Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
Another thread reminded me of my love for all things mechanical. One of those weird little side interests is my love of pressurized fuel stoves that use gasoline, naphtha, kerosene, etc. While propane equipment is largely replacing the old liquid fuel stoves; most Americans are at least vaguely familiar with the old Coleman "suitcase" stoves and some of the similar pressurized fuel devices.
My pressure stoves that are configured to run on kerosene, never get anywhere near lead. Those are strictly for cooking.
However, gasoline stoves....well that's a different story. Pressurized gasoline stoves such as the ubiquitous Coleman "Suitcase" stoves are a dime a dozen. Many people are discarding those older units and turning to propane powered stoves. I picked up a like new, never been lit, Coleman suitcase stove at a second hand store last year. It went on the shelf next to my older units and has still never seen a flame. I was happy to add it to the collection.
The skill to run pressurized fuel stoves or lanterns is becoming a lost art. It is sort of like putting a teenager in front of a phone with a rotary dial. They still know it's a telephone but they don't quite know what to do with it. What was once a common skill such as driving a manual transmission with a column shifter (three on the tree) has become a bit rare. I actually enjoy repairing and running that old gear. It's too hot right now to be playing with that stuff but that old gear will always be on my shelf; ready to cook, melt, boil or heat something.
I know lots of casters use pressurized fuel stoves for various tasks but I think we may be one of few groups keeping those old blue flames lit.
My pressure stoves that are configured to run on kerosene, never get anywhere near lead. Those are strictly for cooking.
However, gasoline stoves....well that's a different story. Pressurized gasoline stoves such as the ubiquitous Coleman "Suitcase" stoves are a dime a dozen. Many people are discarding those older units and turning to propane powered stoves. I picked up a like new, never been lit, Coleman suitcase stove at a second hand store last year. It went on the shelf next to my older units and has still never seen a flame. I was happy to add it to the collection.
The skill to run pressurized fuel stoves or lanterns is becoming a lost art. It is sort of like putting a teenager in front of a phone with a rotary dial. They still know it's a telephone but they don't quite know what to do with it. What was once a common skill such as driving a manual transmission with a column shifter (three on the tree) has become a bit rare. I actually enjoy repairing and running that old gear. It's too hot right now to be playing with that stuff but that old gear will always be on my shelf; ready to cook, melt, boil or heat something.
I know lots of casters use pressurized fuel stoves for various tasks but I think we may be one of few groups keeping those old blue flames lit.