Do not know much about this small spirit stove except that it is made in Germany by WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik, probably in the early 1900's. Is there anyone on the forum who knows anything more about it? I would be very grateful for more info.
I don't know much more about it, but that is an absolutely beautiful little stove. I love the turned support columns and the cane wrapped handles. I know WMF has made all manner of high-quality metalware, I have a WMF coffee maker around here somewhere. I wonder if this stove was perhaps part of a larger, very luxurious picnic set or tourist's accessories set. Best Regards Doug
WMF is one of the world-class top manufacturers of kitchenware, in existence for over 150 years. I have two excellent WMF pressure-cookers, and high quality cutlery that I bought recently. Your spirit stove looks like it is made of stainless steel, which became popular for kitchenware only relatively recently (I believe since about 1970). Thus I think it is much more recent than the early 1900's - I would tend to place it somewhere after 1980. If the digits 00 imprinted on the bottom are the year of manufacture, then it would be 2000. Anyway, it is really a beautiful spirit stove. Did you try to fire it? Yonadav BTW, thanks for placing the queen of hearts as a size reference in the photos. Without it I would have thought the stove is much larger.
The material is very soft, and it's easy to get dents in it. (Just as easy to take them out) I think it is some silver coated soft metal. It has not been tested by me, but it works I am sure, as the wick is in great condition. Do not think it has been used much, just occasionally.
The dating clue is in the logo. The running ostrich was used from 1880 to 1925 ( Link to WMF website giving logo history). Terry
I bought one of these. mine is very similar but probably tin with no makers marks. works fine. there is one for sale on e-bay uk. search vintage portable stove depose . this one has a leather case marked J C Vickery of Regent street, London. Vickery sold to English gentry between 1900 and 1920. he was an importer of French and German goods. my Guess is that the stove is German. try google search J C Vickery stove. I hope this helps.
Thanks Captain Galaxy. Very interesting clue in the search for the origin of the little stove. It seems it was originally part of a pick nick kit. The one in the ongoing action looks a lot like mine in construction, but of another brand.
Here is a picture of my stove. note the turned spindles and the similarity to the one ebay. I think the make is the same but yours is an early version. Mine has a removable burner which i can not see on yours. my burner has a wick on its side which when lit boils fuel in the tube and the gas ignites at the top giving the side flames. |imgRemoved|'thumb' |imgRemoved|
I asked WMF about this stove, and this is the reply I received: Dear Mr Combat, thank you very much for your enquiry about one of our products! From the running ostrich we can also only tell that the product must have been produced around 1910. Unfortunately we do not have any further information about it in our archive. Kind regards Carolin Mendel Area Export Manager consumer goods WMF AG Eberhardstraße 73312 Geislingen/Steige Germany Thank you WMF for your help!
Must apologies for the editing in my previous reply. That is the edited version. I think my stove looks like it might be made by Gebruder Bing of Bavaria. This may be a clue as to who actual made these little beauties. mine weighs 8 ounces and is going on a 50 mile hike this summer.
Hi Cap'n G. The pic below shows the logo for Gebrüder Bing Nürnberg (GBN) Spirit stoves like these were made mostly in UK, Germany & France. In the UK they are often seen in leather cases with a retailers stamp (usually London, often Bond St or Picaddilly). Sometimes called 'Officer's Stoves' as they were bought by relatives and sent as gifts to officers in the WW1 trenches. Terry
This WMF beauty arrived to me yesterday together with a SIGG spirit burner - both items bought from a seller who didn't know what it was but when I told him, he told me they had been for a very long time in his old house in Czech republic. Size of the pot is similar to Meta 71 that was made in Basel not very distant from Württemberg were WMF most likely made this set. I don't know the material but I guess it is brass with nickel plate outside and tin inside - quite battered anyways but soot solves in spirit. This old ostrich indicates1880-1910, not later than 1914 - I guesstimate age 1900-1910. This SIGG burner appear to be similar to this post Sigg Meths Panset Pictures robbed from the two auctions - as I have a lot of work to do and got several packs of stove goodies lately there will be some delay in taking my own pictures.