So I have 2 Svea 123's (one with a Sigg Tourist set), an Optimus 8R, Primus 71, Roberts military stove, and my childhood Gerry Mini butane stove. As a low budget collector located in the USA, what are some other stoves I should be on the lookout for? I am less interested in the propane/butane stoves, and in the Coleman multiburner stoves (I have had a number of these through the years for camping), primarily interested in vintage white gas/kerosene/unleaded gasoline single burner stoves. Thanks for any & all suggestions.
Get what you like or find neat/interesting. Hit yard sales if you are low budget. Make sure any single burner Coleman stoves are in working order as many no longer have parts available. Duane
Unless there is something particular you want to collect just grab every stove that you see and can afford. I started out trying to catch a stove of every basic configuration. ie 123 type tall box self pressurising, flat self pressurising small discus large discus (silent and loud) petrol 2 burner kero 2 burner meths coleman style and a few modern types. I have about 40 stoves including one solar stove
I’ve got two of the more popular style of kero stoves, Primus 96 and Optimus 00, and the “Famous Five” style white gas stoves: Svea 123R, Primus 71 and 8R, and Optimus 99 and 111B.
Or do something different, and collect a whole assortment of post-war British paraffin stoves... they're peanuts here, still going for scrap... Even with delivery to the US they won't break the bank. .....Trying my hardest to popularise those poor unsung heros, Parasene/Monitor/Burmos/RM/Veritas/Valor/Buflam/SH&S etc....
Get to know stoves you might want to obtain and be sure they are complete as parts may involve finding another one. Check the SRG for examples. Duane
Do yourself a favor and don't start collecting. My children are going to hate me for leaving them my extensive stash of stoves. Ben
Any Coleman Peak 1 size/style stoves with or without legs are great. Older the better in my book and in good WORKING condition for suitcase stoves and lanterns. You will never find yourself saying I wish that 243, 425NL or 502 did not look so nice. They don't run any better, but they sure look nice. Try to get in a habit of using them on a weekly basic at least. Not much good collecting dust.
Mine likewise but, unlike Ben, I don't have to make sure that they know the value of what I've got. I don't have too many and non of them are rarities. Regards John
Thanks for the suggestions so far. I'm not having much luck finding stuff locally so far. "Or do something different, and collect a whole assortment of post-war British paraffin stoves..." @Blackdog where are they cheap that the seller is willing & able to ship to the USA?
Ben's comment imo applies to before it gets *too big , stop acquiring more, *this is decision for up each of us at some point but imo by the time you get to 50+ would surely be decision time. Keeping it manageable for yourself (or for survivors IS excellent advice). I would suggest consider storage seriously. 1 stove fuel of WG is a hazard a shelf full of full tanks is bigger hazard. Start early, inventory/tag ea. one on paper & electronic (something i'm playin catchup with). My incoming finally slowed to very little. Way too many stoves, it was out of control (so it is out of control just not getting bigger). For years I would buy another with the caveat (to myself, get this 1 and sell-off several similar). <-- that, so far, is a total fail. WG one burners As Daryl mentioned above "the older the better" i agree with "*". I will have 1 (it's fine) then find it's predecessor and gotta have that. *It is a nearly never ending cycle.. I am cursed i tell ya!! He suggests 502... definitely (and older the better, why not). I had to have it's predecessor (500) only due to my curse. You have an 8R . You can skip the 99 imo. On low budget forget an 8. You have Primus 71 good, i hope is genuine Primus (pre-63). Maybe skip Optimus 80 unless you luck into a rare early one. A 508 will get you Coleman's best 1 burner (the burner, "the hot setup") <-- that "could" represent that entire group and skip all others w/same 2 lever **burner and the 1 lever next version (2 lever: 400, 505. 576... 1 lever 400B, 440, 442, 533... sacrilege (esp from me) but in hindsight i could skip all those (and their successors for sure) and opt for one or 2 508s. NONE of those models i listed are especially good re lightweight/hiking/pack stove. **2 lever ver are GREAT but gens are currently problematic (this may get solved by collectors, i hold out hope). I put 550B as good one to have although they're not as robust/sturdy as most. For "collection" you could maybe pick ONE US military pocket stove (older the better) to represent those, a tough decision > one, IMO < . and myself I could have skipped the civilian 530. An MSR XGK <-- this I would say pre-shaker jet but you might ask membership what to look for. [fwiw i would not entirely rule out an EARLY propane 1 burner] there's a start and waaaay TMI (sorry) and i gotta run. keep it manageable, good luck.
@Ziradog Better lock up your savings - and always keep a light on those stoves - Many in here will confess, that these will multiply in the dark, or if left unattended ;-) Joke aside - Trying to follow your collection - I’d recommend these: Optimus 111/Kero: Powerful, robust and one of the “classics” (to me at least). Optimus 00 or Primus 210 or Radius 21 (all Kero) or their British siblings as mentioned by @Blackdog. These are small classics, which has proved themselves over decades in all types of terrain, temperatures and heights. Primus (Optimus) 96 (Kero) Nice little easy-going classic with a lot of charm. Coleman 530/M520 (Coleman Fuel) True American classics which can be heard. Powerfull and reliable with parts still available. Coleman M1950 (Coleman Fuel) True US Army stove which came out in 1950 and was made for decades by several companies. Coleman 502 (Coleman Fuel) Not the most powerfull - but a treat to rest your eyes on - and a great stove for slow/simmering food. As mentioned by @OMC - The MSR Bottlefed stoves are also to consider. Especially the older ones, but make sure to get one of the newer pumps, as the older ones can turn brittle over the years. and… and…(now I’ll pause ) There are a lot of information in here on the mentioned stoves, which should be in an affordable range (better buy a few which you actually like - than just hoarding for the numbers) There are a lot of skilled Fettlers in here for advice. Happy hunting. PS: Great stoves you have already - many in here have the 123’s // The 8/8R’s and the 71’s
Ben, you've made it easy for them. A lot of your stoves are still in their original shipping boxes just ready for a new address and postage....
I would start off with a couple of Coleman 502's, avoiding anything with a rusty burner bowl. Used ones in really good shape are not that expensive, they are easy to work on, and they are easy to use. Mike
