Hello all... a store in my neighborhood says they have a Svea 123 in inventory, brand new. Is there a new 123 or have they been making the same good old stove forever? Thanks.
It's not that long since they stopped making them so it is probably New Old Stock. There must be quite a few lurking in campshop storerooms across the globe.
Ahh the 123. Don't have one. But there is the 123 and the 123r The R has the cleaning jet in it. They have been made for 50 years or so I believe. The newer ones are the 123R but there are a lot of fans that like the 123 because they recon' it burns hotter. Better made and maybe more sexy to look at. They will be along in droves soon to rattle your brain. One of there favorite topics. Do a search with svea 123 and start to read.
Hello, The 123 has been made for a long time. There are still stores carrying the stock. So if you want one now is the time to get it. Chuck
Hat, If they have more than one and the price is fair I am sure there are others among us, me too, that would beg you to pick us up one. Just make sure it is the 123 and not the 123R. Nice to have you here. Hope you frequent often. Evil
I went to the store in question... the stove they have is the 123R. It looks good to me, does anyone have advice as to whether or not I should buy one? Thanks. PS, they're $90 US, and this store has quite a few of them.
That's a good price, buy one (more if you can afford it). They are such a nice stove, and practical to use, plus thrifty on fuel; also very easy to maintain.
Yep, what Rik said, I know a lot of us prefer the 123 (not R), But in my view the R is better in that the jet cleaner pushes the crap outwards, can't see the point of shoving it back in.
I would say buy one. They are good, reliable stoves. I'd be very surprised if you found a new 123 (not R). Yeah, I'm one of those who prefer the older 123, but the 123R is still a great piece of kit. ....Arch
Those of us grumpy old curmedgeons who actually do know the difference between bullsh*t and biltong tend to prefer the 123 Not R. It's my finely tuned opinion that the marketing geniuses (geniui ?) at Optimus-Svea-Brunton-Whatever AB simply overrode the experience and wisdom of the people who actually knew which end goes up and shoved through the "ALL NEW IMPROVED" version of a stove with over 50 years of uninterrupted success. In Re: that cottin' pickin' flatraddle partigum flewgadget "Automatic" cleaning needle. I suppose it's too much to ask that all those involved in the debacle be flogged, tarred, feathered, and ridden out of town on a rail? If so, I suppose that burying their mangy carcasses face down in a cross road is out of order as well. Have I mentioned recently that I think the internal cleaning needle is a perfect example of improving a product to the point of degrading its utility? Well, it is. Gilding the lily, you might call it. Crabby ol' Gerry
In itself the integral cleaning needle is an admirable idea but the way its installation has been executed puts so much extra metal into the burner that it seems to take forever to get up to a good operating temp. compared with its predecessor. If Optimus had looked around, perhaps they might have come up with a better system (eg, crank(Coleman) or cam (Tilley)) which achieved the same result with less bulk.
Okay, I went back and bought a 123R. I've never had a 123 to compare it against, so this seems like a great little stove to me. It burns plenty hot, boils water quickly. One question: what's the preheat method of collective choice, preheat paste or stove fuel?
I don't think there is one. Try the different priming methods and at the end of the day use the one you are most comfortable with. I prefer own fuel priming.
There is no collective choice around here. but I like to hold my Zippo under the tank and heat it for a couple of seconds and then open the valve and fill the priming cup with gas. Then light the priming charge. Sometimes I can time everything just right and light the stove just as the priming flame is going out.
I just use a small eye dropper. There is a round hole in the burner cage that is made for an eye dropper. I unscrew the fuel cap, pull a little of the Coleman fuel into the eye dropper, and then fill the indentation where the stem meets the fuel tank. Replace fuel cap, and then light the coleman fuel. Just as the last little fuel is burning out, I then turn the key to the left and light the burner. After a few minutes my SVEA123 is running like a champ!! Good luck, Andrew Large
Well ... here's what " I " do . I take the stove, open the valve and warm the fount in my hands till the fuel starts to flow through the jet I then light the fuel which in turn pressures the stove and all is good with the world voila
Stove fuel. I always carried a 1/2 liter flask of fuel so I could top up my 123 EVERY time I lit it. After topping up, it's a flick of the wrist to splash a half teaspoon or so of fuel into the priming dent. I always topped it up after allowing it to burn dry one time and charring the wick. At the time REI would rebuild a 123 , Primus 71, Optimus 80 or any of the other gasoline stoves using the same burner bell for $5.00. As a new 123 was $9.00 that's what I did. I never risked running my stove out of fuel again. Gerry
Strangely enough, I've taken to using denatured alcohol for priming my 123, BUT, use own fuel, encouraged through the jet from the heat of my hands, on my Optimus 80. Maybe it's because the 80 has a non functioning spindle and is currently still in fettling mode ? However, I susupect I find the dimensions of the tank on the 80 to be more pleasing on the eye and in the hand! Actually, think they are both wonderful little stoves. Andrew, That round hole you use for your eyedropper, I store the spindle key there, and the pot lifter in the wider slot. Horses for courses I guess. Hatrabbit, Whatever you find best suits your needs is the right way to do it ! Enjoy the Flame Spudz
I ike to think the round hole is meant to keep the key in, the two slots for panhandle and pricker respectively (123 less R, of course)
