Greetings, Friends, Before I hit the sack tonight, I wanted to run something past you all. In that landmark Backpacker Magazine Equipment test book, from the 1970's, mention was made that some of the early Phoebus 625's had screwed together burner parts, with some nuts that would leak after having been used a good deal. I have two Phoebus 625's, and they both appear to have been made after those with the leaking problems. I'd love to see some photos of one of the early stoves, so I can see what all the fuss was about, back then. If you have one of them, would you please post some up-close photos, so that all of us can learn about the differences? Thanks, very much, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc P.S. Here are a few photos of my more recent 625, obtained from "the bay of Evil", not long ago. It's rather beat looking, but I kind of like it that way. After replacing the fuel cap gasket, the safety valve release pip, the NRV pip, and adding one of Brother Sefa's wonderful pump leathers, it runs like a top!! I think I'll keep it just the way it is, and enjoy it's "patina"! 8) Here goes: |imgRemoved| |imgRemoved| |imgRemoved|
Doc I've a feeling we don't need to look any further than our own CCS reference gallery for the answer. Motoshi's post is described as of an early example ... https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/8909 ... and its burner looks like it's got the characteristics you had in mind http://www. It looks pretty solidly done, so I can't see that joint presenting fuel leakage problems. Mind you, whereas we wouldn't bat an eyelid at the built-up construction on a kero burning stove, with a seepage at the primer cup/vapouriser joint just needing nipping up with a spanner (wrench) when a leak develops - maybe renewing the washer if bad - any leak of petrol (gasoline) would be more of a worry, to the manufacturer and user so I guess Phoebus didn't want to take any chances. Maybe there's your answer? Regards, John
Hi All, Doc your Phoboes runs perfect ! Wow, bootyful flame my man. I'm not a Phoebus expert by any means , but I think the green and yellow squared tinned stoves would proceed the round shaped green and yellow tin. I 'm thinking since the round red tins are the latest, the round green and yellow ones were eventually painted red , while the square ones were just dropped all together in favor of a round tin that was initially painted green and yellow and then painted red. I think Kerophiles squared green and yellow tin could be the older squared one as it has all the extra bells and whistles. Most likely these features would have been dropped in later versions like mine. Since info is scarce on these stoves this is all conjecture on my part - please correct me if I 'm way off base My square green and yellow tinned stove has a burner set-up just like Motoshi's from Johns links - I can send you some pics by email if like. Tom
Hello Mark, I would not loose any sleep on some nuts'n bolts. My money is on that they never excisted, or an erroneous interpretation on whatever could come undone, like the burner stem, and likely the spindel assembly. What springs to mind are the various articles in so-called authoritive magazines about the compatability of Nikon's motordrive for the Nikon F. I never have read anything that was appearantly written with a hands-on experience but seemed to be based on heresay. Regards, Mike
Tom: On the valve control spindle, it appears that the older stove in Motoshi's post has a cotter pin, whereas more recent stoves have a strait pin. Is that the way yours is set up as well? If so the other question is, is there a notch or holes in the shaft of the outer spindle? Seems like the pin and notch combination would be an improvement in terms of ease of use.
Hello Tom, So far I have been thinking that the oldest version of these tins is round, as you rarely see them. I have had a 625 new in the box, bought by the first owner around 1966 and is some indication of sequence. The very rare - and often horrendously priced - Phoebus 611 and 615 small lamps came in a tall round yellow cannister with the same red and blue logo similar as on the above carton; it is believed their production stopped in the first half of the 50's. Reason to change to square tins might be that it made possible for the tin to be carried. Also, the round lids have a tendency to jam tight, something that is not appreciated when trying to pry them open with your half-frozen fingers! The above is the collection I have; notice the initial version (pre-war style) of the metal clasp and handle, to be superseded by the rather silly red lace, that does catch the eye though! That Phoebus returned to round I think has everything to do with economy, cursing users not withstanding! Regards, Mike
And to add to Mike's view, the 625s supplied to the military seem to have been housed in the square tin with the red ribbon. However, in this case the tin is plain cream (same as the background colour in Mike's examples), with a gold sticker on top identifying the contents. Therefore I assume these military examples (I have two) are of similar vintage to the commercial examples that Mike shows. Military stuff seems generally to be more liberally sprinkled with dating information so I'll check mine over, including the instruction sheets, for any clues which presumably would also relate back to the non-military versions. Cheers, Graham.
Good Morning, Lads, Many thanks for one and all for your comments, thoughts, and photos!! Once again, the cornucopia of CCS knowledge has shown the light and answered my question!! Presscall, thank you for sharing Motoshi's Phoebus photos! Of course, I should have gone to the Reference Gallery, straight away, but sent my note before having come to that epiphany! 8-[ Here's the quote from that old Backpacking Magazine book of equipment reviews: "Threaded fittings on the fuel regulating valves of the Phoebus 625 and 725 became loose after several uses. This caused a large flame at the base of the burner. After we brought this to the attention of the manufacturer, the problem was corrected. Both stoves now have welded fittings on the fuel regulating valve. But, beware of earlier models with the threaded fittings." I think that DutchMike has it absolutely right: "much ado about nothing"!! Overall, BPM loved both the 625 and the 725. So, their comments about the threaded burners not withstanding, they gave the 625 five stars and three checkmarks for Winter use, which was a very high recommendation. But, just as in their later reviews, which REALLY went down hill, and fast, they messed up on this part of it, I'm thinking. Now, the stove reviews in PBM are absolutely worthless, with NO usable information, and much preening over the stoves whose manufacturers advertise in that rag!! As I've mentioned before, I always laugh when I read their old pitiful reviews of the Optimus Explorer #11, the Sigg Fire-Jet, Optimus 8R, and SVEA 123, Trangia 25 & 27, plus many other fine stoves: pretty much panned, one and all!! As someone who knows all those stoves intimately, it's easy to see how really unknowledgeable and totally inexperienced the tester/reviewers were, and still are, about stoves in general, and the models they trash, specifically!! Poor folks. They just never got, nor get, a clue, when it comes to stoves, did/do they?!! To those of us who love stoves, and who "understand" them (for the most part!!), a simple tightening with a wrench or spanner would take care of any fuel leaking problems. Thanks, again, Friends, for offering up the info I was seeking. Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Hi Mike, I much appreciate your thoughts on the time-line for Phoebus stoves. Would you like to offer an opinion on the likely date of this one of my Phoebus No.625s? https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/9019 You will note that it has both the top handle and front catch. Best Regards, Kerophile.
Hi all, DutchMike, what a lovely collection you have ! Your tins are very nice indeed. I would have thought Kerophile's tin was the oldest as it's the most expensive to produce,being square with the handle and clasp, then to save a few bucks, the clasp and handle were dropped for the ribbon. Then to save moe' money they went to the round tin , but had all this yellow and green paint left over and when they used up all the paint they went over to the round red tin. But alas economic logic and rational thinking does not prevail as the earliest was the round yellow and then they go to different design with a square more expensive tin and then full circle back to round one , wow not the way I would have run the buisness. All this is pure speculation and opinion on my part of course and you know what they about opinions Tom P.S. Itchy , mine has the cotter pin but the spindle shaft has notches, not a hole. Easier to just slide spindle control off and on. And Doc, BTW mine has the screw on head too with hex nut ! Just like Motoshi's
