What paint do you use and 111 info needed ?

Ross, boy do I ever feel like a newbie (yet again....) but how do I tell the difference.

The Primus 71 I have is dated AS (1953), silver box case with the row of holes down near the bottom. I can supply a picture if it helps.

-franco

 

Hi Franco - there's just so much to know we all feel like that from time to time!

I reckon it will be a Hjorth. If you look at the decal on the front of the tin (if theres enough left) in a band along the bottom it will have written either AB Bahco, Stockhold, Sweden or A/B B.A. Hjorth & Co, Stockholm, Sweden.

 

This is a scan of the 111 labels I have. They are original, unused & are self adhesive, coming on a backing paper. These are Optimus labels, not home made. They are for the later 111 triple fuel.
The scanner didn't like the mirror silver finish which looks black in the image.
I have 8 available. These cost me nothing but as they going to be hard if not impossible to find & to raise some funds for the site I'll offer them at ?1.50 each + p&p. To make it fair I'll sell a max of 2 per order.

 

When I was repainting my Optimus 8R, I also used a car paint that I sprayed on. But in my opinion the flakes where a bit too small when comparing to the original colour. When I repainted one of the Optimus 111 that I have, I was using hammerlack, and that one has the right size of flakes in it but I guess I got a colour that was just a little bit too dark compared to the original. I now have 3 Optimus 111, one pretty new with light blue hammerlack (not repainted) and the sticker that looks like metall, one old green hammerlack (not repainted) and with the logo pressed in the top of the box, and one repainted blue hammerlack also with the logo pressed in the top of the box. I use them all as they are so easy to take along when going somewhere and they work perfectly after priming them enough. Using them with kero, (except for the 8R) but I guess two of them could be used with petrol also, as the burner is of another type with a hole in the top. Have seen an Optimus 111B that should be for petrol, and that one had the same burner.

Anders

 

Ross, you have a PM

While we are talking about Optimus 111s, you have also answered a question I was going to ask. I have just picked this 111 up from ebay - it appears to be complete apart from the windshield and maybe the priming wick, but I wasn't sure which variant it was.
As the label is the same as your pic I assume it is the 111t ?
Looking at the Basecamp site, the parts look like the 111c shown - what is different? Jet size? Should it have a priming wick?
Also, the spanner with it is the same as the one with my 8R, so cannot be used to remove the jet - should there be a different spanner?
Apologies for asking so many questions!

 

Ross, nothing of the labels (inside or out) were left on the stove. I have a naked stove!

So is there any other way to tell?

Either way I'd like to see the labels you've made up.

Thanx for your help.

-franco

 

Franco -
It'll be a Hjorth. I may have to bring the decal printer out of it's slumbers & print some more. I haven't finished the inside decals yet.

Mike - It has a strainer in the fuel pipe but no wick. A quick comparison of the parts guide shows the differences are the burner itself, although caps, jet & needle are the same, tank, spirit-cup, pump valve, pump washer (leather on 111c), tank screws, windshield & strainer. All very subtle. If you want part numbers let me know.

I haven't really had much to do with the later variants so I can only go from the diagrams I have re interchangeability of the parts. The control knob should double as the jet key on the diagrams I have.
It's possible yours is a slightly earlier version of the 111c than what's on mine & basecamps diagram as no spanner is shown - I'm sure one I did have for a short while had the 8R spanner. Colin has it now - maybe he can throw more light on this.

 

Hi Ross
Thanks for the info. Wick - I meant a circular one sitting in the priming cup, not in the fuel pipe. The exploded diagram on the Basecamp site for the 111c shows one.
The conrol know will not fit the jet - the latter has two flats, and would fit the spanner if you could get the spanner in! There is a clip in the lid for the spanner; the only thing the spanner fits is the gland nut on the valve.
How did they get away with the same jet for different fuels? Any info gratefully received - I will have a word with Mike the Stove when I get a minute

 

Yes - that priming wick appears on both diagrams. They had 2 jets one for kero & white gas & one for alcohol. You can get away with the same jet for kero & white gas but gasoline needs to be bigger.
Mike at Basecamp should have the info - let us know what you find.

 

Will do, Ross - will be next week - off to South Wales for the weekend (camping of course) now

 

Now I find I have another exploded view - again for the 111T but dated 1990 which if I'm interpreting the printers code correctly is 2 years before my 111T I refered to earlier.
It shows the multi-key knob. However on the flip side of the exploded view are the instructions which show illustrations of the stove with a conventional control knob & the clip for the spanner inside the lid. Can you not get any turn on the jet with the ring end of the spanner?

 

Ross
The ring end of the spanner would probably fit the jet, but there is not enough space between the burner tubes to get it in and turn it.
Looking at the Basecamp drawings, the 111 has a spanner like mine, clipped in the lid, but the 111c with a silent burner uses the control knob to undo the jet and the knob has what appears to be a box spanner on the other end for the gland nut - it has no clip in the lid, and no separate spanner.
The mystery is that my 111 has a silent burner (111c or 111t) but does have a clip for a spanner and a 'plain' control knob. The mystery is that the label is like your sample and lists the 3 fuels!
I must chat to Mike V when I get back!

 

Mike I also have one of these, and I alway assumed that it was a 111T.

Then again, I could be wrong......gee not the first time.

From the front of the stove, my control knob is on the right. The 111C has the knob on the left. And I beleive the 111C uses a painted steel tank vs a brass tank.

-franco

 

Franco said

Hi Franco,
I've cracked on with the inside decal & it's coming on nicely - hopefully ready within a couple of weeks tops. I'll post as soon as it's done. These are non-inkjet waterslide decals.

 

Hi Franco
Sounds like mine - control on right and brass tank. I have emailed Mike the Stove with questions as to which model it is.

Ross - label just arrived in post today - excellent!

 

I have bought 1 aerosol paint from Biltema cat no 367042
I can not see any colordifference grater than between orginal 111's.
I let the paint "dry" for 2 weeks.
The paint looks just as kero or heat resisstant as the orginal.

The Optimus factory would not give me any spec's on their paint.
It seems like they don't know what they have used.

Dag S

 

Had a chat with Mike the Stove - it seems mine is a 111t, and the 8R spanner is OE, despite the fact you cannot really use it to remove the jet.
Going to get some Ford paint as per Ian's suggestion next time I am near Halfrauds

 

I just came across this thread,and have a question.you mention that the silvery 111 labels are available. Are they still? how about for the 111b? 8R?
thanks,
Steve

 

Hello all,

I'm new here. GREAT site and very informative crew. I'm not really a collector, per se, but somehow have ended up with five 123's and several Optimus stoves. (Perhaps I AM a collector!) I follow the postings with interest. I'm contemplating a repaint on my old 8R, and will try the Toyota dealership for color match. I was intrigued by Ian's mention of replacement stickers for the case. Might I ask where they are available? I would certainly like to replace the decal/sticker if I should tackle the re-paint.

much obliged

Scott