111 family complete and some observations

Discussion in 'Stove Forum' started by Optimist, Nov 16, 2007.

  1. Optimist

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    Well I got the last member of my 111 family throught the mail today - the 111T. I have got them all up and running and here are a few pictures :

    111 (kero) and 111C (kero)
    111and111Ccomp.jpg

    111 (kero) and 111B (Coleman)
    111Band111comp.jpg

    111T (kero)
    Optimus111Tburning.jpg

    Some initial thoughts :

    The 111 kero is a real blaster and is subjectively hotter and faster than any of them. It's loud too. Flame pattern like a muzzle flash !
    The 111T is a gem - hot and fast and much easier to get going than the 111C. Great simmer too.
    The 111B is pure simplicity, easy to prime, easy light, hot and fast
    The 111C is an acquired taste - takes ages to prime and not very fast to boil. I think the problem is that burner is too low - not the case with the 111T.

    Ultra-subjective rank order of preference :
    No. 1 : 111 kero. Kero = character and its cheap here in the UK !
    No.2 : 111B. Great super reliable, character, bit expensive to run
    No. 3 : 111T : might move up to second place. Brilliant all rounder
    No. 4 : 111C : err completes the collection

    Next steps :
    111 kero and 111T have tatty / wrong-coloured cases so will get the Ford Cosmic Blue treatment

    What fun ! Now...which one to store in the Landrover as the travelling stove.... Hmmmm
     
  2. Ed Winskill

    Ed Winskill United States Subscriber

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    Great display.
    One day I'll have to get one of these 111s.....
     
  3. alnl1996

    alnl1996 Subscriber

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    Wow! Great shots Optimist! Excellent photography skills, thanks for sharing it with us.
    My personal favourite is the 111T=best of both worlds HOT & QUIET.
    I remember one morning when i was camping with the family i decided to get up at 6am (don't ask) and i had a craving for my esspresso,got out my 111and let me tell you... right after i got it lit i turned it off.
    The thing sounded like an F-18 flying overhead i would of woken up the whole campground. Now i take my 111T with me (much safer heh heh.)
    Just out of curiousity your 111T looks like an earlier version, does the pump have an o-ring or leather cup. Mine is the later version with an o-ring i'm thinking of getting a leather cup pump rod for it.
    Awsome collection thanks again for sharing
    Take care.
     
  4. Optimist

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    The 111T has a leather cup, freshly soaked in olive oil !
    I know what you mean about the stealth factor...
     
  5. dsk

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    Really great, and a good excample of the orginal color of the tin. Ehhem? Green, Blue, Grey or black. With different wheels to adjust flame. (never seen white before)
    Black multi tool key is made in 3 different lenghts, Old key in deep and thiin wheel in volors red, black, green and white.

    dsk
     
  6. rik_uk3

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    If you want noise, light up a No.12 :shock: Great pictures, great stoves. I tend not to paint mine, I'm too lazy, and the paint comes off with use anyway :cry:

    My order
    111
    111T
    111B
    sold my 111C, the mate I sold it too in turn sold it on, and had a 111T off me, a much happier chap now :D
     
  7. 111T

    111T Subscriber

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    the pressure cap on the "b" is different. Why?

    Nice display!
     
  8. North61

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    I don't have the kero but have
    3---B's
    2---T's
    1---C
    and the 22B

    They are all good and with Coleman Fuel I like the C just as much as the T. The lower burner should give off less CO when melting snow in the tent.

    Haven't tested this but based on the article in the William Kemsly Backpacking Equipment Buyers Guide (1977) raising the pot a further 1" over the burner makes a huge difference in CO production. The 111B as sold was lethal when boiling snow creating nearly 100 PPM at the boiling point. With custom pot supports raising the pot 1" higher the level fell to about 15 PPM. The authors reasoned the high production rate with the flame so close to the pot was due to flame quenching on the cold pot leading to incomplete combustion.

    The 111C is already set up with a low burner way and I'd bet is a safer stove. Yes the boiling time goes up a bit (though in my stoves the C is still equal to the T ) but both are a good 25% behind the B's.

    Interestingly my 22B is much faster than even the identical 111 B burners at boiling water. The bigger tank must put out a bit more pressure.

    In the test of 1977 stoves in the Kemsley guide the 111B beat the 111 fairly handily at boiling time.

    Stove Sea Level 5200feet 9500 feet -20F 7mph Wind
    111 7:31 7:22 7:47 9:26 194.6 (couldn't get a boil)
    111B 5:37 4:53 7:40 6:00 9:30
    MSR 9A 4:26 3:33 5:00 3:50 4:29

    I have found that if I use the MSR wind screen I can bring my 111B's in line with the new MSR dragonfly, but without it the MSR does pull ahead. These damn spindly MSR's is what cracked the 111's dominance of the stove world!
     
  9. 111T

    111T Subscriber

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    hmm i wonder about the CO thing. Does the type of burner make a difference? (roarer or silent)
     
  10. North61

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    I have no data on that but I reasoned that optimus may have configured the 111C to cut down on CO as they are the latest model and we have gone off the deep end of litigation as a society!
     
  11. 111T

    111T Subscriber

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    is the burner exactly the same as on the 11? Might it be just a result of adapting the 11 burner to the 111 design as the nova burner to the hiker +?
     
  12. Optimist

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    I was told that the slot-style pressure cap was a feature of older 111s, whereas the hex-style cap is later.

    Managed to get my 111C boiling much faster my pushing down the pot supports so the burner is nearer the pan, but after reading the posts on CO I'm not so sure.....