Found a very clean example of the Primus 8R the other day, complete with instructions. Looks like it might have been used no more than a couple of times. Which brings me to my question: How many years did the Optimus Company produce the Primus version of the 8R? On the upper right-hand corner of the operating instructions is the following: "Bruksanvisning nr 92112". Now this could simply be a number, or it could be read as 11/2/92? Just curious... Don
It should be a part number. Dates in Sweden is written like 921102 or 2/11-92, that is, year, month, day or day, month, year and also with the thousand and hundred (19) written together with the year is very commen. There are some Swedish and International standards that regulate this but often with peoples personal preferences. Never month, day, year as it usual is used in the US. Michael
Hi, we need to get the code-breakers involved! If you look in the “instructions” section of the reference library you can check the markings of some stove manuals. I understand that Bruksanvisning translates as Manual. For example the instructions from a 1963 Op. 8R are marked Bruksanvisning 90. There are instructions from a 1979 Op.8R in the Library but the Bruksanvisning No. cannot be read. I have a set of instructions for a 1974 Op.5R in the Library, which is marked Bruksanvisning 92166 and the Printer’s mark, Marstatryck 74-6456 (From which I probably inferred the stove date!) There are no comparable instructions in the Primus section of Instructions. Another consideration is Company History. Bryan Miller wrote: “In 1976 Optimus dropped the Primus and Svea brand names.” In the Articles on Stove Manufacturers written by Ross (Spiritburner) he wrote: “In 1962 Primus stopped production of all paraffin and petrol stoves and AB Optimus acquired the rights to produce and market the stoves under the Primus trademark from Bahco. Primus the company remained in the Bahco group until 1966 when Primus were merged with Esso company AB Sievert Apparater as Primus-Sievert AB. Primus continued to make LP gas stoves under their own name for the leisure market whilst Optimus sold the traditional paraffin and petrol stovest under the Primus brand (as Primus Trading AB) alongside their own brand until the 1970s when the range was eventually dropped. In the late 1990s Primus started manufacture of non-LP gas stoves again with their Himalaya range of multi-fuel stoves.” So it seem that Primus branded liquid fuel stoves were not produced after about 1976, suggesting that an Instruction date of 1992 is very unlikely, if not impossible. My brain hurts! Best Regards, Kerophile.
Hi, OK I have consulted the Oracle, or rather Trevor's @shagratork excellent Hyperlinked index of Swedish Manufacturers. The Primus version of the Primus No.8R first appears in the 1967 Primus catalogue. It is also listed in the 1969, 1971 and "1970s", documents. There is no further Reference to the Primus 8R nor other Primus classic liquid-fuel models, except for the Pr.96 and Pr.210 which were last listed in the 1975 catalogue. It seems likely that the Optimus.8R was first introduced by Optimus in 1957/58. By the mid-1960s Optimus were offering both Optimus and Primus branded No.8Rs These latest observations suggest that the last Primus 8R stoves were produced in the early 1970s and had been dropped from the product line before 1975. So probably less than a 10 year lifetime as a Primus Model Best Regards, Kerophile.
Think you deserve,a lie down now @kerophile, a wee dram may help. Trying to tie down tight time lines in situations where product decisions and marketing are fluid during the situation at the time isn't going to be an exact science. The demise of Primus as a brand was pretty much inevitable after Optimus aquired the rights, as any brand amalgamation even now would show. That's business. Some.brand loyaltiy perhaps, but in a quickly shrinking market at the time, and camping.stove developments going to gas rather than liquid fuels. A small example of any industrial company even now. That's the industrial interest for me really, not worried if Fred Olssen put together my stove on Wednesday afternoon in August 1943. He had bits in front of him so he could feed his family, it was a factory trying to turn a profit for the owners and they did it the way they had done it for decades until technology caught up with them. No thought to longevity, we're digging about in the rubbish bin of the 19th/20th century. There are still bits out there as this site has brilliantly inspired people to recognise the stuff of legend. Sadly so much is probably being consigned to the great tip in the ground. On a brighter note we probably have some of the best recovery teams in the world.
