What year did Max Sievert start selling the 123? Wikipedia says 1955. Is that correct? How many years did they put the brass pin on the windscreen to hold the key upright? How many years did the fuel caps have the flat top with smooth round hole over the nrv? I'm trying to date my latest find. Thank you.
Thank you as that is very informative. This first year type one Sievert with the older short key attached to the windshield that I found appears to have been made in 1955 now that I see the code on the tattered old box. I forgot to ask when did they stop attaching the chain to the windshield? I wonder why they stopped putting the brass pin on the windshield as that is a nifty spot for it?
I believe in '58 they used a longer key and added the hole instead of the pin. Some debate that the chain was not attached to the windscreen, others say it was. I like it attached as it is easier to remove the windscreen and add fuel.
olive, Congrats on the score. re your: "This first year type one Sievert with the older short key attached to the windshield that I found appears to have been made in 1955 now that I see the code on the tattered old box." code on the box like this code which happens to be 551155. 1V . 52 Is that the code you're referring to? If you don't mind me asking, what the code on your box? or could you possibly post a pic of box showing#? or maybe not (we've not seen pics yet), that's ok too. thanks for posting, omc
Omc, I do not have a smartphone or digital camera, nor do I know how to even post a photo. I use the library computer. I'll have to double check, but as I recall the code was similar to your six digit number plus a roman numeral like IV & 54 as I recall? I'll verify tonight and let you know when I get to the library tomorrow. The box is in rough shape and the print is pretty small. Would that mean it was made in 1955? I'm fairly certain there is also a 54 at the end.
thank you olive, re your "I do not have a smartphone or digital camera, nor do I know how to even post a photo. I use the library computer." No problem. It was not so long ago I was very limited re posting images, so I can relate. No problem and no hurry at all. As to when yours was made or What year did Max Sievert start selling the 123: For myself I've been inclined to think pre 1954, even when I read "preliminary research" link above for 1st time. I would add that research on early Sieverts is ongoing. Also that I'm unaware of any earlier than Dutch Mike's NOS Where you see, as mentioned, key attached to w/s. You might also note the box (vs yours) and earlier key, earlier filler cap (look closely), his valve position is not aligned w/"1". -------------------- Yours, it seems, has it's tattered original box fantastic. No instructions stuck in the bottom? FWIW there's a code on early instructions also ie 52092 . V . 51 thanks again, no hurry, omc
omc, The code is the same as your example and the photo above. I noticed this particular oldie has the valve spindle pointing to the "1". I read on some of the past threads here that folks are saying the spindle points to the right of the fuel cap. I unscrewed the vaporizer and checked the threads over and there is no damage. When threading it back on it stops dead hard on the "1". Do all the first gen. Sieverts have spindles pointing to the right of the cap or do they vary? I have a 1966 Max Sievert 123 and that one points to the "1" as well.
thanks Darrel, we share an interest in emerging details. olive, THANK YOU and answer whenever, at your convenience, no hurry. Input is well received, re The code is the same as your example and the photo above. i'm patient and remain curious: so, two exampes above are 51155 1V 51 & 551155. 1V . 52 Yours.... does it end with . 54 as you mentioned or...? (you've mentioned it's tattered, the whole number may not be there?). -------------------- Valve position: Consistent I'd say, the earlier/earliest we've seen are to right of the cap. Soon after they made a change but all those that follow, also consistently align with the 1. I'll add that I find production runs of Sievert, Primus & Radius products exhibit consistent products adhering to the highest quality standards. Same might be said for pre-c1972 Optimus. thx omc
omc, the same as the photo above, ending in 51. So would the 51155 mean May 11 1955? What does the IV and 51 mean? It came with the Sievert market pot handle and Sievert marked jet pricker as well.
