As the title indicates, I write in praise of a 1965 Coleman 502 single burner backpacking stove. You can find a picture of one here (scroll way down) -http://terrence.marsh.faculty.noctrl.edu/lantern/colestovespost1945.html

The stove was bought off ebay for less than $40 (CAN), including shipping from Minnesota. I bought it two years ago for our then eleven year old son, on the basis that I was comfortable with him lighting a Coleman when I would not be comfortable with him lighting our MSR or our Primus.

He used it at a few Scout camps, and then, of course, we just HAD to take it on a canoe trip.

My first discovery was that it is SO nice to light the Coleman at 6:30 AM to boil water for coffee because, unlike the MSR or Primus, it does not sound like a Saturn V engine running on a test stand. In fact, it is very, very quiet and does not disturb anyone who is still asleep.

Last week, we went out for four nights and our son angled again to take his Coleman. We always take two stoves. First because "two stoves, no waiting" and second because I am a charter member of the Department of Redundancy Department. Good thing because once we were "out there" I found myself staring at a Primus stove in one hand, and a fuel bottle with an MSR pump installed in the other hand, knowing that never the twain shall mate. DOH! (Note to self: pay more attention when packing.)

So, all cooking had to be done on the "back up" Coleman.

I never, ever, intended to use the Coleman with our Outback oven. Something about holding all the heat right above the fuel tank didn't sit well with me.

But, no choice now, so I cut the added heat shield provided with the Outback oven for use with canister stoves to fit the Coleman and set out to do some baking. Visions of exploding stove/fireballs danced in my head.

Well, over the next few days we baked corn bread, regular bread, pizzas and biscuits without incident.

These old Coleman stoves are a little heavy, and a little bulky (although there is some compensation from the fact that you can start out with them full of fuel and maybe save on a fuel bottle), but they are dead easy to light, very quiet in operation, simmer nicely and, as it turns out, you can even bake on them.

So now I am going back to the future again. Next week my wife and I will take off to Daisy-Misty-White Trout- McIntosh. . (Be sure that this time the pump in the fuel bottle and the second stove WILL match.)

We will bring with us my just delivered 1988 Coleman 508 with carry case. (ebay again, about $35 (CAN), including shipping from Washington state) Not quite as solid as the 502, but just as quiet and the carrying case will prevent potential damage to its exposed levers and plumbing

Here's to the old school and to William C. Coleman.


Peter B.

I have to agree with the praise. No offense to those new fangled stove type things, and if my Colemans ever die I might even look at one, but there is no sign of the Colemans giving up anytime soon. In 30+ years of use, the most maintenance I have ever had to do was smear a little margerine on the pump diaphragm when it dried out too much.

___________________________
No your other left!
Loon Island Outdoors

Bryan (my spouse) had a 502 that was given to him as a Christmas gift when he was a kid. He had and used that stove up until it was lost in our house fire in 2001. It was a great stove.

Laurie
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
www.outdooradventurecanada.com
www.wildernesscooking.com

Tried , proven and tested

Mind you that was motto of GM and look at whats happening to them


I have 6 coleman dual burner stoves ( 3 naptha ) ranging from copper tanks
to newer Red tank style with aluminum TEE ( that was a mistake IMHO)

Also 2 propane ( dual and single )


Coleman ROCKS.... Even works ( well the naptha ones do) at -40


P.S. just picked up a Primus two burner for $10 at a flea market
that used some type of canned fuel ( butane/propane?)
but the fitting on the hose doesn't fit any PRIMUS canned fuel
I can locate ... Male thread of this stove hose certainly doesn't fit
and type of pressurized fuel container I can find today
But all is not lost... I just converted fitting to propane ( disposable bottle )
but as well I purchased an adapter that allows me to refill those hazardous
waste small container from a 20/30 lbs tank and this allows me to consider
it's use for tripping as now its a reusable tank IMHO

This primus stove is 60% smaller than the old tried/proven two burner coleman
and I expect it may find a place in my future pack loads in lieu of
the colemans . But this won't be cast in concrete till it passes field trials
and it had better meet or exceed the results I've enjoyed with the good ole coleman!

If if it was hand carried on the portages to BIG T.. The end result always
ensured it was again brought the next trip! .. If nothing else I guess
at least one had a great hand thingy to wack what ever creature you may of
met walking the portage if it came to that ( e.g. Man or beast )



Raton Laveur
aka



*Rac n*

yuppers colemans last forever.
I would take their weighty trusty stoves over any lightweight stove out there today.



Mark Rubino
Mark's Algonquin Park Sampler - Blog
Mark's Algonquin Park Sampler

http://www.ABRweb.ca .. Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists - Caring for Algonquin's Backcountry

where 'bouts did you get the "re-fill" adapter for filling those non-refillable" canisters? Have you tried it yet and if so, how much propane can you actually transfer?

Thanks!

I picked up two 502 stoves from the 60s and they both still work great

A few years ago I was out at Smith Lake with my buddy Steve as we both packed our gear for a solo trip as he was staying one more day than I.

One morning, he was having trouble getting his "new technology" stove going and had to tinker with it for a while, meanwhile, I had my single burner coleman heating my water for coffee and oatmeal without any problem.

By the time he had his stove going, I was done eating and getting ready to go out fishing...he was so busy trying to get his stove going, he never noticed that I had eaten already.

He paid at least 10 times the price for his stove compared to mine, but like I told him...mine works every time!!

So i currently use a whisper lite but may get a single burner Coleman for winter already have a double burner one. My question is how does the new single burner available compare at cnd tire compare to the older ones it doesnt seem the be made of as strong a material as that was lent to me one -30C winter.

This history of Coleman products is that from some time in the 1940's onward almost every change made was made to reduce manufacturing costs. For example, lanterns went from brass fuel tanks to steel fuel tanks. Stoves got less hefty.

Having just spent six nights in the park using my "new" Coleman 508, on balance, I think the older 502 is a better made stove.

Just one view, but, personally, rather than buy a new Coleman from Canadian Tire, I'd shop ebay or Kijiji, or your favourite flea market for an older model one. Although, you should expect to replace the fuel filler cap, and pump leather and possibly the generator to get peak performance.

Peter B.

Cabelas carries the refill adapter I use

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=&id=0013259512325a&navCount=0&podId=0013259&parentId=&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IK&rid=&parentType=&indexId=&cmCat=netcon&cm_ven=netcon&cm_cat=Yahoo&cm_pla=cabelas%20propane%20refill%20adapter&cm_ite=netcon&hasJS=true



NOTE:
Standard Propane tank Soap checking after refill would be
definately recommended Just in Case!!

BTW: there are issues ( some are hype and some are laws)
with refilling the disponsable tanks but common sense on ones
part should mitigate any safety issues


HTH
Raton Laveur
aka





Raton Laveur
aka

*Rac n*

I have to agree with those supporting the virtues of the Coleman name and her stoves. I've never used the old 502's but I can put a vote in and vouch for the more modern Multi-fuel Peak 1 (1990) and her latest iteration - Exponent, both proudly carrying on her stoic reputation. Coupled with one of the aluminum box shield/nesting pot carrying case they are virtually bomb proof at a reasonable price.

I know the Scout store here in Ottawa can repair Coleman stoves, not sure if they do old ones or just the more moderns ones however. The Scout store also carries a wide range of Coleman products, including her stoves - albeit at a more $$ price then other retailers.

Svea / Optimus also have quite a proud and historic reputation as well...