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In 1902 William C. Coleman started The Hydro-Carbon Light Company which became The Coleman Company. They were the largest producer of kerosene and gasoline irons, and they were in the iron business from around 1914 to 1985.
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COLEMAN NAME TIMELINE
1902-1906 --- Hydro-Carbon Company
1912-1926 --- The Coleman Lamp Company
1921 --- Coleman-Toronto plant opens
1927-1933 --- The Coleman Lamp & Stove Company
1933-1945 --- The Coleman Lamp and Stove Company
Late 1940's --- Coleman Lamp & Stove Company of Canada changed
thier name to The Canadian Coleman Company, LTD
1945 to present --- The Coleman Company, Inc.
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Coleman of Wichita, Kansas distributed other manufacturer's irons from 1914 to around 1926 and then they manufactured their own irons from around 1927 to 1948.
Coleman of Toronto, Canada distributed irons made by Monitor Sad Iron Company from around 1924 to 1927, and then manufactured their own irons from around 1928 to 1985.
Coleman was one for never wasting parts. If it could be used on another iron, then that is what they did. This resulted in a lot of different variations of these irons.
The irons pictured are in order of model number.
This Coleman Liquid Fuel Irons list was put together by Theo Vandenberk and Jack Horbal. It was printed in the September 2023 issue of Pressing News, a quarterly periodical put out by PITCA (Pressings Irons and Trivet Collectors of America). This is an incredibly useful list!
2nd page of the Coleman Liquid Fuel Irons list. I would add the Coleman Canada Model No.11 kerosene iron and the Coleman Canada Model 12C iron to this list.
American Gas Machine of Albert Lea, Minnesota made these sidecar irons for other companies to sell as their own. This one was made for the Incandescent Light and Supply Company of Wichita, Kansas around 1912. Incandescent Light called this iron "Peerless Self-Heating Flat Iron".
These were the first irons distributed by Coleman Wichita. Coleman acquired the Incandescent Light and Supply company in 1914, and a surplus of these irons came along with that acquisition.
Top view of this Incandescent Light and Supply iron.
Starting around 1917, Coleman Wichita started to distribute either this E-Z Hydrocarbon Sad Iron produced by Enterprise Tool & Metal Works of Chicago, Illinois, or the Hydrocarbon iron below. Both irons are identical except for the embossing on the top plate.
E-Z Sad Iron showing the Enterprise Tool & Metal Works name engraved on the base of the handle.
Hydrocarbon iron produced by Enterprise Tool & Metal Works of Chicago, Illinois. Either the iron above, or this iron was distributed by Coleman Wichita starting in 1917.
Top view of the Hydrocarbon iron. Hard to read on the handle base but it is engraved "Patented Oct. 27, 1914".
The Sunshine Iron was produced by the Monitor Sad Iron Company for the Sunshine Safety Lamp Company of Kansas City, Missouri. This iron was distributed by Coleman Wichita starting around 1919.
Sunshine Safety and Coleman had a close relationship and they made products for each other prior to the acquisition of Sunshine Safety by Coleman in 1923.
Top view of the Sunshine Iron.
There are questions as to which irons manufactured by Monitor were made for Coleman Wichita and which ones were made for Coleman Toronto. I will assume that the below information on The Coleman Iron (No.1) and on the No. 2 is correct, and will stick with it until refuting information is found.
The Coleman Iron made by The Monitor Sad Iron Company for Coleman Wichita. This was produced around 1919. This iron was also exported to Canada and sold in Canada.
Imported irons need to have their country of origin on them, so "MADE IN THE USA" would have been required on them if they were distributed in Canada.
Top view of The Coleman Iron made for Coleman Wichita.
This Coleman Iron was made by The Monitor Sad Iron Company for Coleman Canada for the Canadian market. You can tell it was made for Canada as it doesn't have "MADE IN THE USA" on it. This iron was produced around 1924.
Top view of The Coleman Iron made for Coleman Canada.
The Coleman Iron Model No.2 was made for Coleman Wichita by The Monitor Sad Iron Company. This iron was produced around 1925. In 1926 Coleman changed their name from The Coleman Lamp Company to the Coleman Lamp & Stove Company, and their badging on these two Model No.2 irons reflect that change.
Top view of The Coleman Iron Model No.2 made for Coleman Wichita showing the company name of The Coleman Lamp Company.
