I have an unbranded Swedish single burner range stove. It has a relatively early Primus burner (but I don’t think it’s a Primus stove), and “Made in Sweden” in the cast iron stand. It has an Optimus-like filler cap that has a circle but no other stamping. No other parts are marked. Lux? All advice appreciated. Cheers Tony @optipri @igh371
Hi Tony, it looks like a Lux range, at least it is very similar to this: Lux cast iron range Obviously Bo’s one is branded Lux. Nicola
It could be also an Optimus Gloria 1 1920s Optimus 'GLORIA 1' stove Now the fact is not branded is very interesting, the filler cap has the same style of Optimus and Lux caps, but that one also looks unbranded where the brand should be.
The fact that it’s been found in Australia must give us an indication of the possible producer, I am not aware about any historical information about trades by Optimus and Australian retailers, so possibly unbranded to be branded by someone else in the ‘20 Nicola
Australia was an early importer of Swedish stoves (from 1890 for pressure stoves). We imported all Swedish brands as far as I can tell. Tony
Hi Tony: Optimus/Gloria, I'd suggest. I have a few Lux stoves that were clearly made by the same manufacturers (same filler cap, dimpled spirit cup and angled air release valve), and there's a brand called Prisma that also seems to come from the same factory. The mystery is whether Optimus was simply the parent company that made these various brands, including your "unbranded" version.. Peter
NICE !! and very interesting, As much as I align w/comments re Lux... for this, imo we can maybe limit this to the Optimus Gloria influence (more below). Maybe a copy attempt of the emerging Auto-Gloria model? (or another who copied who?). Aware of convincing attributes I join the OP and Peter that it is an unbranded Swedish range. Myself, I'm no help identifying beyond that to date. With this well presented example, others like it might emerge, we may eventually learn more. I'm not implying Optimus made or arranged it to be made but along with mysterious origin, if it is Optimus... then why unbranded ??? (has this vinatge unbranded Optimus been explained elsewhere, if not i can't envision the "why do it" with this scenario). Main reason I post is NOTE 1: the especially large spirit cup assembly "is different" and may relate to Auto-Gloria influence? I'm pressed for time and may well confuse some folks but there's a lot going on with this convo. The impression I get, the mention of same factory applies to "the works" the mostly brass parts. CAST IRON is in addition to that. Cast iron range frames may have sourced / outsourced and it's probable that one factory/foundry supplied frames for multiple makes/models. FWIW Optimus not content w/cast iron version, 1915 "... at close of present war we intend delivering frames of solid, pressed steel plating." AUTO-LIGHT between 1912 & 1915 Optimus began offering Auto-Gloria (auto-lighting, 1916 gives 1st illustration). Auto-Glorias are still offered into 1924. Re NOTE 1, the OP example has a unique and especially large spirit cup. PRIMING tube present in OP (correct?) and present on all Gloria models and not on Lux. FUEL TUBE, 1915 illustrations show last glimpse of early version Gloria fuel tube (situ: from tank bottom). Lux fuel tube situ: tank bottom. Optimus 1915 ALSO shows (on same page) the later version, fuel tube situ mid height of tank (both function the same). It seems early/earliest Glorias also had fuel tube near base... <-- with that, of NOTE: the pump tube in OP extends outward more, may be to accommodate new fuel inlet tube situ. GLOBE FILLER cap, makes this unbranded example all the more puzzling, Optimus timeline need not apply but re Optimus globe filler cap, we're unaware of it part offered prior to 1921. gotta run
I feel guilty posting more. Sorry. Little is known re early/earliest Gloria or how/if they originated in-house with Optimus?. I don't see "OPTIMUS" on this Gloria example, or am i missing something? Does anyone have detail(s) re markings on the early/earliest Optimus Glorias... (Optimus brass unbranded??? )? One reason Optimus (and the planet) might shy from cast is it is heavy and brittle... It seems an answer (could be impossible to confirm 100%) might involve, looong ago, the frame on OP example was replaced, losing it's name/origin that way?
The more I see of early Optimus products, the more I'm convinced that they made the same products under different brand names. The blank filler cap is an interesting one, but it's clearly from that same factory. Ditto for the tank and frame. Keep persevering in this research - we are closing in on a much better understanding of how this all fits together. P
Thank you all. Two aspects of this stove to note: 1. It has a small bore pump; and 2. There is (as noted above) a feeder pipe for priming spirit that is attached to the cast iron stand. The may have been some form of cup or funnel atop it for ease of delivering the priming spirit. I’ll carefully disassemble this stove during the week and see what secrets it reveals. There are no fractures in the cast iron. Thank you @Rodger Willows who spotted this stove in north east New South Wales (Australia) and drove it to Melbourne. Cheers Tony @abbahco1 @igh371 @Nicola Francesco Elia @OMC
I’ve now disassembled the stove. There’s nothing among the parts to directly identify the manufacturer. The only marked parts, aside from “Made in Sweden” on the cast iron, are the burner (which is a Primus, and therefore not original - and it has a Svea flame ring), and the filler cap which has the shape and dimensions of an Optimus filler cap, but only the circle: This stove’s cap on the left; Optimus cap on the right. Optimus cap on the left. Cheers Tony
As previously discussed with @Tony Press, my best guess for this cast iron table range stove is circa 1915+… “In 1914 A.R. Bildt expanded the business with the acquisition of all stove production, including warehousing, machinery and tooling from competitors AB Lux.” AB Optimus International Gloria No. 1 appears in this catalogue here: https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/1929-optimus-brochure.124/ The AB Lux stove has “LUX” on both alternate sides to “MADE IN SWEDEN” and the Gloria No. 1 has “GLORIA” on both alternate sides. That makes me postulate that this is a “transition” stove as it has features of the “GLORIA” including the “Optimus” filler cap (sans the “Lux” globe) and air bleed screw which is not on the “Lux” as well as the pre-heating spirit-well filler tube coming from the opposite side (which is sadly missing it’s “funnel” component on this example). Did AB LUX and/or OPTIMUS (GLORIA) contract-out their casting? I watching/waiting to hear what the “brains-trust” (of vastly more knowledgeable stovies) come up with!
I know it won’t change the conversation, but for the record, as I’ve been cleaning this stove up, I’ve noted that the flame ring is stamped , “Radius/Sweden”. Cheers Tony
Ignore my last post… Roger Willows put that flame ring on, when he found the stove without one. Cheers Tony
