This is my bailiwick. I collect Coleman appliances. I’ve got over 100 lanterns, ranging from Air-o-Lanterns from about 1917 to the modern Grey Dual fuels. I’ve “only” got a couple dozen stoves, of the single burner and suitcase variety. No, I’m not a hoarder! Yes, they all run. There are guys that make me look like an amateur.
The basic designs have not changed in 100 years. They’ve switched to using Schrader valves to control fuel flow on the lanterns, instead of precision machined brass, but the theory of operation is still the same. The Stove valves are almost identical to those used in the 1930’s, as the schrader valves worked poorly on the stoves for some reason.
The modern “dual fuel” suitcase stoves like the 414 and 424 are virtually identical to the white gas 413 and 425 models that were made starting in the late 1940’s. Stamped burner assemblies and all. Primary differences are all in the generator, They’ve modified it to make it able to atomize unleaded fuel more efficiently.
Older suitcase stove with cast iron burner assemblies are sought after by collectors.
When these appliances were originally being designed there was no such thing as “camp fuel”. All gasoline was low octane “white gas” suitable for something like a Ford Model T with 4.5:1 compression ratios. In the 1930’s refineries started adding tetraethyl lead and other compounds to lubricate the valves and allow the higher compression engines in the “new” cars to operate without premature detonation and pinging.
By the early 1960’s it was difficult enough to find “white gas” that Coleman and others started packaging naphtha so you didn’t have lead in your pancakes. If you are lucky enough to live near the Amish, you can sometimes still find it at the pump.
For the record, you CAN run kerosene in a Coleman suitcase stove. It will require a preheat of the generator, as kerosene is far less volatile than gasoline, you also will not be able to vary the flame, as the kerosene requires pretty much full throttle heat to keep it atomizing and to prevent coking inside the generator. If you “need” to run kerosene you are really better off with a euro stove.
It’s also common to add kerosene to lantern fuel, Kerosene has a bit more BTU/Gal, so you get a brighter light.
What I like is that I can still go to the store and buy generators and supplies for lanterns and stoves that haven’t been manufactured since my grandfather was in knee-shorts.
