Optimus Travelling no1 disguised as an Optimus 00

I was looking at my phone where a lot of us look on the phone...yep... toilet...and spotted a listing for an Optimus 00 that was not right... Well at least not in the small collection of 00 stoves I have. Mine didn't have a tin like this or the old lettering. Mine did not not round bun feet...or a winged burner knob.
I could see no1 on it... Took a chance and bought it before anyone else saw it. Was under $100 delivered.


So I got it yesterday and I'm starting to break it down to get it running. Good news is that the NRV is not damaged and came out easy so other than some seals to make i think I've got it all there

Some photos from the start.






No idea about how old it is but it sure looks old

 

Some more...
Note the brass tubes. The seller said the dad made them to make it hold a cup of coffee type pot easier or smaller pots

 

More...so took the burner apart. I think it was nearly going to leak as there was skimps of a second washer under the cup. Lucky I had a few more of the fettlebox burner gaskets that fit just fine.
Only thing to note is that the burner has a "G" marked on it on the nut.


Now to the NRV.... In @Pharael favorite terms .. It was a knife fight to get the damned cap off. OMG.....I about took the torch to it... But got it off. It has a lead gasket that was probably on there for 100 years. Cork pip. This is the first external NRV systems I've ever seen. Weird concept.

 

Travelling-Optimus No:1 - 1914/18?

 

@kerophile thank you! Ok so mine is missing the glass bottle and funnel. I got it running but got to do a new lead seal I think. I'll probably check ross and see if he makes it. It needed to be cinched down pretty tight to not leak from the wing nut

 

A very good find!


Tony

 

@Tony Press thanks man .. It's my first!

 

And I can see why there were some brass tubes for burner extensions added. It really needs a trivet but it lives.
Now to look for an appropriate trivet.

 

Well spotted.
They are excellent little stoves, well built and decent heavy quality.

Alec.

 

@Rangie thank you sir!

 

Got some background in it. Apparently I bought his dad's stove and he used it in the great depression....

 

Travelling-Optimus No:1 c1921

Is this the type of pan-holder you will need?

Regards,
Kerophile.

 

@kerophile yes!!! This stove has really short legs and my coffee pot will not sit on it. No big deal but I tend to use my stoves a lot so small pots to large ones would be good!

And looking at your photos they look the same

 

thumb screw and bun feet. what a stellar combination!

 

@Lighthouse my first! Thanks! I was just happy I didn't break anything haha

 

@OMC maybe can give me more information about the date.

It shows the same features as yours @kerophile

 

An excellent find.

 

Thanks @gnome !

 

Final thing. So after I fixed it up and took photos I made some coffee on it and took a photo and sent it to the seller with a note "if your dad is still around...let him know it still works and just needed some gaskets changed. It's sure in good shape"

I received the following reply.

 

initial comment (not dbl chkd), re dating, "OMC maybe can give me more information about the date.
It shows the same features as yours kerophile"

a side note: (not questioning) Remus bottom stamp and all examples in this comment are a match to Optimus earliest bottom stamp (easiest chk is the "M" in Stockholm).

@Remus1956
You mention your details match kerophile's Travelling-Optimus No:1 - 1914/18? (posted 2010).

Today, reconsidering the "1914/18?" dating (posted 2010).
"1914" and "/1918?"

1914 : aligning yours as early as 1914 works for me.
Trevor spreadsheet (posted 2014) has Travelling No.1 as early as 1911.
marblecreek's Operational Old Optimus No. 1 has an earlier burner (call his 1911-c.1914?).


1918 : aligning yours as late as 1918 works for me.
Rangie considers his (with internal NRV) Optimus No.1 Traveller Bun Feet 1918-21 (or 1918-23, or 1919?-23).
[inline w/kerophile "1914 /18?"]
[use of internal NRV began by 1920/21 (or earlier) for sure].
The 1918 detail escapes "me" at the moment, others pick 1918, works for me.

Y'all can dbl chk the details but yours & his might exact match marblecreek's except the burner (incl. tin)?.