Hello, new to this hobby, and the forum. I recently started gathering a few (hurricane)oil lamps, as a back up for possible future power cuts, and for outdoor trips we are planning. I used to live on a boat years ago, and spend much time in a campervan, so living with parafin and oil is not new to me. However, whilst perusing the evilbay for lamps, my eye was drawn by pressure stoves. Seeing as I have the attention span of a butterfly, and can't resist a shiny trinket with practical use, several of these in varying state of repair have found their way to my humble abode. An Optimus No5, nearly complete but in need of a clean and new seals and pump leather, a Monitor 17B needing some work but it's in a tin, an RM travel stove, also in a tin, and my latest buy was a Hipolito No2, which the seller offered an incomplete Valor stove with, for very little extra money. The Hipolito arrived today, and to my surprise, was in decent nick, if in need of a thorough polishing... but as the pump leather was in good nick, and the contraption seemed to pressure up ok, I took it outside, added some paraffin and meths, and et viola, with a little roar she sputtered into life. Even my long suffering better half was impressed. And the RM
Stoves are like people; a shine on the outside is superficial, it's what's on the inside that counts.
As much as I like, and admire, a highly polished piece of brass, for me history, and functionality are the main criteria. I see not much point in having a highly polished piece on the shelf, if it doesn't work. Different matter if you are a collector, or if it's a rare piece to complete a collection, but I quite like a lamp or stove that shows that its had a hard life. I very much doubt that today's camping gas stoves will be around in 50+ years, let alone still work. I'm planning on cleaning up some stoves, and leaving some as I find them. The RM picnic has a tarnished clear coat, with a few spots of the brass showing. As I plan on that being a working stove, to take with us on days out, I think I'll leave it as it is. The Hipolito on the other hand, with its fancy graphics, will be polished up.
My bluet 206 has got to be 46 or 47 years old and works fine and gas stoves and lamps are becoming collectable. In 50 years the supply of brass stoves will have dried up and our descendants will be collecting today’s camping stoves.
