Coleman Outdoor Heaters
In countless ways, Coleman was, and still is, the leader in innovative, well made, durable, long lasting, and affordable outdoor products. The evidence of this is the number of adult campers who have inherited their parents Coleman camping gear, and its gear that is still working, and as good or better than similar modern products. The first part of this post will be about Coleman's outdoor heaters, which was a product line marked by innovation and quality, but unfortunately, is no more. For those fortunate enough to have acquired one of these heaters, you have some of the best.
Best to get this out at the start. Outdoor heaters, whether made by Coleman or others, when used as tent heaters (or in enclosed environments) is lethally dangerous. More on the net.
Coleman's First Outdoor Heater
Coleman jumped into the camping heater market very early on. In the 60s, they introduced an incredibly durable and well made portable camping heater, based on a new technology which used a unique catalytic process.
Way back, many years ago, my Dad decided that he would make our cold climate camping trips more enjoyable, and he bought us a new Coleman catalytic heater. Our model was the 513 adjustable heater, (3000-5000 BTUs) made in 1967, a date that was stamped on the bottom of the fuel reservoir (like the lanterns.) Made in the USA. Here are the instructions, from 56 years ago:
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Coleman explained their new technology:
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For our family, the Coleman served as an outdoor heater, either on top of the meal table or underneath, for warmth at dinner time. In a testament to Coleman's legacy of durability and reliability, I fired up the heater a few days before the net. The heater had not been in use for well over a decade. Following the directions, I started it, and without a single hic-up, it came to life. I had forgotten how much heat it put out at the highest setting. Here are the sequence of steps I took to get it started, along with some shots of the heater, just for reference:
Front and Back of the Heater - NOTE the Instructions
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The Heater Head
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Preparing the Heater Head
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Fire
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How to Extinguish the Heater
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The Fate of the Coleman Catalytic Heater
This original cat heater was a great idea, and to it's credit, it produced a lot of heat, was well made and was built to last. It was however, not destined to survive, for three reasons, on the net.
Coleman's Last Outdoor Heaters
One of the last camping heaters that Coleman made (whether catalytic or not) was the "Cat" series, (ProCat, BalckCat and SportCat.) These catalytic heaters were easy to start, more compact than the earlier 1960s models, and able to produce a lot of heat. One of the more useful features of the ProCat heater was the battery operated fan, which will distribute heated air quickly.
When used wisely in a tent, these heaters are a terrific way to make cold evenings and mornings much more pleasant. They too, remain sought after by campers who travel in cold climates.
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Complete instructions:
My ProCat has been in use for the last 20 years, or so, and with the exception of replacing the fan switch, it has performed flawlessly. While this Coleman outdoor heater was likewise a great product, it too was destined not to survive, and this time, there was only one reason, on the net.
COLEMAN LANTERNS
In years past, the Coleman lantern was the king of the campsite. Camp lighting however, has been transformed to a certain degree by LEDs. While it would be disingenuous to deny this, sales and camp use surely make it so. But, to say that the Coleman lantern is dead, would likewise be less than candid. On a recent camping trip to the east Mojave Desert, in the heart of winter, I showcased, AGAIN, the value of a Coleman lantern. On a 4 day trip, my Coleman Dual Fuel Powerhouse lantern was our sole source of outdoor lantern for the entire trip, on a single tank.
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(I hope to make it to at least half the places this bike has been)
