Greetings, from Alaska, Stove Mates!! Made it here, safe and sound, and have been enjoying the cool, slightly rainy weather. We head North in a few days, so the weather could go "South" on us, but Sweet Bride and I will love that, even if the Gals on this trip do not. I hope all is well with you and had to share some outstanding finds, into which I stumbled today! In two different antique stores, I scored SEVEN stoves!!!! !!!! I couldn't believe my good fortune!! Well, here's what I found: Store #1 - 1955 Primus #96. This stove is missing it's legs, spirit cup, and flame spreader. But, it had it's original windscreen, the burner and burner basket, the extra tank cap, it's original filler cap w/ bleeder valve, plus it's original spirit tin. Got it for $45. Store #2 - I hit the jackpot in this store!! 1 - Phoebus 725, like new, in it's original tin, with all it's parts, plus it's original rebuild kit, and a glass priming eyedropper. The asking price was $25, but on sale, it turned out to be just $15! 2 - Optimus 323, with all it's parts, and in pretty good shape. The asking price was $35, but they knocked off 10%, which made the price $31.50. 3 - Coleman "Feather" 442 Dual Fuel. Looks to be in unfired condition, or darned close to it. The price was just $15! 4 - Optimus 80. This stove is in it's original tin, which is close to mint. But, the stove has been used, just a little, and for some odd reason, is missing it's fuel tank cap, and also it's adjustment key. Other than that, it's in outstanding shape. The original asking price was just $12, but that had been marked down to $10.50. At the register, they said that particular seller was having a "half off sale", so I got the Optimus for just $5.25!!! And, if that wasn't outstanding enough, when I first saw it, that stove was sitting on top of the next stove..... 5 - Taylor "Tay-Kit" stove!! Yep, underneath the stove tin of the above-mentioned Optimus 80, I found a Tay-Kit stove!! This stove still has it's original "Monel" case, the pot supports, it's original, rubber-shielded funnel/stopper, and base. In outstanding condition, and fully complete, minus the box and paperwork, this stove was selling for just $24, but had been marked down to $19.20. However, this was the same seller that was having a "half off sale", so I got it for just $9.60!! Blessed I am, just blessed!!! 6 - Last, and certainly not least, I also found a Meva #1, with silent burner. It's in very good shape, and has it's pot support ring, outer burner cap, and tank. But, the inner burner cap is missing, as are the legs. I think I have some in my stash that will work with it. The price was $45, but they took 10% off at the register, so it turned out to be $40.50. All in all, a damned fine day of stove hunting, if I do say so myself!!!! Now, in this same store, I also found a few other stoves, which I did not buy, to whit: - Stesco stove, almost mint, with all it's parts, paperwork, and red & yellow tin. Asking price was $52, which I thought was just too high. - M1942, complete stove, but without any tools, or spares. The asking price was, I think, $45. I have two of them at home, including one that's never been lit, and is complete with all it's tools, can, and spares. So, I left this one, too. - Coleman 502, complete with it's original square aluminum case and handle. The stove didn't have a price on it, and I have one, so I left it there. If there is any interest in any of the stoves that I left, give me a shout in the next day or so, and I can try to procure them for any interested parties. We will be back in Anchorage again at the end of next week, so give me a shout if anyone has questions. I can also supply the contact information for the store, and you can buy then directly, again, if there is any interest. OK, that's about it from up in the Great White North!! Again, what a fine day of "stoving"!!! It doesn't happen that way too often, so it's outstanding when it DOES!! Tomorrow, I'm packing up all seven stoves, and sending them home. When we get back, I'll take a photo of the new addtions to the collection, and post it. Take care, and may each of you have similar luck, hunting stoves, this upcoming weekend!!! Take care, and talk to you soon. God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc Mark
Wow is all I can say, just a question Doc see many pressure lanterns up there in your travels, if so I'll send you a pm.
