502s Anyone?
I have a couple of recent CL finds. Funny, I've been wanting one of these since the summer, and then 3 show up within 2 weeks. Kind of weird.
Coleman 502s are a small single burner made on what is basically a Lantern tank (fount) and operate more like a lantern than a stove. The fuel air tube has an automatic metering system to start, and then full gas to run, just like a lantern. A normal suitcase stove does not have this feature in the fuel pick up. It's built to start at 1/4 turn (actually more like 1/16 turn!) and then run wide open. The simmer is adjusted with the tip cleaner rod.
Anyway, it's a slick system giving very fine simmer control. The 502s were made from roughly 1961 until 198(3?) and basically unchanged during the build period. The green ones in the picture are 1968, and 1976, the red one is a 1970. They are made traditionally, meaning it's all metal other than the gasket in the cap and the pump. There are no o-rings, only compression fittings. One other interesting feature-the 502 has a mixing chamber/manifold like a miniature version of the suitcase stoves. They dropped this on all of the later 1 burners, but I think it's why the stove runs so well.
A few came with this cool metal carrying case that doubles as a pot and a small frying pan. I don't know if they all came with this or not, but most you see do not have it.
The red one I got in really rough shape. The fount was rusty on the outside, the the burner and burner bowl were very rusty. The bunsen tube even had a small but repairable pin hole. It didn't have a valve wheel, so you'll notice I borrowed one from a lantern to run it. Like all Coleman stuff, it's super simple to take apart and rebuild. I gave this one a fresh coat of paint and a new sticker. Unfortunately the chrome of the inside burner bowl was trashed and it's painted with 2000 degree paint. The red paint fought me every inch of the way. It tried to run and drip and as a final shot, I scratched it when putting on the pump clip. Still, it runs like a champ and will be going to a new home shortly.
These little stoves start so easily and run so well, I'm going to carry one just to make morning coffee water on trips. They can generally be had for the usual Coleman $10-$20, and if you see one, I highly recommend you take it home with you.
