Good morning or evening fellow stove people, I have been reviewing my stove collection and re-discovered my NIB M 1950 dated on box as 1966 vintage. Unused, but I have replaced the pump valve pip, and the filler cap O ring. Not replaced the fuel needle O ring, as it looks like that is a more difficult dis-assembly. It has spare O rings, pips, pump cup and two generators (one in clip, the other in the pump tube plunger). Should I keep as is, fire up, or consider on selling? I have no idea how collectable these are, as they do not seem to be well known in New Zealand. Any comments much appreciated.
I’d keep it unfired. They are not uncommon in Australia having been used as DoD stock. I’ve got a few unfettled lurking around in the shed if you wanted a used one to play with. And at least two unfired. Cheers Tony
I agree--unfired. I have the same stove, mfg'd in 1951-52. It is fun to run, to the same extent all stoves are fun to run. It is my philosophy that, with some special things, we only "rent" them during our lifetimes. Your stove is already 60 years old, and 50 years from now, it will either be viewed as completely ridiculous or a marvelous, untouched representative of a technology long ago. I vote for marvelous. Being an American and a Southerner, I have a firearms collection. I apply the same standard, with one revision: I do not collect unissued/lightly used specimens. These go into serious collections. My collection is for shooting, so I get "shooters." It saves me from having to ask myself the question you have posed. Good luck. B
It’s an appliance; not rare at all in the grand scheme of things. Government auctions disgorge these things by the thousands. Sold by the pound. They aren’t a long lost Monet guys. Just some perspective.
Interesting points of view. There are certain things I appreciate about the design of this stove, especially the on-board storage of spare parts that may be required for field maintenance.
Another vote for keeping it unfired. There are enough of them around so I that finding a user isn’t a problem. Besides, as soon as you light it, it makes all the other unfired one just that much more valuable.
