I bid on a new, 1960s Ace Picnic Stove from eBay UK (there is/was another one there if you’re interested). I only bid the minimum thinking confidently that I would not win the stove and so wouldn’t have to explain to my wife why I had yet another stove that I didn’t need. Unfortunately / fortunately, no one else bid and it arrived today. I’m really pleased that it came complete with gas cartridge as I bid before I’d researched and found canisters were no longer available. So, the question is, should I fit the cartridge and light it? If I do, then I can enjoy the stove and use it for what it was intended to do...... but when the cartridge runs out it becomes an ornament, and if I don’t use it, then yes I have a stove with a very rare gas can - but so what as it doesn’t actually do anything? I think I know what I’m going to do, but would welcome your thoughts. Sam
Hi samb. A tough one really. In the past with unfired classics I have had advised and unadvised to fire them up. On paraffin and petrol stoves that have not been lit I personally would fire it up and use it for the purpose it was made for. But on this gas stove which itself is quite rare, and in pristine condition with a sealed gas canister, I would myself keep it as unfired.
Hi Sam, John (Presscall) developed a system to refill the cartridges with cheapo butane canisters while the original canister is on the stove. So, it IS possible to keep on using your stove! The can that came with your stove looks like the small Gaz one, so it might be worth the trouble of looking out for a used one to put on the stove (and refill it) and keep yours "for show". Best regards, Wim
Hi Sam I know I am in a minority here To me, if you light the stove it is just another used stove. But if you leave it unfired it is something special. In fact it might be the last unfired stove of that type in the world! Just me, I suppose.
Good to have you back Trevor. Although we love the old brassies I guess we are at that stage where even these old gassies need an advocate to help preserve them as part of our leisure social history.
when it looks like that It should never be used. If it was possible I would swap any 2 gas stoves (even the multi burners)from my collection for it just to keep it pristine but alas I am too far away to achieve this
I'm with Trevor on this subject. Anything I get that's out of production and unfired stays unfired unless specifically bought as a long term user stove (e.g. my Military No.12 was unfired but was bought for use and is one of my regular half dozen or so go to stoves so gets used a couple of times every month). If you bought it to use it, even with the need to refill a cartridge that was designed to be throwaway, then perhaps fair enough. If it was bought as a collectors item, why turn it from something extremely rare into something that's just another used ACE Picnic Stove with a pierced cartridge? End of the day though I don't own the stove so can only speak from my own preferences. I happily share my views, but will not castigate you if you decide to fire it up. Cheers, Graham.
Spiritburner said, It's official then! No, I'd not fire that one up. Plenty of the old Campingaz Bleuets - which the Ace and Unigas are clones of - around if you fancy having a 'user' stove of that format. And yes, the gas carts are refillable in the stove. My Bleuets/Aces/Unigas's aren't just for indoors or the patio - I take one out on hikes just for fun. John
Hug a Gassie week? I had Bleuet propping a door open at my old house but the door here is on a spring & it isn`t heavy enough to hold it open so I have it on the shelf with the brassies & my gassie RM so I guess I'm softening.
I wouldn't go so far as wanting to 'hug a gassie' Ross, but I'm inclined to be a bit more appreciative of their qualities than to use one as a doorstop. Functional and aesthetically pleasing, just like the liquid fuel burners ... John
well ..... I'm not sure what to do now. I understand that the stove must be kept for the future but I don't know if I can come to terms with not using it. How does this make it better? More monetary value - perhaps; rarer - probably; but to me, it's a bit like people who buy a brand new car and keep the plastic seat covers on, or keep the protective plastic on their lap-top screen. For me these things are for using so I just use them and if they get damaged or dirty, then that is part of there history. I think I probably will light it one day - that's the fun of stoves for me, but if I do get an old cartridge to re-fill, I'll probably use that rather than the new one. Sam
Hey, Sam, I'm on Trevor's side on this debate, but if you don't think your stove is worth saving in unfired condition, "just because", then I'd say go ahead and fire it up. If that pleases you, and it sounds like it would, then by all means, do it. I have quite a few stoves which will never see flame, as long as I am their caretaker, and derive tons of pleasure just looking at them and marveling at their intrinsic beauty!! I have plenty of other stoves which can, and will be used as much as I like. Best of both worlds, as it were. Have fun, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
If I have a new stove it gets lit unless I'm thinking I can sell it on in a year or three and make money. All these unlit stoves some here have won't go to some museum when your dead, likely go on ebay or a yard sale so light up in my opinion and you enjoy the stove.
