Good afternoon and hello! I am completely new here and would like to ask for help/advice please. I love restoring 'old stuff' - most recently a Lister stationary engine and water pump. My pal, therefore, thinks I can fettle anything and has kindly asked me to sort out a stove for him. This is all totally new to me however. I enclose a photograph just taken. I believe it may be a Primus 54 thanks to a Google picture search but that's it. Could any of you kind folks please offer some pointers? Many thanks in anticipation.
@Andrew Cooper Welcome. Google failed you. Not a Primus 54 It is a "*Classic Camp Stove", looks like a 3 legger domestic 2 pinter (in the most general terms). *You came to the right place. You want to ID the make and model. Turn tank at different angles in bright light you should hopefully be able to recognize lettering stamped into the brass. From one letter you can extrapolate and try to decipher biggest words on the tank. CLUE: the top ring says England (if that is original). Carry on.
Burns paraffin/kerosene. Will need the inner and outer burner caps, fuel cap washer/gasket replaced and likely a new pip in the NRV which is at the bottom of the pump tube, which will require a NRV tool to remove or one made up. I can post a pic of the caps in a minute. Duane
Thank you hikerduane.....as I am new to this I am not too sure about 'new pip in the NRV which is at the bottom of the pump tube'. Sorry, I am unsure even as to what NRV is an abbreviation for - perhaps none return valve?
Simply. Pressure in tank pushes liquid up. Hot tube vaporizes liquid to vapor. Vapor burns. Not so simple are the seals, pump, leaks, valve, metal, preheat, cautions, awareness, and experience. Among other things.
NRV basically means it's the safety valve that keeps the stove from exploding if the pressure gets too high. There is a rubber seal (the "pip") in there somewhere which eventually rots out and leaks. These guys, by the way, are almost scary in what they know about old stoves.
There will, most likely, be a gathering Newark soon. Maybe you could get some on hands experience with a few members.
No, the NRV is an abbreviation for 'non return valve', which is a made up CCS term for what the manufacturers referred to as the 'pump valve'. This is the one-way valve at the end of the pump tube, which allows air to be forced into the stove but not out. It works in conjunction with the leather pump cup assembly, which is another one way valve. You are thinking of the SRV, an abbreviation for 'safety release valve', a made up CCS term for what the manufacturers referred to as the 'safety valve'. These were fitted to self-pressurising petrol stoves to prevent over pressure. They were also fitted unnecessarily to some paraffin stoves by some manufacturers as an advertising/selling point. You are right in saying the pump valve/non return valve/nrv has a seal ('pip') which is a consumable service item which likely needs replacing. These were cork on earlier stoves and often last forever, the stove in question likely has as synthetic rubber seal which is now rock hard. As mentioned a special tool is required to remove the valve to replace the seal, the valve itself is sealed into the end of the pump tube by a lead washer which may or may not survive the process.
It does look like a Burmos with that squared off edge to the fount but that’s an odd filler / release valve with the screw slot on the end. @Andrew Cooper can you take a few more pics? Maybe of the end of the pump and also the top of the burner itself? Could be some handy writing in there - Burmos did have a habit of stamping everything with its name C
Apologies for not getting back sooner, life is crazy busy! Here are extra photos that you suggested I post. Thanks for all your help.
Alicia I can't see any markings at all on the body of the stove as it has, with age, become kind of pitted as you see.
