This early Model 425B, circa 1954, has a welded two piece tank finished in bronze lacquer. This stove, in Greg Rubin’s collection, is unfired. Coleman made the 425B through 1961. The two piece steel tank on the later version was finished in red (see below).
This is a Coleman surgical instrument sterilizer, first made available during the Korean War. Fred Kuntz got this unit with the original box and crate (not shown) and stamped #40 of 114. The stove is model 523 and is dated 1956.
This Coleman Model 426B unfired stove is undated but the Wichita newspapers used in the packing are dated May, 1957. This 3 burner stove is in John Stendahl’s collection. The strap legs are retracted in this image.
In the 1958 model year, Coleman changed the 425B tank finish from bronze lacquer to red paint. The same change to a red finish in 1958 was made to the third version of Model 413E (below) and to 426B (above). John Stendahl, whose collection this is in, notes that models with small cases are the most likely to have scorch marks on the cases from large pots or pans and high flames.
Coleman records indicate that they made their Model 413E stove from 1954 through 1961. John Stendahl, whose collection this is in, believes this is the earliest version of the 413E’s. The tank is still copper painted but is now seamed around the middle and made from two pressed pieces of steel.
This appears to be a second version of the 413Es, according to the owner, John Stendahl. This version is the same as the one above but also has a wire spot welded to the grate to hold the generator (and tank) in place when stored.
John Stendahl places this stove in the third position in the 413E series. It differs from the second in the series in having the tank painted red. This version of the 413E came out in 1958.
A fourth version of model 413E now has three slots to set the four legs’ heights, rather than a single slot as before. This makes it possible to level the stove on an uneven surface. John Stendahl notes that Coleman advertised the stove with this feature in 1960 and believes this dates this stove and the 413E versions that follow to 1960-61 after which the stove was replaced by the 413F. Bill Sheehy restored this stove, that was in his brother-in-law’s family, and presented it to their daughter and husband when they got married.
This fifth undated 413E version is in Suzanne Kennison’s collection. In this version there is a wire spot welded to the grate to hold the fuel cap (and tank) steady when it is in the case. The tank is now red painted steel, not finished in bronze lacquer.
This last/sixth version of Model 413E, also in John Stendahl’s collection, differs from the previous version above in having a single slot for the legs to be set in the front and back sides of the case. It may be that the leg adjustments, when there were three slots, led to too many pinched fingers, according to John. The paperwork with this one dates to 1961; the last year of production of the 413E model.
The Coleman 500A differed from the 500 noticeably in the round wire grate, rather than scalloped, and a large filler cap offset only 45 degrees from the pump. This stove, in Glenn Knapke’s collection, has a steel fount and is dated June 1961. The grate on the last to be manufactured 500A’s had the legs bent over and spot welded to the frame base plate.
This Model 426C is not date stamped but the instruction booklet is dated September 1961. Don Ostby, whose collection this is in, believes this is the last Coleman 3 burner model with a towel rack, evenly split grates, and retracting leg assemblies.
Coleman’s Model 501 stove was only on the market for a couple of months before it was recalled due to problems with the circular generator which didn’t vaporize fuel properly. Most were recalled and replaced by the company. This one, dated June ’62, is in Jerry Engbring’s collection.
Coleman redesigned the 501 stove as Model 501A and changed the fuel flow so fuel now went first to the shut-off valve then the generator. This 501A stove (left), in John Morris’s collection, is date stamped Aug. 1962. You can see a new instruction label over the earlier 501 label.
Coleman made the 413F two burner stove from 1961 to 1964. This like-new 413F, in Brooks Wilson’s collection, came with the original paperwork which includes a Feb ’63 date code.
This 3 burner Coleman Model 443, in Scott Stewart’s collection, was made in 1963. The parts are aluminum and steel as noted for Model 442A below.
Model 442A has an aluminum case with red painted steel tank; the windscreens are red painted aluminum. This stove, in Glenn Knapke’s collection, has a date code for January, 1964 on the tabs that hold the tank on the case.
Coleman’s made the 425C stove in the mid-1960’s. The stove is not date stamped but the instruction sheet has a printer’s date code of 1963. The tank is now painted red and the legs fold under stove during operation. This stove is in Suzanne Kennison’s collection.
This Model 476.74970 for Sears is the two burner version of Model 476.74980 below. This stove, in John Stendahl’s collection, is date stamped May 1967.
Coleman made this 3-burner stove for Sears as Model 476.74980. This stove, in Dave McFarlan’s collection, is dated Jan. 1965. It is similar to Coleman’s Model 426C from that period but has radiating grate rods and has flanges on the end panels in lieu of legs. Dave got an aluminum Sears No. 0 funnel with the stove.
