Scored two old Colemans

[Aden67]

I have been watching for the sale of some nice Coleman camp stoves and just found two from a local seller. The first is a LNIB Coleman 425E...never used and made in 1970. The second is the larger Coleman 413G...used once and made in 1979. I got both for $70...which I think was a good deal.

I am thinking about putting the 425E away for my son (8)...it may collect some value.

I was also lucky to score last week off Craigslist four, 1-gallon cans of Coleman fuel for $10.

 

[kalei]

I have a LNIB 425, bought it in Warren MI in 1980 at a sporting goods store that was closing out. Paid $12 for it.
I keep it in our hurricane locker.

 

[Hillbilly77]

I have a similar model, I'm not sure what model number it is. I bought a small camper a couple years ago and it was included in the deal.
My wife loves to bake, so I custom-built a steel oven that sits on top of it....
You wanna raise some eyebrows? Bake an apple pie and a strawberry-rhubarb pie at your campsite.
People were walking by saying "What's that... that smells like... is that pie I smell?"

 

[m1gunner]

I like those stoves. The propane adapter is handy if you get caught low on coleman fuel.

 

[MrAmbassador]

Love the old Coleman, I keep a 500A single burner stove and a 22F dual mantel lantern fueled up and ready to go. I like to keep it old school right down to the leather plunger. Good stuff.

 

[Aden67]

I really like the older Coleman stuff...already have a nice 220 lantern made in 1976 that is built like a tank. I hope to find two more lanterns.

I am going to order the Century propane adapter off Amazon so that I can run the stoves off the 1lb propane bottles. Also getting the Coleman hose and adapter so that the stoves can be connected to 20lb tanks.

I found two like new (empty) 20lb propane tanks off Craigslist a couple of week ago...got both for $20. They will be filled and stored for emergency use.

 

[mod#2-.22]

i have a coleman i pulled out of the original box from the 60's that my great grandfather bought and never used for hurricane season....i use it regularly for camping after i found it.

 

[chief38]

I've got one of those suckers left over from my Boy Scouting days - but have not fired it up in over 43 years. We have lost power a number of times but between the Generator and the BBQ Grill I have not needed it. Your post put some curiosity in me and so I think that I will dig it out and see if it still works. I do like the idea of having a portable stove - as the Weber won't fit in my car

I also have two Coleman Propane Lanterns that get use every once in a while. Not only do they give off an exceptional amount of bright light, they also produce a lot of heat (sometimes desirable).

Chief38

 

[MrAmbassador]

I've got one of those suckers left over from my Boy Scouting days - but have not fired it up in over 43 years. We have lost power a number of times but between the Generator and the BBQ Grill I have not needed it. Your post put some curiosity in me and so I think that I will dig it out and see if it still works. I do like the idea of having a portable stove - as the Weber won't fit in my car

I also have two Coleman Propane Lanterns that get use every once in a while. Not only do they give off an exceptional amount of bright light, they also produce a lot of heat (sometimes desirable).

Chief38

The plunger will be dry and probably won't pump up the pressure. Take it out and soak it in oil and you are good to go.

 

[nipster]

I have a 425, had it for 30 or so years, sadly yours is in much nicer shape, but mine has served me for decades. I too have a propane adapter, it works pretty well, but the secondary burner never gets has hot as the primary one when running on propane.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

I like those stoves. The propane adapter is handy if you get caught low on coleman fuel.

I scoured the flea markets for a while before finding a crusty three burner Coleman for around $12 I think. I cleaned it all up, blew out the jets, and bought one of those Walmart $7 propane adapters you mentioned and we've been using it for years. The only thing is, with this three burner, the middle one must always be burning if one of the outside ones are, too. So you just juggle pans around a little. No big deal there.
My dad put light fixtures in four old Colman lanterns and had them on his deck. I will put them in my patio when it's done being remodeled.

 

[Coldshooter]

For those with old stoves you may have use for OldColemanParts.com there is a British site Forum Index - Classic Camp Stoves - Powered by FusionBB which covers all those Swedish stoves.

 

[smith17]

I answered a local ad for a 413G last winter and gave the gal $20 for it. She apologized for it being so dirty (dusty) and said she didn't think it had been used much. I opened the lid and the original paperwork was all there, the gas can was pristine red and the generator wasn't even scorched. I smiled and left. It cooks up a storm.

 

[TACC1]

A few years back, I did a lot of fishing/camping trips
locally. I found that local household auctions, of which
there're always some every weekend in summer, would usually
have old Coleman lanterns and stoves. There's a lot of
newer stuff on the market that fulfills most peoples
wishes, but the old stuff will usually last forever. I still have
a couple or three lanterns, and a two-burner and a three-burner
stoves. The most I've paid was $8 for the three-burner stove.
With the three-burner, everybody wakes up to the smell
of coffee, bacon/eggs, and 'taters frying. Great way to start
the day! Long live the Coleman's! TACC1

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I think I'm down to 3-2 burner Colemans. A 425E I bought new 1n 1974 along with a 220 lantern for $18.88 each at Gold Circle, a second 425? igot for $5 at a yard sale that needed a new generator and a 413Cor D it was probly made befor WWII but sold after- the lid is made to fold flat at the burner height if you don't need the wind blocked.The 413's have much higher BTU burners for big pots, and while the second burner is less than the right one, it is still more powerful than the main burner on a 425. I been looking for years for a good used 3 burner Coleman: I think anyone that ever bought one keeps them! I also have 3 of the single burner Coleman stoves plus the little Peak 1 stove and lantern(the two will fit in a lunch box fo the bug out box), an 1950's Colman "Army Model" and 1 or 2 of the State Machine Products "Gasoline" stoves. The SMP's were US Army issue in the 80's. I heard they went to Colmane's 220 lanterns in the early 90's from a supply sargent. When the power was out for 11.5 days, a Coleman 425 was set up on the Kitchen stove using a propane addaptor and a hose to the lantern pole on a 20# tank with a propane lanterb on top. I recamend that when on a outting you use one type of fuel. Also Coleman makes a series of stoves and lanterns that are engirneered to run on unleaded gas. The problem with them is keeping your fuel from getting old and gumming up the generators.

