Coleman stove identification

Discussion in 'Open Forum' started by Buggerlugs, Feb 18, 2021.

  1. Buggerlugs

    Buggerlugs Australia Subscriber

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    I don't know anything about this stove but I think it's a Coleman 500 stove?
    Any help would be much appreciated, also how do I find a date stamp?
    20210218_204751.jpg 20210218_204800.jpg 20210218_204817.jpg
    Thanks
     
  2. Tony Press

    Tony Press Australia Subscriber

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    @Buggerlugs

    Coleman 500. A great stove!

    I can see an 8 where the arrow is pointing. What numbers are stamped on the left and right of the Coleman Made In Canada stamping?

    E190A6EE-1460-4456-907C-89A31B809EE9.jpeg

    Tony
     
  3. Buggerlugs

    Buggerlugs Australia Subscriber

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    On the left looks like a D, and near the 8 looks like a 3.
    20210218_213310.jpg 20210218_213325.jpg
    Does that help?
     
  4. Tony Press

    Tony Press Australia Subscriber

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    Last quarter of 1938, would be my pick. One of our Canadian Coleman colleagues will be able to correct me if I’m wrong.

    If you take a look over at CCS you’ll see a lot of posts about this stove, and good posts on getting them running. The Coleman 500 has a big fan base.

    Note that it runs on Shellite (gasoline).

    Cheers

    Tony
     
  5. Tony Press

    Tony Press Australia Subscriber

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  6. Buggerlugs

    Buggerlugs Australia Subscriber

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    @ROBBO55, wow wonderful job you have done there mate.
     
  7. Cottage Hill Bill

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    I agree with Tony D 38, fourth quarter 1938. For a period of time Coleman used letters to indicate the quarter of the year for production. After a short time they seem to have switched to using just A and B to indicate a half year. I've never seen a 530 stove with anything other than A or B. One of the two best Coleman single burner stoves. The other being the 500's baby brother the 502.
     
  8. Pancho

    Pancho Subscriber

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    A very fine stove and flame control is awesome. Very good simmer
     
  9. ROBBO55

    ROBBO55 Subscriber

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    @Buggerlugs

    Now this one is a challenge for you and Michael. :)
    As said they are a very good stove to use and well worth the effort to get working.
    1938 seems to be the first year of manufacture.

    If you need any help let me know.
     
  10. MikeO

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    C 38 is the earliest production date, so your D/38 500 is first year production. Yours also has the "L" shaped burn-light lever. By early '39 they had gone to the loop lever so that gives yours a little extra cachet in the Speedmaster world!

    Just a warning if you decide to give it a thorough restoration--the screws holding the burner to the baseplate, cap on the burner rings, and the little tin cover on the top of the burner are absolute swines to remove. The slot is not very deep so even with lots of heat, penetrant, and the right hollow-ground screwdriver they will often strip out.

    Mike.
     
  11. burndout

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    Worst feature of the 500 and 500A stoves is the fact that their burners have practically no wind resistance.
    A windshield made from an old #10 can, or other thin metal helps some.
    If I recall correctly, some Canadian 500 stoves were built with windscreens.
     
  12. MikeO

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    Military versions had windscreens. Second World War production:
    _MG_1936.JPG

    Korean War and later, later indicated as C1B1 in a Canadian military handbook:
    DSCF9136.JPG

    Mike.
     
  13. burndout

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    Awesome images of mint condition 500's!

    Here are a couple images of my well used US made A-40 500 with tin can windshield.
     

    Attached Files:

  14. MikeO

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    Thanks! The olive drab 500 is all original and looks like it was lit once to make sure it worked. Just a few scorch marks on the burner. The box has an ink stamp indicating it was sent to Montreal, Quebec (Military Base Longue Pointe--Tarte Pier) and then loaded on a Convoy for England. I purchased this stove from a seller in the UK on eBay.

    The C1B1 stove has had its grate and windscreens repainted. Coleman changed the scalloped style 500 grate to the round version in 1954, but this stove is a '51. Hmmmmm, retrofitted by the military and upgraded to a round grate?

    Sorry to get offbase on this thread. 500s are the coolest, and the "L" lever on Michael and Brian's makes it a standout oldtimer!

    Mike.
     
    Last edited: Feb 22, 2021
  15. Buggerlugs

    Buggerlugs Australia Subscriber

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    So then it's basically a run off the mill, not worth anything then?
    As I don't collect stoves I just have a few, so I won't try to trade it then.
    By the way the other stoves look amazing by the way.
     
  16. burndout

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    Don't sell it short, even as 'parts', it has value, especially if the tank is sound.
     
  17. Buggerlugs

    Buggerlugs Australia Subscriber

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    Hello if anyone wants to make an offer, just inbox me thanks
     
  18. MikeO

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    I wouldn't say it's run-of-the-mill for somebody interested in 500's. I must've looked around for 5-6 years (and that's seeing many stoves in Canada), until I found a C38 and could finally add an L-lever to my collection.
    Mike.
     
  19. AlanE United Kingdom

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    Hi all
    I have one of these stoves a Coleman 500 number next to the Canada is 42
    But what I have seen anyone with the cooking pot and pan carrycase is this a military issue? 20220613_211130.jpg
     
  20. Sedgman

    Sedgman Subscriber

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    My Jan 51 Model 500 has the scalloped grate as stated by Mike.

    Yes they do indeed need a windshield outdoors as the burner is a long way below the trivet.
    Iain
     
  21. stuartc

    stuartc United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Hi, I have just acquired what I believe is a Coleman 500 but it is dated B 38. I don’t know much about stoves so any further info would be great

    6735C76E-5442-4074-8265-970E7E7A8A07.jpeg 0BD61B0B-0B60-454B-AB65-0E0A063CF594.jpeg 6EB24030-B111-4851-8C9D-8482F5B1BF0D.jpeg
     
  22. presscall

    presscall United Kingdom Subscriber

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  23. stuartc

    stuartc United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Thanks for the link. I do enjoy reading about the history of lamps, stoves and their manufacturers.
    As far as I can gather there are very few of these dated B38 (possibly only 1 other example on here).
    I have posted a thread about this stove over on the sister stove forum.
     

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