool piece of history in these old lanterns. you didn't joke around when you said it was loud hehe And happy birthday bud.

[@WiggysWilderness]

+Mathias Johansson Thank you! I have no idea why the military would want a lantern like that but they used that model for a very long time, lol.

[@mathiasjohansson3670]

Wiggy's Wilderness Well your friends would know where you're at but so would the enemy hehe. But i guess it served it's purpose, from what i know the US military usually have the best stuff

[@zaprowsdower3911]

Just got a Dietz cold blast lantern. Thinking is getting a Coleman next

[@Krankie_V]

Do you think the milspec lantern would light up better with a larger mantle? It worked wonders on my 200a to stop the big flames.

[@zaprowsdower3911]

You earned a subscriber greatvideos

[@kennethcarter5720]

Happy birthday 👍

[@bitbitten8726]

Thanks I have the 288 with the frosted globe. Bought it at a flea market recently. I went to start it did not burn well and when I cut it off it did not want to cut off. The lightcap flaring up for a couple hours or so until it finally died. Maybe the generator is clogged?

[@Dog.soldier1950]

mil spec lanterns were used prior to the widespread use of generators, in other words the pre computer age. It's all you needed in the time of grease pencil and acetate boards in HQ units and operations centers as well as BAS

[@WiggysWilderness]

+Michael Jackson I never saw any in use when I was enlisted, however my dad said he saw them up until the late 80's being used. Still, the civilian models they had through the majority of the lifespan of the milspec were generally so much better, I can't believe the government never improved the design to be contracted. Then again, the guys I knew in the infantry when I was growing up were still using the old canvas shelter half tents up through the same time period...

[@jamespruitt6718]

I’m not sure if you use Facebook or already a member, but there is a group you may be interested in called Antique and Vintage Coleman Lantern and Stove Collectors. It’s a huge group with a lot of information and pictures of different Coleman and camping related gear in general. A lot of friendly folks on there too.

[@mikecagle984]

Tell me more! I have a vintage 1910 I want to restore and use. [e-mail]

[@michaelwoods9005]

finally got around to ordering a new generator for the mil-spec I've had for a few years. the previous owner tried to pre-heat it with a propane torch and it burst. i hope I'm able to get it running.

[@WiggysWilderness]

+michael Woods A milspec was the first lantern I ever worked on. They're usually ok to get running.

[@awh5773]

was wondering if the peerless mantles make the small 288 as bright as the 220/228 with peerless mantles. i havent tried it yet , im sure it dose but just figured i would ask i go fishing around the local ponds here where i live so there are lights around so i just use the coleman mantles in my 288. but if i go to the lake i use my 220/228 with peerless. just a question thanks for the vids.

[@condimentking14]

I've been looking for a mil-spec lantern where can I find one I think they're kind of odd but that's what makes them cool I've been looking for one for some time now any ideas

[@Dog.soldier1950]

They also came in a really cool wood (embarkation)box

[@frankroper3274]

Call me back when the storm over!

[@Darryl792]

Hi Wiggy, Time for a update video on your lantern collection?

[@RBG-tr9ce]

My Milspec was made in 1945. It too is difficult to light and not as bright as civilian lanterns.

[@dvrapant]

Most Coleman lanterns are awesome. Why did they make a PIA for the military?

[@WiggysWilderness]

The short answer is because that's what the military wanted, lol. Coleman and other manufacturers that made lanterns under the military's contract were bound to the contractual specs that the military required. I'm sure all the features looked great on paper, and sounded good in theory, but we all know the reality turned out to be a different story. The real question in my mind is why didn't the military change the contract when they saw what kind of lanterns they were getting?

[@fmtelevison]

Happy birthday

[@WiggysWilderness]

Thanks! I appreciate that!

[@bluepen61]

You should use wooden kitchen matches when lighting.

[@k9razz]

Hey if you don't mind me asking how many lanterns do you have and can you show them sometime thnx

[@WiggysWilderness]

I'm not really sure how many I have, lol. I've got somewhere around a dozen pressure lanterns I suppose, and probably half a dozen wick lanterns or so. I was planning to get them all together for a video probably around January when hunting season is over.

[@k9razz]

Well I certainly enjoy your videos and I sure look forward to seeing those other lanterns thank you sir

[@stevebarnes8008]

Wiggy, do you use camp fuel or gasoline in the military lantern? It says use gasoline . What are your thoughts?

[@WiggysWilderness]

It runs best on camp fuel for sure. Although it can run gasoline, it'll clog up the generator tube much faster than if you run Coleman camp fuel. With gasoline you're looking at a maximum generator life of around 100 hours of run time. The military didn't have anything else that ran on white gas/camp fuel so they needed something that could run on the fuels that they have with them in the field, but camp fuel is still best when you have the option.

[@madman432000]

what makes the 252A a milspec? Put out more light, burn longer on amount of fuel, toss it around and still works. Seems like a lot of things about it are poorly engineered.

[@WiggysWilderness]

It's known as the Milspec because it was made to the military's specifications. All the crazy design features it has are the result of what the military told Coleman (and several other lantern manufacturers) that it wanted in a lantern. The quad globe design was their idea so that the globe wouldn't completely shatter if it got wet while it was hot. The pump tube is longer and more robust than those of civilian designs. There is a "parts well" area in the fount that contains spare parts if you need them in the field (this is by far the coolest addition to the lantern), and it was designed with using multiple fuels in mind. The trade off to all these is that you have a lantern that's heavy, not as bright as it could be, loud (because they didn't want a burner screen that could clog up) and is not as user friendly as Coleman's other designs.