Early 426D stoves were made in 1964-66 (Stendahl), and can be recognized by the diamond openings along the lower sides of the case, the grate is split in half for accessing the space below, the grate bars are not curved above the burners, and the feet (lower image of one of four) are spot welded to the bottom of the case. This stove, in John Stendahl’s collection, is dated October, 1964.
This early 413G, also in John Stendahl’s collection, shares some of the features of the early 426D stove above including the diamond cutouts in the side panels, the straight grate bars, and feet that are spot welded to the bottom (not shown). The tabs on this stove are date stamped August, 1965.
Coleman’s Model 425D is the first 425 in the series to have a hinged grate (note the hinges on the second wire rungs at the back) and the last stove model in a case to have articulated legs mounted in the case (Stendahl). Compared to Model 425C above, the case on this stove has rounded edges and corners, a change that Coleman made in several models in 1965. The tabs on the tank are date stamped May 1966. This stove is in John Stendahl’s collection.
This Coleman 425E two burner stove (upper image) is date stamped September, 1969 on the tabs that hold the tank on the case of the stove. Note the rounded feet stamped in the base of the stove case in lieu of articulated legs. Brien Page got the stove with the shields that you see in the front and two sides of the case. The shields are part of the Coleman Toaster, Griddle, Broiler accessory, 5140-425, in Michael Morgan’s collection (lower image), made for the 425 stoves.
Coleman made this Model 425E for Gold Bond, a trading stamp company, finished in that company’s gold color. This stove, which appears to be unfired, is in Bill Whitten’s collection. One of the tabs that attaches the tank to the case is stamped 0 (the letter O – for October – Stendahl) 7 2 but the bottom of the case is stamped 2 73 (February, 1973).
Compare this Coleman stove made for Sears as their Model 476.72302 to the similar stove for Sears above as their Model 476.74980. This stove, in Steve Wehausen’s collection, is dated 2 69. Like the similar model above this one also rests on the case end caps and has angled grate rods. Coleman made a series of lanterns branded for Sears with different sized, shaped, and painted founts and ventilators from their own models during this same period.
Coleman stove Model 502 is common as a used model in the US. This one, dated May, 1972, was only used a few times and came with the original box and papers. The ribs on the collar match the ribs on the base rests of Coleman lantern models 220F and 228F, from this same period.
Coleman made this 2 burner stove for Sears in May, 1973, that Sears sold as their Model 476.72244. The color of this stove, in Scott Wickham’s collection, matches the paint color on lanterns that Coleman made for Sears during the early 1970’s.
These Coleman stoves for Sears, Model 476.72301, are date stamped Jan ‘1971. The one on the left was converted to burn alcohol (upper image) by Nashcraft, a company in San Juan Capistrano, California, perhaps for marine use. The main burner must be preheated with a teaspoon of alcohol poured into the burner wick (lower image). These stoves are in John Stendahl’s collection.
The Model 425 series stoves were made by Coleman for several decades beginning in the 1940’s. This Model 425E, in Monte Dodge’s collection, is dated July, 1973 on the tabs that hold the tank on the case.
Coleman made this stove for Sears that they sold as their Model 476.72245. This stove is date stamped August 1973 on a tab that attaches the tank to the front of the case. This stove is in Aaron Goccia’s collection. The grate pattern is different from the stoves Coleman made to be sold under their brand.
Model 413G lacked folding legs and was made in two versions. The earlier version appears above on this page. Beginning in 1967 the grates featured openings for the burners and rounded depressions stamped in the four corners of the base instead of legs. This stove, in Philip Rhoades collection, is date stamped Mar, 1974 (tank) & May ’74 (stove case). The stove is sitting on a No. 10 stand, Model 591B499, from the same period.
Coleman also made their later version of Model 413G for the Gold Bond Company. It appears to have the same features as the later 413G above except for the signature gold colored finish to the case and tank. The tabs on the tank are date stamped March 1974 but the bottom of the case is stamped February 1974. Compare to the smaller 425E stove that Coleman made for Gold Bond in this period that is higher on this page. This unfired stove is in Keith Gantt’s collection.
This aluminum Model 2051 Hobo brand “flameless camp stove” was made by the Elcar Mfg Co., Dallas, Texas, based on a 1975 patent. It was made to fit Coleman Models 220H (as seen here, dated 9 73), 228H, 220J, 228J, and other double mantle lanterns. The directions note that “A small aluminum skillet and a 1 or 2 quart covered sauce pan are most commonly used.” This never used accessory is in Ken Brown’s collection.
Patented in 1976, this cook top was made by Campro Inc. “Cooks free! Right on top of the world’s most popular lantern!” Images on the box show cooking eggs in a small frying pan and making coffee. The notch at the top accommodates the handle of a small frying pan. This cook top is in Brien Page’s collection.
Coleman – Toronto made this Model 576 stove for Coleman – Wichita. This model shares a number of parts with Coleman – Toronto’s 505 Model. This stove, which is date stamped January 1977, is in Dave Robinson’s collection.
