@Twoberth, @Garth To explain my remark about the 111 being average a bit more - yes they work, but that is only to be expected so should not make them special (the ones selling for 100 pounds may not work, so add some more pounds to get price of a working item...). Then looking at the age and the numbers produced, they aren’t really old or rare. I don’t dispute that 111 owners have a fondness for them, but a group like ours affording an average item ‘iconic’ status does distort prices.
I have followed this thread with interest. Less than 10 stoves or more than 10 stoves? At the moment I am not sure if I want it or not. However, let us assume that it goes ahead. How would this information be displayed? Who would keep this information up-to-date? I have my own solutions to these questions but would like to hear the opinions of members.
Less than 10 or just rare? It is of value to all of us, especially newer members of this sport to be aware of stoves that are uncommon, rare or unheard of. When I started this hobby I was focused on military stoves and if I had come across an Optimus no. 9 priced at $100 I would have trotted right past without a second thought. Because of comments posted here I now know what a rare beast it is. I prefer not to give valuations because; 1. the ebay listing "CCS said it's worth $XXX, 2. prices are so variable and so dependent on region that valuations are pretty pointless. I thought $200 was pricey for my Tilley 485, apparently in the UK that would be a bargain. I would like to see a way to take note of the seldom seen GPAs whether that is a dedicated thread or a separate section of the reference gallery where a stove could be double posted to its normal category (e.g. American, AGM) and also to Rare.
My questions once more . . . . . how would this information be displayed? Who is going to keep this information up-to-date?
Maybe we are thinking of this all backwards. If there is a stove a member here is interested in, we could all note how common it is,presumably the price would plummet,and our friend can buy it! To the point of the thread, some stoves in the SRG have dozens of examples, other very few. Could there be a cross reference by example count for the SRG? An alternative list from least to most? Not definitive of known examples , but it would be representative of what we have here, and therefore of relative abundance in the wider world.
I think a lot of folks are way over thinking this whole thing. I think there are several stoves that one, two or many of us know are rare. Optimus no. 9, C&L three-burner and some others. I know from patent papers that Coleman made a single burner around 1916 but I've never seen one or known anyone who has. If it is a thread then it is simply up to someone who thinks they've found a one of a kind to post pictures and description in the thread. Others will comment on it and based on whether the comments run to 'I've never seen one of those before" or "Nah, my cousin's got a gross of those new in the box" the post can remain or the original poster can delete it. That has work pretty well over on the CCF, where valuations are not allowed. If you have concerns about how this could work take a look at the "10 or less" thread in the Collections:Restored section.
Another thing that hasnt been considered. These stoves will change hands from time to time for a variety of reasons. They dont tend to have serial numbers or other identifying marks. How does the site track the ownership of a particular stove unless the previous owner marks it as sold? The result could be 100 documented examples of a stove where only 10 actually exist
Nothing wrong with a 'ten or fewer' thread, or, for that matter, a twelve-or-fewer, or five-or-fewer. It would simply be interesting. It would not have to be some sort of 'formal' or pinned thread, or permanent presentation. The objections just seem to me to be totally abstract; unprovable, unknowable, imponderable, etc. So if you think you have such a rarity, let's hear about it. CCS does not, and has never, been a site that puts any 'imprimatur' on anything, much less pricing. I see nothing at all out of order about an interesting and entertaining thread about truly rare (or rare-seeming) stoves. It might result in an interesting thread where one could see some truly fine stuff in one place.
The variety of answers here may give some idea of the responses we will get if it were to be a topic. "All over the place".
I have an absolutely pristine unfired Optimus 45L in its perfect tin (and not the latter-day cylindrical tin). I've never seen another one like it.
Have you posted photos in the Reference Gallery of your absolutely pristine unfired Optimus 45L in its perfect tin? I'm certain there are fewer than ten of those in existence. Ben
Does anyone know of a Monitor 18 (2 pint) in existence? It was advertised in the 1930s Monitor catalogue here, but I've never seen one. Come to think of it, how many folks have a Monitor cabinet No.2 (1.5 pint)? This was advertised in 1939, here.
@Twoberth You ask some excellent questions. Personally I do not have an answer except that I also have not seen examples of these stoves. The half-pint Monitor cyclist's stove is common, but I don't think I have seen the one and a half pint version for motorists.
Ha! It is amazing what you see that does not register in the brain. Yes, I have now seen a No. 2 Motorist's cabinet stove in the SRG. I have spent hundreds of hours investigating Swedish stoves for my Swedish Manufacturers Hyperlinked Spreadsheet. I should make sure that I look at other countries with the same vigour, especially my home country of the UK.
@shagratork You raise an interesting point, in that some stoves are considered ‘desirable’ and get researched and debated a lot. Others are not so ‘sexy’ and don’t get much (if any) press. Of course, it doesn’t necessarily mean the latter ones are rare – but that might be the initial impression. I think SofM is an excellent idea, and very clever in that it will encourage people (like me) to post in the SRG when otherwise they may not be bothered. I think we will see some very interesting stoves coming out of the woodwork in the next few months, as people (naturally) want to showcase their treasures (bearing in mind the pitfalls of doing so!) Incidentally, thanks for all your hard work on the hyperlinked spreadsheet (and the revisions). It’s a great tool and I use it regularly, so much so that I'm ashamed to say I take it for granted now. How did we ever manage without it.
