Coleman 322L, 1928-1932. What a huge project, my biggest to date. This took some time, lots of research, and come creative thinking. A huge shout out to my friends Tom, Randy and Marty. Tom got me a beautiful fuel tank to use, Randy sent me the original sales link, and Marty helped me pick up the stove and offered moral support. This was being sold by a lady's niece who was terrible at communicating. It took well over a week to finally get an address and a pickup date. When the day came I jumped in my truck and drove 3 hrs to pick up Marty, then we headed to her house. It was her late husbands stove, he had had it for as long as they had been together. Recently her grandkids were moving in to “help her”, and moved the stove outside where it sat in the rain. It was full of water and very rusty. There was no tank but all the burners and parts were there. I got it home and gave it a wipe down. I started the penetration oil soak and eventually the bolts started to move. Then it was disassembly and lots cleaning and killing rust. I ran into some issues like the valves being rusted in place. I filled the manifold with penetration oil and used heat. Finally I made a special long hollow socket to slide over the valve shafts, this and heat finally broke them free. I then spent time using electrolysis inside the manifold and lapping the valve seats. They were bad having sat full of water for so long. The valve stems were also rotten. I uswd my brothers metal lathe and moved the valve seats back to engage good thread on the stem/caps; and tapped the tips to 10/32. I had to make some missing parts but got the manifold and oven re-assembled. I used acid on the stove case its-self. Lots of scubbing and sanding and neutralizing the acid. I was able to repaint the stove. What a difference that made! I assembled what I could and tested the stove off propane. Success! Tom contacted me that he had a tank that would work for my stove. He picked out a beauty for me! USPS took their time but I soon had it in hand. I made a pump cup, and some cleaning and waxing. I made some tank straps from old tractor straps and got it mounted. I cleaned all the valves and fittings in the ultrasonic and got the fuel supply lines cleaned out. I replaced some graphite packing and got everything assembled. I was careful routing those old fuel lines! I filled the tank, pumped it up and opened the valves. Success!!!! All four burners work, the pre-heater, and the oven. The oven guage even climbed! I will have to run it a few times to burn off all the cleaning crud and oil! What a difference from how it started, to where it is now. I am so happy to have this running again. A huge thanks to all those who helped.
Resurrected from the dead and beautifully restored. My hat's off to you. Thanks for sharing your experience. Ben
@FishNChips You need to get a waffle iron with a high base. The low base waffle iron you have was meant to be used on a wood burning stove. You can't rotate that iron without hitting the grill. On a wood burning stove it rotates into the hole. Ben
@z1ulike Thanks, I have one I usually use. I chose the low base due to the windy conditions this morning. I am not sure if it made a difference though. The high base is definitely easier on the gas stove.
Job well done sir. What a good-looking stove. It is in good hands now and will be getting a regular work out. I know you are going to get a lot of enjoyment out of your hard work.
Thank you all for the compliments. I am very please. I love to cook, collect old cookbooks and cookware; so this is perfect for me.
I ordered a shed today for my outdoor kitchen. Approved by the “Boss”. I can set it up as a 1920/30s kitchen, with my cookware and stoves, on the patio! I have big plans. My wife does not cook (foster child, she never learned) so caters to my cooking hobbies, lol.
Wife never learned to cook, huh? Honey, I suddenly can't remember how to cut the grass. Can you take care of that while I'm making dinner? Oh can you take out the trash on your way? You're a peach, hun! Love you! Oh the sidewalks need edged too, don't you think? Haha!!! What a fabulous job you did on this range! Truly spectacular!!
