The next "mystery" OPTIMUS is here - https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/old-optimus-patent.33663/#post-344251 OPTI-logo-MUS
bump. wow 5 1/2 yrs has passed, NO DOUBT more has been missed on-topic in such long meanwhile. I'm glad we did not start on new mystery (post just above this) while this title/topic remains mysterious. i bump to cross-ref Stanislaw's on-topic just posted "OPTIMUS * ORIGINAL" Optimus No 1S he joins us not (yet) clear on production of these examples annd why the unique bottom stamping (Danzig being considered). Our THANK YOU for posting @Stanisław Grajewski. His thought for his example is narrow year range 1925/26. me "note: i place use of Globe filler cap: 1921-1932" source my hobby time is limited, i knew we covered this topic and want, at least, to tie - in the latest example. thx omc 2800 views
@Nicola Francesco Elia @gieorgijewski @Stanisław Grajewski all, gieorgi was asked gieorgi may agree "probably, yes". fwiw i "tend to agree". From what has been uncovered it could certainly hold true but we all would welcome more supporting detail(s). thanks to gieorgi and Staffan there is significant evidence that that may be the case. Pardon me 1. for chiming-in on gieorgi question (would have preferred, gieorgi reply 1st) but i have limited window of hobby time (now) to comment. 2. for again relocating here but i STILL do not have answers/confirmed details i myself would post in ref. section (that's just me) AND i have *questions. *question: @Stanisław Grajewski you get the impression of 1925/26. Can you share what indicates that tight year range for you? confession: i have NOT revisited the challenging Optimus dating. Or anyone... please share suggestion / details that halp narrow that (1923-32) Optimus year range for this example? All i have (1923-32) here and now, is from the revelations above (5+ yrs ago, scroll up). Optimus manufactured product(s) from their Danzig factory 1923-32. gieorgi has compiled more than anecdotal samplings that "OPTIMUS * ORIGINAL" No.1s (and a few 5s) represent approx years from a specific region (Poland mostly and surrounding) making Danzig (1922-32) the only choice (within region). Optimus in Warsaw later iirc. A No.1 was most certainly an item in very high demand in this region post WW1 (and likely they would also offer 5s if 1s were already in production).
proper time range is 1923-1938 for Schwedische Metallwarenfabrik "Optimus" Gmbh and A/G after that was Supremus produced there @OMC @Nicola Francesco Elia
Optimus Danzig last year production 1932 per Staffan (scroll up) maybe Optimus Warsaw follows/later, i dunno Warsaw details. tag @gieorgijewski @Nicola Francesco Elia
No.1S No.5S bottom stamped OPTIMUS * ORIGINAL by Stephan 33 vs 38 @OMC In reality, this factory was a joint venture with local investors or businesses. Possibly because of regulatory issues, but it was probably also a way to share the financial risk. In the next report, covering 1923, it is stated that "...the Company has increased it's interest in the Danzig factory significantly, which now in union with some of Germany's leading finance- and industrial corporations is developing in a most satisfactory way." I have no information saying that other brands were manufactured in this factory in parallell to Optimus, but with shared ownership this could very well have been the case. Also, I cannot conclude if parts or semi assemblies were shipped from the Swedish factory to Danzig although it would make sense in the case of volume sensitive components and/or components that require significant investments in machines/tooling. Next year report is indicating a change in the ownership structure of the subsidiary in Danzig, but there is nothing to reveal what this meant in reality with respect to products and brands. During 1929 it seems there is a name change of the company to: "Danziger Metallwarenwerk A/G". Also the number of shares owned by Optimus is increased. In the balance sheet of 1932, there is also a Polish subsidiary listed: "Polsko-Szwedzka Spólka Akcyjna 'Optimus', Warszawa". Then, for some reason there are indications that the Danzig operation and the Polish subsidiary is making significant losses during the early 1930's. The values of both companies are written down completely to Swedish Krona 1.- each in the balance sheet as per end 1933. Also, the CEO of Optimus Mr. Gilbert Otterström is fired due to disagreement with the board of directors on how to manage foreign subsidiaries. The financial blow to write the operations down and cover their losses was probably significant. The following years, nothing is mentioned about the operations in Gdansk and Poland. But in the balance sheet of 1938, the number of shares owned in Danziger Metallwarenwerk A/G is reduced from 6000 shares to 1 share. No other information. ============================= SUPREMUS GERMANY could be produced 01.09.1939-circa 30.12.1941 because "We know" SUPREMUS GERMANY in a few examples and quantity known examples of SUPREMUS GERMANY and SUPREMUS DANZIG are similar expected time of production should be similar ------------------------------------------------------------------------- btw SUPREMUS - " is unknown" in GERMANY ============================ Question is What was 1933-38 years produced in Danzig factory OPTIMUS - with economical loses SUPREMUS - at reduced level
gieorgi, as you know note1 my hobby time is waaay down. i do try to chk in daily. Your comment is very well received, I did reconsider all of it. Reply: keeping it simple, you are not stating it's conclusive, on this we agree. Huge credit to you for rationalizing the origin of many Optimus-similar related examples made in Poland (likely). This concept/idea occurred to you alone. This despite many reflect "made in Sweden". I've evolved and continue follow your lead on this. Staffan gets enormous credit on-topic (and for all things Optimus) and i'm still where he left off (a quote you left out, and don't agree with). i tend to stick w/the minimum, vs expand/extrapolate, for now i'm good with 1923-32 (result is fewer corrections/revisions). NOTABLE: In the end for him OPTIMUS - Warsaw (1932-on) remains a totally open question. IF i "try" to join your big picture (1933-to 1941 -to 194_?) what was stoves came from production lines initially setup with Optimus ?. (fwiw Danzig massive bombing target into 45). Your scenarios can happen in Warsaw with a Danzig 1933 end of production. I concede, after 33, into Nazi occupation, the Danzig factory "could have" continued to run a stove production line. Given Staffan quote, IF stove production continued (many factors indicate no), post 1933 in Danzig it was likely w/o Optimus. That's where i come down unless/until revelations emerge to the contrary. re seems to me, a open question is: What Optimus products were manufactured/completed at Danzig factory beginning 1922 ? The "OPTIMUS * ORIGINAL" examples definitely looking like one... No.1Ss would be in high demand they maybe only made 1S & some 5S. [define details of Danzig OPTIMUS * ORIGINAL examples, a wip: eg So far exclusively 1S, 5S models, yes? Was there "likely" an earliest version w/flat filler cap. maybe? ... more?] there's more but i must resist, see note 1. thx 3000 views, tag @gieorgijewski
https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/optimus-danzig.53744/ UTILITY PATTERNS in Poland from Jan 1927 PRZEDSIĘBIORSTWA I ZAKŁADY PRZEMYSŁOWE – Encyklopedia Gdańska https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/photo-of-the-optimus-factory-in-gdansk-poland.53745/ and from "Danzig perspective" at - Pommersche Chaussee, later Hauptstraße 339 Optimus Schwedische Metallwarenfabrik 1923–1928 GmbH 1928–1934 AG if true 1934 was end of OPTIMUS production (mean SUPREMUS) Danziger Metallwarenfabrik AG 1934–1938 if production ended 1938 then Supremus made in Germany was made by any unknown succesor post IX - 1939 not later than end of 1941
and above with Staffan - mean 1934 to 1938 - Optimus Schwedische Metallwarenfabrik AG was only virtual - on paper and not in Danzig -------------- Warsaw Optimus - have nothing with stove
