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The Coleman Lamp And Stove Co., Wichita, Kansas, made LP lighting fixtures in the mid to late 1930’s. Model 851 Single Drop Fixture (left) and 853 Bracket Fixture (right) ran on propane at low pressure (6-7 oz.). Both fixtures, in Ron Becker’s collection, are finished in dark brown Colac enamel with highlights of old gold and are fitted with globe 062.
This Model 858 Double Drop fixture ran on high pressure (10-20 lbs) butane gas using a reduced air intake and larger generator gas tip according to a 1939 Jobber’s catalog. This fixture is in Steve Potter’s collection.
Coleman Bracket fixture Model 859 operated on high pressure (10-20 lbs) butane gas as the above model. The 355 glass globe protected an outer parchment shade. This model is in Jim and Jan Nichols’ collection.
Coleman made this model 1900-701 gas-lite in celebration of their 60th year of being in business (1960). The gas-lite could be mounted on a pole wall bracket and hooked up to a propane or natural gas line. This never-fired gas-lite is in John Morris’s collection.
Coleman LP (liquified petroleum gas) lantern Models 5101 (left & center) and 5104 (right). These undated models take the same canister, which is no longer manufactured. Model 5101 (left), was made by Coleman – Wichita, and is in Craig Seabrook’s collection. Model 5101 (center), was made by Coleman – Toronto, and is in Jim Hogg’s collection. Model 5104 (right) was made by Coleman – Toronto in the early 1960’s. This lantern, in Don Colston’s collection, has the original Canadian globe.
Three more Coleman LP lanterns, Model 5120 (top) with the fuel canister assembly removed, Model 5121 (bottom-left) from Coleman of Canada, and Model 5122 (bottom-right) with the fuel can assembly inserted in the lantern. The 5120 is dated Dec. ’62, the 5121 is undated, and the 5122 is dated Aug. ’70. Model 5120 is in Tim Treutler’s collection; Models 5121 and 5122 are in Craig Seabrook’s collection.
Coleman called this Model 5402A a Picnic Stove made in Wichita. The LP cartridge on the right supplies the single burner; the canister on the left is in a storage position. This undated stove is in Dana Kennison’s collection. John Stendahl was able to date the stove to 1960-63 from catalog research.
This 5402 Picnic Stove was also made in Wichita, presumably one or several years before Model 5402A above. The canister arrangement is the same as in the one above. This stove is in Tim Treutler’s collection.
Coleman – Toronto made this 5402 Picnic Stove and finished it with black paint. It has the same canister arrangement as above, is undated, and in Tim Treutler’s collection.
Coleman – Toronto also made this 5402 Picnic Stove finished it with green paint. They also changed the design so the grate fastened on the left side rather than the front. In this design there is no provision for a spare canister. This stove is in Roland Chevalier’s collection.
This 5404 Picnic Stove was made in Wichita with an aluminum case. Presumably it was made after the above stoves since it has clips to hold the canisters in place. This stove is in Tim Treutler’s collection.
Coleman’s Travel Trailer Division sold this Cool-Ray LP Gas Lite, Model 3815A700, for recreational vehicles. This unfired light, in Mike Loizzo’s collection, takes a 500 cp mantle but is rated at 100 cp. This wall mounted light dates to the late 1960’s.
Industrias Kolmex S.A., Mexico City, Mexico, made this propane lantern in the late 1960’s – early 1970’s that were often used on food vendor carts (Leonardo Occelli). The lantern is 75 cm tall; the 5 kilogram refillable tank is 33 cm in diameter x 18 cm wide. This lantern is in John Bell’s collection. Industrias Kolmex also made Coleman 242B and 236 style lanterns.
Coleman – Canada designed this Model 5407-498 Gas Hot Plate to run on propane. This 3 burner stove has the gas line connection in the back right corner of the stove (lower image). The stove, in Ken and Carol Lunney’s collection, is undated and is missing the middle valve knob (upper image).
Coleman – Canada also made a 2 burner propane stove version of the above 3 burner model. This unfired Model 5405-498 Gas Hot Plate is unfired and undated. It is also in Ken and Carol Lunney’s collection.
More recently Coleman in Canada made this Model 5417. This lantern is dated Jan. ’73. This lantern, in Don Colston’s collection, also has a white base ring which is not shown. There are two heat deflector disks below the single burner, an unusual feature.
Coleman’s Model 5409 stove also took LP fuel canisters, four in this two burner stove. The case for this stove, in Brien Page’s collection, is aluminum.
This is a Model 5410-700 stove, Coleman’s first two-burner folding propane camp stove, made from 1969-71. This LP gas camp stove, in John Stendahl’s collection, came with a 5′ hose and regulator for hookup to a propane source.
