Here is my 1937 Optimus No.45 that I recently acquired and fettled. *Edit: the year 1937 is wrong. See discussions further down.
Very nice - those discus founts with engravings are among the prettiest of the brassies. (You know that the cap for transportation usually fits at the end of the pump handle?)
@Harder D. Soerensen I have seen some pictures of the cap placed on the pump rod but didn't think to put it on for the pic. I accidentally laid it down at the bench when I went to retrieve the pot stand ring. Thank you for the hint . Did they make a tin for these ?
They did make tins for these, but they are now very few and far between, as tins for the 1 3/4 pinters generally are. I have an unfired one with a pristine blue box tin. This was my 'holy grail' as a collector, inasmuch as the stove given to me by my folks in the early 1960s was an Opt. 45 in a tin. Optimus 45s in latter years were in a cylindrical tin, in which the stove could be placed 'uncollapsed'. This never appealed to me, especially since it comes with various Styrofoam inserts and plastic handle. I'm sure the Reference Gallery has many pics. One of the greatest of stoves...yours is a beauty!
@Ed Winskill Thanks for the compliment and the info. I'll have to keep my eyes open for one. I have considered making a tin for it.
Hi @Cookie ,Smart and well presented Op.45 stove but where did you get the 1937 date from? Optimus did not date-code their stoves so you have to consult catalogues and examine the features of your stove to arrive at an estimate of its manufacturing date. From this thread: Dating Clues for Optimus No.45 and 48 stoves. Best Regards, Kerophile.
Hi @Cookie , here is an extract from the 1957/8 Optimus catalogue announcing the introduction of the Op.45/48 models with the new “sunken” filler :
@kerophile Hi Kero. I mistakenly looked at the primus chart for the year and saw the "AB" on the base. As always you are correct . I stand corrected and that you for catching it. I would change the post but it's too late unfortunately.
Thank you cookie, This is a nice example and presentation . --------------- I had sent quick question to cookie, his resply exceeded expectations and here is closer look at his "MADE IN SWEDEN" roarer: --------------- There is a later example posted and it looks like it shares some similarities w/yours. We can't see all his details but his bottom stamp has only MADE IN SWEDEN. He posted in 2013, re timeline we've learned quite a bit since then and there are likely more details to come.
Be careful with that cap. They are hard to find. I need one for a 45 I just acquired. That and a flame ring, spirit ring. Oh yeah and an nrv. Nice looking stove wasn’t sure if I was going to polish mine or not but after seeing yours I just might.
@Duck I found these today. They look to be made of aluminum or stainless though. stopper for optimus 00 45 48, primus 100 210, svea 121 | eBay @OMC Your welcome man. If you want a higher resolution one just let me know Also, thanks to whoever made the edit on my original post about the mistaken year.
Hi @Cookie @OMC So if not 1937, when was this Op.45 stove made. 1. Yesterday I pointed out that your Op.45 must have been manufactured later than 1957/8 as it had the “sunken” filler, introduced for the first time by Optimus in that year. If we look at the other Op.45/48 features which might help in dating this stove: 2. The air-release screw is mounted on the side of the filler tube This feature was the shown in the 1957/8 Optimus catalogue, but then not re-introduced until 1972, and retained in this location until the 1990s. 3. The roarer burner fitted to your stove is marked “Made in Sweden” and Arabic text. This designation was used by Optimus between 1969 and 1976. During this period Optimus was producing Optimus, Primus and Radius stoves. It made sense, and was more economic for these three individually branded stove lines to share the same burners. 4. The base of the tank of your Op.45 is marked AB OPTIMUS UPPL VASBY, encircling MADE IN SWEDEN. Stove production ended at the Upplands Vasby factory in 1983. If we try to reconcile these 4 pieces of information: The stove was made after 1957/8 as it has a sunken filler tube. The side mounted air-release screw indicates either a 1957/58, or post-1972 manufacturing date. The stove burner was made between 1969 and 1976. The bottom marking is pre-1983. So perhaps, no earlier than 1972, when the side-mounted air-release screw was re-introduced and, No later than 1976 when this particular form of roarer burner marking was dropped. So you have a nice Op.45 manufactured in the early-mid 1970s. Just my thoughts. Best Regards, Kerophile.
Hi, here is a link to an Op. 48 stove, the silent sister of the Op.45. It dates from the early 1970s, with good dating provenance: Optimus No:48L - 1974 Best Regards, Kerophile.
@kerophile Thanks for all of the information. That was a lot more than I knew about stoves in general. Also, thanks for the link. I may have a new stove inbound soon that will need a cap.
