....the 'Working Clothes' thread. For stoves in 'Oily Rag' condition. 'Cosmetically Unrestored', but mechanically serviced to reliable operation. 'As found', but overhauled. Whatever you want to call it. This was something of an idea kindled between myself and @Scott B a while back, and the first day of a New Year seems as good a time as any to begin it. The idea is to showcase stoves which have obviously led an interesting working life and deserve to be conserved rather than have their blemishes removed and be polished. Cosmetic restoration has its place, but many examples of stoves bear all the scars of long, hard use along with repairs and resourcefulness to keep these valued workhorses in action. They are working, almost living pieces of social history, and in a time when many have easy access to all they need (and often also want) serve as reminders to the historical cost of quality items compared to wages, the difficulties which have frequently occurred in supply chains across the globe and the importance of repairing rather than replacing in an era before so many had substantial disposable income. They can also still cook a mean fry up. Let's see stoves that are dented, corroded, have soldered repairs, in-service modifications, mis-matching parts, beautifully weathered tanks, cracked up cast iron top rings, patches, historic grime, the lot. No fake patina, or deliberate 'rat look'! The worse the stove, and the more clean and blue the flame, the better! I'll begin, with a 1913 Primus No.1 S:or, a gift from @A A C, which I suspect spent time on the coast judging by how thinned out the legs are and subsequent wire-wrapping to stop the top ring wobbling.
@Blackdog Great idea Chris the working clothes thread, where stoves that have had a hard and interesting historical life, and keeping all its history intact by just getting the stove working. On the Primus, you can see the amount of use it has had over the years by the amount of metal loss on the legs where wire has been used to fill in the metal, and the amount of wear in the pump tube cap with all the pumping that the stove has had, this stove certainly has had a hard working life when it was used. A lot of stoves we come across that have rusted and tarnished heavily, have not really had a hard working life,or great deal of history, they were probably for a short period of time and then left for decades in a damp shed or cellar, those i have no issues in cosmetically restoring, unlike the above example where it really does show it working history, a great thread and idea to add to the forum
A very good point Brian, there is a world of difference between wear and tear from use, or dents from outdoor adventures, to simple neglect of leaving a stove in a shed wih a leaking roof, or chucking it in and out of a van while attempting to sell it at countless autojumbles over the years!
Genuine wear, and tear, and make do, and mend; not all stoves would survive all of that. A thread such as this could reveal quite a lot. Which stoves and makes of stove were the ones which really could survive unbroken years of use and abuse the best? The fact that such stoves were kept in use long beyond any normal time limits would almost inevitably have to have been in circumstances when normal easy access to genuine spares and parts was nolonger possible. That would be another factor to take into consideration.
Nearly all the discus stoves had interchangeable parts so a 1920 Primus will often be found with a 1970 Burmos cap jet and flame ring That gives this type of stove a distinct advantage in this category.
Hi all I think this is a thread not to be taken to seriously or become a competition. Along with our beautifully restored, Rare or as new stoves, I'm sure most of us here have a "scratch and dent" department in our stove collection. Stoves that are not up for SOTM status but still hold a charm of there own for being survivors and well loved still! Lets have some fun here and showcase some of our beat up but beautiful stoves and other flame producing gems. Here is my first contribution. An early Radius No 5 S:or Cleaned just enough to reveal the rapairs made and the identity of the stove. A new jet, pump cup and riser washers and she was away! Not original I think? (filler cap) not rare but beautiful. Fry up to come @Blackdog Green flame is the first fire up in who knows how long. Improved withen 10 minutes of fresh fuel. I may have overpumped Regards Scott B
I've been waiting a long time to see this one burning blue... and am not disappointed! There has been some amazing stuff appearing Down Under in recent months. Not just the usual riser and leg repairs, but a solder patch and a copper patch on the tank, too. I can't recall a Radius with stress cracks before, presumably the reason for the patching. Obviously worthwhile to do extensive and relatively skilled repairs (the patch, at least, shows good craftmanship) to keep the stove in service. The sheer number of different hues in that tank, what a thing of beauty. The heat shield suggests use with an oven or large vessels etc... if only they could talk! A few thoughts on details and age: The filler neck to tank joint is the older type, can we assume it's the early type of riser to tank joint underneath the solder repair, by the fact it has needed said repair? The pump end cap is the second style, with diagonal knurling on a flat rim. Is it thoroughly worn as would be expected if it is original? Are there any traces of lettering on the filler cap, my Radius No.7 with butterfly filler cap only has the faintest trace of raised letters? I don't think I've ever seen a silent burner kicking out that amount of heat, combustion still looks very complete and no overheating of the burner caps... You can almost feel the heat from the photos! Not sure if @Rodger Willows has seen this stove, but here's a prime example of a patched tank.
Bravo @Scott B B ! A beautiful example. The flame pattern - first class. Such an old veteran, outwardly wounded, and full of vigor. In general, I like this initiative. Greetings Stanisław
@Scott B What an old beauty is this one! Thank you for posting. I see where the solder repair patch is @Blackdog. It gives me hope!
Morning all A bit of fun! @Blackdog You are right, even only slight pumping produces great heat and noise from the burner. That heat shield is essential as the tank heats to near untouchable in a couple of minutes. By far the most powerful silent burner in the collection. The filler cap seems unmarked but is heavily used so may just be worn. @Rodger Willows I reckon if we could borrow the use of some sheet metal rollers a copper or brass patch could be formed to suit... Leave it with me... @Knee Thanks mate, I'm glad you enjoyed. Regards Scott B
What a difference a leg makes. A story from 2021. Before: Then: Next: And finally ... back in business:
I don’t have a very big collection but this is my beater, in as found condition, a little low on power but it runs.
@igh371 The second photo shows a good clobber to one of the remaining legs... yet amazingly after all that abuse the riser has survived unscathed!
Luckily it proved possible to realign the 2 suriving original legs in situ. More satisfying when possible than ripping off, reshaping and resoldering, which always damages patina.
@igh371 Nice flames on a very early stove. Loving the balancing act. Thanks for sharing Regards Scott B
This stove qualified (probably still does) prior to major surgery as detailed Primus No 1 c. 1900-1910 Just a few more scars to tell the great grandchildren (or should that be great great grandchildren) about!
Even more qualified now! What a grand flame. Those wires convinvcing the legs to stay put are a masterpiece. That really is a stove that has seen it all!
I was going to add this photo of a sad but functional Primus '0' to fortify @Rodger Willows resolve to tackle his challenging No.1 (above). But obviously he didn't need the boost But here it is non-the-less; the chap I bought it off had a tale that his grandfather had used it in WW2 and that it had been hit by a piece of shrapnel or bullet! Whether that was the case or not it had certainly suffered a significant puncture wound somehow, the haemorrhaging of stove plasma had been deftly staunched however, and the surgical patch is still visible:
