I was fortunate enough to get hold of this beauty recently. I do not know much about it, and would love to learn more. Everything is original, original box, alcohol bottle (never used), the pins, and instructions. It has probably been used occasionally, there were traces of soot on the burner that was easy to wash off. But it smells nothing from the tank, I don't think there have been fuel in it for many many years. When was it made, and how to tell? How many are still there, is it common? How much is it worth? Difficult to answer I suppose, but you guys on this forum have probably the best knowledge available on the subject.
Congratulations Mikecombat on a brilliant score, I think it has never been used, the soot on the burner may have been from it being tested at the factory.
I've never seen an Optimus 11 in that condition. Looks like someone put it in an air tight container and stored it some where for 75 years. Wow. Where did you get it?
The 11 was replaced by the 111 at least in 1953 so the stove must have been made before then. If you look through the Optimus catalogues you may find an earlier catalogue that mentions the 111 Regards Bryan
Excellent stove! I was following the auction and lusting after it myself. Congratulations! It's a beautiful example. Since the included paper refers to the two burner Campingo as an Optimus 20, I'll go ahead and guess it was produced around the late 1930's. In this page from the Optimus 1939 catalog in the CCS reference library, the Campingo has been renamed the Optimus 20. But in earlier advertisements, it's called the Campingo 2, as seen here in the 1932 catalog, and here in the 1929 catalog. Perhaps this is in indication of roughly when your stove was produced? Thanks for posting pictures of such a fine stove! I was hoping it would make it's way to CCS.
Thanks Pinky. On closer examination of the accompanying paper, it says "Karlshamn 1939 Johansson tr" at the bottom of it. So it seems like a really good estimate that it is from 1939. However, I can not be sure that it has had this instruction with them from the factory. I bought it at an auction on Swedish eBay (Tradera.com)
Very very nice and obviously rare. I guess a better question to your question how much is it worth is how much did you pay for it on evil bay. Also are you going to fire it up or keep it for display only.
In that condition and age etc I would be placing it gently back in the box and placing the box in your special temperature and humidity controlled room and leaving it there for your great grandkids to discover. Today it is worth whatever you paid for it Tomorrow half that but in a hundred years it might be worth a kings ransom (if kings still exist) Value of collectable items is based more on the whim of the day than its true practical value. Why is an optimus 22 worth 5 times as much as its half brother the 111.
Hey, MikeCombat, VERY nice specimen of an Optimus #11, Sir!! I have one, too, only mine is a bit later than yours, and not in such fine condition, though still nice! Very hearty congratulations on your scoring it, and sharing it here at CCS! I have not fired up mine, either, though I may, just one, "just because", then will clean it completely and put it into the "do not use" section of my collection. I have plenty of user 111's, and don't need to use my own #11, other than to just admire and enjoy! Again, well done, and thanks for sharing! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish. Doc
Thank you all my friends, I am pleased and obviously proud to have such a beautiful stove in my collection. Out in nature, I use only modern multifuel burners. My classic camp stoves is only for collection and display.
