The Coleman company was started more than 100 years ago, by a young entrepreneur named W.C. Coleman. While a law student, he began selling lanterns as a part time job, and in a few years bought the lantern company. His greatest attribute was that he was able to change his marketing strategies and products to match the customer's needs. In WWII the Coleman Co. made a great little gas stove that was the perfect camp stove for GIs in the field. It was the GI Pocket Stove. 
The specifications the Army posted for the stove was that it operate in temperature ranges from -60 to +125 F, on the same fuel used for jeeps and tanks, be light in weight, and no larger than a thermos bottle. Coleman made a prototype that met those specifications within two months, and 5000 of these stoves went with U.S. troops into North Africa, the U.S. troops first European theater deployment. The stove ran for 2 hours on a cup of fuel from a jeep, plane, or tank. By war's end, over a million had been made, and countless meals had been cooked on the little field stoves. 
The GI Pocket Stove has a direct descendent in the Coleman Peak One stove, a solid little stove that still warms many a camper with hot food on a cold morning or evening.
The stoves also ran on alcohol. My dad carried one with him into Bastogne. He said the only problem they had was they had a tendency to blow up. As evidence of this we have a picture where he is wearing a glove on one hand after his own stove blew up. It was odd but every camp stove and lantern we ever purchased was a Coleman and he compared every stove to that one in Bastogne. A testament to a great stove.
Posted by: loyd | December 11, 2004 at 08:04 AM
Where can I find parts for world war 2 pocket stove. Is there a repitable person who can repair one of these stoves, Any help thanks.C.E.Garrison.
Posted by: C.E.Garrison | February 08, 2006 at 04:25 PM
thanks for the post!we actually get a lot of ideas and info..!!nice work please post some more!
Posted by: Coleman Camping lantern | August 27, 2009 at 06:11 AM
hi!this is so cool!this GI Pocket Stove is cool i love it!can you please post some more!I'm sure my husband will love this!i am planning to gift him a camping stove since he loves to go camping..Thank you so much!you give me a great idea!
Posted by: Coleman Camping lantern | September 15, 2009 at 07:09 AM