hello again olive, thank you. an on-topic comment has been shared that I agree with: "It has long been thought that the coding at the bottom left of the Svea documents have included the year as the last two digits" So if anything, "maybe" 1951 is a year Sievert (or the printer) chose to attach to your box label. 51155 1V 51 . For now I suggest do not rely on this for dating a stove (it's premature and likely a flawed method imo)although it is certainly noteworthy. For sake of accuracy my answer re hard dates remains "...research on early Sievert 123s is ongoing". thx again omc
@olive To answer the question you asked above: “So would the 51155 mean May 11 1955”? the answer is no (if you can follow OMC’s thinking). Because the code “51155” is consistent over a range of variations, it appears to not represent the date of the stove. What is suggested is that the final two numbers of the complete sequence, that OMC puts in bold type, could be the date associated with the stove. Cheers Tony
So if it's certain the valve spindle always point to the right of the earliest Sievert/Sveas would that mean maybe the tank is not the original one on my 1955 unit being that the spindle points to the "1"? The threads on the tank and vaporizer look perfectly fine and not over torqued. Is there a good way to determine the difference in the earliest tanks from later ? Thanks again
olive, We're all at a disadvantage w/o seeing images of your stove w/*box. You may be getting 1955 details elsewhere (maybe private messages). In spite of my pre1954 comments above (which Tony clarified). Sorry for repeating myself: "...I've been inclined to think pre 1954, even when I read "preliminary research" link above for 1st time." [many years ago]. Yes: Doug's excellent 2009 post shows 123s in a suggested chronological order. The SECOND example is associated with 1954. It is reasonable to think, given the context, that the FIRST example pre-dates the second and btw it is in a different *box (he too had the box no instructions?, like you, like dutch mike, like me). Doug's "stoves"... 1st & 2nd example match (you're telling us yours is a match EXCEPT valve aligns w/"1". so you checked & double checked earliest filler cap?). It turns out there are several *boxes among early examples, eventually seeing your *box (and stove) would be good. Many members since 2009 have referred to 1954 as earliest Sievert date. The 1954 dating was presumed, considering the [date] code on instructions ie 52092 . V . 54 . SINCE THEN I've shared, for consideration, that an earliest NOS Sievert Svea 123 did not have instructions. I've also posted instructions w/codes: 52092 . V . 51 and 52092 . V . 52. The labels w/similar .51 codes are being considered (must credit kerophile for this... in 2009!). Fair to mention/consider and credit Arch for sharing very compelling input re US Sievert Svea 123s: from REI: 50 Years of Climbing Together page 78 "There should have been trumpets and drums in 1955 to herald the arrival of the Svea 123…" which is one source, in 1988, the author's recollection for the year it became available (on west coast US). Noteworthy, imo, it's probable that Dutch Mike's NOS stove is a match to the earliest known examples. Yours is early, may turn out to be pre54. I close repeating my …"research on early Sieverts is ongoing". thx omc PS meanwhile much is tossed out here and would be premature to sign-on to, imo: "...first year type one Sievert…", "... my 1955 unit..." "...V1 Sievert SVEA 123 …" "...a V2, or V3 model, and probably late 1950’s to early 1960’s..." , "...this is a 1st version so the date is 1955-1958..." but I digress tag @ArchMc @kerophile @olive
I think I can add to this conversation. Pretty sure "olive" purchased his stove from me and I have photos. See the box photo above - it was posted before, in the 2017 thread on the subject. A couple of more photos:
Ski Hut was an important U.S. west coast mountain equipment retailer in the middle of the last century and I found their 1952 catalog. Here is the link to the pdf of the catalog: Ski Hut Catalog Summer 1952 | OutInUnder - Slow Social Media Page 11 lists a Svea gasoline stove, and there a line drawing of a Svea stove and Sigg cook kit. It also has a line drawing that looks like a 123 to me. (Sorry, I don't know how to pull it off the pdf and bring it into this site.) The bottom line for me is that there were Svea 123 stoves available in the U.S. in 1952.
Here is a page from the 1953 Ski Hut catalog. Ski Hut was located in Berkeley, California. These two images were pulled from 1953 Ski Hut Catalog. - Darrel
@DAC Great information! Here’s a screen shot of the page from the 1952 “Ski Hut Catalogue”. I note, too, that in your photos above, the spindle points to the right of the filler cap, not the “1”. Cheers Tony
