I love my Coleman stove and lantern as well. Both have been on many many camping, an huntin trips. They have a still do, serve me well.

 

Yup . . .I still have my 1950’s era Coleman stove . . .but I converted it from white gasoline to propane.

 

Many fond memories about Coleman stoves and Lanterns. Every summer we would go on a trip and camp along the way. Dad planned these trips so we did not have grueling 18 hours days. Everything went on top of the Ford wagon and Dad and I could set up camp including air mattresses for 6.

On one of these outings a lady came over to our camp and asked Mom if she could help her get the stove running. Mom sent me with the admonishment NOT to accept any money. I got over there and checked the gas. There was no hiss when I removed the cap so I knew what the problem was right off. I showed the lady how to put her thumb over that little hole when she pumped it. Flipped the little lever up, pumped it until it was firm and turned the burner on. It caught right away and I waited a bit for blue flames then moved the lever down. Then pumped it again. I even showed her how to light the second burner. Told the Lantern started the same way and to be sure not to let the Ohio Blue Tip match touch the mantle or it would break. Those were great times for all of us. She offered me $2 and I thanked her but said I was taught us campers should help each other whenever we could.

Those were shing times for our family. Mom always said everything about camping was more work than staying home but it was different work for her.

 

I have old white gas 2 and 3 burners plus newer propane models. I'm cookin' with gas either way..

 

Can White Gas even be bought today? I have not seen it since the 1980s. Just Coleman fuel and the Chinese knockoff.

 

I also have a propane converter for the 2 burner.

 

In my current little 3000+ population small town, only 1 service station carries "White Gas". It is sold at most Walmart stores in our local area, but the cost has gotten ridiculously expensive. It is also more hazardous to handle than Propane (LPG), requires more space to store, as well as being less available. The days where tractors, cars (model T's), and equipment ran on White Gas have long since passed - camping equipment seems to be the last "holdout" in our century. However, it does illicit "fond memories" of a by-gone era where most camps, whether hunting or fishing, had a lantern hung on a limb that ran on that "clear white" fluid that gave a warm "glow" for its occupants.

 

Don't get me started on Coleman Lanterns, I have many.

 

Just bought a vintage Coleman 502 Single burner, Works great, made in 1984. I also just bought on auction a #442 single burner. I have recently caught a bug with gas stoves. Still have my dads old three burner. Vintage 1960 something. His old 2 mantle lantern as well.
These and a couple other gas, alcohol, isobutane, propane and charcoal. Some are backpacking stoves. Some are for home use and some are for camping. Hey, it's a cheaper hobby than vintage Marlins!
To the best of my recollection, white gas is not readily available. It is the lightest distillate of petroleum. Quite volatile and explosive. Chevron 'blazo" was amazing stuff. Modern camp stove fuel is a sorta toned down version.
I ran unleaded in some of my old stuff. (most of it is old stuff} It will carbon up the works and be a real pain to use.

 

Coleman fuel is Naptha which is also known as white gas. The jonny warmers use lighter fluid which is also naptha so we'd alway just refill a Ronsonol lighter fluid container with coleman fuel.

 

Now lets do coal oil...

 

My uncle Joe had an old Dietz that he called a coal oil lamp, I always assumed coal oil was what was used before kerosene took over.

 

I also have a Coleman catalytic heater I bought off of Ebay years ago.
Also have a Jon-e warmer here somewhere....haven't seen it in years

 

 

Can White Gas even be bought today? I have not seen it since the 1980s. Just Coleman fuel and the Chinese knockoff.

Coleman fuel is Naptha which is also known as white gas. The jonny warmers use lighter fluid which is also naptha so we'd alway just refill a Ronsonol lighter fluid container with coleman fuel.

That's right. Naphtha is "white gas". Essentially gasoline without the automotive additives for anti-knock and engine cleaning.

If you really want it, naphtha can still be bought in the paint thinner/solvent section at the paint store and hardware shops. But you're probably ahead to just buy the Coleman fuel.

Gasoline became usable as a cooking fuel when the tetraethyl-lead was removed, and that's even less expensive than Coleman fuel.

 

Coleman fuel is a more refined product than unleaded I believe, unleaded can clog up the generators on pre dual fuel equipment with regular use.

 

Vintage Bernz O Matic

 

I have very fond memories of Coleman lanterns stoves coolers and other camping gear. As a kid the family summer vacation camping trips in the 1970's to many different campgrounds. Had many a great meal cooked by Mom and Dad on a Coleman stove.
The two things I definitely remember about Coleman stoves and lanterns the sound and the smell. Later in life my time in the Army working on Blackhawks. When the first start and shut down the APU or engines you get that brief moment the exhaust smells just like a Coleman stove or lantern. I told many of the youngsters I served with about the smell. But none of them knew what I was talking about. Coleman stove lantern white gas Coleman fuel ???