Doc may you and SB have a safe and uneventfull trip, "Way up north", and may the stove dog growl when you return home. And a hearty "WELL DONE" lad!!!! hoooozzzzaah to you. lance
"Store #1 - 1955 Primus #96. This stove is missing it's legs, spirit cup, and flame spreader. But, it had it's original windscreen, the burner and burner basket, the extra tank cap, it's original filler cap w/ bleeder valve, plus it's original spirit tin. Got it for $45." A tad pricey Doc, but well done on the rest
Doc, I'm definately interested in the 502, mainly for it's aluminum cook kit. I've got a nice 502 that fires up in seconds, I've become kind of partial to it. Another would be a welcome addition. If you're coming home through Seattle, we might be able to meet up and have coffee and a chat. All those stoves for pocket change, it just plain isn't fair. The only way I could be more tickled is if it was me. Gerry
Doc, Everytime I drive past an antique store I think about stopping but don't. You are living proof that I need to make the effort. Congradulations on a great scoop! I predict an increase in visits to local Antique stores!!! The restrictor and jet arrived yesterday and will try this weekend if life permits. Remember, you and Sweet Bride will pose with NO Grizzlies. Iain The Spirits smile on those who look after themselves.
The most amazing part of Doc's story is that all seven stoves are different models. No duplicates! Well done Doc.
They must actually use stoves up in Alaska; maybe because it's cold up there. I've never walked into anyplace with a group of stoves like that! As Gerry says, Doc, if you all are coming back through the Seattle area, let's try for a quick get-together.
Well, I live in Anchorage, and am sort of a budding stove and lantern collector, and just pop in to lurk here on occasion. Don't have much in my collection but I must admit that after reading Doc's post, I got to thinking about what antique store he was in. Believe me, we don't have that many so putting two and two together, I checked it out today. That little Stesco was a pretty little thing but I thought $52 was a bit steep too. Until I saw the 50% off tag on a nearby table. So I asked and they nodded, yes, it's also 50% off so I'm now the proud owner of this little Stesco for $26. |imgRemoved| After that, I found the Coleman 502 and picked it up. The gal told me the price on it was $22, but that it could be had for 10% less, so that one found a new home too. |imgRemoved| So even after picking through Doc's leftovers, I'm a pretty happy camper. But I really do need to remember to check out that antique store on occasion. Those two acquisitions were on top of my garage saleing this past weekend. No stoves, but I did pick up this King-Seeley Thermos 1963 US military lantern, complete with it's funnel, tool, and all the extra parts, for $3. |imgRemoved|
Welcome, Sketch. Mighty good on that lantern. Don't know how long you've been lurking, but if it's over a couple of months, you'll understand the next question: what do you use in bear country?
Ed - Thanks for the welcome. If I am just going out without venturing into serious bear country, bear spray is nearly always with me. But if I'm heading somewhere that I have a good chance of running into a brownie, I'll also have along a shotgun. I've had a couple run-ins with brown bears but nothing that has required any major defensive action. Once when out hunting caribou, a huge brownie was coming across the tundra towards me. I figured he didn't know I was there so I fired my rifle and that sent him lumbering away. And one instance when a young brown bear was checking me out as I fished, I tossed a rock his way and he left me alone after that. But believe me, I was ready to leave or send something a little more serious his way if he became aggressive. Most bears want nothing to do with you, but there is always a chance you'll run into a bear having a bad day. I hope it never happens.
