Due to pure luck I got my hands on a pristine svea 123. I already have a 123R, so I decided to put them side to side: On the 1st image you don't see much difference. For those who look closely, some differences become apparent. Although the engravings on the windshield/pan support remain the same. Odd Svea never added an R to indicate the 123R instead of the 123. Top picture is the 123R The next picture is the true difference between the 123 and the 123R. The burner on the right is the 123, without the cleaning needle. The stem of the valve is angulated downwards. But when Svea decided to incorporate a cleaning needle inside the burner, they had to redesign it. To be able to move the cleaning needle up and down the valve stem has to be at 90 degrees of the needle. Hence the redesign. Also interesting to note is the difference in burner plate that is fixed on the burner, the one on the 123 has 'SVEA MADE IN SWEDEN' and, from what I guess, the part number '9400' stamped on it There is also a small difference on the tank. The tank of the 123R only has the 'screw on' notches where you screw your windscreen/pan support on to the tank. The lower picture is that of the 123. That one has, what I call, 'alignment notches' on them. Fuel cap is also different in shape. 1st picture is 123R 2nd is 123. There is also a difference in the pan handle that is supplied with the 123(R). The top one came with the 123 and is a bit smaller than that came with the 123R. The 123 version, however, does have 'SIEVERT * MADE IN SWEDEN * ' stamped on it. And then there is the difference in keys, left is the 123R and right the 123. Interesting to see how things can change over the years. I'll see if I can get them lit tomorrow. I am wondering though, I suppose the 123 came with a pricker. to bad mine didn't came with one.
Thanks for the comment Jim. You know I got intrigued by it when I put the stoves side by side and noticed all the small differences in the stove, but what I wondered the most is that the most obvious difference is no where to be found on the stove. Not even the text on the tank, which is identical by the way on both stoves, is the indication whether it is an 123 or 123R. One can only tell by checking the burner, if one knows what to look for. I don't know if that question has been raised here before, but I'm curious to know why Svea changed the burner, but never bothered to change the stamping on the tank or on the windshield/pan support. There is enough room for the R. Or do I just have an early model of the 123R that does not have the changes yet and that the R was added later in it's production run? Just wondering.
Nice pair. I have never seen an R engraved on a 123R. Granted, I have not seen that many but they have all been labeled 123. Also, I have never seen a 123R that came with an engraved windshield either, thats a good find.
Hi, Ajvuik, Very nice post, and good comparison! A few comments, if I may? First, I've never seen a 123R with the engraving on the outside of the windscreen. This leads me to believe that yours is actually wearing an older windscreen of the original SVEA 123. Next, the fuel cap on your 123R is also too old for that model, and I'm guessing that it came from an older donor 123. This is really neat, actually, because I'm betting nobody else in the world will have a 123R that is setup the same as is yours!! Cool! 8) I love the difference in the two chains which hold the regulating keys. That older chain on the regular 123 is very hard to find, and I'd love to find a stash of it, someplace. In any case, your two stoves are very nice, and it's good to see the SVEA Brothers playing so well together! Thank you for sharing your stoves, Mate, and enjoy that duo for the great and wonderful stoves that they are! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Reviving an old thread... I've also noticed that the hole in side the inner ring of the windshield is larger in the 123R to accomodate the larger key.
Since this thread has been revived. A few details that I see. This windscreen, on the left, looks to be a 1st version Sievert Svea part. note the pin only used in the 1st version of the stove. So, it, with the engraving seen below, could not be from a 123R. This is a windscreen for a Sievert Svea 123 not an Optimus Svea 123R. The chain is the twisted style, used on the Optimus 123 & 123R. Not the chain used by Sievert on the Svea 123. The bottom pot holder looks to be a handmade item, not a pot holder made for any of the stoves. As to the alignment notches on the tank, there are examples with the notches in the gallery on the 123 & 123R stoves. To conclude it is a trait differing the two ... more needs to be researched on that one. In a brief search of the gallery I found one without the notches. A NOS Sievert Svea 123. But the photos are not entirely clear enough to be certain. An anomaly, or a trick in the photos??? https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/svea-123-new-old-stock.15932/ All in all I really am glad this post was added. It was several years before I found this site. So please forgive my bluntness. I only mean to bring up the true differences to the 2 stove versions. It was added only a couple of months prior to @exeter_yak initiating his research thread (Sept 2009). The history of the 123/123R was in it's beginning stages. I conclude that the 123R, shown here, is a stove put together from parts. Much more research could be done to define the differences. Ken in NC
@snwcmpr you seem to be having problems adding images to your post. If you need help then contact me.
They were then when I posted it. I saw them after I finished. I even edited it once or twice. The images were from the posts above. Not mine. Ken in NC
@shagratork & @snwcmpr I saw them too... Went back to the thread when Trevor posted his comment and they had gone. Cheers Tony
Actually, the images are not really necessary. If you read the text I wrote and look at the photos, it will become clear easily enough. Ken in NC
Hi Ken and Tony It is very strange. In the post all I see is the text and when I look inside the post there are no images and no information concerning images. I will keep an eye out for other occurrences of this.
