Colman lamps

[Poignard]

Anybody used these lamps for interior lighting?

Yes but never again without being sure to use very clean fuel and being in attendance!

I lit the lamp (Chinese Tilley type) and hung it up in the saloon. Suddenly the flow of paraffin to the burner was interrupted momentarily by a bit of dirt. The clean flame went out for a few seconds, then there was an almighty whoosh and a large yellow flame appeared. A cloud of dense black smoke rolled across the deckhead and left a film of soot.

However, when working properly it did produce a lot of light but I think the other two wick lights we use are safer; and they make no noise

 

[CreakyDecks]

In the Far East you find Chinese-made versions with two mantles, even brighter.

The Coleman one with twin mantles is the Powerhouse, it's a cheaper one than the North Star. The North Star has a single long tubular mantle that gives off more light than the two small ones on the Powerhouse and is less fragile (as mantles go anyway!) I bought four new spare mantles when I bought the lamp, having had difficulty getting spares for the other lamps I've had, and I've still got them all eight years later! For my money there is no comparison between the petrol and parafin lights, petrol wins hands down, but what makes it so easy to light and what makes it burn so brightly is the same thing that makes me not want it on my boat. I'll stick to electrickery.