Hi folks, It's some time since I last posted but that's life getting in the way of interesting matters such as collecting and restoring classic camping stoves! I still have a decent collection of stoves, lamps and bowl fires with some seeing fairly regular use (especially my Coleman 426E three-burner 'suitcase') but I post today following a chance discovery at a friend's house when he showed me his late father's Optimus 22B. This had me drooling and reignited a passion for classic stoves so I think I'll offer to restore it for him. I commented that I believed the 'B' suffix stood for 'Benzine' as I'm sure I read this long ago when I was restoring my 111B (and that is was highly unwise to use such volatile fuel in it due to the stove's inherently 'fail unsafe' design). However, researching the 22B I now read that the B indicates a roarer version of the silent burner 22 (yet I've been unable to locate an image of a silent 22 so that may well be incorrect). So can someone please give the definitive answer on this then please: does B stand for Benzine or is it just to indicate a model variant? Or does it signify different things between the 111B and 22B? Cheers, John
Hello John In 22B the B stands for bensin, In this stove use only Coleman white gas, Aspen 4 etc. Do not use car gas as this will clog up the burner tubes. There are also additives in car gas that is not good for your health. Bjørn
Howdy, @John Leah , @boknasild is 100% correct. The "B" denotes that the stove is made to run on White Gas, aka Coleman Fuel, or Aspen 4, as has been mentioned. I know that many feel that burning Coleman fuel in a stove that was originally designed to burn kerosene, is dangerous. But, I've done it for many, many years, with NO problems, at all! Of course, you MUST be sure to maintain the stove regularly, and this means, changing out all the gaskets and pips, when needed. When using the Optimus 22B and 111B, I always check the fuel cap gasket, before firing up the stoves. If it shows the least bit of hardness, I change it, as well as the NRV pip, and the fuel cap SRV pip. Coleman fuel is a joy to use, once you get over your fear of it!!!! Have fun fettling your friend's Dad's 22B. GREAT stove, that!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
@John Leah @boknasild The B burners (111B/22B) do not have "burner tubes" like the kerosene versions -- although they look like they might. They operate like the simple white-gas (Coleman fuel) burner-plate roarer burners (Svea123 etc), which is why kerosene will not burn properly in the B. Some of the ads for these stoves mentioned that auto gasoline (petrol, whatever) could be used in the B version, presumably because there are no burner tubes to clog. However, there many other reasons to avoid automobile fuel.
Hi Folks, Thanks for your informative replies, much appreciated. I now understand there is a more fundamental difference in the burner construction between the 111 and 111B and not jet size alone. I assume this difference in burner is the same between the 22 and 22B. In renovating a stove I do as a matter of course replace all seals including the NRV 'pip' but am still wary of using my 111B. I suppose I'm being over cautious as I cheerfully light up my 8R and 426E. Cheers, John
@John Leah , Remember, the 111 wasn't too popular in the US, back in the day, because most Americans preferred Coleman Fuel, and were buying the 111B, instead. The 111B was super popular with canoe campers, wilderness outfitters, NOL's groups, and Boy Scouts, at the time. I've used them for many, many years, and not a single accident! I did learn, however, never to refuel one, close to another one that is still burning merrily!! I got what I would call a "vapor phoom"!! Scared the crap out of me, but no harm done, and lesson learned!! So, use your 111B, and enjoy it, as it's a wonderful stove, with plenty of power, and a very good simmering capability!! Very reliable, too!! Just think of it as an 8R, on steroids!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc (who has a ton of 111B's, and several 22B's, and loves them all!!)
The 8R does have an SRV though, and it’s really close to the burner. I’ve had enough bad experiences with them that I won’t use a fill cap I haven’t replaced the pip on. Nothing ruins a backpacking trip like pulling your stove out and finding fuel dribbling out of a srv. Beats a fireball though.
I can see that this would be vexatious, though I've never seen it in many a year with 123s. Being of a devil-may-care temperament, though, I might go ahead and cook with it with an eye on the dribbling srv, standing well back, of course. But the trip wouldn't be ruined, what with matches and lighters on hand, and wood close by, come what may.
Perhaps “ruin” is too strong a word, but I live and play in Colorado and forest fires are a constant danger. I’m probably more paranoid about it than I should be but I’ve had too many close calls and watched too many friends lose their homes over the years so if there’s a fire ban I comply with it.
I too always comply with fire bans. Hereabouts, fires are banned in the backcountry in the National Parks, but in the Cascades, fires are permitted in National Forest lands up to 4,000 feet elevation. Of course, there may be temporary bans some years at times of high fire danger. We quit backpacking in Mt. Rainier Nat'l Park years ago because of the blanket ban. We usually build a campfire when we hike in the Nat'l Forests. On the other hand, we always use dedicated pre-existing fire rings and such, in established campsites.
The point is, if you see the "candle flame" leak from the SRV, it's probably safe to finish your trip. Keep an eye on things, obviously. You should service the SRV (or replace the cap) at the first opportunity, and certainly before your next trip. ....Arch