Top view of The Coleman Iron No.2 made for Coleman Wichita showing Coleman's name change to The Coleman Lamp & Stove Company. This iron was produced around 1926.
The Coleman Iron No.2 made by the Monitor Sad Iron Company for Coleman Canada.
Top view of The Coleman Iron No.2 made for Coleman Canada.
This is a very unique Coleman iron. This is believed to be a Model No.3 prototype, either made by Coleman between the between the No.2 and No.3 distributions, or made by Monitor for Coleman. It is believed that it has the Model No.2 tag because Coleman didn't waste anything and wanted this iron to be useable. This iron, in Theo Vandenberk's collection, would have been produced sometime between 1926 to 1928.
Other side view of Coleman Model No.3 prototype iron.
Top view of Coleman No.3 prototype iron showing a Model No.2 data tag on it.
Coleman Wichita Model No.3 is an upgrade from the gravity fed iron of the Model No.2, as it's tank now accepts an external pump for pressurizing the tank. There is a check valve in the fuel cap on the tank which prevents the pressure in the tank from leaking out. The Model No.3 iron was made from 1927 to 1928.
Top view of Coleman Wichita Model No.3 iron.
Coleman Wichita Model No.3 with the newer style tank. This tank style change seems to have taken place in the middle of the Model No.3 run.
Top view of another Coleman Model No.3 iron.
Coleman Wichita Model No.4 iron. This iron was produced 1929 to 1930.
Top view of Coleman Wichita Model No.4 iron with the iron information on a data tag on the base of the handle.
Another Coleman Wichita Model #4 iron. Only difference from the one above is that the iron info is engraved on the handle base versus a tag mounted to the handle base.
Top view of Coleman Wichita Model #4 iron with the iron information engraved on the handle base.
Coleman Lamp & Stove Co. of Wichita, Kansas produced Model 4A irons from 1930 thru 1949.
Top view of Coleman Wichita Model 4A iron with the iron info engraved on the base of the handle.
Coleman Lamp & Stove Co. of Toronto, Canada produced Model No.4A irons from 1930 thru 1949.
Top view of Coleman Canada Model No.4A with the iron info on a tag on the base of handle.
Another Coleman Canada Model 4-A Iron with the base of the handle showing the iron information engraved versus a tag as above.
Top view of Coleman Canada Model 4-A with engraved iron information on the base of the handle.
A Coleman Wichita Model 4-A iron with "Coleman" label on the tank.
Another Coleman Wichita Model 4-A iron with "Coleman" stamped on the tank.
A different tank style and color for this Coleman Wichita Model 4-A iron. The tank seam is below center, just like the Instant-Lighting Iron tank pictured near the bottom of this page. Just goes to show again that Coleman didn't waste anything and used leftover parts whenever they could.
Another different colored tank for the Coleman Wichita Model 4-A iron.
The 5 different tanks of the Coleman Model 4-A irons. Not pictured is a black painted tank for the black colored iron and there is a cream painted tank for the cream colored iron. It is believed that there was never a factory red painted tank for the red irons.
Coleman Canada made this beautiful art deco fluted Model 4-A iron.
Coleman Canada made this black colored Model 4A iron.
Coleman Canada made this black colored Model 4A iron with a black painted tank. This iron is in Theo Vandenberk's collection.
Coleman Canada made this red colored Model 4A iron.
Top view of these Coleman Canada Model 4A colored irons.
Coleman Canada made this white/cream colored Model 4A iron.
Coleman blue speckled Model 4A iron made in Australia by the Coleman Quick-Lite Co. of Australia, under arrangements with the Coleman Lamp & Stove Company of Canada.
Top view of Coleman blue speckled Model 4A iron made in Australia.
Coleman Wichita Model 4-B. It was made from 1947 to 1949 for export only. An example was found in Argentina and a picture of it will be posted once the picture is received. This iron is not in my collection.
Coleman Canada made this Model 4-C iron from 1947 to 1949. Around this time frame the company's name was changed to the Canadian Coleman Company Limited.
Top view of Coleman Canada Model 4-C iron.
Coleman Canada made this Model 4-D iron from 1947 to 1949.
Top view of Coleman Canada Model 4-D iron.
Coleman Canada made this Model 4-E iron until 1983.
Top view of Coleman Canada Model 4-E iron.
Coleman Wichita made this model 5 from 1930 to 1932. This model was called "Torch-Lite".
