200 lanterns! nice. i have roughly only 15 - 16 in my Gas lantern collection so far.
Are you on the CCF ( Coleman Collectors Forum?
Oops! I meant to type CCF. That was an unforgivable mistake!
Beautiful restorations both DBSAR and FlashPilot. 
I have an old (well, maybe 30 years old) Tilley paraffin lantern that I keep meaning to look at. It’s been in it’s original box since I bought it, and hasn’t been used for probably 29 years lol. I seem to remember I always had a problem with the mantles, though they are probably easy to pick up. It was just too cumbersome to carry around when I went camping.
That is a great restore on the Lantern!
I would love to find an old Tilley to add to my collection, as the Tilley lanterns are the European version of our Coleman Lanterns, and Tilley’s are really hard to find here.
Here are the before and after restoration pics of that 1960’s BernzOmatic Lantern too 
Before…
After…
Great Job! Both you guys. Those lanterns sure bring back some old memories of good times gone by...
Thanks OL.
someday i need to do a group photo of all my lanterns and flashlights together, but i may need a parking lot to do the photo. 
Grab one off ebay. Here’s my Tilley kerosene Model X246 “The Guardsman”, Storm Lantern after resto. I removed the threads from the bottom of a Peerless 111 thorium mantle and rolled it under so that I dont have to use Tilley mantles. Not quite what a 236-237 throws out but still a good 300cp.
Beautiful lantern!
Very nice restorations you have done there!
What is the brightest Coleman lantern ever made? You guys have me wanting to buy some more.
I’m not sure what the brightest model is, but some of the larger double-mantle units exceed a 100-watt incandescent in output.
The Coleman 236 & 237 burning thorium treated mantles are said to be equivalent to a 350 watt incandescent. The 236 burns Coleman fuel. The 237 burns anything that can be burned in these types of lanterns.
Then there are frankenlanterns. This 237 based mish-mash is capable of roughly 800 watts equivalent.
nice frankenlantern!
Yeah pretty much! Very nice lantern flash
I can remember the warning labels on the Thorium mantles when they were available. I’m assuming the Thorium mantles are no longer available, how much dimmer are the currently available mantles. Any tricks to make current mantles brighter? When doing the restorations what paint are you guys using. Of the lanterns I have, the finish seems to be the same as on the old enamel pots.
EDIT: Maybe those pots I’m thinking abut were porcelain coated. Finish was very thick, hard, and seemed to be several layers thick. When a piece would flake off it was black underneath.
Thorium being mildly radioactive, was hazardous in the dust form when mantles broke. I never used any of the old mantles in years and cant remember if they were any brighter than the current types. I never used any paint on the lantern in the OP, ( the top vent is a used replacement one in better condition) The vents get very hot when running and most paints will peel and burn off the vents. the fount (tanks) if i have to re-paint them i use a high gloss enamel.
Superb work!
I and many others wouldnt have so many working lanterns in our collections if not for thorium treated mantles. As you’ve probably noted in many of my other threads, safety management is always a popular subject with me. While I havent compared with a lux meter, thorium treated mantles have a far higher apparent brightness and higher color temp than their non-treated counterparts (which burn an awful dingy yellow). AFAIR, thorium radiation in mantles will not penetrate skin. 1/3rd or more of its measurable radiation is reduced within the first hour of burn-off and lighting (fueled). I use Peerless brand mantles almost exclusively, since they are modern thorium versions that can take a fairly good amount of abuse before tearing. When they do tear, dust is minimal and the lantern globe and burner cage usually contain the debris. Coleman replaced thorium with yttrium several years ago, which had its own potential health risks and still burned a dingy yellow. Now Coleman mantles are untreated, very fragile and poorly made. Many people would rather throw away the new Coleman mantles than go through the wasted effort of using them and having them fail repeatedly. IMO, as far as total accumulated radiation exposure, there is far more to worry about in eating bananas, avocados or handling many household items than occasionally playing with thorium mantles. Even more to worry about with sun worshipers, flight crews and astronauts.
Regardless of mantle brand and types: when replacing mantle(s), I usually clean my lanterns outdoors during a hot day with plenty of water and a soapy sponge, then blast with compressed air to assure all is dry then leave to completely dry in the sun. If you can get away with it, your dishwasher will do a hell of a job in cleaning dirty lantern parts. Since most of my lanterns are nickle plated or bare brass, this is a great time to detail, maintain and polish them after the wash. After tying new mantles, I light them downwind outdoors to avoid breathing the smoke, then quickly replace the globe and vent and run inside to thoroughly wash my hands while the mantles burn-off. Some people don latex gloves while others have been so paranoid as to using forceps to tie new mantles. After researching the subject, I dont see the need, but to each their own. Just dont breath the dust or smoke and minimize your initial exposure. After initial burn-off and then lighting the lantern (fueled) with new thorium treated mantles, I light-up and then quickly move far away for at least an hour to let the “lose” radioactive particles burn off the new mantles. It probably doesnt matter from a health perspective, but it cant hurt either… I only go by the research of others from what Ive read in the past.
I have noted that large amounts of fine particulate mantle dust can be prevalent in most of my newly acquired older antique lanterns that havent been used in decades. I transport them home in tied garbage bags and dont remove until Im ready to wash and restore them. Same goes with online purchases. Sometimes they arrive in the mail coated in old mantle dust, so open the boxes outdoors and be careful not to breath the dust. An ounce of common sense goes a long way here.
The common colors are red and green, which Rustolium makes a nearly perfect match. There are variations in shade through model years and models. Much more info can be found online from others in regards to color matching, prep, cure and adhesion.
I have measured vent temperatures higher than 1200 F in my tuned 237’s while burning my home-brew kerosene mixtures, which is near the destruction point of a quality finished porcelain vent. Not all vents are created equal, and many will have their finish ruined below 1200 F. Vents can cost $60 or more (plus shipping) to have refinished and often take 2-3 months before having them returned. The fun (or pain) associated with lantern restorations is similar to what many of us go through in classic car restorations. Along with a full battery of strippers, polish, cleaning solutions, acids and buffing wheels, I also own a large expensive ultrasonic cleaner. You’ll find at least 3 large forums dedicated exclusively to lantern collecting and restorations. And unlike 99.9% of all flashlights ever made, nearly all lanterns will continue to appreciate in value and are often handed down from generation to generation. I am also not aware of any LED lantern that has the utility and sheer omnidirectional lux output (without the huge glare of LED) that can match a high output gas mantle lantern.
IMO, grab a nice older Coleman 220, 228 or 242 from craigslist or ebay in good/great condition for $20-50 and give it a try. If you want the king/do-all, buy a nice 237 on ebay. If you dont like it, relist it and recoup your money. The nickle plated versions look absolutely fanatic when restored and often wind up on peoples coffee tables or fireplace mantles. DBSAR’s 236 is a damn good looker and a great example of what can be done with a good bit of dedication, elbow grease and love.
Sorry to blabber so much about the subject. Enjoy, and dont burn yourselves! :bigsmile: