Hi, here are some photographs I took today, of an early Optimus 100 stove. This is a collapsible, paraffin stove with a capacity of 1.75 pints. Unfortunately I do not have the cast iron pan-ring, nor optional silent damper for this stove. This early model of the No. 100, like the early Optimus 45 has the air-release screw mounted on top of the tank, rather than on the filler nozzle, as in later designs. The engraving on the tank is excellent on these early stoves. I guess that 40 years could separate this Optimus 100 stove from the one I showed in the earlier post today. Here, are some images of an early Optimus 100 stove with a Roarer burner plate only. It is a great pity that Optimus did not date code their stoves. Anyone any idea of the approximate date of this stove? Regards, Kerophile
Hi Doug, Alas, I know of no date-codes or other marking which would allow us to get the year of manufacture of Optimus stoves. You occasionally see single letters stamped on an Optimus stove component but I have no idea of their original purpose. We are reduced to close examination of old, dated catalogues to follow the small design changes which took place as the stoves evolved. Even this is dangerous as the catalogues sometimes used old illustrations, presumably to save time or the cost of making a new printing block. I also examine photos on CCS and the Dutch Stove Collectors sites, and from friends,for comparisons. I am currently in correspondence with Exeter Yak and Bryan Miller to try to establish the timeline and dating for Optimus 00 stoves. Bryan has already done a great job on dating Optimus 96s. Best Regards, George
Hi, here are a few additional photos of the Early Optimus No.100. These show the tank-top markings and those on the filler cap and tank base. Identification of significant features and tank markings, and how they change over time, offers some hope of establishing a timeline for Optimus stoves: Best Regards, Kerophile.
