Even Better Than The Old Dietz Hurricane Oil Lantern?

Adam reviews the WT Kirkman Hurricane Lantern -- Is this an improved upon version of the traditional Dietz Oil Lantern? You bet.

Is it better than a modern LED lantern? You'll have to be the judge.

[gongcyclist]

It's really important when rating lights to not have the light source in frame. The light source steals all the contrast and washes out the background. This is also true of *using* a lantern. You'll just get night blindness if you hold it in front of you. Best to hold it out beside you out of your field of vision. The best demonstration was in the pantry... when the lamp was out of frame you could read the labels quite clearly. While not living up to modern standards I would say the lamp seems to do a fine job of providing a light source in an emergency.

[twiz]

I have owned one of these for years. Mine was 100% tight when I first bought it, but after 7 or 8 years it began to leak. I used the KBS Coatings 5200 Gold Standard Tank Sealer and back to good as new. I used the tank sealer on both the inside and outside of the tank.I also bought the hooded reflector and lined the underside with HVAC mirror reflective duct tape and it help throw a lot more light though you have to hang it to get the full effect of the mirrored hood.

[culpepper]

I lit my 1976 Dietz Comet last night in a pitch black garage. I could see everything in the garage fine. And the comet is very small…
Nothing better in a SHTF situation imo.
I have about 12 of these ranging from 1886 to the 1930s. Dietz and Feurhand… very cool and useful things to collect.

[Lollygagger-kp]

I see the problem here:
The wick was trimmed straight across. For best results, it should be trimmed to a low point, like a pyramid. The shape of the flame when trimmed straight across remains flat and short. When properly trimmed to a point, the flame shape is like an arrow head - tall and as wide as the wick. This results in a clean burning flame without having to turn it down to avoid the oily soot.

This is a very large lantern, and should be able to produce around 12-14 candle power when trimmed and adjusted properly. My much smaller Dietz #10's reportedly produce about 7-9 CP. Not much, but get several of them going and your eyes will do the rest. Great for inside my truck topper or tent.

Tip 1: Use parrafin lamp oil not kerosene for less smell and much cleaner results.
Tip 2: Place a small mirror behind the lantern to double the light - or - make a shiny semi-circular snap -in reflector from polished metal to install on one side of the lantern. This makes a reflector to point the light - and a shield so you aren't blinded when using it outside at camp.

[johnwyman]

If you want much more usable light from kerosene or that type of oil, the best I know of is an Aladdin mantle lamp. It has a mantle like a Coleman camping lantern except it has no hiss. Although they can only be used indoors they are more aesthetically pleasing which may be more acceptable to your girl.
If you don't care that it's oil powered, or adds heat, and you want the simplest, brightest, cleanest, and very affordable form of off grid lighting, then take a look at those large panel solar yard lights that you can plug into the grass during the day to charge up, then bring inside to light up the place during the night time.
They are also great to bring camping too.

[sandirobinson]

Yup. Frankly, for practical use - after decades of camping and lots of power outages thanks to my rural co-op electrical supplier - for cooking and reading, nothing beats an LED headlamp. It's simply the best way to focus a lot of light right where you need it. Haha - and this is coming from somebody who LOVES her oil lamps.

[davids]

They make a great night light. Just don't leave it running while you sleep. I store mine with oil in it so the bottom doesn't rust out.

[sandjleather]

We have 2 of these with the shades and food cooker plates. Always perform great during power outage’s.

[paranrs]

Kerosene lanterns are quite usable, and this video does not show them accurately. If you look at the video at the 4:15 mark you can see the lantern is putting out perfectly usable light. But as soon as he moves the lantern into the frame the camera adjusts the light balance to compensate for the bright flame and it looks like the room goes dark. Any parts of the video where the lantern is in the frame will not accurately show the light levels.

My wife and I enjoy kerosene lanterns as a primary light source in the evenings. We use electric light for specific jobs, like washing dishes, but generally speaking the bright electric light is completely unnecessary for basics. We're perfectly able to even read a book by the light from a kerosene lamp.

I would also like to recommend a product called "Seal All." It is a fuel proof adhesive that is very useful for sealing seams and pinholes in kerosene lantern tanks. Rinse the fount with acetone, squirt about a third of a tube of Seal All into the fount, add maybe half to one ounce of acetone to thin the Seal All, rotate the lantern until the acetone mixes with the Seal All and the mixture coats the inside thoroughly. The mixture is thick enough that it will not seep through the pinholes/cracks/seams. Then let it dry in a well ventilated place for about 8 hours or so. I generally let a lantern sit in the sun, or just let it dry overnight. The next day it will be leakproof. Clean up any spillage with acetone before it dries. I've used this method for the past 10 years on many leaky antique lanterns. I've never had an issue. It's fast, easy to clean up, and works 100% of the time.

[TonyM]

They keep you warm in the outhouse! And you will find the paper.

