An hour ago I picked up a new stove. Silent burner, domestic stove, long tank mounted on side of square frame (like some Handi stoves I'v seen) the burner dome is marked Primus 4205. The stove is light in weight and I thing the tank is brass (its all painted silver at the moment). Any ideas guys and gals, I can send a pic if you email me.

Many thanks

Rik

The land of song,,,,,Wales

Cleaned the jet, oiled the pump, put in parafin, primed the stove and it let first time; jet needed a couple of stabs but this stove burns very hot. Should I clean off the silver paint, or was this normal for the stove? Can I date the stove?

Many thanks

Rik

Just from the description it sounds like it may be a RM range - this had a pressed steel frame & funnily enough I have seen one painted silver although originally I think they were black. They used to be sold through some of the big mail order catalogues in the 1950's.
Check out this link:
http://spiritburner.crosswinds.net/shs_brochure.htm

Spot on my man, its a model 230B with a primus dome on the burner, which must have been a replacement at some time. I found an image of the original primus model at
another site and they look very similar. Its a great stove and boiled a litre of water from the cold tap in just on 4 mins. I asked the owner of the site I mentioned to post some pics of his collection here, he has some great stoves (hope you don't mind).

His site is worth looking at

http://home.wanadoo.nl/mulder.herman/english/stoves.htm

Thank you very much for your help

Rik

All collectors welcome here! I'd seen that site ages ago then couldn't find it - I reckon its certainly worth a link. You don't see many of those Dutch Izi Saval stoves. I have a catalogue here for that brand in the "pending pile"

It is for sure a Thermidor model 230B. Now I have it running 100%, I'll stip the tank back to brass for a good polish. I would say its output is on a par with my Primus No.2 and I'll post a picture when I finish work on it. Once again, many thanks for your help .


Rik

I bought a 230b myself a little while ago and can just confirm Riks' description of its' performance. Pretty neat!

It's still in the condition it came in, so I had a closer look at what has to be done to bring it back to shape.
It looks like the tank isn't solid brass, but metal with a thin covering of brass. Is that so?

Hello Yan

To be honest, I have spent today changing over to broadand and so have not looked at the stove. I did a quick "peel back" with paint stripper on a small area of the tank, and it looked like brass,,,,,,,,,,after your message though, I think I will have to investigate further.

Rik

Land of song, Wales

It looks like the frame is enamled, but the tank looks like brass, although light in weight. I'm doing long shifts at the hospital for the next two days, but will strip the stove at the weekend and let you know

Rik

Eh?? Brass IS metal
Confused Mike

Mike, you're certainly right: brass is metal. What I meant, though, was the difference of solid brass to brass-plated. The exact metal underneath could be anything, hence 'metal'.
When I got the stove, there were areas on the tank that initially just looked corroded; scratching away the top revealed some black metal underneath, which I didn't recognize as brass (in its various states).
I might be wrong, and, frankly, I wish I was.

Blue skies.

Hay guys put a magnet on it.
If it is a non ferouse metal (ie Brass copper Stainless steel gold silver) the magnet will fall off. If it is made of steel and such the magnet will stick to it.
Hope this helps Albert

Handi Albert

Well now, Albert, that was just too darn easy! Why didn't I think of that?!?
Will check this evening and post result.
Thanksalot!

Blue skies

Well done Albert, I did a quick run over the stove with a magnet, which shows the frame is steel based and the tank is solid brass.

Many thanks

Rik

And once again I have nothing to add to Riks' statement. The tank is brass, however, the factory gave the tank a clearcoat of paint, which protected most of the tank very well. Those places where the paint had chipped away have corroded quite a bit, which is why I initially thought it was only plated.
I stand corrected.
And relieved.
Thanks, people.

Albert, you vast experience is much needed here in the heart of the south wales valleys (UK). I have tried stripping the paint of my 230B (and a tilley radiator) but to say its hard work would be putting it mildly; I've used standard liquid paint/varnish remover. Has the heat of the stove over the years hardened the paint? Whats the best way of stripping the paint without marking the brass? Your brass polishing using citric acid is foolproof, so I am hoping your paint stripping ideas will prove of equal benefit.

All the best

Rik

Hay Rick
I hate all paint stripers and these things. They are full of caustic.
Any way here is what I normaly do. I strip the stove and into a citric acid bath as explained previousely.
This is good enough for cleaning 90% of the stoves and lights. Then I buff on a bench grinder useing the end with the buffing pad on . Not the end with the grind stone on Ha.
The citric acid bath will be good enough for most stoves.
However the rest of them They go in a caustic acid bath. Remember what you are useing here and all care must be taken. It is terable stuff Don't breath it in , Keep it off your skin and also keep it off your cloths. when you are finnished with it dispose of it properly NOT tip it out on the ground.
O yes always add the acid to water not water to acid.
Did I say I hate these things. please take care
Albert


Handi Albert

Albert, or should I say master,,,,, the citric acid has worked a treat on the stove. The paint on the brass tank has lifted off no problem, the silver (paint?) has not moved so maybe its some sort of enamel?

Once again, many thanks

Rik

Land of song, Wales

Rik Thanks for the complerment but I am not a master but only a teacher of what I know and do the best at. It my pleasure to be able to help out. I am gealy pleased you didn't have to use that other crap I told you about. Did I mention I hate that stuf.
Albert

Handi Albert

Just spotted this Thermidor 230B on ebay

3244076766

£31 at the moment.

rik