Hi, I have recently acquired an Optimus No.80, which came with original cardboard carton,prickers,operating instructions, and Optimus swing-tag. Taped to this swing-tag was an old cutting from a magazine, featuring the Op.80 at a price of 38 shillings (£1.90). This price would date the advert, and hopefully the stove, to the mid 1950s: The last photo shows this stove in operation alongside another Op.80 which I was fettling at the same time. I am really impressed with the performance of these very compact, well-made stoves. Best Regards, Kerophile.
Hi Kerophile, very nice. I've had several 71/80 type stoves with the same key to chain connection as shown in your pictures. To my mind the chain should be connected at the end of the key barrel as there are two keepers deliberately placed there. Yet I think I can say that pretty much all of the stoves of this type I've received have the chain either connected through the jet wrench hole and the stuffing box wrench (as in yours) or just through the jet wrench hole. I always move the chain linkage to the end of the barrel where I think it belongs otherwise, as in your examples, it renders both the jet wrench and the stuffing box wrench useless if you needed them quickly in the field. Anyone any thoughts as to whether they came from the factory like that, or whether people just habitually change them to that configuration as it's perceived there will be less chance of losing the key?
Hi Graham, what you say makes a lot of sense. If you use the key the way I have it rigged up, you can build up twists in the chain as the chain is unable to rotate around the key barrel. In addition, as you point out, you are impeding access to two of the tools on the key. Having said that, I have looked in the Gallery at photos of Pr.71s, Op.80s and Svea 123s, and there does not appear to be any consistency, even my Mentor, Bryan Miller, has the same attachemnt arrangemets as on my Op.80s with his two similar stoves: https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/10610 I look forward to hearing what others think. Best Regards, Kerophile.
Hi Bom x4 & Kerophile. Kerophile, very nice stoves! (I just found this post). All of my stoves ie 99, 8r, 123 and 80 that use a key have the chain attached as Bom Bom Bom Bom has stated above using the keepers at the end of the key barrel. Makes sense to me. Best, Rick
Hi Bom x 4, I did follow your advice and change the chain attachment point on one of my Op.80s some time ago, and promptly forgot about it. I was using this particular stove to brew up some Turkish coffee on Saturday, and suddently thought, "Thats easier, no twists in the chain" I think you are right. Best Regards, Kerophile.
Is that truly a mid-fifies stove? Interesting. It looks very like my late uncle's newer (he had two) Primus 71L. My uncle's newer Primus 71L is, to the best of my ability to discern, from some time in the mid to late 60's (after Optimus took over the Primus name). The filler cap appears to be the same, the key chain is the same pattern of twisted wire, the steel case has the same colors, the top of the box is shortre than the top of the pot supports (earlier versions had a higher box top), and the vents in the case are the same. Incidently, my key chain is attached to the key in the same fashion as the stoves in your photos.
