The Coleman rechargeable lantern is the biggest and heaviest of the rechargeable lanterns that I reviewed for this project. It is a fine lantern for car camping where space and weight are not a concern, but definitely not for any lightweight camping adventures. I thought the propane lantern was going to be my favorite. It turned out to be such a pain to use, that I don’t use it much anymore. I have the Northstar edition, and it comes with an electronic igniter, but it didn’t work right out of the box.
This is me documenting my quest to design the quietest soundproof box for portable generators. I did a lot of research and put some science into this design. Don’t forget to check out my other articles, like Pop Up Camper Canvas Replacement. You can also come hang out with us on my youtube channel. As Justin put it, “It sounds like a little jet engine.” With all the negative things I’ve said about it, I will say, this lantern it bright! If you need to light a large area, this is the one you need.
The detents in the bail tabs (image below) hold the bail upright. Model 227 preceding (right image) has flat spaces in the ventilator coleman canopy where these brackets and bail tabs were not used. This ventilator is from an MF-125 in Russ Baldwin’s collection.
Beginning in May, 1927, Coleman changed the design of the integral pump from built-on (above) to built-in, as on this lantern in Ron Becker’s collection. L427s built after this date all have the built-in pump. We lit campfires, cooked, played board games, had parties, and even chopped wood on moonless nights with this lantern. During one of our parties, we put the Northstar near Grandma when she was chilly. This lantern does make a bit of a hissing sound when it is lit, and when the fuel is about to run out it makes a rather loud whistling noise.
These earliest 200A lanterns had green painted steel founts and, by November, also had the Coleman decal. The 5 hour battery life on high setting (400 lumens) is probably one of the best features of the Coleman rechargeable lantern. My biggest issue is that after the sun goes down, campers often will turn their lanterns on lower settings as not much light is needed. So a low setting with long battery life is great.
Note the two pegs in the bottom bracket of the reflector to engage the corresponding holes in the globe cage bottom for attachment. Coleman stamped Model 220C on the lanterns they made from 1944 until coleman lantern 1947. This lantern, in John Stendahl’s collection, is dated October 1945. Model 220C has a yellow decal on the fount with lighting instructions. As did the predecessor 220BX/220C made during WWII.