On Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:18:48 +0000, David Billington
wrote:

robert bowman wrote:
Stormin Mormon wrote:


And
they are known to emit some heavy metal vapor.


iirc, breathing deeply while burning off a Coleman mantle was never
recommended either.

IIRC I was told the old Coleman mantles were dipped in some Thorium
compound which improved the light output and made them slightly radioactive.


The heavy metals in mantles actually make up the mantle. The silk or
rayon is simply a carrier to support the metals. When first lit, the
silk or rayon burns away, leaving the metals in the familar shape,
somewhat fused together. They are what actually provide the light as
they are heated up by the gas vapor fire.

Gunner

"Upon Roosevelt's death in 1945, H. L. Mencken predicted in his diary
that Roosevelt would be remembered as a great president, "maybe even
alongside Washington and Lincoln," opining that Roosevelt "had every
quality that morons esteem in their heroes.""