Magic Chief

[Jeffrayy]

I just bought a project Teardrop and the owner sent along a vintage magic chief two burner LP stove and matching sink. Is there a way to find out the year of the stove? Also, is there a good way to test it other than just firing it up? It has not been used in years!

I will post some pics when I get home from work.

[doug hodder]

That's going to take some time to do some research to find an exact date on it. However, since it has an area code in the address as opposed to a zip code, it's safe to assume that it's pre-1963. Based on the colors, I'd say late 50's to early 60's. Hook it up to some propane, and before you crack any of the valves on the stove, hit it with a spray bottle of soapy water to see if you have any leaks. It would not be unusual to find spider nests in some of the tubing, so check it out for those sort of things first. Doug

[Jeffrayy]

Thank you! My wife and I were guessing late 50's based on the color. I also have a matching sink with hand pump faucet. The teardrop was painted to match the color at some point. It is currently black, but you can see the blue under it in some spots that have been sanded. I think I may go back to the blue/green when I get to the painting point.

Thanks again,

Geoff

[doug hodder]

That's a nice stove....I'm a big fan of that color. It's a slice outta time. It sort of appears that someone built the box to carry it in and that it was designed for a drop in install. Is that the case? Doug

[Jeffrayy]

I have no background on the stove at all. The Teardrop that I bought is registered as 1936 camper. The guy I bought it all from said the stove was an original item. I knew the stove was not from 36. I am inclined to believe that the camper and stove are from the 50's. It sure looks like you are right about the case. It is wooden, and everything else in the stove is metal. The clasp on the front do not really match either.

[Jeffrayy]

Sure,

Here are some pics. I posted them in the Newguy thread as well.
The old owner started to rebuild it, but lost interest and stopped. It was a craigslist special!

[Zollinger]

I agree with Doug it looks like someone built the case around it. Love the color of the stove. Be sure to check for leaks before firing it up. I would test it outside away from anything flammable just in case. Pretty sure that you would have to use a regulator for this type of stove. Good luck and let us know how it works out. Good luck with the teardrop rebuild. Looks like a lot of work! Love the old teardrops!

[Jeffrayy]

it looks like a good start!

you got the walls up already and the wheels on it.

heck. your half way there.

slow

That is what I thought also. The guy before me did all of that. He miss cut the openings for the doors, so my first order of business is cutting new doors and skinning them. I want to add some power, and I plan to redo the layout of the back/galley.

I am thinking of painting it that blue color (it was that color at one time) or some type of two tone using that blue color.

[DragonFire]

Are you on facebook? If so, go to the Tin Can Tourists group and run it by the folks there.

That stove came out of a standy trailer..Aristocrat was still using turquoise in 67, but that was the last year I think before going to the copper-brown color and then avocado. There are a lot of vintage trailer people in TCT that have the same stove, so you can probably find the date by finding out the years of the trailers that have it as original equipment.

It's a very good stove..Magic Chefs were the best stoves they put in the vintage trailers..mine was a 3 burner, so yours may have come out of a smaler canned ham/Shasta type trailer..or a Tiny Trailer like a Lil Loafer.

If I see turquoise stoves on TCT I'll ask a few questions and get back to you..people are always posting their cool stoves on that site...

[Jeffrayy]

Thanks Dragon!

That was a lot of good info.

I will check out the facebook group this weekend. Facebook is blocked here at work.