Optimus No. 1 - Flame Spreader, Wind Shield and Legs

Ladies and Gentlemen - I've just joined, and already show myself needy. (Sorry). What a cook world I have fallen into! I have camped all over the world (Himalayas, etc.) and thought I knew something about cool camping gear. Now, at 57, i came into/had my first encounter with an 8r for the first time and when that jet-engine sound took off - wow - I was hooked. I then ran out on ebay and overpaid for 95% of an Optimus No. 1. (This model has removeable legs, and without the crown-shaped fuel tank cap, which is a flat brass cap. Besides the crumbly seals, it is missing the flame spreader, wind shield and 3 legs. (I wonder if it will still burn without the flame-spreader - my 8r will not maintain a flame without its little cross-shaped spreader, but works well with it.) Is there ANY source for any of these 3 items? If I may add another thing - when i took the tank cap off, which was very difficult - i had to heat it up after Kroil failed - it looks like the tank opening is sealed with a thin brass seal! Could it be part of the cap that got left behind? When examining it very closely, it looks like a perfect seal. Anyone else had this experience? Help! (and thank you)

 

Hi and welcome, I’m not an expert but am perplexed by your description of your Optimus 1 which sounds like a rare version as most of these have fixed legs. A picture or 3 would help. As far as I know a no 1did not have a wind shield. large 2 pint size flame rings are readily available (it will run without it for test purposes) I am giving you a link to base-camp who supply many spares and also to an exploded diagram of a late model Op 1. Some stoves have a two part filler cap with a reserve cap on top which sounds like what you have. Hope this all helps you Optimus #1 exploded view
Optimus Spares Price List
@Mcbhaine

 

Here you go - removeable leg stove with "Optimus No. 1" engraved on the top. I now think that one of the removeable caps on the top is to hold a spare cap, so that you can take off the burner and put the cap on it. Could that be it? A blank, or sorts? Thank you for putting me on the company that sells spreaders. british. I'd love to go there and see their shop.

 

Hi @Mcbhaine One photo is hardly enough to recognise the features of your Op.1 tank stove.

Tell me if it look like this one:

Travelling-Optimus No:1 - 1914/18?

Best Regards,
Kerophile.

 

Welcome @Mcbhaine,
signed up less than month ago and know to call pot supports on 3 leggers... LEGS, that's good.
Yours

sweeeet.

It's missing it's legs. yah

What kind of legs did your example have originally is good question.

Are you content with suitable replacement.

Can i ask a couple favors:
Does yours have external NRV?
Can you snap pic of top of burner? if it's not original burner you wouldn't necessarily be seeking out an "as original" flame spreader.

 

Hi thanks for the picture, that is an OLD stove which slightly threw me I will try and find one in the reference gallery and provide a link.So that is a travelling or collapsible model. One of the caps is to blank off the burner when it is removed It looks to be mainly all there although you may have to make your own legs. Other members may have a pattern and there are many threads on this. I will post again when I have found out a little more. I see other more knowledgable members have seen this so over to you OMC and kerophile

 

Wow wow wow. SO I must have a "Traveler." Mine is identical, save the wing at the bottom of the burner, where it connects to the stove. Mine just has a nut there. Please never polish this thing - i lament that i have actually buffed some of the engraving off of some of my hardware. Yours is sharp! And you even have the case.

I don't know how to get access to the NRV, which I need to do since mine leaks. Any recommendations? Did you try a home-made tool?

I take it that you like kerosene burners/lamps/stoves? Me too - should be a lot more of that around than white gas if things ever get dodgy. (and even if they don't, we share this with history!)

Thanks much for clearing up my model, Kerophile. Love to hear how the heck you accessed the NRV.
Mcbhaine
(Don Evans)

 

Firestarter
Thanks so much for generously weighing in. According to Kerophile, this is a "Traveler." The only difference is that his has rounded "wings" at the bottom of his burner, and mine doesn't. (Mine has a brass nut.) Love to know how to make my own legs. Many tent-stakes work passably, but aren't QUITE the diameter of the legs, so rattle around a bit, and don't have QUITE the surface area. Do you know if anyone on here has the specs for the NRV removal tool? Appears to just be a slot in the end of a rod, but specs would assure no damage to the brass. I love this blog!
McBhaine

 

