I got a pretty Sunflover stove from Germany today. All I had to do was to help a stranger with some advice about his stove. The stove I got, had his sister brought back from Portugal.
He had found my email address on Spiritburners homepage.
It is nice being a known a collector on the site.
By the way have I been given about 10 stoves over the last year, people seems to be happy that somebody cares about the old kitchen equipment, and try to conserve the stoves and their history.
I heard the other day that the Royal Danish Library will try to collect all the information now available on Danish home pages for future documentation and research. I sincerely hope that the same will happen to Ross’ site.

Cheers
Jan

Jan, I know you have another one of these in your collection. I have a nice one; haven't fired it up. Was this of Portuguese manufacture? I wonder, since your friend brought it from Portugal. It says on the tank "usar unicamente petroleo". I don't know if this is Spanish or Portuguese; I assume it means "use only kerosene".
It also has feet exactly like my Hipolito 2, which also makes me wonder if it's Portuguese. Does anyone know?

Ed,

Ross once wrote me:

“I think the maker is actually Vacuum Oil Company - this international oil company specialising in kerosene production went on to become part of Mobil. They were started in the USA in the late 1800's & became a worldwide company. One of the articles states they gave away thousands of lamps to the Chinese in the hope they would buy their kerosene! “

This summer I found another Sunflower stove – with the same text – Usar unicamente petroleo – only use kerosene. It very much looks like the Swedish stoves – and certainly Max Sievert made in Sweden stamped underneath the stove. I think Sunflower might have used different manufacturers around the world.

Yes, I'd seen Ross's note about Vacuum; this plethora of manufacturers certainly makes plain the truth of Peter's observations that these stoves were once household items to be found in the millions; now virtually forgotten to all but the collectors. Even the manufacturers are forgotten. I think of Twigg, maker of the fine Buflams; virtually nothing seems to be known....
Very interesting about a Sievert mark on one of your Sunflowers. I looked at mine again: no such mark, though of course the Vacuum Oil Company logo is as prominent as the "Sunflower". Also there is a flower graphic. The #2 designation, the flower, the "petroleo" and the "flanged" feet do put me in mind of my Hipolito 2, to which it is quite similar.
Your guess would seem to be a good one that this large kerosene company might have commissioned different manufacturers in different countries to make "house brand" stoves on contract. Sell the stove to go with the fuel!
Interesting.