I recently acquired two stoves and have some questions I hope someone in the group can answer. First, I have an Optimus 99 that seems to differ from others I have seen. The Plate that shields the tank is made from a simple piece of aluminum that is anchored back to where the pot supports are located. It came with no wind shield. Can someone give me an idea of age and whether on not there are missing parts? I also have a relatively late model Primus 71. It has no lettering on the bottom of the tank. My guess it is from the 1960's, but I was wondering if there is any way to determine its age definitively? Any help you can give would be appreciated.
Hiya Fuelish, Nice finds!!! That is an early Optimus 99. Check out this 1976 Optimus Catalogue (Page 3 picture two.) It is missing the windscreen and mini pump. You have the pump cap to go with the mini pump though. You have the right strap from what can tell. The windscreen can be found on ebay at the moment. About the Primus 71. Have you checked the collar around the priming dish? There are normally numbers there. Might be hidden by gunk/soot. Cheers, Jeff
Thanks for the lead on the windscreen, Jeff. I went ahead and bought it. Will dig thru the gunk tomorro!
I think the 99 might have come with a mini pot grabber. They look useless, but I found they actually work pretty well.
I will have to look for a grabber too, then. Cleaned off the 71 a little this AM and it has the #200862, so it was made in 1962. Now it is off to the spa for both of them. I will post pics upon their return!
I've always been a fan of the 71's, I have an L and a K(E?) and have sold/swapped a bunch of 71/80's over the years. The L's can be tippy but have good horsepower and they are easy to pack.
Well, here are some pictures of the stoves after their visit to the spa... First the Primus 71, fierce little burner she is! Here is the Optimus 99... And here she is lit... After reviewing the '76 Optimus catalog, I am of the opinion that this stove did not come with a mini pump. The cap currently on the stove must have been a replacement (fortunately I have a mini pump). I will be on the lookout for a small gripper and an appropriate tank cap to complete the set. Great little stoves, both of them!
That think looks good, nice Gary got the plumbing fixed that the factory screwed up. I think the 8 and 8R's are enough for me without picking up any 99's. Fingers crossed. Duane
Good to hear from you! Actually, the stove that Gary (Bernie Dawg) did his magic on was an Optimus 199. It was astonishing, how he was able to repair it at all, let alone under the primitive OSG campout conditions. He really has the touch. This little gem, I was lucky enough to acquire a couple of weeks ago locally. It cleaned up very nicely, I think. Keep your eyes open though, they pop up every once in a while at reasonable prices (not on Ebay tho!).
My error. I don't see them at too good of a price on Evibay that's for sure. I have enough of those small stoves. I got to use my old Coleman 9C a couple weeks ago, got it figured out now, just needs lots of pumps on that big tank. One of my old P&W's needs the tank taken apart and the tiny holes fixed along the seam, not one like it in the reference gallery. Looking for a 41 is all now, just picked up another Optimus 2 burner for too much last week. Duane
I like the windscreen on them Fuelish. That is sorta the reason I picked up a 43, it had the angled spindle instead of the run-of-the mill straight out the side. I'll have to take it out on a backpacking trip, neat to use the old stoves in the real world. Duane
