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Coleman Lantern Date Code and Model Lookup

Decode a Coleman lantern MMYY or split date stamp, test it against a sourced model-year range, and keep globe, century, safety, and recall limits visible.

What this tool helps you do

Decode an MMYY or split Coleman lantern date stamp, then compare the candidate year with a sourced U.S. model-year reference subset.

Interactive inputs and calculations load after the app boots. Use this prerendered preview to understand what the tool covers before opening the live experience.

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Coleman stamp, model-year, and safety verification workflow

Coleman’s current repair FAQ reads lantern and stove production stamps in MMYY form and gives 0195 as January 1995. Historical pieces can present separated stamp groups, so the tool requires the user to select the physical order rather than assuming which side is the month.

A four-digit code embossed on a globe can date the glass. If the globe was replaced, that code does not establish the complete lantern’s production date. Record the fount bottom, frame rest, collar, model marking, vent, burner, valve, and globe separately.

The model lookup uses a limited U.S. subset from the International Coleman Collectors Club by-model reference. The ICCC says dates are usually catalog/model years, stamps can precede those dates by four to five months, open-ended records reflect incomplete data, and the list remains under review.

A matching date and model do not authenticate a lantern or make it safe to light. Verify the exact fuel, recall status, tank, seals, valve, generator, venting, and test procedure before use, listing, or shipment.

  • Enter the code exactly and select MMYY or the observed split-stamp order.
  • Use an exact model marking to narrow a two-digit year.
  • Treat a globe code as glass evidence unless the globe is proven original.
  • Use the complete ICCC table when the limited local subset has no match.
  • Search CPSC and Coleman support before testing, listing, or shipping the lantern.

Evidence that should stay separate

EvidenceWhat it can supportWhat it cannot prove
Fount or frame stampCandidate production month and yearExact model or safe operating condition
Globe codeA date on the glass componentThat the globe is original to the lantern
Model marking and ICCC rangeConsistency with a catalog/model-year recordAuthenticity or an exact stamped month
Recall and physical inspectionA safer go/no-go workflowGuaranteed future performance

Coleman and collector sources checked August 29, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I read a four-digit Coleman lantern date code?

Coleman’s current repair FAQ uses MMYY order. For example, 0195 means January 1995. A two-digit year can still need model evidence to select the century.

Does the date code on the globe date the whole lantern?

Not necessarily. Coleman says the globe can carry a four-digit embossed code, but replacement glass can be newer than the lantern. Record fount and frame evidence separately.

Why does the tool show two candidate years?

The stamp carries only two year digits. Without a century or a model range that excludes one option, both a 1900s and a 2000s date can remain plausible.

Are the model-year ranges exact production dates?

No. The ICCC says its dates are usually catalog/model years, stamps can appear four to five months earlier, open-ended rows can be incomplete, and the list remains under review.

Does a model and date match mean the lantern is safe to light?

No. Verify fuel type, recalls, tank condition, seals, valve, generator, venting, and the correct test procedure before fueling or lighting an unknown pressure lantern.

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