Coleman Model 459 Easy-Lite stove above is the same as Model 413G above except for the fuel valve. This stove has a unique fuel valve that uses a cam, with a flat Viton o-ring, to control all functions of the valve. The generator needle and Fuel/Air rod are also controlled by this cam (Bob Archambault). This unfired stove, dated March 1978, is in John Stendahl’s collection.
This Coleman stove is three-burner Model 426D. The stove, in Mike Baker’s collection, is date stamped Sept. 1979. The stove has rounded depressions stamped in the four corners of the base instead of legs or spot welded feet as the early 426D above.
This Model 400 stove was made for the Peak 1 line of smaller appliances suitable for backpacking. The lever on the left controls the flame while the red-tipped fuel lever on the right has Off, Light, and Run positions. This stove, in Bevin Alexander’s collection, is date stamped December 1981.
Model 400A likely differs from Model 400 above in having a plastic fuel-air pickup and a Neoprene pump cup, according to Matt Highstreet, whose collection this is in. This stove, date stamped January, 1989, is unfired. The stove cook kit and wrench for this stove can be seen here.
This Model 413H stove, The Powerhouse, in Brien Page’s collection, is dated Oct. 1986.
Coleman Model 508 (left) date stamped Dec. 1985 and 508A (right) date stamped Nov. 1995 differ primarily in the pump design and the tip cleaner location. Model 508 has a separate tip cleaner lever (black tipped lever) while Model 508A has that feature built into the on-off lever. Model 508A also has the newer style pump assembly that requires a special 4-pronged tool to remove.
This US Model 550B stove was purchased by Canada’s National Defense It is date stamped January 1994, after the Coleman – Toronto factory had been closed. The stove was stored in an aluminum case (right image) labeled with identifying numbers and inventory stickers. This stove is in Agostino Del Coro’s collection.
Coleman made this Classic single burner camp stove, Model 502A740J, for the Japanese market. This stove, in Dean DeGroff’s collection, has never been used, includes the box and papers (not shown), and is dated September ’95.
This Model 414 (above) and 424 (below) are two stoves Coleman made in the mid ’90s that came with electronic ignition. This Dual Fuel, Powerhouse stove, in Henk Kloosterman’s collection, is date stamped February, 1996. The red knob on the left front of the case controls the spark generation (below the “A”, right image).
This 424 stove also has electronic ignition. The grate on this model appears to be smaller than the grate on Model 414 above. Patent 5,417,565, applied for in October, 1994, was for the electronic ignition invention. This unfired stove, dated February, 1993, is in Aaron Goccia’s collection. Also see the 424 stove below that lacks electronic ignition.
Two-burner Model 424 and Model 414 below were also sold without electronic ignition as seen here. It is a dual fuel model (unleaded gasoline or white gas/Coleman fuel) but the generator life is longer with only the latter fuel. This model was sold by Coleman in Canada. This stove, date stamped Mar. 1996, is in Mike Baker’s collection.
These Model 440 stoves were imported by Coleman Canada after they were made by Coleman in the US, several years after the Canadian factory was closed. The stove on the left, in Agostino Del Coro’s collection, is Model 440C, dated on the fount bottom July 1994. The stove on the right, in Bill Klock’s collection, is Model 440, dated on the fount bottom June, 1997. Each stove has another date stamp on the bracket below the burner bowl (not shown) that is close to the date on the fount bottom. The generator on the one on the left is 442-589C while the generator on the one on the right is 442-5891. I cannot explain why the older stove has a C suffix which would normally indicate a more recent model.
Another version of the 502A stove above made for the US market is this 502A712 version which is date stamped Sept. 1997. This unfired stove is in Tim Treutler’s collection.
This Coleman 400B stove is dated November 97. The filler plug is attached to the neck of the filler hole by a rubber strap to prevent its loss. Agostino Del Coro, whose collection this is in, notes that this stove is noticeably lighter than the Model 400A that can be seen higher on this page.
Coleman made this 100 year Centennial Commemorative stove for the Japanese market and included a soft carrying case. Chrome-plated steel, each stove is individually numbered on the plate on the fount. This one is dated March 2001 and is in Jerry Engbring’s collection.
The label on the stove lid identifies the model as 414C455. The steel case is stamped 3 03 while a tab on the tank is dated 2 03. Tim Daniel noted that “These were developed originally for the Japanese market and was expanded to the US as a market booster for gas appliances. They had a premium up charge. Not sure how many were made, but they were short lived.” Model 414 stoves in this period were usually finished in green paint. This stove is in Bill Ivey’s collection.
This Model 442 Exponent stove is identified as a Dual Fuel model and is dated July ’07. The stove, in Matt Highstreet’s collection, differs from his Model 400A above but lacks the separate flame control lever.
© 2000-2023 Terry Marsh
The Terrence Marsh Lantern Gallery 