Ceramic Burner Caps

[JLush]

My latest project was a cleanup on a 202 with a ceramic burner cap. Got me curious - what was the reasoning behind using that over the standard metal cap with wire screen? Only the early 202s had that, correct? Any others in the Coleman line? Have also seen versions on the auction site sized to fit 200s and 242s and advertised as "silent nozzles". I've got to admit, the flame pattern out of a ceramic cap is pretty!

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[Leviticus_Tomethreus]

Some 200s also had them

[SteveRetherford]

237's too .

[hikerduane]

I think I gave away a 200A with one last summer. Whoops!
Duane

[Whitegas Extraordinaire]

I was looking for a birthday lantern for someone a few weeks ago. Went into the loft and turned over a couple. The third one is an early steel 228 with ceramic burner caps. Unfortunately there was no globe and I missed the loose ceramic cap in the frame. Needless to say it’s now a two piece ceramic burner cap. Ugg!

[AtLarge]

Nice shot!

[Ridge_Runner]

Yea, as far as the 202s go, they’re on the early ones.

They are pretty cool looking. I’ve got one on my 6-‘55 200A but haven’t fired it yet since the rebuild. Neat to actually see one in action!

[coleman54]

Besides the lanterns mentioned above, and other competitors that have also used them, radiant heaters and some urn burners also had them. Here is a 12 inch burner that had 48 ceramic burner caps.

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[Gunhippie]

Early-to-mid-'50s 200As had them. I have one BB that has one and I know somewhere there's a '53 or so.

[Tgarner01]

Besides the lanterns mentioned above, and other competitors that have also used them, radiant heaters and some urn burners also had them. Here is a 12 inch burner that had 48 ceramic burner caps.

E4302970-DEE7-47F7-982C-AD7E8879FF16.png

48 7/8" burner caps!!! Talk about BTUs!! Thanks for sharing Larry.. Just when a guy thinks he's seen everything Coleman, something else surprises him

[Rubing]

Many 200A black bands had ceramic burner caps

[CaptainFantastic]

I've got a 243B with one on

[JLush]

Thanks. Sounds like they were used on several models in the early to mid '50's so it was more of a timeframe than a model specific thing? Any insights as to why they were introduced and why they were then abandoned in favor of the steel mesh style? Any inherent advantages or disadvantages over the mesh type? And thanks for the compliment on the picture. It did turn out nice and I'd like to use it for my avatar if I could only figure out how to size and crop it to fit...

[CaptainFantastic]

I'd like to use it for my avatar if I could only figure out how to size and crop it to fit...

and as if by magic it happened! nice photo and a very cool avatar

[JLush]

I'd like to use it for my avatar if I could only figure out how to size and crop it to fit...

and as if by magic it happened! nice photo and a very cool avatar

That looks great - thank you for doing that! I don't care what anyone says about Elbonian tech support - you're tops in my book...

[Mister_Wilson]

I'm guessing the cap with screen is much cheaper to produce.

[brokenmantle]

my early 200 has one.

[MartyJ]

I'm guessing the cap with screen is much cheaper to produce.

This would be my guess. The laws of economics suggest that a company always reviews the costs of production. Coleman was and is producing a quality product but must meet or exceed competitor pricing and quality. If they can produce a steel product that is cheaper to make, less expensive to produce and less fragile, why not? They also may have been supplied by another manufacturer who raised costs or ceased production. Likely we will never know for sure.

[Gavercronos]

I've noticed on my Petromaxes that the ceramic burner caps always need tightening. The brass ones on the most-often used Coleman lanterns sometimes loosen too, but:
1) Far less frequently. I don't have to check it every single time.
2) If I miss it and it does fall down while the lantern's going, the brass cap just screws back on once it's cool enough to do so, within a few minutes the lantern's rocking a new mantle and making light again. The ceramic cap shatters when it falls and the lantern is now out of service.
If it was 1955 and you only had the one lantern because it was your camping (or work!) lantern and not part of a collection of them, which situation would you prefer to be in?

[rob_pontius]

I have a few nos ceramic caps for a 237. Some of my black bands have them as well as some mid 50's 200a's. I've heard of others finding them on 242's, but I don't know if they were original on them or not.

[adelcoro]

These burners caps were factory installed on Canadian 1952-53 236 237 200 models .
Not sure about US models

[Brenneman]

These burners caps were factory installed on Canadian 1952-53 236 237 200 models .
Not sure about US models

And the Canadian 238B model