Hi all, As a relative newbie, rather excited as I just got my very first kero stove at a nice price from eBay. Thanks to a lemon wedge, I managed to find out that it's a Primus No:1.S:or. Any thoughts, history or info on this would be much appreciated. I will be going through the fettling pages carefully and I guess first off the block would be a citric bath? Cheers, Phil
Nice stove you can find most of what your asking in the stove gallery and by searching this site. Contact the Fettlebox (icon in the upper right corner) for a rebuild kit and you will be up and running soon.
You appear to be missing the flame ring, Fettlebox can fix you up in that dept too. I like to pressurize them before I do too much, is too depressing to get em to a fine shine then find a crack. It will clean up nice I bet, looks like an older one, but I don't know much. Smarter people will comment I am sure.
@ValorPhil A more than 100 year old stove like yours should be treated with great respect. Not with a bath in something whatever. What you destroy with unsuitable tools or impatiently work, is gone forever! Best Regards Radler
@ValorPhil Look under the stove and you should find a letter (or two letters), either in a circle or under the manufacturer’s stamp. Your stove is post-1911, so it will have the letter as a date code: Primus Dating Chart 1911 - 1964 If you want to keep the patina, cleaning it with a good car cleaner will be sufficient. If you want to make it all bright and shiny, start here; Stove restoration. Parts 1 to 4 Cheers Tony
Good advice Tony.....I'll try the car cleaner as I have been an avid coin collector over the years, the patina is important. Thanks CW....seems the Fettle Box is out of stock for the flame ring
Not really; just replace the seals, pump it up, and immerse it in a pail of water. You should only get bubbles at the jet. When you take it out, you should get a good hiss when you release pressure at the pressure release valve. All this is just to be sure you don't have a cracked tank or a leaky pump, or a frozen NRV. ....Arch
Phil There is a section called Fettlers Masterclass. If you want to have a chat over the phone send me a personal message. (Click on my name and start a “Conversation). Cheers Tony
Thanks for your support everyone .....thought I would make a start whilst waiting parts......using Barkeepers Friend...going gently to keep the patina.....feel free to comment on my first cleanup!
More progress and the cleanup so far....however, I’m unsure of the “shine” on the brass as it’s seems a bit dull bearing in mind I don’t want to get it too ”shiney” as I still want the patina look... if you know what I mean. Any advice would be appreciated
There is a difference (to my mind anyway) between "Patina" and corrosion. I like a nicely mellowed look to an item but would rather polish any areas where solder, flux, salt air or similar is likely to cause further deterioration in the long term. In time "patina" will return unless you lacquer or wax it
I also prefer a patina on a brass stove. The best "look" comes from a clean stove, regularly used. The color then is in all the right places. Once all the crud is removed, I just keep the stove wiped off after use. Ivan