Many thanks, all, for the brain twisting work in sorting this out for me (I am feeling more than just a twinge of guilt for even asking the question!). My recollection was that the Primus 8r was a relatively short-lived production model, but thought the question was worth asking. It pleases me that there are those of you out there who have taken the time to piece this history together, and especially appreciate the role this site provides as a source of discussion and information. Hats off! Don I noted that there are no examples in the gallery of the 1967 version of this stove with the solid control handle - anyone out there?
Hello Don, "...twinge of guilt.." ? I'm sure I join many that are thankful you posted the question . It's a good question and kerophile has it pretty well covered. Confession ONE: I may have as good an idea as any what a "67 version" might be but not sure I'd venture a guess, exactly. Attaching years to Optimus is challenging, like the exact years of their 1st and last Primus No.8R ? Confession TWO: For years past I had to go to the library to scan instructions and due to operator error even then, I was not able to post some scans . So, if scanning an image is currently a challenge for you, then no problem. That said, if you have Primus No. 8R instructions it would be great to see images posted. This image is from an auction for Primus 8R I did not win. It was complete unfired but minus *box. Above is a glimpse of what may be Primus 8R instructions. -------------------- FWIW I can't recall last year of Optimus 8R but maybe 2002? in any case decades after Primus 8R had ended. Not sure what this is "...solid control handle" (as seen in my image above?). Primus 8R production run included several changes: *different boxes. Case: early embossed "made in Sweden 8R" vs ??? vs later smooth Case label Filler cap: > slotted top, > 2 sides flat (above, penta top), > Hex? (penta top) Knob for valve (the last Primus 8R may have had a key?) thank you, gotta run, can catch up later, omc
My Primus 8R and instructions from 1973 are identical to the photo OMC posted. (See avatar) Clip for wrench fell off though Basil
Just a question for us that are using another language than english. What is the 'solid valve knob' and what is the 'cookie cutter style'? I have these two variants (in addition to the one that also is used with Svea 123R), is anyone of them into one of your category?
The second picture is the style I was asking about. All Primus 8R pictures in the gallery are of the first style (what I call the cookie cutter, or hollowed out design), and I was wondering if anyone had captured an example of the second (solid). Congrats! Hope I am able to find one myself. Don
Hi @taku, I have a relatively early Optimus 8R, I would estimate from the late !950s period. The Optimus 8R was, I believe, introduced in 1957/58. It has a fully embossed case, a slot-style SRV, and a cookie cutter regulator knob (You call this a solid type). There is also a self-adhesive Optimus Globe. Here are a couple of photos: Best Regards, Kerophile.
Here is a very similar Op.8R from @Christer Carlsson : https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/optimus-8r.24559/ Best Regards, Kerophile.
Thanks again to Kerophile. and to you too Don, Aspects of your post have now become more clear to me. OP is good question. Re also your "I noted that there are no examples in the gallery of the 1967 version of this stove with the solid control handle - anyone out there? " The '67 version, now, I presume you're considering the image in 1967 Primus Catalog? (produced by Optimus). Catalogs, certainly Optimus, are notorious for using out dated images. a few things and just opinion, IMO That is an outdated image. Early Primus 8Rs did not have the early knob (solid / cookie cutter). 1st Primus 8R had this knob, from what I gather that knob also seen in my image above with slightly later Primus 8R example. "Primus" was still on the knob c1971 from what I gather (may have ended in '71 or 72? per Basil image, not later than some time in '73, the "Primus" on knob was no more. At some point later Optimus 8R & Primus 8R used same knob (minus "PRIMUS" and Sweden), this one: I ask you trust me, knob above matches knob on box, as I say "PRIMUS" not on knob. Consider Basil's comment above, his avatar also shows us this knob on his Primus 8R and further, he offers his is circa 1973. Recap, I have looked at many, I'm unaware of a cookie cutter w/"PRIMUS" (only "OPTIMUS") and my open question from above remains: "the last Primus 8R may have had a key?" .. or not? I myself have not yet seen "complete" Primus 8R example, with key. This I repeated, as when Optimus begins to use the key may be indicative of year range (another puzzle piece). thx to all omc
@kerophile, @OMC, @afoton It appears that this post uses “cookie cutter” to refer to two different control wheels on the regulator: the older ‘solid’ one; and the newer ‘hollow’ one. Cheers Tony
