Here's my latest addition. An RM Heathware, kero, 2 pint(?). Don't know age. Got it home for a quick clean up, pumped up easily for a dunk test (no bubbles!). Lit it up with the old fuel and it started right up. My first kerosene stove. Two oddities are the off center burner (it looks bent in one pic) and uneven orangey flame. Not sure it's worth trying to bend the burner straight, especially if the sketchy flame quality is due to "who-knows-how-long" not being used or old fuel. If I do straighten the burner, what's the best way to do it without damage? Also note the red label is applied over an unknown embossed logo. Any guesses why?
Hi Keith, Is it the burner that is bent, or is the riser tube not vertical compared to the tank? That will affect how best to straighten it. The yellow flames could be caused by old fuel, equally they could be from a worn nipple with enlarged jet, or a burner badly coked with carbon deposits.
I realized after posting the photo it was a bad angle. The inner loop of the burner seems to be offset to one side from the outer loop. I think the riser is OK. Regarding that riser, while doing a long burn to try to get through the old fuel, a couple of wisps of flame appeared randomly at the joint between the burner and the riser. They didn't show as bubbles in the dunk test. I'm leery of tightening or twisting off the burner on that tall riser. Any advice?
@Keith Rundquist Hi Keith the embossed logo says SH&S and underneath B This stands for Samuel Heath and Sons Birmingham. They took over RM engineering in about 1950 and once the old stock was used up added Heathware to the RM Decal. So essentially you have a SH&S stove badged for supply to RM customers. To complicate matters further the stoves bear a strong resemblance to Parasene stoves so some badge engineering going on.
Interesting. So it's a Heath manufactured stove sometime after 1950, far enough along to be past the initial old stock RM customer reach and long enough after that to get the "Heathware" on the logo. Thanks.
Hi Keith my advice would be to dispose of the old fuel (barbecue, wick lamp or start the Guy Fawkes bonfire with it and replace the two burner washers (Kit E from the fettlebox). It should undo if warm and you can always pour some boiling water over the joint beforehand. The old washers may well be asbestos so wetting them will prevent dust and fibres flying around. I usually clean up the riser and burner joint surfaces with a vacuum cleaner hose between my knees to suck up any debris. It is possible to make a clamp by taking a small block of wood and drilling a hole of the same size as the riser and then sawing it in half and using a g clamp or vice to grip the riser between the two halves. If it slips add a little fine wet and dry paper between the wood and the riser. I cannot take credit for any of this as these are tips I've picked up since I've been on the forum. Dave.
Keith, you should be just fine unscrewing the burner to replace the heatproof washer either side of the spirit cup, the cause of the wisps when hot. It's best to get them wet first as they are likely to contain asbestos. Heat-resistant burner washers, and fitting them. The burner should bend back straight again with moderate pressure....
I haven't addressed the washers or bent burner yet, but fresh kerosene gave a much cleaner flame and decreased boil time for a quart of water from 10 minutes to 7! Hope this pic shows up.
This is what it was supposed to look like in my previous post. Can I not post pics from Google Photos or am I missing something?
Hi @Keith Rundquist Interesting post. As @Firestarter has explained the part-hidden logo on the tank will be from SH & S and would have likely included the manufacturing date: From this thread: S H & S stove dated 10/62 Best Regards, Kerophile.
@Keith Rundquist Hi Keith the flame is looking better, it is a 2 pint stove and the RM model number would be 31 (a silent burner would be 35 ) Dave
Much more like it- it should manage it in a little bit less even, but various factors (breeze outdoors? Vessel used?) may affect even a perfectly running stove.