 

[MK]

I need to find some old Coleman lanterns and stoves.
The new ones are junk.
I bought a new regular double mantle dual fuel lantern, and
a new single burner dual fuel stove back in 2007. Both are
presently toast. Had problems using the unleaded gas.. They
do gum up generators pretty fast. I replaced the generator in
the lantern and had it going again, but now the stem seal is
leaking..
The generator in the stove is now clogged up..
I used to run the snot out of the older stuff, even with unleaded
gas, and rarely had problems. And I do strain the fuel through those
filters, etc..
I do have an old early 60's lantern than could be rebuilt..
It basically works I think, but the dip tube is clogged, likely with
varnish. I guess I could replace the generator in the stove I have,
but need to order one.
It's either that, or switch to propane, which I've always avoided in
the past due to it costing a good bit more than gas.
But with the generator issues I'm seeing burning unleaded gas,
maybe the propane would be lower maintenance. Hate paying for
those cans though.. Can be pricey when you have to go to a store
in bum you know what Egypt, and they are the only game for miles
around.. At least gas I can get fairly cheap anywhere..

BTW, the dual fuel models gum up even with new gas, if you run them
a lot like I often do. I don't think the gas is as clean as it used to be..
It's not totally "white" like the old "white gas" unleaded we used to
get from barrels in the back of gas stations.

 

[Stainz]

I got one from an in-law as a gift 12-15yr back - along with a gallon of Coleman fuel. Neither have been opened - what's the lifetime of the unopened fuel?

I'm looking for some old stock new Coleman lantern mantles - that contain Thorium - including radioactive Thorium. I need a test source for a geiger counter!

Stainz

 

[LoboGunLeather]

My boys (now in their 40's) made off with all my old Coleman stoves, lanterns, and heaters years ago. They probably keep them with all the guns they got away with, too!

I switched over to the Coleman 'PerfectFlow' propane stove with bulk tank adapter, and it has been great.

For heat I now use a propane radiant tank top heater that will run you out of the tent at low setting when the outside temperature is below freezing.

For lights I have gone high tech with LED lamps, 12V deep cycle battery, power inverter (runs small 110V AC appliances), and a 30W solar panel to recharge. All the lights I can use, Mr. Coffee pot, lap top computer, and cell phone charger all work perfectly, and 3 to 5 hours of sunlight brings the battery back to full charge every day.

All of it can be loaded on my ATV with tent, cot, sleeping bag, cooler, propane and gas cans, so I can get completely away from the campgrounds and tourists.

I think Grampas should have the best toys.

 

[MrAmbassador]

I got one from an in-law as a gift 12-15yr back - along with a gallon of Coleman fuel. Neither have been opened - what's the lifetime of the unopened fuel?

I'm looking for some old stock new Coleman lantern mantles - that contain Thorium - including radioactive Thorium. I need a test source for a geiger counter!

Stainz

According to the Coleman site:

An un-opened container of Coleman® Fuel stored in a dry area with no rapid extreme changes in temperature will remain viable for five to seven years. An opened container stored in the same area will remain viable for up to two years though will be at its best if used within a year. Coleman® Propane Cylinders can be stored indefinitely in a dry area. The propane fuel inside the cylinder will not break down.

I would be tempted to try it, nothing to lose, I suspect it might still work.

 

[mtgianni]

I need to find some old Coleman lanterns and stoves.
The new ones are junk.
I bought a new regular double mantle dual fuel lantern, and
a new single burner dual fuel stove back in 2007. Both are
presently toast. Had problems using the unleaded gas.. They
do gum up generators pretty fast. I replaced the generator in
the lantern and had it going again, but now the stem seal is
leaking..
The generator in the stove is now clogged up..
I used to run the snot out of the older stuff, even with unleaded
gas, and rarely had problems. And I do strain the fuel through those
filters, etc..
I do have an old early 60's lantern than could be rebuilt..
It basically works I think, but the dip tube is clogged, likely with
varnish. I guess I could replace the generator in the stove I have,
but need to order one.
It's either that, or switch to propane, which I've always avoided in
the past due to it costing a good bit more than gas.
But with the generator issues I'm seeing burning unleaded gas,
maybe the propane would be lower maintenance. Hate paying for
those cans though.. Can be pricey when you have to go to a store
in bum you know what Egypt, and they are the only game for miles
around.. At least gas I can get fairly cheap anywhere..

BTW, the dual fuel models gum up even with new gas, if you run them
a lot like I often do. I don't think the gas is as clean as it used to be..
It's not totally "white" like the old "white gas" unleaded we used to
get from barrels in the back of gas stations.

Make sure that you run them on premium gas and that there is no ethanol in your gas at all. It is worth the extra $ to do that. I can't see paying for gas in a 1 lb bottle when a gallon is so similar in price. 1 lb of LP is a 1/4 gallon.