Trackside illumination prior to electric lighting

Ed Horan · **Joined:** Fri Dec 18, 2015 8:30 pm **Posts:** 92

Coleman lanterns are a flood light, while the Tilley light has a reflector to make it a spot light.
Coleman used to use Thorium in their mantles, and now use Yttrium. Thorium is slightly radioactive, but produces a whiter light. Thorium mantles are still produced. Peerless is the brand name and they are a superior product to what Coleman is now selling.

G. W. Laepple · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 5:10 pm **Posts:** 1182

My Amish neighbors use propane lamps in their houses and barns. In fact, at a nearby foundry, they have a number of lights with two mantles mounted atop a four-foot length of pipe on top of 25-pound propane tank. Make a wonderful bright white light.

Ed Horan · **Joined:** Fri Dec 18, 2015 8:30 pm **Posts:** 92

The Amish are the folks keeping the Thorium mantles in production.