Coleman made this spherical propane tank, 5410-750 in the late 1960’s – early ’70’s. This tank, in John Stendahl’s collection, is date stamped April 1970. It is shown here with a 5410-5561 regulator and 5410A5551 hose to connect to an appliance such as the above stove.
Coleman Canada also called this Model 4650-416 Easi-Lite Camp Stove a Coleman Propane Barbecue (upper image). The lava rocks (middle image) are heated by two propane burners that are independently controlled (lower image) This Easi-Lite stove, In Ken and Carol Lunney’s collection, may date to the later 1970s when other Easi-Lite appliances were made. Coleman also made a liquid fuel version of this barbecue.
This Coleman Model 5107, in Brien Page’s collection, is dated September, 1975. This one mantle model is match lighting. The reflector appears to have been added by a previous owner.
This Model 5114B700 two mantle propane lantern was made for Service Merchandise (lower image) and possibly other retailers. It came with a special “fluted” globe (upper right image) that lacked frosted vertical bars. The fluted globe was also used on Model 275. This lantern, dated February 1979, is in Glenn Knapke’s collection. The LP cylinder isn’t present(upper left image).
Coleman Canada with their Camping Gaz subsidiary sold this propane fueled lantern Model 5414. The lantern head fits into a plastic sleeve mounted in the base of the plastic lantern case (right image) (the top of the case is not shown). The base also stabilizes the lantern and propane cylinder when running the lantern (left image). This undated lantern is in Marty Edwards’ collection.
These propane lantern Models 5419 701 (left) dated January 1977 and 5419A 701 (right) dated January 1984 were made by Coleman-Toronto. The burner on the more recent “A” version on the right is taller, takes a P10 generator, and an 880 globe. The older version on the left is shorter, takes a P9 generator, and a 990 globe. To accommodate the smaller 990 globe, the lip of the frame base plate is taller and not as wide as on the “A” version. Both take 999 mantles. These lanterns are in Tyler Hawthorne’s collection.
Coleman made three slightly different versions of this stove in the 1970’s-’80’s, all utilizing the propane canister to form the third leg. This one, Model 5418B700, is date stamped Dec. 1979. These stoves are surprisingly sturdy and stable. The two legs fold under the stove and there is a plastic cap (not visible here) to protect the canister connection to the stove.
Coleman propane heater Models 5443, Focus 3 (left), and 5445 (right) The Focus 3 is undated while the 5445 is dated Sept. 1981. The Model 5445 holds two propane canisters. These heaters are in Ron Lenfield’s collection.
This Coleman Model 5440-701 Focus 5 Propane Radiant Heater is rated at 3,500 – 5000 BTU adjustable input. This heater, in Jay Tew’s collection, is date stamped Nov. 1991
Coleman made the 5155 portable propane camp lantern (left) while the 5155 J version (right) was made for the Japanese market. The Japanese version uses an iso-butane fuel canister. This is a two mantle lantern with electronic ignition. Both are in Brien Page’s collection. The four feet swivel under the base of the lantern on the left for transporting.
This Model 5152 Coleman propane lantern is date stamped May 1985. John Stendahl, whose collection this is in, notes that the propane bottle is 5103A164 and is date stamped April 1992.
This Coleman Model 5179 Propane Yard Light is date stamped April, 1985. It is in John Morris’ collection.
Coleman Canada made this Model 5429-701 one mantle lantern that is date stamped Nov. 1986. This lantern, in André Giguere’s collection, is also identified as Insta-Lite 2000 on the collar. The lantern has a Piezo ignitor.
This Coleman Model 5430-700 stove, in John Stendahl’s collection, is unfired. It is date stamped June 1988. The wind screens are attached to the grate, rather than the lid, and fold down over the grate for storage.
Model 5154B700 lantern is a two mantle model with electronic ignition. This lantern, in John Stendahl’s collection, is undated but the paperwork that came with this unfired lantern is dated 1990.
Model 5130-700 was part of Coleman’s Leisure Line. The paperwork with this undated lantern was printed in February, 1991. The orange plastic lever under the bail rotates to the left to increase brightness. This lantern, in Suzanne and Dana Kennison’s collection, takes a No. 51 mantle.
Model 5340B700 stove is date stamped June 1993. This stove is in John Stendahl’s collection.
Coleman-England made this Model 148-740C UltraLight lantern that is fueled by butane-propane cylinders and came in a plastic case that holds the lantern without the fuel cylinder. The instructions have a printing date of Nov, 1996. The lantern has electronic ignition and an adjustable light output. The globe is protected by a wire cage. This model was imported by the Canadian Coleman Co., Ltd. and is in Claude Ruel’s collection.
