Greetings, All, We've been in and out, working jobs that don't offer us much free time, and I've not been able to visit too often. But, I wanted to share something that happened to me a week, or so ago, while Sweet Bride and I were out and about after our last job. We had nothing in particular in mind, but were just looking around, seeing that was there to be found, and hey, I WASN'T EVEN LOOKING FOR THEM!! But, somehow, two stoves found me, and both were in an area that other Stovies had oft told me was totally picked over, with nothing left to be found!!!! Here's what came to hand, and as written, they were both totally unexpected!! First, tucked away on a shelf, along with lots of other things, an Aida #100, from Germany. This one came with it's instructions, too. Next, in a little sea-side shop, about 10 miles down the road, came a forlorn little Optimus 8R. Some previous owner had bent the fuel tube so that the regulating knob won't fit it. But, I think I can return it to it's original place. If not, then hey, I just happen to have ONE NOS 8R burner left in my parts bin!! So, if the old one doesn't work, I'll replace it with a new one. I've long been a sucker for 8R stoves, even though I probably use the SVEA 123 far more often. The little 8R's continue to call to me, and this one was really tucked-in, behind some books on a shelf. I have no idea why I even looked up to find it, as I had no interest in anything else in that booth. And, just in case it's needed: So, I guess you don't even really have to go looking for stoves!! If you "Hold your mouth right", the stoves will find YOU!!! Back to work, for me. I hope to be able to spend a bit more time here in the coming weeks. I've missed seeing what you all have been doing, and look forward to reading all about it, soon!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Little known fact- Doc Mark hasn't REALLY purchased a stove in about 25 years. He just goes down and rummages around in the Hobbit Hole and brings one up which hasn't seen the light of day in decades and then writes the story! ;-) Just joshing Mark! Nice finds. I couldn't believe I finally found something decent here locally. The real secret? In my humble opinion- the more you are out there wandering around and looking, the more you find them. When I was traveling the front range doing medical transportation, I had layovers that gave me time to look in local thrift shops. I found quite a few stoves in that time. :-) ATB!
I have never found a stove in a charity store ( UK version of a thrift store?). Only at car boot sales and ebay.
Some thrift stores in the US are run by charities, some by churches and others by larger charities like Goodwill and Salvation Army. Others are run by private individuals. Also, we tend to have more yard sales and few car boot sales, at least in my experience. ....Arch
Morning, Guys! Yes, I was once again fortunate to find stoves, even though I really wasn't looking for them. @Matukat, it's great to see you again, Randy! Been a while, for sure. You are right, and I've always said, "the more you hunt, the more you will FIND!" I've proved it, many times over, but in truth, lots of folks want stoves to just magically appear, and do not spend the time and shoe leather it takes to seek out and find them. I've written before about a Pilot from NAS Miramar, North of San Diego, who used to be a member here. He heard that I was going to be in SD for a while, and contacted me to see if we could meet up, and go stove hunting. I took him to "that same old swap meet", where I've found quite literally HUNDREDS of stoves over the years. I don't know what he expected, but I noticed he really wasn't looking very much in each stall we passed. I had told him that we would go through the swap meet twice, just to make sure we found whatever was there, but he was already to give up before we even got through the on the first time through! Finally, on our second pass, he said, "I guess there are no stoves to be found, and no deals, anymore". Almost immediately after he said that, I reached across him and grabbed an Optimus 80 in the tin, with it's key, regulating knob, and an Optimus mini pump and fuel cap!!! The price was $2.00!!!! He was stunned, and wanted me to give him the stove, which I declined to do, as he had done very little to help himself find such things, even when they were right in front of him!!! SHEESH!! However, as we left the swap meet, a fellow from whom I have bought many stoves over the years, saw me, and told me he had some stuff that might be of interest, at his storage facility, which was only a few miles away. We followed him to his place, and he pulled out several things that helped the Fly Boy go home with a good stove deal, one of which was an almost mint Optimus 99, with all the goodies, for, I believe $15. So, all ended well. But, it really drummed home the fact that many will complain about not being able to find stoves, but in point of fact, quite a few of those folks simply don't go out and LOOK for them!! As to the stoves that "found me", the Aida is not unfired, but has not been used very much, for sure. As I do have an unfired Aida, gifted to me by a visitor here at CCS, I will most certainly fettle and use the one I brought home recently! The little 8R happens to be my favorite version of this venerable stove, so even though I have quite a few 8R stoves, I was happy to add this one to the family. I may strip and repaint the case, and of course, either bend the burner back to it's proper place, or swap it out for the NOS burner I had on hand. Randy, your comment about the Hobbit Hole made me laugh, and reminded me of when I first join up here at CCS!! I had packed all my stoves for the move up to the mountains, and had yet to really unpack any of them. Upon joining CCS, I was motivated to open boxes and started "finding" my own stoves once again, and so it all began!! For years, I was "finding" stoves in those boxes that I had absolutely forgotten that I owned!!!!! So, your hilarious comment is not as far off the mark as you might imagine!! Again, good to see you again, and thanks for the laugh!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Doc I totally agree about things being all around you and 'hiding in plain site'. when I taught photography, that was one of the lessons. So many photographs all around you. People would say 'but there nothing to photograph!' Things are a little different in the UK. Charity shops would not sell stoves and they would be scared of being liable if someone hurt themselves. I have had the same situation with old radios. I have seen a few stoves in antique shops but at very inflated prices. Perhaps others n the UK could say what type of place they find 'gems'? I hate using Ebay but for a lot it is my only choice. Car boot sales are not easy for me now on my scooter (they are usually on grass and my scooter is not designed for that so can't really handle it). However I continue to look and hopefully sometime soon I will get 'The Doc sixth sense' lol and they will jump out at me lol. Alan
@salan3 , Alan, I understand your predicament, completely, and empathize with your plight. If you don't mind sharing, what sorts of stoves are you seeking, i.e. make, model, fuel, etc.? Maybe I can help you from over on this side of the Pond. Let me know your druthers, and I'll see what I can do to help. Talk soon, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
My first Optimus was a 45 that I found in a thrift shop for $15.00 and I had a $10 credit! Never used one before so googled it, put in some alcohol and kerosene and it fired right up. That $5 stove has cost me a lot of money since as I felt it was lonely and had to buy a lot more for company. Same thrift shop last year I walked in and there was an 8R new in the box. Box was 95% and I believe it cost me $12. The shop is owned by a hospice foundation and I donate a lot to them because they are a great cause so I perhaps I got some karma credit. I know what Doc means by looking twice because I will often go through an antique shop both directions. You never know. Last month I found an old 8 in a shop on the second pass. The treasure hunt is as much fun as the treasure.
Glad to be able to say hello to you as well Mark! :-) We've lost some friends along the way. :-( Even in the most mundane of U.S. thrift stores (i.e. goodwill and the arc stores) I've found stoves here in Colorado, BUT... you had to go, you had to look, and you had to look twice, and sometimes thrice. THEN.... I screwed up and sold a lot of them! BUT.... I needed to turn them more than I needed to use them. I will most likely use the Punker I just found. I still have the Primus gifted me by Ian and the Trangia gifted me by Bill in the U.K. I need new hips, so backpacking and hiking aren't much on the agenda, but... fishing! ;-) :-)