Hard to read top view of Coleman Wichita Model 5 iron.
Coleman Wichita Torch Generating Model 5. Same as the model 5 above but this one has a data tag versus the info being engraved on the base of the handle.
Top view of data tag for Coleman Wichita Model 5 iron.
Coleman Wichita Model 8 Good Value Iron with a nickel tank.
Coleman Wichita Model 8 top view
Coleman Wichita made this "Instant-Lite Iron" Model 8 around 1935. This iron has a silver painted tank.
Top view of very hard to read info on this Coleman Wichita Model 8 iron.
Another Coleman Wichita Instant-Lite Model No.8 iron. This one has a brown painted tank.
Top view of Coleman Wichita Model No.8 iron.
Coleman Wichita Model 8A "Good Value Iron". This iron was produced around 1937. This iron has a silver painted tank.
Top view of Coleman Wichita Model 8A iron.
Another Coleman Wichita Model 8A "Good Value Iron". This one has a brown painted tank. The external pump that came with this iron came painted brown to match the iron and to protect the pump from rusting, as this is a steel pump and the only steel pump I have seen. All other pumps I have are brass. This steel pump must have been produced during the WWII years when brass was in short supply due to it's need for war operations.
Top view of Coleman Wichita Model 8A Good Value Iron.
Another Coleman Wichita Model 8A "Good Value Iron". This iron's painted tank has a japanned look to it.
Top view of another Coleman Wichita Model 8A Good Value Iron.
Picture of 3 different colored tanks from Coleman Wichita Model 8A irons.
Coleman Canada made this green "Magic" Model No.10 iron from 1938 to 1940. This is another art deco fluted iron similiar to the Coleman Canada model 4-A higher up on this page.
Top view of Coleman Canada Model No.10 iron.
Coleman Canada made this Model No.11 kerosene iron.
Top view of Coleman Canada Model No.11 iron.
Coleman Wichita made this Model 12 "Good Value Iron". This iron was produced around 1946.
Top view of Coleman Wichita Model 12 Good Value Iron.
Coleman Canada Model 12C "Good Value Iron". This iron is unique in that it has a unibody, stamped from one sheet of metal. Even though the iron states it is a Model 12, we know this to be a Model 12C from the instruction sheet and from the box. This iron is in Ryan Swinney's collection.
Other side view of Coleman Canada Model 12C iron.
Top view of Coleman Canada Model 12C iron.
Rear view of Coleman Canada Model12C iron.
Burner view of Coleman Canada Model 12C iron.
Coleman Canada Model 12C unboxed.
Coleman Wichita made this Model No.609 iron from 1938 to 1941.
Top view of Coleman Wichita Model No.609.
Coleman Canada Model No.609 was made from 1938 to 1940.
Top view of Coleman Canada Model No.609.
Coleman Wichita Model 609A was produced 1938 thru 1941.
Top view of Coleman Wichita Model 609A.
Coleman Wichita Model 609A with a black painted tank.
Top view of Coleman Wichita Model 609A with black painted tank.
Coleman Canada Model No.609A.
Top view of Coleman Canada Model No.609A.
Coleman Canada made this kerosene Model No.611 from 1950 to 1964.
Top view of Coleman Canada Model No.611 iron.
Coleman Canada made this Kerosene Model No.611A from 1950 to 1964.
Top view of Coleman Canada Model No.611A.
Coleman Canada Model No. 602. I will post a picture of this iron when I see one. This iron is not in my collection.
Undated Coleman Canada Model 615.
Top view of Coleman Canada Model 615 showing no date on it.
Coleman Canada made this early Model 615 iron in January 1973. The model 615 irons were made 1961 to 1982.
Top view of Coleman Canada Model 615 showing a date of 1-73.
Coleman Canada Model 615 iron dated 2-82. This is the last month these irons were produced.
Top view of Coleman Canada Model 615 dated 2-82.
Coleman Canada Model 615A? I have yet to see an iron labeled 615A. I wonder if it is like the Model 12C iron higher up on this page where the iron says Model 12 but the box that the iron came in says Model 12C. The three Model 615's pictured above do not have boxes with them, so I have no way of knowing if one of them could be a Model 615A.
"Instant-Lighting Iron" made by Coleman Wichita for Sears.
Top view of Instant Lighting Iron made for Sears.
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