Lanterns?

stanley_white

stanley_white

Joined
Nov 28, 2001
Messages
770
This morning I wake up in my Great Aunt and Uncle's home and the electricity is out.

Without missing a beat they pull out several kerosene lanterns and fire them up and light-wise we're good to go. I've got to hand it to the Greatest Generation -- always prepared.

This got me to stopping by various antique stores on the way home this afternoon looking for lanterns.

Does anyone here own a lantern?

Is so, which models / brands are best?

-Stan
 
Get a coleman , They last forever and can be had cheap. There are many styles. I have one from 1952... still works great!
 
We have several varieties of the old fashioned barn lantern with outside wire guards...and interior oil lamps with glass chimney and shade. They've worked well through several power outages. Of course you must realize, if these things get knocked over and break, they are a fire bomb. Be careful.

Edit: We do not use the type of Coleman lantern that hisses like a steam engine. Just don't like them, our personal preference. Others will like them.

Also, in this day and age, there are a lot of options for battery-powered lanterns that are both silent and safe.
 
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I got a Coleman dual fuel with 2 mantles for Christmas that I like a lot. I haven't used it beyond filling it up with gas and starting it up just for the fun factor, but it feels very nicely made.
 
I have a Coleman two mantle fuel lantern I have been using 25 years without flaw. I also have two Dietz lanterns that use oil that I leave filled with Citro oil all the time. Use them on my deck and for summer storms when the lights go out.

I really like the oil lanterns. Not as bright, but I really don't need to light up the county.

Carl-
 
Go old. I scored a great 1952 Dietz kerosene wick lantern at an estate sale for a couple of bucks. Pristine condition.

Also I am working on restoring/fixing up three old Coleman 200A lanterns. Single mantle round globe. The all vintage '62 is going to my sister and I'm keeping the '68. Cheap, cool, can't buy them new anymore, parts are available, and they keep working for damn near forever.

The trick to estate sales is to find them on C-list, get there first, and go to the basement first. Look up! Some of the best things are hanging on nails in the floor joists.


Here is the '62.

 
I have gone from keresene latterns over to battery powered ones as they are generally safer and easier to use. I have a few brands including Coleman.
 
Here's my one from Amish country - burns forever and throws off a lot of heat :)

SANY0027-2.jpg
 
most propane and white gas lanterns have a warning label saying not to use them inside because of carbon monoxide poisoning. other than that i love Coleman propane lanterns
 
We sell Aladdian lamps because of their high quality and awesome 60 watt equivilant light output. They perfect for in home application and can be safely used inside. It is what Amish still use. Do a search on google for Aladdian lamps.

For a lantern per se...you might consider one of the Coleman 4 D cell lanterns at Walmart that contain the Cree Lamps. They run a long time, have a Cree superbright LED lamp and the batteries can be recharged using a solar charger.

LED = no fuel to mess with, no spills, no flammable materials to store, and no wicks to worry about breaking.
 
if you are living in an adult household , knocking it over shouldn`t be much of a problem. gotta be a bit more careful (as always) with kids in the house though.

just my opinion
 
Aladdin for us for many years. Just used them during several days without power and it reminded me how much I like them. They do seem to use a little more fuel than a standard kerosene lamp, but the light output is worth it.
 
I have a sickness ... making kits, collecting knives, liquid fuel stoves and liquid fuel lanterns.

I recon this one is pretty good (hope you can get it cheaper) -

222.jpg
 
For power outages and such, I've got a couple of Dietzs, a WT Kirkman, and some old oil lamps. We always had oil lamps in the house when I was growing up.

For nocturnal sunlight when camping, I've got a Coleman propane lantern.

http://www.lanternnet.com/ has a good selection of Kirkmans and Dietzs as well as oil lamps. The Kirkman is basically the same as the Dietz (made in the same factory, from what I hear), but it's made to different standards. The Kirkman isn't as decorative, but they're galvanized and much beefier than the Dietzs.

lanterns01.jpg
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Coldwood said:
Of course you must realize, if these things get knocked over and break, they are a fire bomb. Be careful.
Click to expand...

Definitely a potential issue with all-glass lamps, but keep in mind that tubular lanterns are actually pretty safe according to this from the LanternNet.com FAQ:

QUESTION 6: How safe are tubular lanterns? Can I use them indoors?

ANSWER: Contrary to Hollywood propaganda, tubular lanterns are infinitely safer than any other non-electric artificial light source. If a tubular lantern is tipped over, the balanced draft cuts off the air supply to the burner and extinguishes the flame within seconds. With the advent of modern lamp oil and synthetic kerosene, both Hot Blast and Cold Blast lanterns are well suited for indoor use in ventilated areas. Since the design of a Hot Blast lantern recirculates spent air to the burner for more complete combustion, it has a slight edge over the Cold Blast Design, and a 10% greater efficiency rating. For light output however, cold blast lanterns remain the best choice.
Click to expand...
 
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TXBulldawg said:
For power outages and such, I've got a couple of Dietzs, a WT Kirkman, and some old oil lamps. We always had oil lamps in the house when I was growing up.

For nocturnal sunlight when camping, I've got a Coleman propane lantern.

http://www.lanternnet.com/ has a good selection of Kirkmans and Dietzs as well as oil lamps. The Kirkman is basically the same as the Dietz (made in the same factory, from what I hear), but it's made to different standards. The Kirkman isn't as decorative, but they're galvanized and much beefier than the Dietzs.

lanterns01.jpg
.




Definitely a potential issue with all-glass lamps, but keep in mind that tubular lanterns are actually pretty safe according to this from the LanternNet.com FAQ:
Click to expand...

Nice pics!

hard to beat the well designed kero lanterns. Keep a handful of wicks, a jerrycan of oil, and a spare globe or two and you have light for almost any situation.:thumbup:
 
When I was growing up, (yes tony, before the invention of electricity :rolleyes: ) my grandmother did all her lighting with coal oil lamps (no electricity). They worked rather well.

However, I find myself checking out new generation LED lanterns, and in the interest of making this thread as comprehensive as possible, I'd like to hear about members' experiences with these as well, including any recommendations.

Doc
 
Wait, I've been using my wick lanterns with kerosene. Is there a better fuel? Have I been doing it wrong? Some sort of oil?:confused:
 
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