John McVicker
SILVER Star
The Coleman Thread (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter rusty_tlc
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I've never seen a date on a suitcase stove and I've looked at a lot. Some say to look at the tabs where it mounts to the stove body.
John you have the two best lanterns Coleman made. 242s are absolute tanks and will never let you down but neither will a 200. I've been camping with an early 60s 200 lately and love it.
I think during the war and for awhile after nickel was real scarce hence the green paint. They went back to nickel at some point and even for one year on the 200 no letter 1950. Then they went paint from them on.
John you have the two best lanterns Coleman made. 242s are absolute tanks and will never let you down but neither will a 200. I've been camping with an early 60s 200 lately and love it.
I think during the war and for awhile after nickel was real scarce hence the green paint. They went back to nickel at some point and even for one year on the 200 no letter 1950. Then they went paint from them on.
Nothing on the bottom, no date stamp by the handle, but per this link of anecdote, it seems to ID our as 61.
Your lanterns are awesome and the Coleman history is equal!
It's sadly true few things are still made to last. I have moved from the white gas and propane coleman stivea to a propane Partner stove, that however, is a new product still made tough, durable, simply designed, serviceable and expected to last.
BUT, I will keep this nearly 60 year old Coleman!! It still has fuel in it even!!
Oh! It's oil not white gas!
Behaves differently!
But it lit!!
I bet this thing hasn't been fired up in 20 years. Just a little babysitting and it fired up, both burners!! I'm sure it's clogged and such but that oil's got to be a couple decades-old to be sure.
Behaves differently!
But it lit!!
I bet this thing hasn't been fired up in 20 years. Just a little babysitting and it fired up, both burners!! I'm sure it's clogged and such but that oil's got to be a couple decades-old to be sure.
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John McVicker
SILVER Star
Good job @DRANGED in getting it fired up. The burner on the right is the ‘Main’ burner and will burn hotter than the burner on the left. The one on the left is to keep food/water warm.
Hole on the pump where you put oil...you can remove the plunger and massage the cup. If it’s leather, spread it out a bit, soak it in motor oil for a few minutes and it will have a better seal and pump better.
@Prairie Swamp I have included 3 pics of the bottom of 3 stoves. You can see the dates. Two stoves are 425’s, one is a 413. Several other of my stoves do not have dates. Don’t know why.
Hole on the pump where you put oil...you can remove the plunger and massage the cup. If it’s leather, spread it out a bit, soak it in motor oil for a few minutes and it will have a better seal and pump better.
@Prairie Swamp I have included 3 pics of the bottom of 3 stoves. You can see the dates. Two stoves are 425’s, one is a 413. Several other of my stoves do not have dates. Don’t know why.
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The dates for stoves in the 60s and early to mid 70s can often be found on the underside of the tank “ears” that slide into the stove.
I think they started stamping the bottoms of the stoves in the late 70’s and 80’s.
Picked up this 426E (7/1987) today from a guy who’s kids have started their own families and aren’t into family camping like they used to be. I had to promise it would travel all over the US with us on our trips. I’ll try firing it up tomorrow as a baseline and then start cleaning it up.
Oh I like this thread! I picked this old stove up when I was 12 at a yardsale (I'm 36 now). The fuel can and the water bag is from my dad. The stove works great! its a a model 425. I thought people were gonna laugh at me when I showed up with this old thing, glad to see they are as loved as mine is!
I bought one brand new as an adult (still have it) and take offense to it being called old LMAO
old doesnt mean bad. They def dont make things as well as they used to. I got in on the tail end of "buy stuff for life" nowadays its buy it every year 
A40 is first quarter of 1940. Mine is B47. Mine fired on the fuel that was in it and is a great runner. I made a discada cooker to fit it.
Nice find. I’d disassemble it part way and clean up the rust with a brass brush in a Dremel. If needed you can get parts on line. Once it’s clean a little wd40 or mineral oil will protect the metal until you are ready to use it.
run that 425 and be proud of it!
No $s***. I had no idea. There is fuel in it, and the pump works. The seal on the reservoir cap is faulty....but I can hear a faint hiss when it is pumped and valve open....it would not light though
If you have gasket punches you can make one from rubber sheet. If not you can buy at Oldcolemanparts.com. The owner is awesome. Otherwise eBay or similar. Be sure you specify the small cap. Small fill caps are rare and common between 500 stove and 242 lantern. Then you need the rare copper #0 funnel to fill it.