Sources for optimus stoves and parts in Australia

Hey
I have an Optimus Nova+ and have now just bought a 111B. I am after some replacement parts for my 111B and am also after a 8R or Hunter stove but have only been able to find these classic stoves on ebay and have not been able to source replacement parts here in Australia. Would anyone on here be able to help me out sourcing Optimus stoves and parts? Cheers
Luke

 

Hi LukeMcE, well there are a few stovies in your side of the world and they may be able to help. Just go through the forums as they often drop by for a good number of times.

Ron

 

Welcome to the site !!!

I have looked at this site in the past. They don't seem cheap but are in Australia

Link

There is also Basecamp in the UK. Their shipping rates are very good and fair I find.

Jeff

 

Sands do Optimus don't they?

 

Sands do optimus?? I think so.

 

Thanks guys
I have already contacted Oillamps in Australia, they can no longer supply optimus gear. Tried Sands but have not heard back from them yet.

I have only got one classic stove and am already after more, is this an addiction? Cheers

Luke

 

I hope Sands can do something for you. Their website seems good.

Its an addiction. well a disease. Sounds like you have the beginning stages. Better not tell the wife.

Jeff

 

Thanks people. Got in contact with sands and ordered the things i need.

Further to that, the only source i have found so far for classic stoves is ebay. There have not been many stove like what i'm after in Australia, did miss out on a good Optimus 8R cause i was working though, and i am a bit hesitant to buy from overseas ebay sellers. What other sources for classic stoves have you guys used? Cheers

Luke

 

Hi, Luke,

Well, if you're after the Optimus 8R, and you don't want to try overseas sellers, you may well be out of luck, Sir. That stove has not been made, new, for many years, now, and unless you buy from Ebay, or maybe Trade Me, there are no other sources, of which I'm aware. You can try flea markets, boot sales, and garage sales. But, I'm not sure how those will shake out for you, being Down Under. I've bought stoves from Trade Me, with the help of our CCS Mates from down your way, and I'm sure they would help you, too. And, I've bought stoves from other parts of the world, and have never been burned, yet. So, I'd give Ebay a try and see how you make out. Check the seller's feedback, and read what other have had to say about dealing with them, then pick and good one, and go for it! Best of luck, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

 

in my opinion e bay is not a good source for 8r or the 123 i have bid on at least two dozen listed on e bay uk and always been outbid sometimes in the last few seconds. i like these small self-pressurising petrol stoves and think they might be useful but i refuse to pay "collector prices"

i finally got a 'cheap' 8r with a broken case but it still got bid up to 30 pounds. i didn't want the case anyway and the tank and burner are perfect

you could try contacting your local boy scout organisation and ask if they have any old stoves in a storeroom somewhere otherwise take pot luck at carboot sales, charity shops etc.
you might find something a collector would trade for an 8r. they often have more than one of a particular stove so look through this site and get an idea of what might appeal to them

 

Hey, gotnoeyebrows,

Sorry you've had such poor luck on 'the Bay. It's most certainly not my first choice, but I continue to score nice stove there, and for reasonable prices, most of the time. I see no reason why you, or anyone else, couldn't score a nice, if a bit dirty, 8R, for around $40. That's not a bad price, even though I've found them at "that same old swap meet" for only $2! Even though I have "a few" of those, if I found another one, and it was in nice condition, and the price was only $40, or less, I'd buy it right away. As our Australian friend seems not to have been able to find an 8R Down Under, I really see not other venues for him, barring buying from one of us. Personally, I don't sell my stoves, though I have most certainly given more than a few of them away over the years! But, others at CCS like to buy and sell, and so that might be an option, too.

Luke, why not place a post in the "Wanted" section here at CCS, and see if someone has a nice 8R that they would like to sell you? Might work well for you. Good luck in your search, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

P.S. gotnoeyebrows, what do you consider a "collector's price" for an 8R? To me, that would be anything over $75. What's your take on that? FYI, of you keep looking on 'the Bay, good stoves at good prices do offer themselves. I once scored two SVEA 123's and a very nice Swiss Borde, all on the same deal, for $30 each!! What's not to like about that deal?!! 8)

 

yes, i have seen some nice examples on american e bay but a lot of u.s. sellers won't send to alaska never mind europe and if they do the postage cost is too high
over here these stoves are overpriced in my opinion because they are sought after by collectors

i'm not a stove collector i am a stove user i have a fair few stoves to choose from and i like buying stoves but i can stop anytime i like. really.

i now have an 8r and i will make a case for it that suits my requirements and i have just won a box full of 111 tanks and burners on e bay uk (4 in total ) for less than the price of a complete stove, so now i can have a tinker with some "classic" bits at a price i think reasonable and not deprive a bona fide stovie of a collectable item
i've learned a lot from this site about the 111 and it's variants and various foibles so i shall see what i can cobble together in my inventing shed

 

40 english pounds! not bad, complete example in good condition currently £87 on e bay uk with 2 hours to go must be at least 100 u.s. dollars

listed as 111c but i think 111t probably ex-mod i reckon i got a good deal, hours of tinkering potential

i'll be like tuco in the gunshop when that lot turns up

please note - above is not a stereo image so please don't strain your eyes

 

Hey, GNE,

You did haul in a fine score, indeed, Sir!! Well done, and a great price, too.

I wonder how many understood your comment about Tuco in the gunshop?? As soon as I read it I laughed out loud, and could see him in my mind, swapping parts on that revolver until he got the one that felt and "sounded" right to him!! Long live Spaghetti Westerns!!! Thanks for the great image! Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc (STILL grinning over that one.....!! "Tuco", indeed!!

 

thanks, i have the makings of a couple of good frankenstoves there and it will keep me out of trouble for a while.

 

Hummm, the good, Bad & ugly...

 

Great score GNE,

The multikey alone makes it worth while almost.

I wonder what happened to the cases. Military maybe

Cheers,
Jeff

 

all ex-army by the looks of it, cases too battered to be usable no doubt, seems i can get a new old stock case from basecamp for thirty quid and all the new parts to build a refurbished 111t
not that the world needs another one, but it will be a simple project to start with before i try something more ambitious, never seen a 111 in the flesh before, i better start with that nrv

 

You've got cases with the haul of tanks and burners? No, I see you've not. PT me and I've got a spare one to start you off.

John

 

I wonder how "battered" is defined since if it is battered, it would still be workable with hammer and some tools. I would consider "mangled" as almost beyond repair. John has brought back a couple of battered boxed stoves to life.