Hello everyone, I don’t want to deny to you all something I bought. If I’m right there’s inside this crate a Coleman 523 with a sterilizer unit. I’m not sure if I want to open it. Inside is a sealed zinc box wich carries the Coleman 523. I’ve been told that this is a WW II burner . If that’s true I don’t know. Maybe there’s someone among you who can tell me more. Regards, Milco
Oh, please don't open it. Gather all the information, pictures and diagrams on it that you can, seal them in an envelope (include pictures of yourself and family)attached to the box. Then save the whole thing for your first male great-grandchild.
That is pretty cool. I don't know what I would do eventually, but I agree with greyghost and would research the markings as best possible to try to figure out where/when its been. I wonder if the stove is packed separately from the pans -- that would explain the size of the box.
The 18" x 10" x 9" dimensions of the sterilizer may be the key bit of information. If anyone has the 523 set, measure the case / pan and see what you get. The 62 pound weight seems heavy for the set, but the case looks to be substantial. Maybe you could have it x-rayed... It looks like it was sent to the Greek Army, probably in the Military Assistance Program. Paul
Looks very likely to be one of these: 19 X 11-1/2 X 9 inches But those are the total outside dimensions, the inside of the main pot is as stated on the crate. It's all stainless BTW. Nice find!! ......I hope. This isn't concrete, but the Mutual Defense Assistance Act was passed in 1949 and thousands of tons of stuff was shipped out to non Soviet Block countries throughout the cold war. Based on the red white and blue stamp, it's probably guaranteed to be post WWII. That's not to say that it wasn't unused WWII surplus though. Mike
i second that. the county council heritage dept. here does x-radiography, your county council /province local government may do also? if not, you can't be far from the national museums, being in a small (but lovely) country however, if it was me, i'd have had it open and lit in short order
For God's sake, man.....OPEN IT! It'll be ok, really. Unless your intent is to sell it again. It's kinda like not being able to open a present on Christmas morning. It's killing me..... Mike
Milco, while it is true you may never know what is inside that crate unless you open it, once you have done so you can never put it back to right. Please do me and yourself a favour and keep it as is (except for an X-ray to determine the contents)until such time as you either need it or have need to examine the contents for shipment overseas. i'm sure a through investigation of the lables and stamps etc will reveal the contents. If they do and you find it is a 523 medical burner then the best bet is to buy a user and keep that as a one off, as i'm fair sure a total package like that is as rare as alligator feathers. lance
Lance said; Or Frog hair or hen's teeth. DAMN! For what it's worth, I too vote for Xray!!! VERY COOL FIND. Like a sunken ship full of undelivered cargo!
I agree that it's probably rare in the crate, but I bought 2 complete units like the ones in my photos off of Evilbay minus the wood crate for under a hundred bucks each. Whatever floats your boat though. Mike ps it isn't beyond the realm of possibility that it's (the stove and spares) corroding away while we debate. I've bought some NOS packed stuff that was rusted to hell when I opened it. So maybe they're right. Does a stove in a wet box still rust if you can't see it? On the other hand some stuff is well packed in cosmoline and looks like the day it was packed. Who could enjoy the Mona Lisa if it was crated up? My opinion only. I'm not an archaeologist. I'm an enjoyer of stoves. Mike
It is no good to anybody while it is still packed up in that crate. Open it up. Put some motor fuel in it. Light it. Cook some sausages and pancakes on it. Post the pictures on the internet. That poor, poor, damn stove has been confined in that horrible little prison for all these years waiting for some kind soul, such as yourself, to come along and let out so that it can fulfill it's destiny of making two beautiful blue flames. Be that person. You know it's the right thing to do.
What I know is that it was shipped to the Army of Greece during the Military Assistance Program before 1951. This date is written by hand on the crate. It weights 27,8 Kg = 61,7 lbs. I'll see if I am somewhere in the country an x-ray can be made. Regards, Milco
try a post at one of the military history sites and see what comes up.if you open it up please make a Youtube video of the process.
archeologists and museums of archeological finds would be where to start your search - good luck :smile:
