This has been an interesting read as have a few other topics on Coleman #1's Most of the topics on Coleman #1's have similar errors on historical facts. For instance, I keep reading that these stoves were first released in 1923. That is incorrect. As Trevor has pointed out a couple of times in various topics, it was 1922 the #1's were released. It has been stated in topics that this is the first stove Coleman released. It may be the first camp stove of Coleman design to be released but I think it's more than probable that a number of other Coleman designed stoves were released just before the #1 camp stove. More importantly, the #1 may well have been the first Coleman designed camp stove manufactured by Coleman but it wasn't the first camp stove to be manufactured by Coleman, not by a long shot. Coleman manufactured at least 4 and perhaps 5 camp stoves prior to the release of their #1.
@Matty , Howdy, Interesting comments, and like @snwcmpr , I look forward to reading what you have to share with us about your assertions!! When you say, "Coleman manufactured at least 4 and perhaps 5, camp stoves prior to the release of their #1", are you referring to the Cabin Ranges, and such? One thing I have learned, in the almost 40 years I've been interested in stoves, is that nobody will ever know everything that there is to learn. So, please do share your information, and I know that many of us are eager to learn something new!! Documentation that prove your assertions would be eagerly received here at CCS!! Thanks, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Well, the New Year starts with a healthy debate! Matty mentions me in his post on this revived thread. Earlier in this thread I posted an advert for the Coleman No.1 and I said it was from 1922. In Terry Marsh's site it states that the stove was made between 1923 and 1924. I don't know if the No.1 was made before 1922, but I do have a dated advert from 1922, as can be seen by the date at the top left of this page (25th May, 1922) . . . . I also have an advert showing that they were still being sold in 1925, though this is possibly old stock, but maybe not. That is all the information I have on this topic (I think!).
Hi, Trevor! Happy New Year, my old Friend!!! I love your advert for the 1922 Coleman goodies, but must take slight issue on the dating of this ad. I can clearly see, in the top right hand part of the page, that Coleman sold these things in 1731!!!!! Yep, the 1922 date makes it's point very clear. Thank you for sharing this, again, and may I ask that you send me a pdf of it, in my regular email, please? I can't get the hang of saving such excellent info when it's posted here, sometimes. Thank you, again, and may the New Year bring you and yours health, happiness, love, peace, prosperity, and faith, Mate!!! Take care and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Mark
Good Evening, Trevor, Many thanks for the emails, and they all arrived in perfect knick!! I'll file them where I can find them again, and again, thank you for this excellent information!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Mark
Prior to releasing the Coleman #1, The Coleman Lamp Company were manufacturing AGM models including The Tourist and what looks to be the AGM Model 3. I'm not a stovie so it's difficult for me to recognise the models. Coleman gave The Tourist the Model # 12. I know they gave other stoves the model #'s 1 & 2. I can't quite make out the model # of the2nd stove in this advert, it may be #5. Despite using the same 'brand name' such as The Tourist & KampKook, clearly, Coleman did not give the AGM's they manufactured the same model number AGM gave their own stoves.
I don't know the date of the above advert, but the Tourist appears in an advert dated April 9, 1922 in the L.A. Times https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/156026768/ HD
"We job it in 4 sizes and carry a full line of repairs" It is an ad placed by The Coleman Lamp Company, not one of their retailers. They state they are MFG's of Gasoline lamps, lanterns Stoves. There are many of this type of ad. This particular one is from April 1922.
Hi all. In the ad world it is common practice for a company to advertise a product ahead of it's release so the public is ready for it upon release. Coleman company's "official" release date for the #1 is 1923. Could they have sold some stoves early at test local to test public acceptance, who knows. Coleman company themselves stated during 1923 the #1 was released that year and to this day they state the release date was 1923. One would think the manufacture of the product would know. As for the Los Angles ad for AGM and other stoves, that was for a Coleman distributor that sold many products other than Coleman. These ads have been around and researched by many over the years. Mike...
Good Morning, All, Interesting stuff, but, I have to agree with Mike: That ad was not from the Coleman Company, but rather from one of their Distributors, which carried many different stoves, including the Kampkook, and Tourist models. Both of these stoves are also mentioned in the 1923 book by F.E. Brimmer, "Autocamping". The Coleman Company is not mentioned as being the manufacturer of either of these stoves, and in fact, is not mentioned, at all, by Brimmer. And, furthermore, Coleman Company official paperwork clearly states the release dates of the Coleman #1, and does not mention either the Kampkook, or the Tourist stoves. That's good enough for me. Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
I think it's also important to understand the line in the ad "We job it in 4 sizes and carry a full line of repairs". One of the definitions of job is "to buy in large quantities, as from wholesalers or manufacturers, and sell to dealers in smaller quantities: " I don't think the ad provides any proof that Coleman manufactured AGM products, but rather that the California retailer who ran the ad was buying from various manufacturers.
This from Hardware World January 1920 COLEMAN COMPANY OPENS LOS - ANGELES BRANCH The Coleman Lamp Company, of Wichita, Kansas, has opened another sales and distributing branch—this time at 120 South Los Angeles street, Los Angeles, California. This Pacific Coast representation was made through the purchase, by the Coleman interests of the Cole Light and Sales Company. The demand for Coleman products in the Southwestern Coast territory is both wide and strong. The states included in the Los Angeles sales district are California, Arizona and Nevada. All business from these states is handled under the direction of Mr. F. Cole, formerly head of the company which bore his name. Other branches of the Coleman Company are already established at Chicago, Dallas, Toledo and St. Paul.
Trevor, Thank you for quickly providing content. Matty, Revelations like this are not unprecedented and should be welcomed and encouraged. You're obviously engaged in research and regardless of initial findings you made the effort to offer relevant discussion. You were asked for "more than a statement" & "share your information"... you did, still no thank you. On behalf of fellow stovies I apologize for that and thank you for your interesting input. You have opened discussion re information that's not commonly known. Among posters here Mike is viewed as most knowledgeable and is familiar w/the pre-1923 No.1 ads. So far, for me, they are Coleman ads but not seeing that Coleman made the stoves. re "We job it in 4 sizes and carry a full line of repairs". For c1920 "manufacturers" and "distributors" the meaning of this sentence may have been obvious (it's not clear to me). The ads do support Coleman assigned them Coleman model No.s (in Coleman ad)... sure, why not. 1922 they were manufactures of "stoves" which to me has zero sway re No.1 (or camp stoves you suggest pre-date the No.1). I'm aware of all pushback above but i'll leave open as possibility the No.1 was manufactured prior to 1923. I have limited research on it but seeing it offered to order in April of 1922 (again, I heard the pushback) I'll not refuse the possibility it was in full production prior to 1923. Trevor, Matty & HD provided "Coleman Lamp Company (...lamps, lanterns. stoves...)" images/links to support this pre-1923 query. All sourced from pre-1923. Are there c1923 sources supporting No.1 full production did not begin prior to 1923? thx omc Disclosure, Matty, You sure you're not a stovie? I'm a stovie but not focused on suitcases, with 1 aluminum case and 10 Coleman, PW & AGM 192x-195x... I have too many. tag @Matty @flivver
Greetings, All, Out of curiosity, I dug out my old American Kampkook #7, and was gratified to find a ton of excellent information right there on the front of the stove!! The brass model tag clearly shows the Patent dates for the #7, beginning in 1921. It also shows that from 1921, on, the American Kampkook was manufactured by American Gas Machine, in Albert Lea, Minnesota. For your perusal, I show a couple of quick photos, which illustrate what I've related. Please give them a squint and share your thoughts. To my way of thinking, this shows that AGM was making their own stoves, and not subbing them out to Coleman. Also, I was thinking about selling this #7, but after learning more about the Patent dates, have decided it's well worth keeping! Fun stuff!! Later, when time permits, I can post better, and more photos, in the Stove Reference Gallery, of this #7. I look forward to hearing your thoughts, Stovies, and as always, God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
@cottage hill bill, Many thanks for sharing that excellent bit of info about all this! Much appreciated, as your info continues to shine the light on this current question. All told, I think we are on the right track. Thanks, again, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
