Tom's Place

Coleman

It all started quite innocently. I was in a junk shop and saw an odd Coleman lantern. It had a large ventilator and military looking decals on it. I later found out that it was a 1947 228 that was probably left over war production stuff. Likely it never saw service in the military but rather got shipped to retail after the war's end.

From there and then on I've come to keep an eye out for green stuff at junk shops, flea markets, and garage sales.

I think to date I've put together a collection of some 9 or 10 stoves ranging from the 1930s to the 1960s, and as many lanterns ranging from the 1920s to the 1970s.

I'm not as avid a collector as many are, but I use my stuff on a regular basis. Each camping trip begins with a trip to the Pile O' Green to pick out which stove and which lantern will go on the trip. I'm as likely to use my 1927 LQ 427 as I am my 1970 220.

My favorite lantern is the 200, just because it seems to have a serious attitude about it.