Hi, there was a fairly recent post concerning the double stamping of the date code on Primus stove. I have seen this before, and today found some photos. This particular stove belongs to Doug Weise, but I shipped it to him several years ago as it was listed as "UK Buyers only" by the seller. The stove is a very interesting Primus No.4 probably dating from 1915, although as you can see from the photos, the tank is double stamped D/E, indicating 1914/1915: Best Regards, Kerophile.
As before, my interpretation is that the stove was assembled in 1916, using a pre-stamped bottom from 1915 stock. The decal attached to the tank is unusual. What does it say? Yonadav
Hi George Was someone in the factory daydreaming & picked up the wrong stamp, or was it started on dec 31st 1915 & finished in the new year! regards Stu.
Hi George, it looks like the E is over stamped with the D. It would be easier to confirm this with the stove in hand. My (wild) guess is, a batch of bottoms were made in late 1914 for their 1915 production but used late 1914 (they must have run out of 'ready' 1914 parts) so was over stamped with the D to show the stove was assembled in that year. As I said, a wild guess! Best regards, Wim
Wim, I find this unlikely. At that time people bought stoves for use, not as collectible antiques. One was probably looking for the latest, newest model when buying a stove. That would give the manufacturer incentive to imprint an E over D, and not vice versa. Yonadav
Just as a note of interest: E F BOCKHAM is listed as "Tools & Machinery" at 13 Worthington st. Dover in the 1920 telephone directory. Ancestry.co.uk does not appear to have an earlier phone book with this name. They were still in business in 1933 but had moved around the corner to 2 Queen's Gardens. Regards John
