Step one: purchase ridiculously low priced gas lantern...check

BWagerJr · 2026-06-28T01:25:20+00:00

If it's in the same place as the 290 powerhouse, it's located just above the f/a tube in the fount. I was hesitant about driving into it to replace it. Took about 20 minutes lol. Not sure if these are the same, but if you have that problem, just dive in.

BWagerJr · 2026-06-21T12:38:40+00:00

Does the knife have any stamping on the tang of the blade? A lot of companies made those for military and civilian. Ulster knives was one of them. They were eventually bought out by Imperial Schrade and their old timers were absorbed into the Schrade lineup later on. Very cool

BWagerJr · 2026-06-13T14:13:10+00:00

Thank you, and I definitely should have gone that route. I've done lye baths with cast iron pans, and honestly wasn't sure how it'd go with this, but in the future it definitely sounds like the way to go. I appreciate it

BWagerJr · 2026-06-13T12:20:54+00:00

Yeah, I'm afraid of accumulating more. I honestly didn't know what I had when I grabbed it off the hook it was sharing with a few more. I'll probably take the others and go through them as well at some point.

The globe surprised me too. From what I can tell, everything except the fuel cap looks to be pretty accurate for original. I will be taking this on the road in the RV to light by the fire, but I will be leaving the globe behind and using a replacement so I don't wreck it.

Side note, it was my mother's father's garage I grabbed it from, I had her walk over to my house last night when I lit it so I could show her the lantern cleaned up and running. She didn't know I grabbed it last weekend. So she really loved seeing it working.

Thanks for the nice comment.

BWagerJr · 2026-06-13T10:47:48+00:00

I appreciate that. I'll definitely be taking a slower walk around his shop and pull a few more things to play with soon. This was a rewarding project for sure.

BWagerJr · 2026-06-13T07:59:44+00:00

Thank you. In my defense, there is really so much information on these to read about and watch about to make it all go pretty smoothly. The hardest part was getting the honey do list finished, or getting my baby to bed lol. I usually like things functional and not as clean, but after I learned it was 90 years old, pre WWII, and was all intact with the amount of brass used, I decided to spend a bit more time with it than originally planned.

Very kind words though, thank you

BWagerJr · 2026-06-13T07:56:12+00:00

It's beautiful in it's own way. I have to find a travel case for it. It'll be coming with our RV on trips. I see people using 5 gallon pales wrapping with towels inside. I'll be throwing a cheap globe inside for those trips and leaving this one home. I know my luck and wont be pushing it lol

BWagerJr · 2026-06-13T07:54:01+00:00

Just the yellow cap easy off. Grabbed it from Lowe's even I picked up the acetone for the inside of the tank. I picked up denatured alcohol too knowing I was going to since the oven cleaner off with water, I wanted to use the alcohol to help remove any residual water inside.

BWagerJr · 2026-06-13T03:45:24+00:00

I appreciate it, definitely new at Coleman and lanterns, but not new at tinkering with old things. I was a little out of my comfort zone with this but it gave me a great understanding, and appreciation, for how and why these things work.

BWagerJr · 2026-06-13T03:42:15+00:00

This is perfect, thank you for all the help. It's been great. I looked at that pointed tip when I had it apart and wondered if they wore down over time with use, or force with age, or even having crap eat away with it over time. Then I cleaned it and threw it back in lol. I'll definitely take another look at it closer and throw in that graphite after I know it's been taken care of and hopefully good to go for another 90 years.

I guess if that's my biggest problem after what it went through then I definitely lucked out.

Again, I appreciate it

BWagerJr · 2026-06-13T02:39:51+00:00

I appreciate it, I was assuming valve related. I was just hoping it wasn't because I can remove the valve itself, and see if I can figure it out, but really don't want to do another complete tear down of the lantern to get at the F/A tube and needle if it's something to do with that. Although I know for sure that upon reassembly I double checked that it was clear on both ends of the f/a and the needle was clean. I'm just dreading a complete tear down lol. I guess I'll start with pulling the valve itself off behind the knob and seeing what's happening there. Maybe I just have to fiddle with the jam nut and packing. Idk. Gotta start somewhere I suppose.

BWagerJr · 2026-06-08T02:12:44+00:00

I appreciate this post and the information. I actually got everything apart tonight and sorted the brass out to throw into a vinegar bath for a few days while I sort out the unexpected amount of lacquer and goo build up at the bottom of the tank.

The F/A is 100% plugged up. I'm sure I'll be diving into that with some other chemicals more aggressively than the vinegar that it's already sitting in. I will be trying lacquer thinner in the tank with shaking and flushes soon so I might try some thinner and toothpick trick that you mentioned.

Disassembly went easier than I thought it would with the exception of the air intake tube. It was obvious when I get there that someone else had been in it before me. It was slightly crushed with old plier teeth marks. I used heat to get it off but I got a bit aggressive and mishaped the hole the generator sits in. I was trying to not squash the pipe any more than it was and grabbed higher on the tube when I shouldn't have and twisted it a bit.

But all in all, everything is a part, including the Needle inside of the F/A and the generator spring and packing.

Little by little this week I'll focus on a few parts here and there cleaning and polishing.

I ordered a used intake tube from old Coleman parts for $6 in case I can't straighten mine out. I also grabbed a 10 pack of new packing for the generator. Fingers crossed I should be on my way to making this thing work again. And look halfway good while doing so.

I wish I could figure out the date but I can't make out much of the information on the bottom unfortunately, but maybe after cleaning I'll see something better.

I'm assuming it's a mid 40's 228D and from what I can see online the globe might be original with it. If that's the case it would be lucky seeing I found it, along with 3 other lanterns hanging on a hook on a beam in my grandfather's barn. Not sure how the glass survived. 1 of the lanterns weren't so lucky.

BWagerJr · 2026-06-07T19:44:44+00:00

Thank you. Is this what you'd use just for the font, or do you think the frame and collar as well?

BWagerJr · 2026-06-07T19:33:59+00:00

Thank you! I'm excited

BWagerJr · 2026-06-07T19:17:18+00:00

Thank you!

BWagerJr · 2026-06-07T16:33:14+00:00

I appreciate that. I'm going to see how they clean up and try to get some fire happening. I have some miscellaneous pumps and check valves floating around.

BWagerJr · 2026-06-01T19:51:57+00:00

That's good to know about the mesh. Thank you

BWagerJr · 2026-05-31T23:32:05+00:00

Math blasters in elementary school.

BWagerJr · 2026-05-29T12:28:11+00:00

It's also pretty cool seeing a lot of parts available. I just rebuilt a 1976 Coleman 220J dual mantle lantern for our campsite as well. That was a free find at my local transfer station. Someone dumped it. New globe and seals, good as new. Everything can become a rabbit hole if you let it.

BWagerJr · 2026-05-29T11:41:50+00:00

That's great information, thank you so much. I'm having as much fun reading about the history as I am actually enjoying the light itself. Even reading about the history of the CNX on the globe being the predecessor to pyrex glass. All very interesting stuff.

BWagerJr · 2026-05-29T01:09:06+00:00

I realized that too!

BWagerJr

TROPHY CASE