I’m trying to figure out exactly what this 1942 520 stove is. I looked in the Coleman book and it looks like a 1942 520 is supposed to have four legs, this one has three legs. I have a 1943 Office of civilian defense 520 with three legs that looks a lot like this one. The main differences are this one is dated 1942, Has a funnel , different parts tube And does not have a plate identifying it is an OCD. Is this one just a 1942 3 legged OCD without the plate? Are most 1942 520s 3 legged? Or is it regular Army issue. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!
Nice. For readers unclear his example above, green steel tank with small filler tube is stamped US 1942 Coleman Caveat, have not presently researched (or re-reviewed) so not absolutely 100% certain. As I recall the '42 did not have 3 feet regardless CD or Army. W/o much preparation for this suggestion: perhaps it originally had it's 4 feet. 1 or more were damaged broken off. A repair was completed resulting in 3 feet. maybe? You might want to have a very close look at the bottom of tank and feet mountings with that possibility in mind. 1 foot could remain in original position 2 others re-attached in new (tripod) locations. Anecdotally 2 things: feet getting broken off is common including a clean break from the tank. good luck
OMC- I don't know Coleman's approach, but with many devices there can be variations which are later taken as on the year which occur late in the previous year. I wonder, for example, if this might be a late (Christmas?) 1942 build. It might be (as they say for cars) model year 1943 but a 1942 build. Some years ago I had a 1992 Land Rover Defender. The manuals all said these were not sold in Australia until 1993. And of course that is true- but the first batch were built in 1992 and sold 1993. But with the price guides ("Red Book" in Oz) I always had to look at the 1993 model.
You have a Coleman Model 520 stove made under contract for the Office of Civilian Defense (OCD). The military version made by Coleman and other makers was the Stove, one-burner, M1941. The only difference in the two models is the canister and catch. The OCD stove used a one-piece canister that only covered the upper portion of the stove and had a spring catch in the frame to retain the canister when it was used as a case for the stove. In the picture below the catch is shown at 1. The M1941 used a two-piece canister which enclosed the whole stove and had no catch, however there was still the hole for the catch in the frame. The instruction plates were slightly different. Shown at 2 in the picture is the spares tube. The tube normally contained a couple of generators, fuel cap gasket and stem packing. Possibly other bits as well, I'm going from memory. OCD stoves were painted a brighter green than the military version.
Thanks everybody for the information I was pretty sure it was an OCD. It was the legs that mainly made me wonder. Here are some pictures of my 1943 OCD. This one also has three legs but it is badged has a different part container, Which I know are interchangeable, And has a slightly different pump.
Mine is a 3 legged AGM. Coleman made the 3 legged also. Look in the Gallery/ America/ military and you will find them.
re Coleman made the 3 legged also. Look in the Gallery/ America/ military and you will find them. i don't think you will see a "42" with 3 feet in gallery. that and ... in the Coleman book and it looks like a 1942 520 is supposed to have four legs ... that has been my impression (right or wrong) until this.
The switch to 3 legs happened fairly early so I don't think we can rule out a '42 with three legs. It would help if Coleman had marked the month as well as the year. @Jay Tews Can you post a photo of the bottom of both stoves side by side?
Here are some photos. The ‘43is on the left in the pictures shown from the bottom. The ‘43 is on the right in the side shot photo.
I found a couple current pictures on eBay and they show a difference in leg construction between the 4 leg models and my 3 legged ones. Unfortunately I can’t get the pictures to format to this forum. The four leg seem to have some sort of a nut and bolt while my two three leg models seem to have a pin. Original variation of the OCD? Repair with newer legs on older stoves?
Three legs provide a more stable platform(on an uneven surface) than any other variation having less or more legs. John
@Jay Tews I think you have the earliest documented 3 legged 520 (at the moment). Someone had to have one. As I say, the chance that the manufacturing changed on 1/1/43 was slim. It can't be a repair. It would not have been economical to do. A damaged stove would have been stripped for spares, not rebuilt with a new base on the fount. An entire new fount would have the later date. If repaired by welding on new feet, there would be the old welds visible.
I hope the three legs are original. Do anyone know if all of the 3 leg 520s had pins in the hinges or did the early ones have nuts and bolts like the 4 leg versions? Here is a picture I found that shows the nut and bolt hinges. Thanks
