Second Thoughts

A text arrived today from a man with a request to purchase one of my restored Coleman camp stoves. One of three or four I finished last summer. My favorite, the big two burner model 413G - she was manufactured in 1971. A year which found my sore feet and rear bumping down a trail in Africa where Coleman camp stoves were an everyday essential.  

This is tough.

(Standard stock photo off  Bing, not my stove.)

I'm befuddled as to why I have second thoughts. It needs a new home. The price listed is ridiculous when I consider the hours involved, all the tedious busted knuckle days of labor put into her rebirth. But still, this doesn't explain my reluctance. Heck, I've two other of her kind on standby, and have plans to begin their restorations very soon. (The humidity must be perfect and my garage door open. Not yet.)

If the gentleman keeps his appointment I will wave her out the door. It'll be sad though.

Or not.

Stephen 

(Update - she's gone. Sniff.)

I Said It Was Addictive

Here's my next project. She's an old Sears, Roebuck and Company model 427. She was of course manufactured by Coleman.

This model is in Olive. Not sure why but Sears requested several color combinations. I've a blue and black model standing by on a shelf.

Above, as you can see the lower case is filled with rust. This is after I washed her down and cleaned out the old spider webs and roach eggs. She once belonged to my deceased father-in-law, and as you might well imagine, Sweet Wife has an emotional attachment to this piece.

Thought I'd give you a before picture. Notice the tank at the rear.

I'm almost finished with my current restoration. After I complete the gas tank and fire it I'll post a picture...just to make sure I bore you good folks to death.

Stephen

Done

The restoration is completed.

She even wears a new Coleman logo.

I completely rebuilt her tank. Nice shiny brass.

The finish on the grill is the result of two hard days of labor.

And, she works. See that pretty flame. Not bad for a forty year old camp stove.

Not long after I shot these photos I began to dissemble stove number two, a smaller model. This restoration stuff is addictive. Perhaps after its finished I'll move on to a lantern.

Later

Stephen