[robc.]

I like the old westerns where they show a ton of light coming out of these type lanterns, Must have been 100 of them in the barn.

[brentstantonfun]

Been to WT Kirkman in SoCal. They are an Amazing Family business with a rich heritage that has a unique link to the Hollywood Film industry rebuilding and providing these classic and even more elaborate lamps for props and set dressing. I went to their facilities on a whim one day and they gave me a personal tour all through their facility. Met with the bench table craftsmen that build and restore these fabulous working pieces of History. For me? I bought a classic #2 style lantern that I use as a nice mood and display piece in my living room as well as every once in a great while during a power outage. …however the Best item they provided me?… for a memorial gift for a family who’s patriarch had passed away, who happened to be at one time a volunteer fire chief… they made a solid brass old carriage style Fireman’s Lantern complete with the Deep Blue Glass that Signified it was for a Fire Dept. It sits on a fireplace mantel now next to the Urn of the man. And they will light the lantern from time to time to remember him. On Christmases when the rest of the family is gathered all around, they can look to that light to remember their father and grandfather.

[threeriversforge]

Just came off 8 days without electricity due to Hurricane Hellene whipping on through the area. My oil lamps were worth their weight in gold, honestly. Everything I had that was battery-powered, with the exception of my Surefire running CR123's, was dead in the water b/c the batts were dead. The oil lamps don't put out tons of light, sure, but they functioned perfectly the whole time. You certainly need more than one. I ran two 'decorative oil lamps and two hurricane lamps, as well as some tiny candles tucked here and yon. Overall, the house was very well-lit and I could easily move around without worrying about tripping or stubbing a toe. The real big saving grace was just being relieved. I had zero need to try finding batteries at the one store that had power. I didn't need to worry that any batteries I found would then run out and I'd need to get more batteries. The oil lamps can run on kerosene, lamp oil, or diesel, all of which I already had on hand. That peace of mind was so very important to me when the times were trying. It was just one less thing to worry about. Plus, I looked awesome as I sat there reading my Ashley Book of Knots by lamplight! I don't think I'll ever go back to any kind of modern light unless it runs on CR123 batteries. For emergencies, Old Tech is definitely the way to go because you know it'll work just like it worked for our ancestors these last centuries.

[bobclifton]

We had these when I was a kid. They worked fine and gave off plenty of light to do what needed to be done. Coleman lamps were a bit brighter.

[grAussie]

I noticed in the video your lantern was really dark compared to a lot of others.

Personally I run kerosene through mine with a 20mm wick, cut flat.

The key is to dial them up until you see soot and then back a touch until there is no soot, that will achieve maximum burn.

A well maintained and well adjusted lantern should be comparable to most phone torches except displayed in warm colour.

I truly love these old lanterns, very practical and cozy.

[bluenetmarketing]

You are right, there is not a lot of light. You have to be within three feet of it to comfortably read a book. It can help some to put a mirror behind the lantern.

[oinc]

The lantern needs to heat at least 10 minutes. To get the full brightness, the reason is the oil is cold. As the flame heats the bottom of the lantern it will heat the oil, which causes it to flow easier up the wick.

Don't turn it up max brightest during the heating, you will smoke the glass.

Cut off all the burnt, carbon on the wick, cut a flat top, kiss cut off, ever so slightly the corners at 45 degrees. I do mean slightly. It will get rid of the devil ears.

Get a reflector that slides over the handle. This makes a huge difference.

I use 2 lanterns with my backyard hammock, they throw enough light.

We have another brand, in addition to these out door barn lantern you can read by them. Very long tall shinny chimney, wide wicks and a frosted ball glass shade goes over the chimney.

They are annoying to look at without the shade.

These things are just fun to use.
Recall camping, night fishing with one.

[sandirobinson]

Kirkman sells reflector shades for lanterns - for sure Dietz, probably their own brand, and I think now Feuerhand, too. They help a bit. I have a hook set high in the kitchen for my Dietz D-Lites with the Kirkman simple galvanized shade. Focuses the light downward - which makes a good bit of difference. Can cook by the light, anyway. Added - I use the Dietz D-Lites or Blizzards because they have a 7/8 wick. Also Air Pilot and Jupiter are 7/8 size wick. Don't even bother with the others unless you don't care about useable light.

[TheRunAndGun]

Useable light: The problem with the inherent design of the old style lanterns is you often times have to look THROUGH the flame (light source) at what you are illuminating. I take a piece of galvanize flashing metal and slide it behind the globe (outside) at a reflector/shade. That way your aren’t ruining your own night vision capability staring in to the flame at what you are illuminating. You can also carry the lantern down low at an angle that the chimney obstructs the flame to accomplish the same thing.

Why bother? The LED doesn’t heat your tent/camper/room for you in cold weather.

[chucknaill]

Does the LED drawn in bugs? Just finished a weekend using a Dietz and Embury with no bugs.