This inconspicuous spirit stove is the Optimus 505. Very neatly made. Only on the tank embossed Optimus lettering and the number 505. On the bottom of the tank and the filler cap, no embossing. It appears to have been produced for a short period, as it can only be found in this 1929 brochure https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/1929-optimus-brochure.124/ and a 1932 catalog. https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/1932-optimus-catalogue-no-1255.17472/ Quite an interesting design that I was able to learn about when I took the burner apart. It took several weeks, during which I zapped it daily with penetrating agent and gently dabbed the baked burner. When it finally gave up, I was able to see what was hidden inside and recreate this design with a new, wide wick. Inside, around the cavity is a flat, wide wick studded with a steel ring that transports fuel to the small holes. The flame from the central wick heats the burner from the inside, after a while flames come out of the holes and the wick/pilot goes out. The catalog says that it is used to heat small amounts of water or milk, but you can easily boil water and hard-boiled eggs, for example. I'm unlikely to use it, but it will stay on the shelf as an interesting exhibit. This is what it looked like when I bought it. The cover for extinguishing the flame was missing, so I made such a makeshift one. Thanks for watching. Greetings Stanisław
I have some doubt about that. There were a great many similar alky burners back then and long before.
Agreed, Trangia were very late on the market when it came to storm cookers, let alone spirit burners... Nice uncommon find @Knee, these can't have been much of a money maker for Optimus given the huge number of similar spirit stoves which had been on the market for decades. Likely more a case of aiming to provide the widest range of products possible and cater for all customers. A business approach which soon had to change as competition and economic decline forced manufacturers to simplify and reduce thier ranges.
@Knee Congratulations, Stanisław. Something from this family ( I think so ): Jovet Lyon Flamme le Gaulois 1930-1940
I had no idea that optimus made alcohol stoves like this one. Judging from the photo, it looks like a really small stove. Cute. Or maybe your hands are just really big.
