Candle Lantern: Safely use in a tent? How to clean?

[Patrick Corry]

This is my candle lantern, owned originally by my great grandfather. It's got a thin metal/soldered seam case with a dedicated tube internally for a slender candle. It's about the size of a cigar case. The glass panes hinge on all four sides, and the top and bottom interlock with tiny folded upper and lower edges of the panes to create a tightly fitted, secure closed lantern with a slide bolt closure. Ingenious. Shown here on a canoe seat I'm currently caning for a restoration. It's not outrageously heavy, and I regularly carried the lantern when I was young and strong. I only used it when leanto camping in the Adirondacks. It's certainly viable still for canoe tripping, but I doubt I would use it in my tent!

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

This is my candle lantern, owned originally by my great grandfather. It's got a thin metal/soldered seam case with a dedicated tube internally for a slender candle. It's about the size of a cigar case. The glass panes hinge on all four sides, and the top and bottom interlock with tiny folded upper and lower edges of the panes to create a tightly fitted, secure closed lantern with a slide bolt closure. Ingenious. Shown here on a canoe seat I'm currently caning for a restoration. It's not outrageously heavy, and I regularly carried the lantern when I was young and strong. I only used it when leanto camping in the Adirondacks. It's certainly viable still for canoe tripping, but I doubt I would use it in my tent!
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Patrick, that's an interesting piece of equipment and surely a valued family heirloom.

Pictured on nice canoe seats. Is that real or artificial cane?

It's about the size of a cigar case.

I was a Camel guy. Know nothing about cigars or their cases. Is it bigger than a Steve Allen bread box? (What's My Line - 1953)

 

[Patrick Corry]

Haha, I also smoked unfiltered Camels! Until I wised up and got healthier. The seat is a mahogany frame and real cane in the 7 step method. The last step (7th) is the binder cane around the perimeter. The case is probably 3/4" x 4"x6". That's a pair of Ash seats in the background.

 

[scoutergriz]

Haha, I also smoked unfiltered Camels! Until I wised up and got healthier. The seat is a mahogany frame and real cane in the 7 step method. The last step (7th) is the binder cane around the perimeter. The case is probably 3/4" x 4"x6". That's a pair of Ash seats in the background.

I used to smoke Pall Mall unfiltered, not because they were good though- because they were cheap and nobody ever wanted to bum one...

 

[ppine]

I used to use a candle lantern. Most of them are not that stable. I do not like the risk in a tent.

There are so many good battery operated lights now. I like headlamps, stationary electric lanterns and small rechargeable LED lights.

 

[Odyssey]

As a young tripping family we were enthusiastic about candle lanterns of different sizes; from 1 to 4 candles per. But on one trip our son accidentally touched the top of the big lantern during a card game and that changed everything. As a nervous dad the risks became insurmountable to me. ie I became even more nervous, ha. From then on we left the candles at home and went artificial. Batteries baby!
Crazily I do light up candles at home. I was too nervous to continue with the oil lamps (we lived thru lots of power outs for years), but I do like pleasant home scents besides wood smoke and good cooking. So I'm into smokeless safer candles around the home. But camping?
Look away from the fire and let your eyes adjust. Enjoy the smoke scent. Carry a headlamp dangling round your neck just in case.

 

[Gamma1214]

I was too nervous to continue with the oil lamps (we lived thru lots of power outs for years)

LOL We lost power for about 3 hours yesterday evening. I fired up the old white gas Coleman lantern right on the coffee table. Enough light to read by and a little heat as a bonus.

 

[ppine]

We did a lot of camping and traveling around even in winter when we were young. I remember a trip in the snow that was really cold, Oregon I think. I have vivid recollections of being in the back of a pickup with a canopy on it. We have 5 people in there with a Coleman gas lantern. The amount of heat it generated was astounding in a small space.

 

[Penns Woods]

We did a lot of camping and traveling around even in winter when we were young. I remember a trip in the snow that was really cold, Oregon I think. I have vivid recollections of being in the back of a pickup with a canopy on it. We have 5 people in there with a Coleman gas lantern. The amount of heat it generated was astounding in a small space.

As a young family, We did a lot of camping in are old canvas tent. My son was very young at the time and the wife needed light so we used the Coleman gas lantern. To my surprise it gave off enough heat to keep the tent comfortable. From that time on I used the lantern to help heat the tent.

 

[jdeerfoot]

On a Wabakimi Project trip many years ago Uncle Phil used a small Coleman stove to dry out our tents. 2009 was a very rainy year in NW Ontario and after a few days our tents became sodden. We erected the tents and while they were empty he carefully placed the stove in the tent while it was in a pot lid . Within a few minutes the tent was dry (until the next rain shower).

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Rereading the thread, this caught my attention...

I've mainly only used candles in the shoulder seasons to add a little heat for changing and to drive off some condensation....

I had forgotten about that benefit. It really does make a difference in a two man backpacking tent. Might have to give that another chance.