Optimus 111 Hiker - Up Close and Personal

The Optimus 111 Hiker Triple Fuel Stove, up close and personal. This is a stove that I stumbled upon. A sister of this stove is owned by Parramethtrol.

This stove is what you would call unfired, virgin, NIB, etc. Everything you see below is as received.




Here it is straight out of the box. Everything is there, including the instructions. The burner has the Tester's sticker. Anyone know what they did to 'Test' the stove. I'm sure it wasn't a 24-hour burn in...



The embossed logo, Optimus International...



I thought I would start off with the multi-tool. The end of it is both the jet tool and the fuel control. You'll see it in action in the following pictures...



Here's the other end of the tool, the valve packing nut tool and the indicator of the valve control.



The silent burner. We're all trying to copy this design.



The burner top without the inner and out caps.



The whole burner. Never been kissed...



The spirit cup with wicking material, untouched and unburned.



A look down the burner tube looking at the burner jet or nipple for kerosene, gas, diesel, etc.



Removing the jet with the multi-tool. A little cumbersome with the chain attached. Didn't want to bend the ends to remove it.



All the parts that I dared remove with the multi-tool or bare-fingers. These would be parts that could be serviced or replaced in the field, if you had them...



Closeup of the Non Return Valve (NRV) mechanism. The top of the NRV (left-most piece) with lead washer. The middle piece is the pip and spring, which butts up against the top piece and makes a seal to keep fuel from escaping up into the pump. Finally, the NRV barrel that holds the spring and pip. Sometimes the NRV becomes so seized in the pump tube that the entire tube must be removed from the tank to repair the NRV.



Restrictor tubes for different fuels. I believe the tube on the left is for alcohol air restriction for use with the alcohol jet marked 'A'. The other tube is used for certain fuels that require restriction when using the other jet. See instructions for exact use.



A departure from the usual pump cup design. This is an O-ring design that, in some cases, isn't as efficient as the leather pump cups of the past, but appears to be easier to maintain and maybe even a little cheaper. The dirtiness of the appearance is from the thick grease that was applied to it at the factory.



The pump handle on the other end. Just a pretty sight.



The inside of the outer burner cap. The 'OPTIMUS' stamping can be seen.



The steel inner cap, one of the few pieces of steel in the stove.



The under side of the inner burner cap. An interesting design that has stood the test of time.



A shot overlooking the tank to the burner. All that unpolished, untouched brass. The pot stand rails are also in perfect condition as they know of no flame from underneath!



A view from the control side. What a sight! It's too bad these are not made anymore.



Well, that sums it up. An up close and personal look at the Optimus 111 Hiker, made in Sweden.



sam

 

Beautiful stove Sam. Just wonderful. I hope you never light it but of course the choice is yours.
I have one like this but without the box and a few scratches.

The two different restrictor tubes I believe is for the two kinds of 111T burners.

Thank you for sharing this with us!

Best Regards,
Jeff

 

So when do we see your stove doing the tea-test? It has to be fired once in YOUR lifetime buddy.

Ron

 

Thanks for sharing Sam. great pictures.

 

a fine run of photos,thanks--now i want one

 

Hi Sam, great photo-essay and guide to the Optimus 111T.
Best Regards,
Kerophile.

 

An older stove new in box like this is just too valuable to light. If you want a 111 to use trade this on 3 or 4 good working ones.

 

Very nice!

 

Well done presentation.

 

Pretty much my Holy Grail, too! A thing of beauty
Have you been able to pin a year of manufacture on it?

After seeing yours, I had to ask myself how much cash I would honestly pay for a NIB 111 Hiker......

$400- no regrets. Stone sober.

I wouldn't part with my Ancient and Venerable 111 for controlling shares in Microsoft.

 

Beautiful stove. Can't get better than a brand-spanking new one!

How big is this 111? Any chance you could get the dimensions? I'd like to compare it with the 8R because am choosing on which one to hunt for.

Thanks.

 

Greetings,

I have bought many 111T Hikers over the years, and several of them have been NIB, like Sam's is/was. Great stove, and one of my most favorite!! Guess I should sell a few, as the prices just keep on climbing higher and higher!

As for size, the 111T, and all the 111 Tribe of stoves, is the Big Brother to the little 8R. The 8R, whilst a very nice little stove, is not NEAR as powerful, nor as easy to regulate, as is the 111T, or any of the others in the 111 Family of stoves. Hope that helps. Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

P.S. Sam, did you ever fire that one up, or did you keep it Virginal?!! 8)

 

Sorry to break the news to everyone.

I traded this brand new stove for a gang of other 111s(Ts,Bs, and straight Kero). Just about a whole tribe of 111s. Hated to see it go, but I think it was a pretty good trade. Having a lot more fun with something I can burn than watching the virgin sit on the shelf collecting dust.

I guess I'm more of an enthusiast rather than a collector. Of course, I've collected a multitude more than I've gotten rid of. Poor me...


sam