thorium glow whiter that modern stuff. the Radioactivity hsa nothing to do with it howver.
Its just an all around better material for mantles but its gone out of style here. They are still made over seas and I have a source ( Amish fellow ) who sell only premium parts and throium mantles.
Properly tuned lanterns don't stink, lanterns in good order do not explode ( or bad ones for that matter never seen one explode ).
http://s426.photobucket.com/albums/pp344/Dougwp/?action=view¤t=100_9127.jpgKerosene is a safer fuel to use indors but as you cansee in this picture some table lamos were made that were gasoline fired like this for indoor use. Yes thats a table lamp that burns gasoline guys.....
DANGERThat " Brytlite " is a bad lantern putting gasoline in it is risky it was never designed for it, can;t be tuned to to burn properly on it and has a design weakness that could result in a leak and fire ball. NEVER EVER use gasoline in a Petromax style lantern. If they weep a little fuel from the pump as often happens and its kerosene its a just a mess,if its gasoline it is an accident. Thats and the Brylite is a cheap Chinese peice of crap.
The 237 however was designed at Coleman's Toronto factory in the 1930s and started life a as gasoline lantern ( the 236 Major and it was actualy a pump up version of the american designed 242 series ) later addpted to gasoline it has built in safety featurs that the Eroupean kerosene lanterns never had built into them like the double safety of a check vlave inthe pump and a possitive looking air stem to ensure no leaks. All parts are furnace brazed not soldered and no lead seals are used.
Another word of warning in the early 1970s Canadian Coleman designed a new series of lanterns to replace the older 242 and 236 all that brass and cast part/machining was getting to expensive so the all stamped steel two post was born. One of the places they trued to improve things was the the use of O rings to seal the valve.
This was the 321 series, and the O rings failed . All modern Coleman products evolved from the 321 and leasons learned. Do if you have a 321 or any of the early ones stop using them and have the valve rebuilt before you have an accident AND make sure the heat shield is in place to keep the heat off that valve
Right now and for how long no ones knows you can still buy a few good Coleman lanterns the 639B for example is the best kerosene they make. But if you look closely you see the Canadian style 2 post burner frame and the nig buldge globe from its 236 cousin.
But its not a 237.........
Oh ya best stove toss up between the 530 pocket stove and the 500 speedmaster. I like the Canadian speed master myself because it will also burn just about any clean gasoline ( non lead ) and Kerosene with realy good heta and flame control. The 530 pocket stove is a civilian version of the US army GI stove from WW2 and it will burn any gasolline leaded or white ( but not kerosene ) and its light and very easy to carry on a hike.
There are modern stoves but they suck ( exception expensive premium stoves MRS stoves and anything made in Eroupe ).....
Here's more cool pictures
http://s426.photobucket.com/albums/pp344/Dougwp/Coleman%20stuff/