I collect antiques and put them on display in our little old farm house. The difference between me and some other collectors is, most everything I collect and display, I also use. These days, most things a person buys gets used till it is broken, which often comes quick, and then is thrown away and forgotten. Worst part is, sometimes it was bought on credit and it is not even paid off yet.
Old time things were made to be used, and they were made to be repaired. So when I buy antiques, it is to use them, not to just set them on a shelf for people to look at. Some of the antiques I have bought have been tools for the shop, and some have been things for the kitchen, or furniture that is still in very good condition. Some things have been from the 1960’s, and some have been much older.
Yesterday we decided to go to town and walk around some antique shops. I only found two things I could not possibly leave behind, but one, a hand cranked drill, turned out to be broken right in the cast iron, and I left it be. The other was a 1973 Coleman gas lantern priced at only $20, and by the time I had gotten it home and fully inspected it, was in almost brand new condition. It only appears to have been lit one or two times! Every piece, every gasket, seemed like new, with the only blemishes being a little black spot on the top, and a little bit of chrome flake on the frame, but I am not even sure that counts as dammage. It cleaned up like new.
I have been wanting one of these to work after dark in the gardens in summer when it is too hot to do it in the daylight. I never could convince myself it was the time to spend on a new one, though. But at $20, who could turn down the opportunity? Especially when all the other lanterns I found were in much worse shape, and more than twice the price!
This is exactly the kind of thing I look for in an antique! I want something that is old, reliable, and still very useable! It needs mantles to be absolutely sure it will work, but without them, it does exactly as it should, pumps up, holds pressure, spits a very little fuel from the burner.
It’s my first gas lantern, and by the way I am going on about it, I am sure you can tell. It is nearly as old as I am, and I think that makes us partners for life. I’ll just confirm it is working when the mantles arrive, and that will be it!
I think this lantern will be a helpful and wonderful addition to our little farmette!