No, it didn't reach me in bits, but I stripped it to assess what was needed to get it running Assembled, it should end up looking like this example from the CCS Stove Reference Gallery, except mine's got a red plastic pump knob and not a brass one and I'm going to have to find a flame spreader for it Solar stove Made in China, it's purpose-built for wok cookery and the first clue of that is the extended diameter of the primer cup to form a heat shield to protect the tank from reflected heat from the wok, given its larger diameter base compared to a western-style pot or kettle. Those heat-proof washers will have to go. One's a piece of rubber hose turned inside out The pump and non-return valve components. The NRV has a slotted cheese-head rather than the usual Primus-style fitting. The NRV 'pip' was of cork. I'll be replacing it with a nitrile one and Sefa to the rescue for a new pump cup washer The filler cap is sizeable. I've placed one from a Primus 96 alongside for comparison Next clue that it's a wok cooker, those stove legs, here compared with those from a Primus 96. The Solar's legs are splayed out to provide a stable base for a bulky wok in 'stir-fry' mode. They're formed out of thick steel rod and are bolted to lugs on the stove to cope with the stresses and strains of energetic stir-frying Here's one of those lugs Final clue to the wok-cooker role, these flip-up projections engage with the rounded base of a wok and set it at the right height above the burner, but when flipped back down, allow flat-based pots and kettles to be used. Clever Here's the fixing/pivot arrangement for those devices The base has no markings ... ... and the tank's only embellishment is the name of the stove. No maker's name, no Chinese lettering or anything else. Minimalist As I restore the stove I'll keep you posted. Although it looks to be perfectly adapted for wok cookery, I'll be interested to see if the single, Primus No.1-sized burner gets the wok hot enough to do a stir-fry properly. That issue of getting a stove that's powerful enough is something I've already discussed elsewhere on CCS:- Good wok burner stoves TO BE CONTINUED John
Very interesting stove John. Very clever in design and detail. Though the fit and finish is lacking, it would get the job done well I believe. I look forward to the flame shots and what you will cook on it. Cheers, Jeff
At least the stove hasn't got an identity crisis like the lantern has Henry ... Tilley here, bit of Petromax there ... 'Be Back Later' lamp forum thread Soon find out, the steel bits are out of the electrolysis bath and the burner's been heated and quenched. John
Evening, Presscall, Just from what you've shown, so far, I'd say it's not going to be a "POS"! Looks, to me, as if it was meant for work, and even if not as "lovely" as some other stoves, I think that it's "beauty" may well be in it's ability to do that for which it was originally designed. As always, I thank you for your great and detailed shots of this stove, John. Great stuff, all around!! Looking forward to seeing how this installment of your report turns out.....! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Minor fettling completed of a new pump washer, new NRV pip, new heat-proof washers for the burner stem and a cleaning of parts, including electrolysis of the steel pan ring, spirit cup and legs to remove a moderate amount of surface rust, I set the parts out again for a photo Cleaning the tank though, I'd discovered a series of stress cracks ... ... filling the tank with soapy water and pressurising the tank, I revealed the range of cracks, all in a row beneath the 'Solar' engraved name I made a repair plate of brass, cleaned it thoroughly, fluxed it and tinned it with lead solder I did likewise with an equivalent area of the tank, having ensured that my repair plate overlapped the extent of the cracks by a wide enough margin I wrapped steel wire around the tank and the repair patch to press it tightly against the tank and played a blowlamp over it, using a torch with a narrow flame pattern to prevent de-soldering of the base seam and adjacent leg fixing lugs. At the same time I 'fed' solder into the edges of the plate, allowing capilliary action to draw the solder in I checked the repair by pressurising the tank again and dunking it under water. Satisfied the repair was good I fuelled up with paraffin and fired up Quite a large wok was an excellent 'fit' and thanks to those splayed, sturdy legs, the stove/wok combination was rock-solid with no tendency to tip over The flame pattern with a wok was excellent and though I'd thought the burner might be a bit underpowered for wok cookery, it looks to me as though the design maximises the heat generated Only one thing for it, next opportunity I'll knock up a stir fry. I'll post the results. My conclusion? Well, it's not a POS as Henry believes the Solar lantern to be. The stress cracks don't make it so. It's in good company. I've had a Primus No.2 with stress cracks (same repair method, still works fine), a Svea and a Vapalux lantern. No, Doc Mark's hit the nail on the head precisely, with his analysis that it's a good, no-frills workhorse of a stove. Though I consider the burner is a bit underpowered to fire a larger wok, it's about right for a small to medium sized one. That said, the riser tube thread is a match for Swedish burners, so it's always possible to add a larger burner. There's a decent air gap to the base of a wok to accommodate the extra height and that primer cup/heat shield would prevent overheating of the tank. Must give it a try ... John
Wow those are some fine fettling skills you have John!! Thanks for the update and pictures!!! Time to go make myself a stir fry! Best Regards, Jeff
Thanks for showing this type of NRV. Today I was working on a Meva No 1 from former Czechoslovakia. Upon removing the pump rod and staring down the tube I was surprised to see this flat screw type instead of a Swedish style NRV with a rectangular bulge that firs a special NRV tool.
A philosophical question: if something was from Czechoslovakia when shipped, is it not still from there, though the country no longer exists?