Sure thing, and thanks for the reply. I think I may try to scare up some "00" legs which appear to be similar. Would love to just bend some steel, if I know the exact OD. I will snap some pics of the burner when I get home. It is pretty beaten up. I do not understand the internal-external NRV issue. I assume, but do not know, that it is at the bottom of the pump tube. Would that be a good assumption? I see no valves of any kind on the outside of the stove. maybe I have your question all wrong? - McBhaine

 

@Mcbhaine Firstly don’t rush, your stove is probably over 100 years old and if you break/damage something replacements are not available. Older stoves had external NRV’s accessible under a cover on the outside of the tank. @kerophile struggled to access his and get it working if you read how he fixed his and he is the ‘guru’ when it comes to fettling stoves I see he soaked it in penetrating oil for 36 hrs before starting . 00 legs will not fit and will be too short, again see the legs on his stove. You can make your own Nrv tool or buy one. The search function at the top right of the page will find threads relating to this. If directing a question to a specific member put @ followed by the members name a dropdown box may appear with suggestions otherwise it gets confusing. Lastly that is a rare stove so you may not have overpaid after all.
Best wishes
Dave

 

@Mcbhaine l had asked
"Does yours have external NRV?"

Re kerophile's No.1


you mentioned: "Mine is identical, save the wing at the bottom of the burner, where it connects to the stove. Mine just has a nut there."
I have circled the external NRV that i was asking about (if yours has one).
-----------------

sorry but btw as i look at his filler cap it does not look like they are a match (maybe, back to the gallery).
External NRV, version of filler cap, winged rizer etc. are all clues to narrow down the year range.

 

@Mcbhaine Stove Handy Hints

 

@OMC - ok, mine does NOT have an external NRV. A few more photos here. I obviously need to find a flame spreader. Rigged some copper tape just to see if stove worked.

 

It's not required to make the stove work, just to direct the heat efficiently. Inefficient is fine for testing.

So... it looks like it is at least firing up?

 

@Mcbhaine i want to say again you're doing good for being a fairly recent arrival.
right out of the shoot you also mentioned "...without the crown-shaped fuel tank cap"

considering this model i am guessing you are referring to what myself and others would refer to as without "globe filler cap"

this is a key detail.

I've been reviewing these in the gallery. I'm not sure I'm right but if i am...
originally, yours had
the winged rizer and
early type legs.
if that were the case I think it's a match to Ross's Travelling-Optimus No:1 c1921
It just so happens the prev owner of his made a leg for it.

Here's a crude drawing of an early leg for Travelling 1


and if all goes well,
B. the top of leg/pot support is 25mm above top of burner.

B measurement could come in handy if replacement rizer throws off the height a tad. Shoot for 25mm above the top of burner.
hope that helps.

BTW in 2011 Ross was thinking c1921, sounds good.
No one's asking me and I'm not sure I'm right on this either but "c1921": if i think year range, initial thought on it 1916-1923. Vaguely recalling internal NRV came-in 1915/16, globe filler cap by 1924. Corrections encouraged.
It's a nice stove.

 

@Mcbhaine Nice looking Optimus No 1 traveler As far as making legs, these are not as difficult to reproduce as other legs with additional bends.

I purchased a No 1 that was missing an original leg, seen below form the ad.

I made a simple jig to reproduce the missing leg utilising an existing leg for dimensions. I brazed on a hex nut and took a file to the nut, to round out the hex flats.

 

@Scrambler - yes, it fires up. Not a very big flame. Do I need a pricker?

 

@OMC - you should consider changing your handle to OMG. DUDE MADE A JIG FOR THE LEGS!! I am truly in the presence of stove nerds, which is highly enjoyable. I wonder if anyone knows the diameter of the legs? Maybe I can scare one up and find a caliper. Not sure how I'd fashion the little protrusion which prevents the leg from sliding too far into the female fitting on the side. Thanks so much for this great intel. Now I've got to eternally, probably fruitlessly, scour the internet, like Marley's ghost, looking for the little winged riser and the winged tank cap. The style of these people at Optimus circa 1920 - wow.

 

@Etherman - okay, i see it was you who made the jig and leg. Good show!!! I might ask you - what kind of rod did you use, and what was the diameter of the rod blank? Thanks much. (Btw, I paid $35 for this stove, and have already paid some $50 in replacement parts, with more to come.

 

@Mcbhaine hi I believe your tank cap is correct the winged one is later . Etherman made the protrusions by brazing on a nut and grinding it down I would guess the legs to be 6 mm rod but ask one of the owners to measure it for you
Best wishes
Dave