Welcome to the forum Sketch, you did well on your recent buys, the Stesco looks good, and the lamp is great. I've no real experience with Coleman stoves as such, Coleman fuel in the UK is around ?10 per litre, thats about US$ 70 a gallon although some of my favouite stoves are Coleman fuel burners 8)
Greetings, Lads, We're up in Fairbanks right now, and today is the first sunny day we've had. It was 39?F when I was walking downtown this morning. But, it warmed up to a balmy 50?+ later in the day. We love Alaska, and would move up here in a second, if we could make our business work out from up here. Thanks for all the well wishes on the stove finds!! I appreciate it, Lads! And, Sketch, you MADE my day, when you went dow n to Pack Rat and scored those two stoves I left behind!!!! Well done, my Friend!! I didn't see the 1/2 price tag near the l little Stesco, or I would have added that one to the pile of stoves I got there. But, ya' know... that stove was not meant to be mine, it was meant to be YOURS!! And, I'm really glad you got it!! By the way, did you see that M1942 that was in the booth next to where you got the Stesco? Give it a squint, as it's worth adding to your collection. Also, in the same booth, was a Coleman M530. I have several, so I didn't check it out. But, again, it's worth owning one, if you don't have one in your collection. Go down and check them out, if you're interested. Again, way to go! I found the Primus downtown in another place, and that was the only stove they had in stock, at that time. The other Pack Rat location in Anchorage didn't offer anything at all. I did see some pressure lanterns, including one here in Fairbanks. But, stoves had my attention, and as my luggage is already going to be packed full of books, and the box I'm shipping home is rapidly filling up, I didn't pay too much attention to the lanterns. One I saw today was a 1929 Coleman "Instant Light", for home use. It was missing it's shade and globe, but otherwise seemed complete. The asking price was $75, but they were willing to discount it, somewhat. Again, I didn't ask for a deal, as I wasn't going to buy it. However, I did score one more good stove today! This one was found in a Pawn Shop, of all places! It is one of the early 111T stoves, and it looks like it was not used much. The pan supports are not even discolored at all, and the stove and case are in outstanding shape. This one even has the alcohol restrictor, and both the inner and outer caps for the burner, as well as it's original brass windscreen. The asking price was $60, and, as I already have quite a few of those, I hedged on buying it. But, the owner told me that it had been in his shop, which was HUGE, by the way, for a very long time. He offered it to me for just $40, and there is no sales tax up here. So, hey, how could I refuse that one?!! So, I now own yet another Optimus 111T, and look forward to getting it home and firing it up. It needs a new fuel tank gasket, as the original one is getting hard. But, that looks like the only thing it needs. Even has it's original little wrench, in it's slot on the inside of the lid. I guess my stove hunting is about at an end, though. Got no more room in either my luggage, or the box which is waiting for me down in Anchorage!! But, I'll not complain, that's for sure!!! Gerry, I guess Sketch beat us to that Coleman 502, or I would have been very happy to score it for you! I'm sorry for you, but happy for him. Sketch, we'll be back in Anchorage tomorrow night, and will be there until Friday, when we fly back home again. I may have some time on my own, and if you want to meet up, just to say "Hi", please send me a PM, and let's see if we can plan something. Ed and Gerry, we ARE going to be flying home through Seattle, but I have no idea if we'll have more than an hour between flights. Also, I don't know, for sure, when we're coming in. But, if you want to try to meet at the airport, I'd be up for it!! Give me a shout, and I'll check with Sweet Bride and see what our schedule looks like. Maybe we can have lunch at the airport...., but I don't know if you can come into the flight area. Hummmm ????? Thanks, again, Gentlemen, for all the good wishes! The only thing that would have made this trip any better, in the stove vein, would have been if all of you could have been up here, too!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc Mark
Thank you for the welcome, Rik. Yikes - Coleman fuel is pricey stuff over there. I'm enjoying looking for old stoves & lanterns, and it's always fun to come across another one. Another recent garage sale purchase was a Sigg Tourist cookset with a Svea 123, all in very decent shape. That one ran me $5. But the garage sale season is about over and snow is probably not too far off.