[@madman432000]

Thanks, that makes more sense.

[@scottsiegrist9191]

I just bought 4 lanterns 1 says on bottom Coleman gas lantern 1944 and the other 3 says 8 model 220 F 228F 65 on bottoms

[@awh5773]

i have a question. i got a 220e i believe but i think its military im not sure. on the bottom it reads.( U.S. lantern gasoline leaded fuel 1958) so is it a military lantern? please help.i cant find anything on it.

[@WiggysWilderness]

If it's stamped US on the bottom, the fount at least was from a military lantern. Is it a two mantle lantern? I know there were some small numbers of two mantle military lanterns made, but not many. Does it also say 220E on it? It could be one someone pieced together, I use one like that. You might try checking with the Coleman Collectors Forum, there's guys on there who know the history of pretty much all the milspec lanterns.

[@awh5773]

it looks like a normal 220 but it says 220E.on the bail stand.it doesn't have the tank like the milspec. but I have never seen one with that stamped on it it looks exactly like my grandfathers 220E that stamped with 06 56. it's a 2 mantle normal green 220E but it actually has 1958 stamped on bottom with what p said before stamped above the date.this lantern is all original . the previous owner was my grandfathers younger brother. and it has the sun at nite logo stamped on the side of the tank. the only reason I believe that this was a military was because the (U.S.) is in bigger letters like all military stuff I've seen. and my grandfather and his brother were in the military. I will try the forums

[@WiggysWilderness]

Ah ok, I haven't seen one that had both military markings and 220E on it. The "US Lantern gasoline leaded fuel" stamp is what the military lanterns say, no other models at the time were advertised to run gasoline. There were other organizations than the military who used those lanterns though, some prisons, forestry services, civil defense and stuff like that. It could have possibly originated from something along those lines. Someone on the forums should know more about it.

[@awh5773]

which forum would you suggest I look for? and thanks for the help

[@WiggysWilderness]

www.colemancollectorsforum.com/ that one right there, either in the "technical assistance" or "just bull" subforum, someone should know what's up. There's several regulars in there who specialize in the milspec lanterns.

[@stevebarnes8008]

What mantles do you use?

[@WiggysWilderness]

Peerless 2C-HC or Coleman 21A. Peerless is best but I've never seen them in stores so you have to order them.

[@jamieelder7438]

I have a mil spec I want to retrofit to a two mantle. Have you heard of anyone doing that? It's too noisy to use at campgrounds. Isn't too bright either.

[@WiggysWilderness]

You can use the burner assembly from a 220F and that'll work on your Milspec fount.

[@awh5773]

was 3/84 the first year and month that coleman made these cl2 lanterns ? cause i have the exact same cl2 with same date as yours. of course mine has been used alot but it still works pretty good. i have 4 288 and a 285they are a little dimmer than my old 220 and 228 but peerless mantles makes up for that and so you know i got ahold of people online where you showed me and the 1958 civilian lantern with u.s. military on bottom of the tank is an oddity thanks for the help on that one. also i called coleman. they said they havent heard of one that way . and they want to see it

[@WiggysWilderness]

That's awesome! I think 1983 is when they started the CL2 series but I'm not sure on that one. I'd love to find a CL1 but they're hard to come by. I dig the single mantle lanterns! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@awh5773]

I know a guy that has over 200 lanterns. and that is NOT a lie.he fixes and repairs and sells then I will ask if he has one. I think he might . he also has a lot of sears lanterns too. I will ask for ya

[@mikexxx11]

I think the 200a is the best lantern Coleman ever made. Big fan of the single mantle lanterns. I need a Mil-Spec in my collection.

[@christopherguy1217]

Why are your lanterns spewing flames like that? I've got lots of Coleman lanterns in my collection and unless they are in dire need of repair they all light cleanly.

[@WiggysWilderness]

Liquid fuel lanterns will flame up until the mantles heat up the generator enough to vaporize the fuel flowing through the generator. If it's warm out, you may never see the flames because the combustion is so efficient. If it's cold out, they'll flame up more because they need to produce more heat to vaporize the liquid fuel. As far as the milspec, they're known for it because of their design, as can be seen in anyone else's video on lighting a 252A.

[@awh5773]

dear sir. if you are still looking for a CL-1 I FOUND ONE FOR YOU. LIKE I SAID I WOULD . THIS IS NOT A JOKE!. one owner since it was new. only been lit about 3 times still has frosted globe. i have a pic of it. please let me know how to send the pick to you. when you see the pic you will love it! i asked the guy to hold it so its not going anywhere unless you say otherwise. just trying to help out a fellow coleman collector

[@WiggysWilderness]

Thanks! It'll be a few months before I can free up the funds for it though (all my big expenses are around this time of year). You can send the seller's contact info to the FB page at facebook.com/wiggyswilderness/ there's no need for him to hold it for me though, if he finds another buyer there's still a lot of them floating around, they're just hard to come by "in the wild" as they say. Thank you again!

[@christopherguy1217]

AWH I'd be interested in seeing it for purchase, I've got several lanterns but not that one.

[@awh5773]

Christopher Guy how do I get ahold of you?

[@CalvinsCorner72]

How much do they usually run, vost that model? . CL1

[@awh5773]

Calvin's Corner72 he wants $40 for it but it's like brand new no rust just a few minor scuffs at bottom of tank. Other than that it looks like it came right out the box

[@bryansevera3893]

You must be single lol