There are a few of these on sale on ebay. NOS from an old shop according to the seller. I cant find much information about this stove at all. Is the manufacturer from Lyon? Is the manufacturer called vesuve or is that just the name of the stove? Any idea of a date? There is a post on le boncoin giving a date range of 1950 - 1960 and it is a well used version with no pot support. I will post flame shots later. The top of the box makes a lot about it having a porous but long lasting wick with high wicking action. Instant lighting (with the caveat that they mean under a second) without preheating. Before first lighting it is recommended to allow the wick to soak up alcohol for 5 minutes The common inexplosible claim though this one does not have any wadding inside. The pot stand is painted like this. It isn't from age. Top view of the wick in the stove. The wick is like pumice stone. Maybe this is why they called it vesuve. Hopefully it isnt any banned substance these days. Oh well... The tank does not attract a magnet but the pot support does. The only reference to another stove for sale says it is brass. The information sheet inside. Much made of the Brevete S.G.D.G for the wick Simple instructions. Again much made of the wick and how In the time it takes to bring a match to bear, it is lit. Also they say it is very economical and has no loss to evaporation. Most of the information is the same as on the box.
I knew the wick reminded me of something. The pill bottle stoves that use round "stones" as a method of storing and providing the alcohol fuel.
@ewen Great write-up, thanks. Your stove has a more sophisticated construction by far than the Kamin-Tourist (Germany), but at the heart of both - the wick - is a similar substance, which I likened to a fire brick, so moulded and fired rather than carved out of a porous rock. John
Thanks John. That is another stove I haven't come across. I will keep my eyes open for one. Very interesting that Kamin mentions Etna in their literature. Etna, Vesuve. Is there a Stromboli? Yes, I think it is probably a fired clay product and the only other vesuve I've seen did have a bit of wear and damage around the mushroom head of the "wick". Ewen
Filled it up, let the wick soak up the fuel for 5 minutes. I didn't take any pictures but will post some screen shots: It boiled 300ml of water in just over 4 minutes but it is either on or off. No way to simmer though a simmer ring would work if you could arrange it under the pot stand. I drained the alcohol out to protect the tank but it does seem to be made of brass. I quite like it.
I’m not surprised, it’s effective and aesthetically pleasing. I particularly like the speckled enamel finish, a French and, (I think, @ROBBO55 @Tony Press) Australasian thing. … my Lilor butane stove with lamp attachment for example.
There was a period post war in Britain where the speckled grey enamel finish seems to have been in fashion- I have a couple of English made odds and ends of kitchenware in that finish. Condrup joined in with a mottled grey version of their tripod stand for a while too.
Your correct John, speckled enamel was common in Australia (1940s and 1950s) for example the Aladdin 2 burner stove and the Kayen AP2 lanterns. Nice stove @ewen and in good condition, congratulations
