At the risk of starting another holy war (I had no idea that silent burners were such a hot topic. pun intended), I'll ask another naive question that I was unable to find answered already. Near the top of the windscreen, between the 2 pot supports, opposite the vertical seam, there is a rectangular opening. I suppose that it is there so that the stove could be relit without removing whatever pot is on top of the stove, though that seems a bit silly to me. Is there another purpose? I'm mostly asking because I'm finding my stove a bit more sensitive to wind gusts than I'd prefer and am thinking about covering it up. Though I've learned that usually, when I have a "new" idea, it ends up being a "bad" idea for reasons I hadn't considered. I've learned so much here and am now completing my 4th restoration. I really appreciate all the support. thanks again,
The larger rectangular opening allows you to slide the key and attached chain inside the stove for transport.
I always thought the wide slot was for accessing the bell/spreader/nozzle with a match or lighter when you already had a pot on the top.
Ref: https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/svea-123-new-old-stock.15932/ Seeing this NOS stove I am led to believe that the chain is/was correctly attached to the windscreen as seen here, then fed through the opening. Ken in NC
Maybe not. It seems the manufacturer wasn't necessarily following that concept completely. In the attached image extracted from this post in the The Stove Reference Library instruction section here, notice how the left arrow I made points at the keychain draped over the top of the windscreen instead of through the rectangular opening located 180º from it. I do think that seems a convenient place—although a mighty hot one—to attach the keychain. One use I have for that rectangular opening is for cleaning the jet with the pricker. I can remove the flame plate then insert the jet pricker through that opening into a slot in the bell to clean the jet without removing the windscreen. Usually I clean the jet when the screen is off and I'm burping the stove before using it, but I've used that option. In the field, I always have set up that rectangular opening on the leeward side of the stove and above the control, too, but I frequently use an additional windscreen. There's a compelling reticence in these instructions that make using the Svea 123 successfully an attraction.
Access for using the pricker sounds good to me. I can see the appeal of routing the key chain through it too. I guess they kept the rectangular opening on the 123R in case someone needed to use an external pricker. The chain mounting position was changed. Mine was attached around the base of the fuel riser. It keeps the key with the burner for use in other pot stands but it's not as convenient. A bigger hole at the bottom wouldn't go amiss either. It's a right faff having to fit the windshield when the stove is priming IMHO. I haven't found a way of getting a lighter close enough to ignite the meths with the stove assembled. Regards John
I think I would go with access for the pricker. To confound @snwcmpr once more (I seem to be good at that lately -- sorry), when I bought my 123 NIB in 1969, the key was attached to the valve stem (as God intended, I always assumed). I bought mine as a package with a Sigg Tourist kit and the brass windscreen was not included in the package, so there was no windscreen to attach the key to. However, in subsequent years I saw many 123s, with and without Sigg kits, but not until recently have I seen the keys attached to the windscreen. Of course, that's just my personal experience in southern California -- a pretty much non-existent market for stoves prior to the late '60s. Actually, looking at the entry from @Laitch I think I have seen that drawing before. It may have come with my stove. I remember thinking it looked strange, since the key is so easy to use (after a little practice) when attached to the valve stem. You can certainly use a windscreen around the Svea, but be careful. Don't wrap it all the way around, like you would with a remote tank stove. Leave the downwind side open so the stove tank doesn't get too hot, and monitor it more closely than you would with no external windscreen. Listen for any change in the sound the stove makes, as that could indicate the safety relief valve (SRV) blowing. I used to partially wrap my Sigg with 123 in aluminum foil in the wind, though as I got older I got more crafty about finding (or constructing) sheltered places to cook. ....Arch
@Tony Press any matches will normally do but they get damp (this is NW England) and I usually need to have a bic lighter or a fire steel as backup. Regards John
@Jeopardy When I was doing field work in the mountains many years ago, we used to buy waterproof matches from army disposal stores. I haven't seen them for years. If my memory serves me well, the big issue was keeping the box dry - I used to carry a 35mm plastic film canister with matches and striking paper. I have one now in my car, but with ordinary matches. As the ultimate backup, I have maths, wick and a flint. For some reason, I always seem to lose those bic lighters. Cheers Tony
@ArchMc I like it. To be confounded I mean. It was only recently that @Hazet showed me the image that I posted. (Credit goes to @Dutchmike.) How many members have opened a sealed box???? Evidence only shows what it shows. Not all there is to know. The image posted by @Laitch shows a completely different attachment. Evidence of owners buying new contradict the images. (Could shop owners have moved them, thinking they were 'WRONG'?) I have attached a few chains to the windscreen and some of the end 'eyes' use a larger gauge of wire stock, and these do not fit in the slot as well as the smaller gauge wire pieces do. I will say, it is so much easier to remove the windscreen with the chain attached to the windscreen than it is with the chain attached to the stove and threaded through the holes. All of the ideas for the reason for the large slot are good to me. One more is the increased flow of air to the flame. Turning into the wind would undoubtedly make a difference. Ken in NC
How Optimus still do it today. New in box - about 2years old. It is rather a nuisance threading the chain past the burner bell and out through the slot. Equally well it can come out of the rectangular aperture for accessing the valve.
Makes me realize that I've never lit a plain 123 with its own windshield. I do own a couple. I'm always using one with the Sigg, with the chain attached to the stem.
Always had this question! (From where do you run the chain, which is attached to the throttle body. You cannot go under the windscreen or it won’t securely fastened to tank). Now, we have a picture! Also, btw, alum foil covers some holes and blocks wind.