PowerMax lantern Model 9950-750 (left) and PowerMax Quick-Pack lantern Model 9960-750 only appeared in the 1999 and 2000 product catalogs. PowerMax fuel, which is no longer available, was a “High Performance Fuel” mix that included propane and butane. Both featured matchless lighting and adjustable light output. The plastic globe shield for the lantern on the right is not in the image. The fuel canister for the lantern on the left was inserted under the valve. These lanterns are in Pat Ring’s collection.
Coleman Family Max camping lanterns (above) and stove (below) powered by Max Fuel provided excellent cold weather and high altitude performance but less than desirable run times and candle power. The Family appliances were discontinued, however the fuel production continued for the high performance Xponent backpack appliances below. These unused canisters are in Pat Ring’s collection
This PowerMax Grill Stove took two PowerMax canisters, inserted underneath and from behind, to run the 10,000 BTU stove burner on the right and the 10,000 BTU grill on the left. The 145 sq. in grill had a non-stick coated surface. This grill stove, also in Pat Ring’s collection, was made in the same period as the PowerMax lanterns above. It also featured “automatic matchless lighting” and “precise flame adjustment.”
The Northstar lantern, Model 2500-750G, is the current top of the line propane lantern. The one on the left with the amber globe is dated July ’02 and the one on the right with the clear globe is dated Jan ’02. The lanterns, in Brien Page’s collection, feature electronic ignition and produce 550cp from the tubular mantle.
Coleman sold this Model 5132 Compact PerfectFlow propane lantern in the early 2000s. The globe is stamped Made in Germany on the other side. This small model came with an attached chain to hang it. This version was match lighting but a piezo ignition version was also available. The light output is adjustable with a burn time of up to 12 hours. This lantern is in Jeff Studer’s collection.
This Model Coleman 9400 propane stove is a larger unit that uses 20 lb propane tanks for fuel. Each of the two burners is rated at 100,000 BTU’s. This stove, in Brien Page’s collection, is date stamped March, 2004 and was made in China but was designed and engineered in Wichita, Kansas.
Coleman’s Exponent Excursion lantern 9970-725 was assembled in China. This 10 cp lantern uses Powermax fuel which is no longer produced. The lantern requires a match to light and will run for 6 hours. The lantern has a sliding rear reflector (middle image) and sliding front globe protector (right image). The box is dated October, 2004. This lantern is in John Rugotzke’s collection.
Coleman’s Model 9975 Exponent Luminos is undated but appears in a 2009 Coleman catalog (Ring). This model is lighter, includes electronic ignition and a small flashlight in the base (left image), has 3 folding legs, and a cable hanger rather than a fixed wire as on the above model. It also uses the discontinued Powermax fuel. This lantern is in John Rugotzke’s collection.
Brien Page reports that this Coleman Model 9933 propane skillet does a great job of cooking eggs, sausage, bacon, and everything else they have tried on camp outs.
This Coleman Model 5156-700 Lighthouse Lamp Lantern, in Ken and Carol Lunney’s collection, is undated but the box indicates it was made in 2001 and has Patents Pending. This model uses a standard propane cartridge and 21A mantle (Corey).
This butane fueled Model 5156-750 is from the same series and time period as Model 5156-700 above (Corey). The lamp differs from Model 5156-700 in using butane cartridges and takes the same #9970 mantle as Excursion lanterns. The butane cartridges were discontinued around 2005. This lamp is in Ron Drake’s collection.
Coleman’s Serenade Model 5157 propane table lamp (left) and Model 9980-750 butane patio light (right) followed model 5156 above. Both feature electronic ignition, a conical heat shield that helps reflect light out, frosted globes, and black enamel ventilators. The light on the right is in Brien Page’s collection.
Coleman produced the 2600 Series pinnacle lanterns in 2008 and ’09 (Ring). This lantern, in Brien Page’s collection, uses a 16.4 oz. propane cylinder, has electronic ignition, and is 550 cp with adjustable brightness from a #95 tube style mantle. The top of the lantern stores inside the base when the fuel bottle is removed.
This Northern Nova Model 2555 Coleman propane lantern uses two #95 mantles and is Coleman’s brightest current lantern model (October, 2017), producing nearly 240 cp at its highest setting to a distance of 32.5m away, per their website. The lantern, in Jay Tew’s collection, features electronic ignition and adjustable fuel flow to control brightness.
Coleman also makes this Elite Pro propane lantern (October 2019). It uses two No. 21 mantles and may be up to 15% brighter than a standard Coleman two mantle propane lantern, according to the Canadian Tire website that sells this red ventilator version. This lantern, in Greg Rubin’s collection, also has electronic ignition, adjustable brightness, and a plastic base with retractable feet.
© 2000-2026 Terry Marsh