Optimus 111 embossed, early, with blue cookie cutter

Here is an early 111, probably 1953/54-ish. Except for color on steel case and cookie cutter, it is very similar to this unit: Optimus 111 embossed probably 1953/54-ish.

I thought that I had all color versions of the "newer" type of cookie cutter with sunken lettering in contrasting color (white, green and burgundy red). I have somewhere here on CCS seen a blue version being mentioned, but I had never seen one myself. When this one passed by I just had to get it.

The blue cookie cutter is made of a black material, and then coated in blue color (unlike the other ones).




The time markers are among other things:

• Old style case hinges.
• Old style clip inside case to hold burner in place when stove is folded/closed.
• Maintenance tool with open keys.
• No cut-out for the closure of the case.
• Burner with hexagonal base.
• Burner without hole for pouring down preheating fuel.
• Burner wind shield with scoop opening for pouring preheating fuel.
• Blue cookie cutter handle on control spindle.
• Instructions manual no. 79 that only covers the 111. Later manuals cover both 111 and the 22 double burner range. The 22 was introduced around 1955, and manual no. 79 was then edited to also cover the 22 and the spirit can no. 69.

All in all my guess is that this one is later than the first version (1952) but prior to the launch of the 22 (1955) thus estimating it to 1953/54.

I'ts raining right now, so I'll test it and hopefully post flame shots later.

 

Very nice! I would have noticed the double open ended wrench and the blue adjusting handle. The other differences you mentioned were a real lesson for me.

 

Once again you have found and documented a beautiful 111. Thanks for sharing. Brad

 

Thanks for the very informative post, Staffan.


Cheers

Tony

 

Great post on a lovely stove.
Best Regards,
Kerophile.

 

Nice. I think I have enough 111's. Slowing my collecting way down, just need a couple more 96's.
Duane

 

This blue biscuit should exist between the black and white biscuit They are usually painted with blue paint on the surface of the green biscuits. I suspect that they are customized products by a certain government department.

 

Wow, just wow!

Ben

 

Thanks for nice comments everyone!

Today it was nice outside, time for necessary fettle and burn test. Pump NRV, tank lid packing and burner wear parts needed replacement. So here we go: Flame blue as a cookie cutter!



@anfeng - It looks as if the blue knob is a color coated green knob. It first seemed to be black but it could very well be the dark green one. My wild guess is that it's just an aesthetic thing to better match the blue steel case, but I have no proof of anything.

It seems however that the color scheme with both blue steel case and cookie cutter is quite rare for these early 111's. The light green cases seem to be more common.

 

Thank you Staffan.

Beautiful! (Are you going to buff up the tank?-lol.) I am also admiring your heat-exchanger pot.
The important hints at the bottom of the instruction sheet are very informative for all petrol(gasoline) stoves.
Certainly explains why many generators/vaporizers, etc got clogged up.

Regards, Jaime.

 

Hi @Jaime Massang

Ha ha... I can assure you that the stove came with tank and other parts already buffed up... This unit has passed the hands of a true stove klutz before reaching me. I suspect failed attempts to get it running properly, only badly sooted up and with a spindle twisted beyond recognition. Then someone has used a lot of force to clean it up prior to selling it. If you enlarge the images, you can clearly see plenty of scratch marks from steel wool on both tank, burner and the wrench. Quite brutal treatment...

But I could not resist the blue cookie cutter, just had to get it.