Coleman 550B in Dutch army storage box.

Description

The Peak 1 or model 550B was used by the Dutch army for many years. To protect the stoves during field exercises Coleman made a special olive green storage box. This box encloses the stove tightly so it doesn’t rattle around when moved. Especially the wind ring, generator and pot holding cross are vulnerable for deforming. Other stoves or Coleman models will not fit in this protection case. The stove will run on white gas such as Coleman fuel or Aspen 4. Regular automotive fuel from a pump station will probably also work but that will clog the generator and harm the rubber rings. The result is then leaking at the flame adjustment knob, difficult ignition of the stove and a poor simmering of the flame.

Like many Coleman stoves it doesn’t need pre heating with alcohol but can be lighted strait away. The flammable vapours are used as a pre heating source. At first the stove will flare up with big yellow flames but after a while they come down and turn into nice blue flames. During cold weather there is less formation of flammable vapours in the fuel tank. Ignition without pre-heating is then a challenge. For cold weather conditions Coleman used to recommend the usage of alcohol gel as a preheating material that can warm up the generator. Gels like this (hand sanitiser or barbecue starters) will often result in unburned residue build up on top of your stove. Normal liquid alcohol that is poured over the top of the stove and set ablaze will also work as a method of pre-heating.

Production marking at the bottom: 08/94

Size: 15 x 13,5 x 12 cm.

Weight: 930 gram.

Condition: Stove is in very good condition. Paint work is still shiny and stickers are all intact. Flame control works good. From full blast to a reasonable simmer setting. Plastic storage box is free from holes but has some scratches. Minor flaw is maybe the levelling adjustment ring near the 3 legs of the stove. The are meant to compensate when the stove is placed on a sloped surface so that the top is horizontal. However when placed at a surface that is already horizontal they make it difficult to keep the top horizontal aligned.