I picked the stove up in a antique shop for $18 open box but stove has never been used. My Dad picked up the lantern cheaper than the $20 sticker on it. I've used the lantern once briefly. It was already to use when Dad bought it. Already pumped and was still holding pressure.
Part of my if things get crazy gear for bugging in. I picked up a few one gallon cans of Coleman fuel also.

 

Of course you will need one of these to enhance your stove:

 

My dad had a Coleman stove dating back to around 1950 that I remember using on family camping trips. I did love using the pump--maybe too much at times. After he died I could not find it, but we did save his companion Coleman lantern. It's in rough shape but my son took it to restore--and use on his trips.

I did have one of these Optimus backpacker stoves in the 70s. It also burned white gas and had an optional pump.

 

Yes, I also have many fond memories of camping out with our Coleman cookstoves & lanterns. Spring of Last year we had many power outages here in East Texas, & I broke out one of my old Coleman stoves -- one from the late 50s (a 425B). All it needed was a little Neats Foot Oil on the leather pump -- I soak 'em overnight, or for a week if needed. Even the very old Coleman fuel in the tank was still good. That got me started on a project to sort through my several old Coleman stoves & lanterns -- I managed to get my very First Coleman stove (a 425E) & lantern back to good working order. The 425E was challenging to fix -- had to replace the seal on the fuel tank's Cap; had to disassemble and Clean the case, manifold, and the "Stacks" of the burners themselves. Cleaning everything got rid of the Yellow Flame at wide open throttle. Then, I had to un-clog the fuel Pick Up inside the tank -- rotating the Lever finally did the trick, with the tank pumped up to high pressure. And, I replaced the Orig pump Leather. I bought a bunch of parts from a place online, "OldColemanParts.com". I was glad to find them. Now I have 3 of the double-burner stoves and 2 of the double-mantle lanterns -- all in good working order. Unfortunately, my wife & I are in our 70s, and we don't camp out much these days. Gettin' old ain't for the faint of heart, but it's good to have all the memories.

 

A fellow signed up for a skydiving class. The instructor went through all the steps, telling the students how long to count after jumping before pulling the 'chute and then he explained that they had a main parachute and an emergency chute. A student asked what happens if the main chute fails and was told to use his second chute. But not to worry, as that hardly ever happened. It all seemed quite clear to our student.

On jump day, this fellow got out of the plane with no trouble. He began his count and when ready, pulled the main chute release. Nothing happened. He waited and counted again, then pulled the emergency chute release. Nothing, again.

Looking down at the rapidly approaching ground, he noticed something small moving up quickly towards him. As it got closer, he could see it was a man, shooting skyward. As they neared each other, our skydiver yelled down, "Say, do you happen to know anything about parachutes?" The rising man yelled back, "No! Do you know anything about Coleman stoves?" 😁

bada bing! 😄

 

Have a few stoves, 1,2 and 3 burner, and lanterns myself. Most of the stoves now run on propane.

 

1960's - mentor, an orthopedic surgeon said it was cheaper to just use white gas and replace the generator every so often rather than paying extra for Coleman fuel. Above 9000 feet in the Colorado mountains, unleaded gas worked better than 'Camp Stove' fuel sold in the 80's, it did/does burn hot though. In the LATE 60's/EARLY 70's I used a single burner Coleman stove to melt lead and cast .45 bullets in my dorm room. A couple single burners were easier to pack than the standard double burner when using a pack horse. Still use the mantle lanterns and the stoves, though the propane is easier for truck camping. I had a great little dapple gray mare, she could pack a Coleman lantern 10-15 miles in and out of rough Wilderness country and never damage the mantles.

 

I like the ease of Led lanterns and propane stoves but the memories the old gas equipment evokes fills me with nostalgia for days gone by.

 

^^This! Some of my favorite memories are those of the lanterns hissing away while hung from a limb or set on a table,and watching my dad and uncle work two stoves, turned up as high as they would go, cooking catfish like there was no tomorrow. Man, that hot grease was bubbling and a piece of fresh fish cooked before a minnow could swim a dipper! I still have dad's old Coleman stove and lantern, along with those that I bought. I'll never get rid of them, even if they aren't used much. 😊

 

Just knowing I still own these makes me happy...In my minds eye I am still a Boy Scout at summer camp.