 | Original Model 200
Coleman U.S.A. made the original 200 for a brief time in 1950 and early 1951, while Coleman Canada made this particular model for a longer period of time, though its colour scheme was different. The American version depicted here, dated December 1950, has a nickel-plated fount and a painted red top. In the US, this was the forerunner to Coleman's longest-lasting single-mantle lantern: the 200A.
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 | Christmas Lantern - 200 & 200A
The 200A was the immediate follower to Coleman's 200 lantern, and was one of the most successful in the industry. Selling from 1951 to 1983, this unit shipped in the millions. The final 200 models and early 200As both had this same color scheme - a red ventilator top with a green-painted fount. This aesthetic led to the nickname "Christmas Lantern" given by its collectors. The main distinguishment of the two is that the 200A, pictured here, has a Coleman decal on its fount; the most significant change is that the fount of the 200A was steel as opposed to brass. The 200A is a common single-mantle lantern; all five of our Christmas lanterns are dated various months of 1951. |
 | 220D
This twin-mantle 220D lantern is dated B1950, which means it was made in the second half of that year. The fount is nickel-plated brass, but models in 1951 were painted green instead. This lantern has never been lit and comes with all of its original packaging, which is in great condition. |
 | Col-Max 333
The Col-Max series of Coleman lanterns was first developed in the late Depression years in the U.S. as a kerosene-fueled line. The model "333" denotes that it is 300 candlepower. This one is labeled "Col-Max" on the fount and has some sort of Arabic or Turkish writing, as it was sold in the Middle East. This one is undated, but was made in Hong Kong in the late 1950s or early 1960s, several years after the inception of this model. |
 | Col-Max 555
Manufactured at Coleman Canada in April 1955, this 500 candlepower 555 lantern has traveled enough miles to run The Amazing Race. It went from Toronto to somewhere in Turkey, and eventually found its way to a seller in North Vietnam at the time of the Vietnam War. It survived and was bought by a Filipino collector based in Manila, who sold it to a collector in Japan, who sold it to a collector in Wisconsin, where it rests today. Like the 333, there is Turkish writing engraved on its fount, and this lantern is exceptionally rare. |
 | 202 Ceramic burner
The date of this 202 lantern, also known as "The Professional," has been obscured by tin plating, but the burner is ceramic, which indicates this was a first-version model from 1954. The frame is stainless steel, but the fount is nickel-plated brass. This lantern has been used and smells like a barn. |
 | 202 Brass burner
Coleman changed the burner of the 202 from ceramic to brass after 1954, which reduced its weight, but kept the same frame and fount. This lantern is dated September 1961. |
 | Australian 249 Scout
Coleman of Australia manufactured this 249 kerosene lantern, nicknamed the "Scout," in conjunction with Coleman Canada. Most did not come with a lid reflector. This twin-mantle lantern is dated August 1957. |
 | 200A Engbring Anniversary Special
There is nothing unique about this 200A lantern, but it does hold sentimental value. It is dated July 1959, the very month that we (Jerry and Pat) were married. The clamshell case is worth more than the lantern itself, but such anniversary treasures need to be preserved. |
 | 228E
Coleman's 228 and 220 series of lanterns were the two-mantle equivalents of the 200A; the 228 series, which includes this 228E, is the larger of the two. The fount is painted steel. This one is dated April 1960, and we have another from October 1953 that is missing its globe. |
 | 236
This is a Coleman Canada 236 lantern from April 1960, with a nickel-plated fount as opposed to painted green like it was in the mid-1940s. The ventilator design differs from earlier models, and a metal clip replaced two metal screws for pump support. |
 | Maroon 200A
Although the 200A is an extremely common lantern, there are some rare editions, such as this one in a maroon hue, as opposed to a lighter red. Aside from the color, it still is a single-mantle steel-founted lantern that has no differences from other colors. This one is dated April 1962; we also have one from the prior October. |
 | Canada Pacific Railway 247R
This lantern was designed by Coleman Canada for use on railroads. This one, dated September 1965, was likely mounted in a caboose at one point in its life. The unique globe is not original - it is a specially crafted globe to homage the lantern's significance. |
 | 228F Gold Bond Lantern
In the early 1970s, Coleman U.S.A. made several goldenrod-colored lanterns for the Gold Bond Trading Company (now known as Carlson, the parent of TGI Friday's and Radisson) to sell and potentially give away as prizes. This twin-mantle 228F lantern is one of them. This lantern is far rarer than its green brethren, but still features the same ribbed collar and everything you would expect. It is dated January 1972. |
 | 200A Gold Bond Lantern
Coleman also made 200A lanterns for the Gold Bond Trading Co. in the same goldenrod hue. Like with the 228F, there is nothing different about it from regular 200A lanterns aside from the color. This one is dated February 1973. |
 | 228H
As part of the Gold Bond project, Coleman also made 228H lanterns. This, however, is not one of them. This is a standard 228H lantern with two mantles. It is the successor to the 228F; for some strange reason, Coleman skipped the letter G. This one is dated September 1973. |
 | Kerosene 237A
This large 237A lantern from February 1974 is a kerosene-powered, 500 candlepower beast with a clip fastening its pump cap, as opposed to the earlier two screws. |
 | Kerosene 201
Dated June 1975, this one-mantle 201 lantern runs on kerosene. It includes all of its original materials, sans packaging, and appears to have never been lit. |
 | Canada Pacific Railway 639
Coleman Canada continued making railroad lanterns into the 1970s. This kerosene 639 lantern from around 1978 is slightly larger than its forerunners and has a larger mantle. The globe is not original. This lantern was also manufactured to be sold to the public. It is unclear if this lantern has been used or not. |
 | Green 200
This pure green 200-series lantern is actually quite rare; green was primarily used for lanterns of larger sizes. Like all other 200-series lanterns after 1951, it is a single mantle with a painted steel fount. This one is dated June 1980 and is presumably a 200A. |
 | BCFS 625 Easi-Lite
Coleman Canada made this 625 lantern for the British Columbia Forest Service, a branch of the Ministry of Forests and Lands, in the 1980s. This kerosene lantern provides 500 candlepower with a single mantle. The packaging is identical to a previous lantern Coleman Canada made for the BCFS, a 236 in the late 60s, but it seems as if this lantern was at least used by the Ministry, likely for its high light rating. This one is dated January 1985. |
 | 288 Sportsman Limited Edition
Coleman made a 288 Sportsman Limited Edition lantern for three years in the early 1990s, for some reason skipping 1994. These are unique because their stickers are labeled with serial numbers; the 1992 one, dated October 1991, has serial #02424; the 1993 lantern, dated March of that year, has serial #01385; and the 1995 one, dated from April 1995, is #03069. Each of these lanterns has a unique glass globe and two mantles. The 1992 and 93 lanterns include a case; the 93 also has a globe wrap, and all retain their original packaging and have never been lit. |
 | 635 Japan
Over the course of the past 20 years, Coleman U.S.A. has made several different lanterns exclusively for the Japanese market, perhaps to compensate for not returning one of theirs. The 635 lantern to the left is an upgrade to the 625 Easi-Lite above; it still produces 500 candlepower with its lone burner. This lantern is dated February 1997 and still has its packaging. |
 | 200B U.S.A.
