Hello littledre, I spent $5 for one at a yard sale came with the case and $8 for another at a flea market without the case, both were clean and in good shape....although I had to put a new generator in the 8 dollar one. don't know if this helps...
Hi Rick, so I don't need to be paying $60 + another $40 shipping then. Need to find a yard sale in the UK. Cheers
502 or 520? You posted both numbers. 502s go for a ten or a twenty over here a lot. (without the pans.... :-(
Sorry about that, its 3 in the morning over here and I am ready for bed. Should say Coleman 502, although I would like a 520 and a 530
Ah, still just a little past 8pm here, I have never seen a 520 in the wild. That's a civilian/military right? "pocket stove"? Only seen 'em on E-Prey and pics on the web... Edit-Yep, it's the one I think it is... in "The Big Dizzy" (Denver... a mile high...thin air...dizzy..get it? Not to mention the insanity of the city..) Thanks to Lance, I own a Vietnam era squad stove, but militaria is over-collected in this area. (IMHO)
I have bid on US ebay for the 530 and have missed out on 2 so far. I have not come across a 520 as yet. There is a 502 on there for $60 odd at the moment with a day to go. Sounds OTT.
Unless it has the two square pans which double as a case and cookset, a 502 is very common over here, much like the suitcases, but just a little less so. 60 usd is OTT unless it's new in the box with the pans. ( they might want that much for the pans alone... dumb, but I talked to a guy who worked at a Coleman outlet here who wanted that much for his little square aluminum pans alone...) Best, Randy
Well I guess if you are going for total mint with box etc, un-used, I would, if I had the cash go for it, its like what are you willing to spend. The 2 I have were not mint, but like I said in good condition. I got a 530 when I first started collecting, got it for a pretty good price off ebay. Then I got an Optimus 45 and a 531 Coleman Solus, both have been giving me headaches. (and what Randy said)
That 502 on ebay is up to $74 now and shifting. Still 20 hours to go. By the time I get up the seller will be a millionaire. There again this one looks newer than new. 4am and I am gone.
littledre, I didnt even welcome you, wheres my manners? Welcome to CCS! 900pm here in the spud state.
Yes, Littledre, Welcome! I went and looked at that 502. It IS a "new" old stock, in the box, unburned, with the pans 502, so for it to go high isn't unusual. ( The PANS are the biggest part of it, but the box in good shape is a big one for collectors also. I'm weird, the pans I'd like, the box, I don't care as much. ) Best, Randy
Hi Littledre, The 502 is a wonderful stove, it's a real workhorse. Unless you're looking for one in pristine condition and don't plan on using it, you can pick one up on Ebay for 20 - 40 dollars depending on condition. The generators are still available there all the time too.
As for a Coleman 502 stove that one will go high like others have mentioned. Being it's never been fueled or fired. Another being it has the cook kit along is another. The 502 in my opinion is one of the best small cooking stoves around. Coleman still makes some of the replacement parts for them also. Also a bit on 520's and 530's. Coleman never made a 530 just for the military. Only civil defense. The only field stove ever made by Coleman specifically for the military is the 1941 520 stove. The patent info will show 1942 but the first 1000 where made in 1941 As seen in the pictures in this link. This is my stove. http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm211/kellyblues/520A/ Kelly
Thank you It is one of my prize pieces of my collection. It did not look like that when I got it!! LOL I spent many hours cleaning that stove. Kelly
Hi Littledre: Welcome. In my world at yard sales and flea markets 502's are common in the $5-$10 range in good usable condition without the tins(5-20 with the tins). I saw one last Sat. for $3 but it was well used, however seller said it was a good runner. Hope this is helpful Mike...
In all, the four or five companies which made the military single burner stoves made them in the thousands. Perhaps as many as several hundred thousand to a couple of million. Why are they so hard to find on the open market? Mostly because they were so cheap in cost that when the Military was through using them they were survayed out and dumped in a heap and then tanks were driven over the top of the heap. How was the military to know there were a million folks out there who just couldn't get enough of their "junque". lance
