Bought this true a web site in France. Just in the beginning of the covid-19 pandemi. It was sent mars 13. Took around 6 weeks befor I had it at my table. A couple of ours work made it a lot better, and importent, I'l made it work Last photo; how its look when It came in
That stove really cleaned up nicely. I've got one just like it. Mine also came from France but I've never fired it up and I'm not quite sure where it is. It's around here somewhere though. Ben
Hi @Skauvill . Nice restoration and a lovely flame pattern! These Aluminium cased Op.8 stoves all seem to come from France: Optimus 8 in aluminium box Best Regards, Kerophile.
Thanks kerophile! Agree, but I wonder why should the french have those in aluminium? Could it possibly have something to do abouth weight. Aluminium have less weight, but not by much, so.....
Thank you z1ulike! You have to find it, and make it burn! The Optimus 8's are among my favorites! Perfect on singeltrips in the forest! Skauvill
Hi @Skauvill . I do not know why aluminium was used for the cases of some No.8 , but I can speculate: Some of the one-pint British stoves made after WW2 had Aluminium pot legs, which are light and very corrosion resistant. There was lots of Al. available in the UK post-WW 2, whereas steel was required for post-war reconstruction and was strictly rationed. Landrovers had Al. bodies for the same reason. It is likely that steel was rationed all over Europe at this time, whereas Aluminium was in surplus as production of military aircraft ceased, and there was a lot of scrap Al available. Perhaps some of this readily-available Al. was used for cases of post WW2 Op.No.8 stoves. Best Regards, Kerophile.
Thanks @kerophile That is a very reasonable explanation. I'm going with it until someone comes up with something better. Ben
I have two Optimus 8. One like this one in aluminium and one in steel (later model). The one in aluminium weight 527g, the one in steel weight 659. For a backpack stove, I will say that is a big difference.
For 13 years, since I returned to backpacking after a few years at CCS, I've never weighed a stove. We usually bring two; a Svea with Sigg, and a one-pint brass keroburner, usually with tin. Never worried about 132 grams, whatever they are. But there's two of us....sometimes three.
Thanks Mr.Alexxx! ........and again one incoming from France! Could be fun to find an exact answer why, and maybe kerophile are in to something. The 8's in aluminium could wery well been from the first couple of year after the ww2! Sure they are produced inn steel as well, but it could have been a matter of price. But again ; why so many just from France? Some day we will now for sure!
Hello Kerophile! Interesting speculation you brought to the table! I think it are most plausible! It seems from earlier text and pictures in ccs that this was in production from 31 up to 47, so use of aluminium because of the steel situation those first year could be the reason. But still; why do we find most of them just in France, when they are manufactured in Sweden? Some day, we will find the exact answer, I guess.
I'm also puzzled about the "French connection" of these aluminium 8's. I've asked myself if there was a trade restriction into France with heave duty or similar that affected the business of steel cased stoves.
Hello Staffen! I think you might be into something here! All speculations about this alu.box in my tread, are more or less plausible. But "why just for France"? So your speculation could "point out" why we find that many 8's in France Skauvill
I have a possible theory that the aluminum case was for an order for the French military. An aluminum cased Optimus 8 could possibly have slipped into the French 2 piece mess tin. It was shaped like the German M31, but a couple inches bigger, and used a stick holder on the fry pan, instead of a handle lever. The French Army issued haxamine burners that fit inside the canteen carrier, and under the canteen cup and 1-12 Qt canteen [Water Bottle], but something of some heat force would be needed to boil water in the large mess tin billies.
Hi, Strict import restrictions were enforced in many/all European countries for a while after the end of WW2:
