Before last weekend I didn't own any Coleman stoves. I now own one. Whilst they have never appealed to me in terms of collecting when Kerophile posted the link to the cheapo ebay offer for the 550B Peak 1 I thought I'd jump in to see what the fuss is about (positive or negative). When I received the stove I realised that being clumsy I would end up burning myself when trying to use the control knob. So something had to be done before I used it. Looking at the knob I could either try something complex like extending the rod with lots of threading and messing around. Alternatively I could try to utilise the generous grooves on the knob to provide a key for twisting it remotely. I attempted the latter, and here's what I came up with utilising stuff I had lying around. Apologies for lack of measurements, but I didn't use any! First I found ordinary 12mm or 1/2" copper pipe was a reasonable fit over the knob: I then cut four slots in one end of the tube (aligning with grooves on the knob) and found some thin metal that would push fit into the slots. In this case I used some old brass shirt collar stiffeners. I then cut four fillets to go in the slots. Arrange the fillets in the slots using the knob as a guide (no measurement needed!). Carefully remove the knob and this is what you have: Don't worry about the oversized fillets on the outside of the tube. Carefully apply flux without moving anything (this is the advantage of using a thickness of fillet with a tight push fit into the slots), and silbraze it up. Whilst you're brazing, anneal the other end of the tube. When it is cool, pinch up the other end of the tube in a vice and shape to your liking. I also brazed this end up so I could finish it with no sharp edges, but that's probably just me being anally retentive. File away the excess metal from the fillets and this is what you end up with: And here's coffee on the go with no burnt fingers or knuckles: And so I now have a Coleman stove in my collection. I think in several years time I will still have one coleman stove in my collection. I'm afraid they just don't appeal to me. Here's my personal thoughts on this particular stove. It works well on a low to mid range setting. On hi the flame is not that stable and burns a bit too yellow for my linking (note, this is on kero). My summary observation. It's perfectly servicable, but is of relatively flimsy construction and has no "soul". I feel that in common with the rest of throwaway society it's designed to last five to ten years. So designed to a lifespan as opposed to designed to last a lifetime. I don't think people will be able to fettle these up into working condition in 100 years time like we do with the brassies today.
I have to agree; the newer coleman's like the one you've got there are built nothing like (material wise) those of yester-year and are much flimsier than their predecessors, suitcase stoves included. Same goes for most things though, cars used to be tanks, now their plastic toys. But to say it's "perfectly servicable" and then to also say it couldn't be re-worked in it's later years seems contradictive....or were you just referring to the quality of the materials used? Coleman's (on this side of the pond), old and new tend to be the most trustworthy and dependable units around, even if abused which is why they ended up lasting as a company. Just my .02. I don't collect Coleman's myself, but I wouldn't mind getting a Coleman 1 or 2.....hehehe, By the way, cool mod!
Hi VooDuu, I meant perfectly serviceable in terms of it largely does what it says on the can from an operation point of view, rather than serviceable in terms of fettling. I.E. It performed as expected. It's whether it will continue to do so for the next 100 years that I doubt I agree that some of the older suitcase jobbies look pretty substantial and I would have to say the Coleman stoves do seem to have the right safetly features in place for using Coleman fuel to minimise the effect of any fault, compared to say a Coleman fuelled 111B/C/T. Another positive is that it doesn't have any loose parts. At least, not until I made one for it! Having said that it's an awkward shape to stuff into a rucksack unless you also combine it with a suitable sized pan set. Overall I think I prefer the flexibility of a collapsible stove. A Primus 210 will pack up into a smaller space than a Nova + fuel bottle - you don't have to use a tin. I think the bottom line for me is more subjective than quantitive. I just don't find them attractive. Given that I'm never going to camp at -20C if I just wanted something reliable and practical I may as well use a camping gaz stove! However, I enjoy stoves purely as objects as well as for their intended use and I'm afraid Colemans just don't do it for me. And anyway, that control knob is in a ridiculous position!
I gotcha!! I get it now, I figured servicable as in, easily serviced, hahaha. I agree with you, I too would rather a brassie than one of our 500 series colemans.(unless it was my father's Model 530 GI Pocket stove that his grandmother gave him, and that one dates to the 1940's I believe) We just have them (older style) because around here, they're cheap and you can't go to many yard sales without people dang near givng them away; and usually with fuel ready to go, haha.
Colemans may be utilitarion and not very pretty. But you never have nrv problems. Twisting the pump to add air and closing it is pure genius. The only thing I have ever had to do to a Coleman is oil the pump leather. The newer ones you don't even have to do that.
