I thought that I better put this item on the website before I got rid of it The label is still complete It reads:- The left tank lid was the original tank lid that came with the pump. This knurling was in use in the 1970s which suggests the pumps originated then. The right tank lid knurling was in use by 1980 but I am not certain when it was introduced. I had thought that the pumps came from Sweden but the label seems to suggest that they were made in America although it is possible that they were also made in Sweden Regards Bryan
Sorry Nick is right. I sold 2 on ebay last night. One went to Denmark and the other went to Japan However I am currently selling a pump rod conversion for 111Ts which seems to be asked for a lot http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=300328806139 Regards Bryan
Hi, It is always nice to see my friend, Bryan, do well with his auctions...... but am I missing something ? Base Camp is listing NEW Optimus #2911, Midi Pump and Cap for GBP 31: http://www.base-camp.co.uk/Optimus.html Best Regards, Kerophile.
Hi George It was just ebay being ebay. There is no logic in it. I assume that people must not be aware of base camp. However some auctions also go the other way and stuff goes surprisingly cheaply Regards Bryan
Hi One of the buyers of the mini pump tank lids said that he had bought a stove and mini pump in 1975 and both had the diamond knurling on the lid. It appears that the vertical knurling started after that. In 1976 Optimus stopped making Primus stoves and Svea stoves other than the 123. It is possible that the change of knurling happened when the stove production was rationalized at that time. Whilst I say that the production of the Primus and Svea stoves stopped in 1976 it would be more accurate to say that the last Primus catalogue was produced for 1976. One of the reasons that the mini pump might have brought a high price is that the tank lid had diamond knurling so anyone with a matching stove may have wanted a tank lid to match the original so that everything came from the same period. Regards Bryan
I have added an example of a slightly different pump style. Given that it has a "patent applied for" I am assuming it is an earlier varient. My pump has a narrow front piece where the o-ring is housed rather than the more robust blunt end that seems to be the standard configuration as shown above by kaw550red. The front piece of my pump is ‘delicate’ and appears to be machined aluminum with no wrench flats….whereas the more usual pump has a blunt ‘cast’ aluminum piece with wrench flats. I am guessing that my version is an earlier one, but have no idea if that is true. I have read through many of the threads here with pumps in them and have not yet seen one to match mine. So here is what I have. The whole thing from the front: With the front piece unscrewed to reveal the piston and the o-ring housing. The label text reads: Text on the worn label... Optimus Mini Pump Caution For Optimus Svea Stove Only Pre-heat Stove Normally Over Pressure May Cause Surging Flame pat applied for AB Optimus Inc Santa Fe Springs CA 90670
