Thanks for the posts! I agree that part one provides useful background. One thing I note, I think it would be interesting to see a comparison of brightness (reading distance) and fuel consumption with a pressurized kerosene lamp - even if you don't like the hiss! I assume they throw more light with the mantle. I don't have a "cold blast" lantern so I'm not able to do the comparison myself.
I'm sure the mantle lanterns are far brighter, especially the pressurized kerosene types. I don't have one to compare either (yet). But it's something I've considered.
I'm more likely to pick up one of the Aladdin type table lamps, though. They're a wicked kerosene lantern with a mantle - so far brighter light, but also the silence and lack of pressurized fuel of the wicked lanterns. They're not cheap, but they seem to be the peak of "silent kerosene lantern technology."
The reality, though, is that with how I use lanterns in the evening, I'm not sure "more light," especially light of a high color temperature, really gains me much. But there's a good chance I'll pick one up at some point and do some comparisons there too.
