Prentiss Wabers Model No. 8

Discussion in 'Prentiss Wabers (Preway)' started by idahostoveguy, Jul 26, 2014.

  1. idahostoveguy

    idahostoveguy R.I.P.

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    I still have a few more of these Prentiss Wabers after this one.

    Here's a Prentiss Wabers Model No. 8. I like these models much more than the later 1930's models since they have the preheat cups, brass tanks, and are not instant lighting. They just have a simpler design to them that I prefer over their more modern counterparts.

    1406342295-xPrentissWabers8_001.jpg


    The model No. 8 is very similar to the model No. 9, only just slightly smaller. My model No. 9 is featured here with a cast iron grate, getting a tank fix.

    I would probably say that the date of this stove is probably mid-1920s at the latest as my best guess.


    1406342788-xPrentissWabers8_002.jpg 1406342798-xPrentissWabers8_003.jpg 1406342806-xPrentissWabers8_004.jpg 1406342827-xPrentissWabers8_005.jpg 1406342834-xPrentissWabers8_006.jpg 1406342841-xPrentissWabers8_007.jpg 1406342850-xPrentissWabers8_008.jpg 1406342859-xPrentissWabers8_009.jpg 1406342869-xPrentissWabers8_010.jpg 1406342877-xPrentissWabers8_011.jpg 1406342884-xPrentissWabers8_012.jpg 1406342903-xPrentissWabers8_013.jpg 1406342912-xPrentissWabers8_014.jpg 1406342923-xPrentissWabers8_015.jpg



    sam
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 1, 2015
  2. shagratork

    shagratork United Kingdom Moderator, R.I.P. Subscriber

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    Another great old PW stove.

    A perfect match to this 1929 advert. :D

    1406357151-PW_No8_1929.jpg
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 26, 2015
  3. Sparky

    Sparky Subscriber

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    ISG, how is the tank pressurized? I have a Sears Kook Rite of the same vintage that had a separate pump and a nifty CI grate
     
  4. Wim

    Wim Subscriber

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    Hi Sparky, they come with a separate pump. This model is the one I also have, acquired through this forum! Love that stove! (and this forum!!!)

    Hi Sam, can I come & live at your house to play with your P-W stoves? (PLEASE!) ;) :lol: :lol: :lol:

    All the best,

    Wim
     
  5. idahostoveguy

    idahostoveguy R.I.P.

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    Trevor,

    You amaze me! I keep looking for adverts with these stoves in them, but can't seem to find them. Good going on that.

    Sparky, no pump came with this No. 8, so I'm showing the stove as received without a pump. I have several pumps that will work with this, but I'm waiting to find a Prentiss Wabers pump to go with this. Many of the pumps on the bay are priced nearly the same as what I paid for this stove, so I will wait patiently for a good deal.

    Wim, you are welcome to come over and play! So, far, I've posted about half of the PW stoves I have. Still got more to go.

    Have a great day!


    sam
     
  6. xtrm84

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    I posted this in another thread as well but this is the exact stove I just got.

    I found a Prentiss Wabers Model 8 with the same preheat cup system. Ive never seen something like this and I cant find a video of how to light it. There are 2 videos online that show them running already but that doesnt help. If anyone can send photos on the process or explain how I light this, that would be great! Once I get this restored and running, I'll post my project.

    Thanks in advance!!
     
  7. idahostoveguy

    idahostoveguy R.I.P.

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    Since this model is NOT instant lighting it does require a preheat.

    The first method is to:

    • Put some fuel in the tank
    • Pressurize the fuel tank with your external pump
    • fill the preheat cup with denatured alcohol and let it preheat.
    • When the fuel runs out, open the fuel control and light the burner
    • It should be blue
    the other method using the tank fuel:
    • Put some fuel in the tank
    • Pressurize the fuel tank with your external pump
    • Fill the preheat cup about half full (Coleman fuel is twice as powerful as alcohol, so it takes a lot less) by moving the small lever so that fuel dumps into the preheat cup when the fuel control knob is turned
    • Close the knob
    • Light the fuel to preheat
    • When the fuel runs out, open the fuel knob and light the burner
    Pressurize the tank a bit more as needed. You should have blue flames if your stove is in good condition and the preheat got everything hot enough to generate vaporized fuel. You should not see any liquid fuel at anytime during the process other than preheat fuel.