The 200B followed the wildly popular 200A, and is much rarer than its predecessor. This one-mantle lantern has a glass globe, adjustable light control, and its original packaging. The one pictured is dated September 1997. |
 | 200B DX Japan
Another lantern made by Coleman U.S.A. to be sold in Japan, this 200B lantern is dated March 1997. It's a single mantle and it is green as opposed to red (above), which was the color sold in the U.S. Equipped with a heat shield, this lantern, like most modern Colemans, has variable light control to fit the needs of the situation, the biggest upgrade from the standard 200A. |
 | 285 DX Japan
This 285J lantern, the "J" denoting Japan, was made in conjunction with the 200B above. It is essentially a two-mantle version of the same lantern. It retains its original packaging and carrying case. |
 | 290J Millenium Edition
This red 290A lantern was marketed in Japan in 2000 to commemorate the coming of the new millennium. It still has its original packaging and green-painted steel carrying case. Several images of Coleman lanterns from various points in the prior century are frosted onto the globe, including the L316 Arc Lantern. This two-burner lantern seems to have never been used. |
 | 200B Centennial Edition
To celebrate their 100-year anniversary in 2001, Coleman U.S.A. distributed these commemorative 200B lanterns to members of the International Coleman Collectors' Club, complete with a glass case. The glass globe has frosted images of various Coleman logos, ranging from Quick-Lite to Col-Max and is branded with a special metal plaque to indicate its significance, and to the same effect, the air holes spell "100 YR COLEMAN." This lantern has never been lit and is more a display item for collectors such as ourselves. Coleman also made this lantern for the Japanese market, albeit with a different plaque. |
 | 286A #529 Japan
This 286A original edition was sold in Japan, though similar models were also sold in America. This lantern's most unique feature is its holed metal globe, which provides a unique, though slightly more dangerous source of light. It is unclear where the number 529 on the lantern's original packaging comes from. This one is dated from some point in 2001. |
 | 285 Original Japan
This 285 lantern is more similar to the 286A directly above than the 285 DX lantern. It has the same metal globe as the 286A and dual-fuel capabilities. There are many different kinds of 285A lanterns that seem to have developed over the years. This one, like the other two, was sold in Japan. It is dated February 2003. |
 | NorthStar 2000
Coleman's award-winning NorthStar series is one of their newest. This U.S.-made lantern features an electronic ignition, variable light control, and 550 candlepower of light from a tubular mantle fastened to the globe cage. This one is dated July 2002. |
 | 639
This is a newer version of the Easi-Lite used by the Canadian Ministry of Forests and Lands, only made in Wichita. This 639B still produces 500 candlepower from a single mantle and run on kerosene fuel. It is dated January 2003. |
 | Winter Season's 200B Lantern
Designed for the Japanese market, this US-made Coleman lantern is part of a yearly "Season's lantern" series of 200Bs in unique colors. This brown 2005 model is dated August 2004 and has the same features as a regular 200B. |
 | 285A Select-e-fuel "Corn Lantern"
Using the same technology as its sister stove, this two-mantle lantern can burn unleaded gas, ethanol, or regular fuel. It is an upgrade of earlier 285 lanterns in its fuel selection, but is made from different parts to allow it to burn ethanol. The corn symbol on its sticker and ethanol burner led to its nickname. This Coleman U.S.A. lantern, dated April 2006, has never been lit. |
 | 147 Limited Edition
This Coleman 147 Limited Edition lantern, dated October 2007, has a single mantle and likely provides around 300cp. It has never been lit. |
 | NorthStar 2000 Japan
This is a version of the American NorthStar above designed for market in Japan. This is one of our newest lanterns, dated December 2009. It has all the same bells and whistles, including the electronic ignition and simplistic design to make it easy to use. |
 | Gold-plated 285A
Coleman enjoys rewarding its faithful. This present from Wichita was given to us in 2009 for hosting the International Coleman Collectors' Club meet and is the most expensive lantern in our collection after the little guy from Saipan. Plated in solid gold, this August 2007 lantern is a stripped-down version of the corn lantern, as it can only burn regular fuel, but who would want to light it? This lantern has never been lit, nor will it ever will be, and it's one of the most unique pieces we have. |
