Our mission is to promote interest in the hobby of collecting, restoring and preserving

vintage Coleman products. The ICCC is a great place to meet new friends, share

information and establish life long friendships. Collecting Coleman items has become

an enjoyable experience for the young and young at heart.

Our members come from all walks of life. They are located across the USA, Canada, Japan,

Germany, Denmark, South Africa, and The Netherlands. Find out how the "The Sunshine of

the Night" can brighten your day! Everyone is welcome, so please bring a lantern and join

Silent Auction for ICCC Members

Prototype: 20^th Anniversary Lantern & Case

You have all seen my mock-up, or prototype, of the 20^th Anniversary Lantern and Case. This is an opportunity for interested ICCC members to participate in a “Silent Auction” to acquire both the 20^th Anniversary Lantern & Case. A silent auction is where those that are interested send in what dollar amount (bid) that they would be willing to pay to purchase the Prototype 20^th Anniversary Lantern & Case. The highest bidder wins.

The lantern & case have unique “first production” items on it: the red vent made by Jeff Gaylord at IPE; the globe etched by Darren Bentz ; the case made by Will Foster at Zungalow; and the mock-up (#000 of 400) labels produced by Fred Kuntz on both.     Brent.  Form for bidding by mail.

Bud is our Coleman Light editor. He and Deanie have been members of the club since its inception. We recently sat down with Bud and asked him about his Coleman passion:

ED: I guess like many of us you grew up camping with Coleman.

Bud: Well, yes I did grow up camping but not so much with Coleman. I lived in a working- class neighborhood near a small town and in those innocent days of the 50’s parents had little worry about their kids’ outdoor fun. I spent many summer nights “sleeping out” with friends. Amongst us, we had a single Coleman two-burner stove. I’ll never forget the flavor of those razor thin fried potato chips cooked in butter. I had the biggest dog in the neighborhood, so we felt safe.

ED: So how did you get the Coleman bug?

Bud: I recall clearly that day in late May, 1988 on our first trip to Colorado. We were investigating a combination pharmacy and antique shop in Ouray. There on a dusty top shelf was a strange looking brass lamp. Fifty dollars later I was the proud owner of something with the word Coleman on the base plate. Ten miles up the road, I got my first lesson in Colemanomics when I found an identical #152 lamp in a thrift store for three dollars.

ED: So, your first Coleman keeper was a pair of non-working lamps?

Bud: Yep. The passion sparked a day later when we visited our friend Roger Parks in Grand Junction. Roger is expert with Coleman lanterns and stoves. After dinner we had both lamps operating. One was missing the fuel pick up tube which he fashioned from a car radio antenna.

ED: So where did you go from there with your newfound passion?

Bud: When we came home, I contacted Coleman for information about lamps and was blessed to meet and begin corresponding with Herb Ebendorf. Herb mentored me till his last days on Earth. He shared his wealth of knowledge in frequent letters and phone conversations as well as printed materials copied from his archives. Herb was like that to everyone—generous with his time and knowledge.

ED: You have a very low ICCC number, so you must be among the earliest members.

Bud: Yes, right from the start, maybe before the start. Herb and I frequently discussed his interest in seeing a club develop. Already in his 80’s, he was ready to ease away from so much activity. Deanie and I went to the first gathering in Rochester, Indiana. At the second gathering, a few of us began the work of organizing what has become the ICCC. I volunteered to be membership chairman and worked with Herb on membership cards, materials and a brochure.

ED: So, getting back to collecting, what still stirs your Coleman passion?

Bud: Lamps. Mainly lamps, but like most of us, all the other stuff, too. I’ve never been much of an accumulator. I still search, but mostly for interesting, odd, and unusual items. Many Coleman enthusiasts would find my collection somewhat small. I collect early Coleman paper—catalogs, ads, brochures and such. I love writing for the Coleman Light. It stimulates my curiosity and encourages me to dig for obscure details about our hobby. And I collect early Coleman and Schuyler funnels. And Coleman friends. They keep me enthusiastic about the hobby.

Ed: So, what’s a favorite Coleman item, something you show non-collector friends?

Bud: Well, my favorite lamp is the one I’m working on at any given moment. Right now, that’s a Model AQ lamp from about 1916-19. My favorite collectible is the one most recently discovered. My top three favorite lamps would be my #138, Deanie’s green vase lamp, and our 1916 era Model M, all in good working order. I like to show off her Coleman King Hot Plate and my alcohol Marine stove. But casual visitors are often impressed with the miniatures such as the cast iron Radiant heater paperweight. Deanie likes the miniatures, too, and tolerates a lamp or two in the family room so long as I rotate them frequently. A few years ago we built a little museum on our property to showcase our finds. It’s always fun to go out there and tinker.

ED: Thanks, Bud. Any final thoughts to share?

Bud: I’d just like to encourage members to share their stories via the Coleman Light. Writing comes easy for me. But, I realize that it’s not so easy for some folks. I’m glad to help you tell your story. But, I need your input. Just tell me your story, your find, your regional event, your hilarious experience. We ICCC members are the staff writers and story tellers. What’s on your mind?