NOS Optimus 111

As you know for the great outdoors, for hikers camper's to cook and boil on

 

Oh, so you've changed your mind back? I'm just being contrary, just to make a point. This is a common theme with collectors and enthusiasts across every hobby; I think. It doesn't matter what the collectable is, or even if it is collectable.

How many unfired examples do we need? Aren't photographs enough?

It's some sort of mental disorder, thankfully not particularly harmful. Maybe to our pocketbook! It is the only way to acquire a nice collection. And then our heirs look at it as a bunch of junk. Hopefully they sell it for more than we told them we paid.

 

Benign practices common among people are not mental disorders. "Collecting" of artifacts of all kinds is such a practice. Why would anybody collect dozens of camp stoves? For the same reason they collect porcelain figurines, watches, firearms and innumerable other artifacts.

Human beings coevolved with their artifacts. Tool-making is part of the definition of human being. Thus follows the interest in artifacts for their own sake.

Collecting by itself implies a non-utilitarian purpose. Therefore collectors will want some pristine examples along with the others.

The collecting 'bug' is much stronger for some than others, obviously. I never had it until I came here and began to collect stoves. After about 60, the 'bug' left me, almost entirely, though the interest in the subject remained. I've never collected anything else. The experience, though, gave me insight into the subject.

 

all stoves, have to be tested, a stove is not a stove until it has been used,

 

Watch out for those that tell you to light the unfired stoves.
The value of their unfired stoves go up every time one is lit.

 

Right, though "value" is of course subjective.

The value is depreciated simply by virtue of it being "used", however briefly.

And the answer to that is of course "So what?" Why is this important, or again, how many unfired examples of antique utilitarian camping gear do we really need? I enjoy seeing the boxes, ephemera, the instructions and hang tags, invoice, repair parts. It's fascinating. But it's also easy to slip over the line into silliness.

Maybe some don't agonize about the resale value? Unfired stoves, lanterns, and outdoor equipment aren't even all that rare. They can be profitable for resale, certainly.

I should have clarified, collecting isn't always a mental disorder, but it most definitely can be, most often described as "hoarding"; this is the extreme form of the collecting affliction.

 

Because we are collectors. That's why.

 

Good Even, @Peregrinans ,

Congrats on scoring your unfired 111 stove! As you have seen, everyone has their own opinion as "to fire, or not to fire", that IS the question!

Speaking only for myself, I see great value and enjoyment in having stoves I can and do use, and also in having stoves that remain unfired, and are enjoyed for their intrinsic beauty, and in some cases their exceptional rarity.

If others see no value in that, of course, they are welcome to their opinions, and their comments do nothing to dampen my joy of having stoves in each category!!

As for the 111 family of stoves, I have more than several which are, and will remain, unfired! And, of course, I have more than several user stoves in the 111 family! Life is good!!

In any case, have a great time enjoying your own unfired 111 stove!! Let others do whatever they want with THEIR stoves! Thanks for sharing, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

 

That's more the "what", not the "why". I completely understand wanting pristine examples to collect. I'm just not persuaded this is on par with conserving the Great Works at the Louvre or something like that. They simply aren't that rare or unique.

I'm not telling anyone to light it off, just pointing out this strange affectation people have with "collectables" observed across numerous hobbies that doesn't really make a lot of sense.

 

... to you.

Your lack of understanding does not indicate a lack of reason.
Not knowing something does not mean that knowledge of something does not exist.
The pursuit of ignorance

 

LOL!!

Yeah, ok.