Well Sketch and Doc, All I can say, is ...... I'm jealous!! Love to be nice and cold and always enjoy the flame of something new or old like a stove. Cheers,
Howdy there Sketch welcome to the circle. Find ya a place on the log, 'n sit a spell. There now, we'll fill y'r cup an' you just sit back an' enjoy the conversation. Join in when ya feel right. In the words of a friend Down under; Good on ya for getting those stoves, especially that Stesco. But shame on ya for letting someone else do your hunting and finding. A word of caution about that militery light. The generators for those are no longer being made, and the last of the spares are pricy as all get out, so if used with regular unleaded gasoline the one you have will carbon up rather quickly. Only use it sparingly and with Coleman fuel. Dang good price on both the light and the Sigg cookset with the SVEA 123. (Lightfoot) lance
Doc, thanks for answering the question about lanterns. Sketch, here is another site to look through for info about Coleman firetoys, click on 'bulletin board'; http://www.oldtownyucca.com/coleman/ Ken
Greetings, Lads, Well, tonight is our last night on this Alaskan adventure. We're sad to be leaving, but also glad to be going back to our home in the mountains, which we love quite a lot. Ken, you are welcome for the lantern questions. Wish I would have had more to send along. Sketch, don't listen to CWO Lance!! It's perfectly alright to get hints and tips, on where you might find a certain stove or lantern, from your Stove Mates on this forum!! In fact, your having read these posts, then going down and finding your stoves, reminds me of a time when Good Ol' Lance, and Sweet Bride and I, met up, completely by accident, for the very first time. We "just happened onto each other", in an antique store, in Nebraska!! Lance lives in Illinois, and we live in Southern California, and we'd never met before!! Your reading about, then buying, the stoves you got, right after I'd seen them, is another one of those neat, serendipitous happenings that really make life worthwhile!! Very cool!! And, as if the "Stove Fairy" hadn't already offered enough good fortune, here's what happened today!! Sweet Bride and I walked back up to The Pack Rat, where both Sketch and I had had such good stove hunting. Guess what??? Just this past Monday, a different seller had brought in yet another outstanding stove!!!! This one, was a SVEA #106, complete with all it's parts and tools: cleaning pins, wrench, flame ring, legs, pot support ring, priming bottle, extra tank cap, and everything!!! And, someone in the past had made a really neat wooden box for the stove, and had fitted everything into it's own recessed place!! How much??? Glad you asked!! This stove, and all it's goodies, cost me just $20!!!!!!!!!!! YA-HOOOOOO!!!!!!!! It's in outstanding shape, and has been added to a large box, which contained all those other neat stoves, and sent home. It should be there in the next three days. I'll take and post photos of all my "stove bootie", when we get back home, and the box arrives at the Post Office. All this just proves what "Old Doc" always says, "If you don't LOOK, you will not FIND"!!! No matter how many times you've been to a store, flea market, swap meet, or whatever, stop and look as often as you can. In just two weeks, one store yielded a veritable "small collection" of outstanding stove buys, and another store added one more!! Look hard, look often, SCORE STOVES!!! We're heading back home tomorrow, but tonight, we're going to a really neat Anchorage night-spot, "Mr. White Key's - Fly By Night Club"!! This place is a real hoot, and it's a great place to close out our trip to Alaska!! Talk to you all once we return home. I'll write up and post a report of our Alaskan Adventure, along with the stove photos. Sketch, we'll look forward to meeting you next time we hit town, which may happen next Spring. Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc Mark
Doc - wish we could have had the opportunity to meet up. Oh well, let's definitely give it a go next time you are up this way. And congrats on yet another great stove find. I'm a bit green with envy, but that is just the way the spirit gods work. Where in the store did you find this one? I'll stop in sometime and check out those other stoves you mentioned. I believe I already have one of those complete with the aluminum cookkit. Didn't make it out with the family as I'm dying here with a nasty cold that nailed me. I spent yesterday mostly lying on the couch, but absolutely had to run a few errands today, so I stopped at a couple garage sales since I was out. Purchased a 3/64 413F suitcase Coleman stove for $2.50, and picked up 5 gallons of Coleman fuel at another sale. Paid $3 for all. And a 288A double mantle Coleman lantern dated 09/90 at yet another sale for $5. And at a pawn shop I saw a 1940s Coleman 220 (green top - chipped & nickle bottom - no dents) that was missing it's bail and globe - priced at $89 which seems high (???). And while in the local Sports Authority to pick up a package of mantles for the 288, I saw a rack of Coleman Tempest windproof lighters - usually priced at $24.99 marked down to $9.97 so I picked up one of those. A few purchases for the collection helped moderate the cold symptoms a bit. Ken - thanks for the tip on the lantern site. I'll check it out. Lance - appreciate the warning on the Coleman military stove. I won't burn it much. Actually, I believe I have two of those so I'll have to pull them out and give them a good look.
