OK, how often do you get hold of a mangled pile of scrap only to start thinking maybe this is too good to break for parts? This definitely isn't all that promising. But then it is a pre-1911 Primus No.1, roughly 1898-1908ish in this case. Surely it needs to be given a chance? One thing, at least there is nothing to lose by trying. So first a bit of chiropractic therapy to the two remaining legs Some hot oil treatment for the NRV A clean out of the burner, and a real treat, a new leather cup for the pump Almost like new now, except for the missing leg and a certain degree of patina. Is it worth investing any more effort? Is there actually a real chance for a successful resuscitation? Only one way to find out, paraffin in, prime and then ... Good grief - there is some life in there! Still on life-support, but worthy of a new leg at least So fashioning a new leg will be tomorrow's job. Just shows, it's always worth a try, just in case ...
@igh371 ’Some hot oil treatment for the NRV’. Was this to release the NRV assembly from the tube, or to free a stuck spring inside the assembly, or .....?
I would make the effort. I got ahold of an old Juwel 21 that I described in an earlier post as "looking like a dirt clod" (so about like yours). It cleaned up very nicely. I think that one was probably stored for a long time in the wet. ....Arch
@Twoberth, re 'hot oil treatment' - light mineral oil, probably better described as decently warm rather than hot, and into an equally warmed up assembly, aimed at freeing and reviving an cork NRV pip. Sometimes lucky sometimes not. It is surprising how many very old cork pips can turn out to be serviceable with gentle freeing, treatment, and in-situ soaking. Rather hoping that luck will hold with this one as the NRV head is one of those fairly early ones that are almost square (5mm x 5mm) - even worse than normal for withstanding much pressure from an extractor tool! Ian
@igh371 From the stoves condition (ugly duckling)I would keep it for spares, seeing the flame shot, changed my mind. In your care, I am confident we will see a Swan. Best Regards. Optimust. .
OK so 'tomorrow' nearly ended up as hard core 'mañana', but here it is at last - the new leg, on the right! And so, now with three legs, we can have a 'tea test' to celebrate: You never know, some 'tarting up' may be indulged in some day too ... @Rangie
@igh371 great job, excellent workmanship on the new leg, now to go the rest of the way and get it ready for the Ball.
A good washing with soap and water, followed by a session with Mother's polish. You can remove as much of the corrosion as you want. Just stop polishing when it gets to a point you like it. ....Arch
Arch that is true, I have seen a few posts now where all the grime has been washed off to reveal a nice patina that is a true record of the life of the stove. Maybe a wash and wax would be in order
You could. My feeling is that rough black corrosion is more a product of long storage in a wet place, than of "good, honest" usage. ....Arch
Yes! grime crud and corrosion are not patina. They are grime crud and corrosion and need to be removed. What is left is good honest usage, ie patina. Wax it, revere it or polish it. Those are your choices
@Geoff Chirnside - agreed! Leaving grime, crud and corrosion untouched is taking a chance that, underneath the said G, C & C there might be all sorts of nasties lurking - as I found on a lacquered brass trombone. A few chips in the lacquer done by the previous owner had led to corrosion getting under the lacquer, and a few years sat in a loft had allowed it to spread sideways like nobody's business. I had to strip all the lacquer off right back to base metal, and as, these days, you can only get effective paint strippers in GB if you're a professional, I had to resort to boiling water, pot scourers, 000 grade wire wool and in places, fingernails! If that 'bone had been left for a few more years, it would have looked like a set of lace curtains. On that tank, I'd have wondered if there was a hairline crack, or even, as I saw on E-bay, a leaking solder joint which had had a dollop of Araldite spread across it . . . Gunner