    This is not like the early Coleman No 1s, 2s, and 9s that had a pre-heater in the burner as part of the light up process. I tried it and it for sure does not work that way. There's no blow back mechanism built in. Just made a big mess. Preheating with Coleman fuel produces a yellow, sooty flame, while using denatured alcohol or methylated spirit produces a clean, blue flame with no soot.

    Here's the Coleman 9D thread showing the preheat burner process about 3/4s of the way down:

    Coleman No. 9D Burner Broken (Repair)

    Hope that helps,
    sam
     
    Last edited: Mar 5, 2016
  8. xtrm84

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    This is great and very much appreciated!!!
     
  9. xtrm84

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    Another nub question. If Coleman fuel burns sooty and denatured alcohol produces a smooth blue flame, why not use denatured alcohol as the main fuel?
     
  10. idahostoveguy

    idahostoveguy R.I.P.

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    Ok, so, the Coleman Fuel will be sooty only if used to prime the burner. You probably won't notice the soot on the cast iron burner but it will produce it. It is negligible. It burns clean and blue otherwise during normal cooking and such. The PW 8 is not made for alcohol and so would have a very weak flame with half or less power to cook anything. It may not even work very well with alcohol and may not even produce a good flame. I haven't used alcohol in a PW but I've tried it with other single burners, like Coleman 502s and 425s and others and I get mixed results and always a weak flame.

    Why the weak flame, denatured alcohol or methylated spirit has half the thermal potential or BTUs as white gas/Coleman Fuel. It works great in alcohol capable stoves, like Trangias and burners setup with larger jets, like marine/boat stoves. You'll use twice as much alcohol by volume as you would white gas/Coleman Fuel. It's the chemical makeup of the fuel. More carbons in white gas; less in alcohol; thus less potential; so, longer cook times.


    Hope that helps.

    sam
     
  11. xtrm84

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    As always, this definitely helps. Thank you for the science lesson!! I should get my tank and pump polished by tuesday and hopefully some testing and then pictures by next weekend!
     
  12. DroidJim United States

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    Sam, I recently acquired a Prentiss wabers stove model #8. What type of fuel should I burn in it?
    Karosene or coleman white gas?
    I dont have the pump that came with it originally...do I need a pump to light the stove or will it work ok with out a pump?
    JIM
     
  13. ArchMc

    ArchMc SotM Winner Subscriber

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    Hello @DroidJim. Welcome to CCS.

    The PW #8 uses Coleman fuel or equivalent white gas. You do need the pump to pressurize the tank. These pumps sometimes turn up on "that auction site" or at swap meets and such, and are easy to service if they don't work.

    Good luck getting yours to work. Mine has become my usual stove for car camping. Let us know how you get on.

    ....Arch
     
  14. DroidJim United States

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    Sam, do you know where i can find a new generator for a Prentiss Wabers #8 stove?

    James
     
  15. snwcmpr

    snwcmpr SotM Winner Subscriber

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    Replacement parts for that stove will be very difficult to find, unless you find a 'parts' stove.
    Repair of the parts are the most likely fix for you.
    I see you are getting a pump, seen in the other thread.

    Ken in NC
     
  16. DroidJim United States

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    The needle on the end of my generator is rusted off. So i can not get it to pressurize because the fuel leaks out the tip of the generator. That's why I'm trying to find a new generator. Did not know if a Coleman generator would be a substitute?
     
  17. snwcmpr

    snwcmpr SotM Winner Subscriber

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    I would suggest a new thread in the Fettling section of this forum. This is the Gallery.
    You will get more information in your own thread.