History G.I. pocket stove

patent drawing of coleman model 520 stove

during world war ii, u.s. government tasked coleman develop compact stove military use. stove had lightweight, no larger quart-sized thermos bottle, burn kind of fuel, , operate in weather −60 +125 °fahrenheit. within 60 days, coleman came became g.i. pocket stove. designated model 520 coleman military burner, stove first saw service in november 1942 when 5,000 of stoves accompanied u.s. forces during invasion of north africa. on 1 million of stoves produced war use, won high praise in field: ernie pyle ranked behind jeep” in usefulness.

by end of war, coleman began production of civilian version of model 520, designated model 530, , advertised g.i. pocket stove. model 530 promoted coleman “perfect pal hunting, fishing , camping trips” “slip hunting coat pocket, glove compartment of car, or corner of [a] picnic hamper.” single-burner g.i. pocket stove manufactured between 1946 , 1949; afterwards coleman did not manufacture single-burner, non-military backpacking stove until 1972. larger single-burner stoves continued production starting 500 sportster.