Today's fettle was this Canadian Military 500. It arrived in a rusty state and with the fuel/air lever incorrectly fitted through the collar. It had bent and refused to turn even when removed. On removal of the fuel pick up from the tank I found the fuel pick up tube had been bent and unfortunately trying to straighten the tube caused the stressed brass to break. Luckily I had a suitable donor stove, of the same era, with a perforated tank, so the necessary transplant took place. The rusted parts went into my rust remover bath for a an hour or two, less for the windshield as it started to remove the matt silver paint. I reassembled the stove correctly and decided to paint the 'to light', 'to burn' instructions on the collar. If I could reverse time I don't think I'd bother as my efforts were disappointingly shaky. Test time. These 500s produce a very strong flame but can also simmer effectively. I haven't been able to spot a date as yet. It maybe covered by the paint but if I'm correct these were only produced from 1942 to 43.
@tretrop no the same as other Canadian 500s of that era, other than the painted instructions on the collar, not stamped (note though mine had no instructions originally) , and the black ink 500 mark on the bottom and as you say the drab olive paint and windshield.
The black ink 500 bottom stamp was common on 500s in Canada. Also found on some Coleman Canada lanterns in the 1940s. I have a few of them.
