Hi, I'm new here, having previously been more interested in lamps and lanterns. Having now discovered stoves, I'm keen to learn more about them and would be grateful for any advice or information about a peculiar thing found at a car boot sale recently. It has a round tank with three fixed legs and a capacity of about two pints. On one side of the tank it is stamped PRI-MUS No 16, and on the other side, between the pump and the pressure release screw, is stamped MADE IN SWEDEN, AKTIEBOL. B. A. HJORTH & Co, PATENT, STOCKHOLM. The pump lid is stamped F. W. LINDQVISTS PATENT. On the underside of the tank there is a small letter K (about two mm high). The thing that puzzles me is that in the centre of the tank, where a riser tube might normally be found, there is a vertical control valve with a small (3/4 inch) brass wheel. From the top of the valve rises a copper pipe (1/4 inch OD) which is formed into a swan neck, terminating 1/4 inch above bench level in a male threaded fitting. The question I have is : would this have been a factory job or has it been modified by a previous owner? If it left the factory like this, to what would it have connected? Once again, I would be grateful for any information about this.
You might have found a burner cleaning apparatus? The burner is fitted at the swan neck and heated with a blow torch while air is blown through from the tank under control of the wheel. It burns out carbon deposits.
@John Levett "K" is 1921. There's a dating chart in the Reference Gallery. I'm not sure whether that extension is aftermarket or not (detailed photos of its components may help), but it is obviously an extension to allow something to be heated externally from the stove tank. It does not look to be complete, though, as the burner would usually need to be upright at the end of the extension. Does the extension fit the other way around? Tony
@John Levett By the way, that tank is magnificent, and is a version of the Primus No.16 that is not shown in the Reference Gallery. Cheers Tony
Is the pipe coming from the font solid? If so it could be from a potigee burner. The burner is missing. It looks like an original adapter though. Good find. Cheers Rob
The stove is a very old one, certainly pre 1911. All the No. 16 stoves in the Gallery and the catalogues do not show the number 16 having a 'discus' tank. It reminds me of the Svea 100 Special.
@shagratork & @John Levett I was doubting my comment above about the "K" being 1921, Trevor. Therefore a photo of the bottom of the tank would be useful. Now that I've seen the photos on a big screen, I can see that the way the stove is set up, the distal end of the extension tube would not fit on the control cock. John, Some detailed photos of the tank in the Reference Gallery would be much appreciated. Cheers Tony
@Tony Press Hi Tony, I also would like to see a photo of the bottom of the tank. That fact that the OP said that the letter 'K' is only 2mm in height suggested to me that it is not the normal date stamp. Also, John did not mention any other stampings on the bottom of the tank, but a photo should clear all this up.
Hi All, many thanks for your replies and suggestions. I am doubtful about the K being the date stamp as it is the only thing stamped on the tank bottom and I believe date stamps are usually within a circle with a number. Hopefully the photo will show this. The pipe unscrews from the tank but will not fit the other way round as the fitting on the far end is considerably smaller than that to the tank (3/8 as opposed to 1/2 ).
@John Levett You (and Trevor) are right, the "K" is not a date stamp. You have quite a treasure there! Cheers Tony
