Banned is a strong word and I don't think that will be the case. However, some/many stores may discontinue it due to lack of demand. A product not regularly selling takes up valuable shelf space. Most folks now seem to want batteries for their lanterns and propane for their stoves.
To me it's interesting that in fact Coleman fuel continues to be widely available, while new white gas stoves are not. Recently I talked about my purchase of a new "Guide Series" Coleman 2-burner white gas stove, off of the retail shelf. One of the reasons I bought it was simply to support that they are still making them, even if only, as I speculate, a manufacturing run now and then. But Coleman fuel I always see plenty of at the big sporting goods stores. No doubt it's because there are in fact a lot of users still out there. The Coleman white gas suitcases were sold in untold millions in the postwar world in the US, and it seems like every family had one, whether they used it, or used it much. Baby boomers in their tens of millions grew up with them and used them with their families in turn. I always did so, and there are many hardcore car campers amongst my progeny using them. So the reservoir of users is still very big. The stoves themselves are a very durable thing. It will, no doubt, eventually fade away. But not yet.
This thread started in 2004 is a great snapshot about trends when reading through it completely. I was in a local sport store that had no white fuel for sale or anything to consume the fuel for sale. Everything runs off of propane these days. very little tinkering in the winter with modern propane stoves, projects are a must for the winters, tinkering with a old stove or lamp and our garden is some good therapy in life.
I too started in the ‘60’s with my Coleman single burner. Never went the way of the three burner, but have three two burners. I have the propane conversion and have used it, but get better heat from liquid fuel. Now that lead hasn’t been in gas for decades, any marine fuel works great. I converted all my lanterns to kerosene and get better mileage and light output. The stoves are all to big when hunting from a blind. I carried a Primus 71 that had been to the arctic on a north Pole expedition. Then I found an Optimus 8r and Radius 46 that sit better on the ground. My latest addition is a Coleman 530-A47. I found NOS stove and a lantern parts so I am good to go. My best lantern came from Truth or Consequences NM: a 1926 two mantle ‘Sunshine of the Night’ Quicklite. That’s my brightest kero burner. I love the smell of white gas in the morning….
@Moist nugget Hereabouts the Coleman fuel equivalent (Shellite) is sold as a cleaning agent in hardware stores, and never seen (nor the stoves that use it) in camping stores. A quick search online confirms my impression- most Australian camping stores don't stock the stuff, but it's available quite easily at hardware outlets.
+1 on the welcome, @Bamasotan As for conversion, Coleman lanterns are easily adapted either direction, as you are probably aware, @snwcmpr.
I lean towards Classic, and am not one to alter a classic. I can appreciate others doing it though. I have kerosene in one of my 425s. But, not electric.
Thanks all for the welcome! Clarification: the T or C Quiklite is a lantern ( I have a pair) and I have 3 Quiklite BARN lanterns. The standard lanterns had isenglas and had to be replaced with glass. You must disassemble to light. The barn lanterns have an own glass wind shield with a glass shade those are easier to light. Also have 10 others; #129, 134, 143 pr, 158k, 168k pr, 200a, CL2. This in addition to my 13 Aladdin’s. One is the Super Aladdin - London. But I digress. This is a stove site. I got my Radius 46 new from the store I was working in back in the late ‘60’s. A customer bought it and returned it because they couldn’t get it to light. The boss told me to take it home and see if I could get it to work. I couldn’t and it sat there. For 50 years. I had my Primus 71 that never failed to light so I ignored the Radius. I found my Optimus 8r at a flea market and that fired right up too. I had my 502 with the heater attachment for winter camping along with the suitcases. Then I found this site recently. The disassembly of the radius proceeded and I discovered that the wick was almost totally pulled out of the feed tube. I shoved it back in, reassembled, and now have the Radius working like a charm also. But if I have to fry fish for a group, the large two burner Coleman and two #8 Griswold cast iron skillets come out. Mom and I cook 20 pounds of walleye filets in under 8 minutes. I now have my wife convinced that blue flames beat orange glow (electric) every time. And after 45 years, I finally trust her with my cast iron. Love this site.
There are two sources for mica chimneys for lanterns, with or w/o a lighting door. I have maybe 6 lanterns now with replacements, Coleman and AGM lanterns. Duane
Fred Kuntz, Rob, can't recall Rob's info, he is a ICCC member, fast turn around, Fred is getting along in his years. Duane
Preheater cup and an R55 generator and away you go. A little alcohol in the cup, light it, and just as it’s going out, open the fuel valve for a quick squirt of fuel. Once the mantles start burning bright, let ‘er rip. Kero stores so much better than gas and doesn’t get old.
