You know how all you guys are always finding rare bargains and treasures at garage (boot) sales? Well I can pretty authoritatively that it has never happened to me with stoves for the past several decades. So imagine my surprise when I was finally able to score 3 Coleman products- a 220D lantern and 413G & 425E stoves for a grand total of $15. Never happened before! Usually when there was something interesting it was $75 or some such nonsense the way my luck usually runs. Anyway, the 425E is dated 3/79, 413G is 8/73 and the 220D is 5/49. I'll post pics in a couple of days. Stoves are in good shape but are filled with "Mud Dauber" wasp nests, and the lantern has a bit of corrosion on the chrome plated body that I'd like to ask how best to remove- very fine steel wool or something else? Anyway, I'll post pics but I have a busy week so may have to be next Friday before I can get them posted. FB
Bagging a bargain is the best feeling! Sounds like a nice haul! Another way too think about missing out on those boot sale bargains... Too many cheap stoves (and lamps!) = more stoves = more fettling = more time and more cost...and suddenly you're addicted! Sometimes that higher price you have to pay places a natural limit on what could easily become an all consuming obsession! But maybe it's already too late!!!
When I do a mental count, I have at least a dozen stoves and probably that many lanterns too, funny how that happens! Oh, and here's a funny bit- I was thinking about purchasing one of those Stansport propane adapters as I also have one of those adapter hoses that has a fitting for a 20lb tank on one side and the other has the 1lb tank fitting. I would get more use from them during times where the on-off convenience of propane (for instance making a pot of hot chocolate for the kids when we are out somewhere) and was planning on ordering one this weekend anyway. Well big surprise one of the stoves (the 413G) had one tucked inside it so there alone I saved a couple dollars.
I just received one. I like it-- funny thing is, it works great in all of my two burners, and only one of my 3 burners. Don't have model numbers handy, but I spend a couple hours trying to get it to work in all of them. FYI: in the front behind the sticker is an adjustment screw. Anyway, glad I got it. Nobody seems to know how to use a Coleman stove anymore, so I got one for the adults of our scout troop.
