Of all the stoves made over the years there are a few that have reached almost legendary and certainly cult status. The Svea 123 to name but one. Are there models of the Swedish stoves that burned kerosene that were also of such reputation? And why? Were they superior in heat output? Fuel consumption? Dependability? Thanks Ian.... I think I am building a collection here LOL.......wondering which models of greatest reputation I should concentrate on first.
Primus 210 Optimus/Primus 96 Both of these would give more modern backpacking stoves a run for their money. The 96 is only slightly larger than the svea123... the power is a different league.
Primus 210 Optimus/Primus 96 Both of these would give more modern backpacking stoves a run for their money. The 96 is only slightly larger than the svea123... the power is a different league. That is interesting with the 96. The pocket 96 must be a smaller model then is that correct?
The 96 is a 96. "Pocket" refers only to a particular tin and kit. I have never thought of the 96 as a backpacker, although I know there will be those who disagree. Generally, the 210/00 one-pinters were sold as hiking stoves, and the Optimus 00 is discussed as such in many American hiking books of the 70s and 80s. I think of the 96 as a wayside tea-brewer. It has a lot of loose bits to get lost on a backpacking trip; 9 last I counted......
Their reputition is probably aloso a result of the availability. My grand mother used an optimus no 5 looking stove in the summers about 1920-1930 when she moved the cooking outdoors to avoid heating up the entire house by using her wood stove for coocking. My fater used a Optimus 00/210 for champing until propane became commonly available. Monica Kristensens Antarctica Expedition 1986-87 based their coocking on such a stove. The Norwegian forces has been using the Optimus 111 (all kero models) for decades, this reliable stove is used by scouts and a many others, and are probably the moast common kero stove in Norway. Scandinavian backpackers are more and more using different brands of multifule stoves theese days, and the primus stoves are probably the bestseller for the moment. (due to good marketing, I belive). dsk
Hey, Ian, If you're truly looking for a stove with "cult status", then of course, you'll have to find an Optimus #9!! While you're at it, please find one for me, too!!! I had the chance to buy one back when I first got "into stoves", but did not do so. I didn't know enough about it to know that it was complete, and to my untrained eye, it appeared to be missing something. So, whilst I could have had one for only TWENTY DOLLARS, I chose, instead, to walk away, smug with my telling the seller that his "incomplete stove" wasn't WORTH $20!! Been wearing out my kneecaps, kicking my own arse, every since them!! Scarce as hen's teeth, frog's lips, unicorn sightings, honest policitians, and rocking horse poop, they are!!!! Several of our members are graced with owning those stoves, and in fact, one member has two of them! But, for the rest of us, they remain elusive, and will more than likely never be added to our collections! If Optimus really wanted to make some serious coin, they would offer a limited run of the Optimus #9!! I GUARANTEE that every single one of them would sell in a very short time!! Hey, I'd buy several of them, just for myself, and I'll bet most of the rest of our Lads would do the same thing!! As my old Grandma used to say, "Wish in one hand, and poop in the other. Then, see which one fills up first"!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
I have enroute two 111's in the multifuel version that are USMC surplus. They have been refurbished and offerered for sale so I picked one up for myself and another for my good freind for xmas this year. I'm sure he will hate me for it LOL. I also latched onto an optimus copy of the sigg tourist set complete with a 123R Svea. Not sure I like the flame control on this stove. It is very tight and seems way to coarse of an adjustment and is very difficult to adjust the flame in small amounts for simmering etc. My Primus 71 simmers far better at least than this 123 anyway. But I think the 123 throws more heat than the 71. Also coming is one of those Russian 8R clones. They are also supposed to have quite a following. I missed out on a real nice 00 last week by only two dollars. Next time I guess. I was intrigued by the #5 but the soldered on legs to the tank turned me off. I like things that break down into a smaller package. The ones I saw had fixed legs. Were there any number 5's that had removable legs? It's funny how I have always been partial to kerosene use over that of white gas/Coleman items. They somehow possess more romance or something. I see a kerosene stove and go "oooo aahhh" where as the white gas leaves me less than warm.
Ian, You may need to clean out the valve on that 123r, as it should be smooth. You can add a cap full of carburator cleaner to the tank and run it, or do it the slightly harder way and dis-assemble the valve and /or rebuild it. Rebuilt kits are still available. How about a picture of the Optimus Cook kit ?
The 5 was a domestic cooker, use it in the home, if you want something similar that folds up go for an Optimus 45. Back in the past, people would use a 5, often housed in a large metal tin, in the UK this was often an old biscuit tin that had been modified and take it camping with them. I've often said how underated I believe the 5 to be, its just such a good solid workhorse of a stove, and so often not even considered these days for car camping. This should not be so, its a strong stove, you can put a two gallon pot on one and not worry about it, plus it has a long burn time and it will simmer well. If you want to cook a big pan of stew for a group, you won't go wrong with a 5 Flame control with any 123 or 8 takes practice, but you will get there in the end
That'd be an Optimus 88. Nice one. Might need to replace the graphite tape wrapped around the spindle inside the control valve ? .... maybe If you want a partially collapsible large, brass 3 legger then I'd agree with Richard, get yourself a 45 or similar sized 'discus' (tm) stove. Bloody luvlee they are. !
I have a nice pic of the set but it looks like I need to use a photo host online in order to link to it. Is there any other way to post a picture? Ian....[/img]
No problem mate, the other Ian (mod) put the thread together and did a fine job. Thats a nice looking setup there, don't have one, but would like one I got a Sigg Tourist setup about two years ago, much the same but a little bigger, and was given another set of pans (no stove) just before Xmas. I don't know how much you have used a 123, but if your setup works the same as the Sigg, you can bring a pan of say, stew, to the boil and with good use of the control valve you'll get the best part of 50 mins simmer time easy on one tank of fuel. Some people moan about the price of stoves, but when you think that a Sigg with stove goes for around $150 - $200 and you have to pay not that much less for a new Nova+ or Omnifuel, this hobby is not bad at all. In fact, in the UK a Nova will cost you $200 http://cgi.ebay.com/Mini-Camp-Stove...ryZ87136QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Lets see what this goes for ?
