History of the Optimus 96 Writing and editing Primus 96 article has proved very time consuming and I do not think that I have the time to fully integrate my Optimus 96 information into one article. I am going to individually describe the 6 versions that I have found V1 means that it is the first version that I found CLARIFICATION Whilst it has been possible to identify six versions of the stove it has been impossible to clearly identify when the versions started or finished. A stove has been classified as a version when the normally fixed parts have changed. These parts include the pump knob because that is not removed from the stove during normal dismantling. Parts like reserve lids and burner plates are loose, easily lost and readily replaced so it is difficult to say that they are part of the the original stove. Whilst these help identify the version the fixed items on the stove should be used for identification. Version 6 is an exception to this rule because there is clear evidence that the burner head and burner head change was made by Optimus. However this change can also be made by previous owners so a stove with this burner head is not guaranteed to be a Version 6 DEFINITIONS ? following a year means that there is evidence that the version existed in that year but it is not known whether the version existed before the first year or after the last year. E. g. 1930?-1939? means that brochures exist to show the version existed in 1930 and was still in existence in 1939 but the version could have started prior to 1930 and continued after 1939 19?? means that there is no evidence as to when the version was first produced or when the version finished. VERSION 1 1930?-1939? Whilst 1930 and 1939 brochures exist showing this version I suspect that the brochures were showing out of date illustrations. Primus started the 96s and by 1926 they were using folding feet. Primus were using this type of foot in 1921 and I suspect that this version of the Optimus stove started during the period between 1921 and 1925 whilst that foot was being used by Primus. One of the above feet is a Primus one and one is an Optimus one. I think that the left one is probably the Optimus one but only because I would normally arrange things in alphabetical order You will notice that at this time the burner plate was simply marked OPTIMUS and the burner head had deep notches in the top for the lugs of the burner plate. The airscrew stem joins to its knob with a right angle. Airscrews with a radiused junction were made by Primus. The pump lid was odd in that it was pressed rather than being machined into shape. Regards Bryan
VERSION 2 19XX?-19XX? The documentary evidence available contradicts my opinion but I suspect that this version dates from either the late 1920s or early 1930s. That is based solely on the improbability of Optimus not keeping pace with Primus's 96 developments. You will see that the notches in the burner head are still deep. I have no idea what the O at the top of the burner plate means. The shape and knurling of the pump knob and lid had changed. The feet had become folding feet Regards Bryan
Version 3 1952?-1962. 196X? 196X? I think that I either bought this version of the stove in 1952 or that it was bought for me then so it definitely existed then but obviously could have existed before then. This version was temporarily dropped in 1962 to be reintroduced in the middle 1960s. I do not know exactly when it was reintroduced but it could not have been before 1964 See next version for explanation. You will see that the O had disappeared off the top of the burner plate. The notches in the top of the burner head had become shallower and the pump knob had changed to a conventional knob with a change to the pump lid as well. Regards Bryan
Version 3 BOTH PRECEDES AND FOLLOWS THIS VERSION Version 4 1962-196X? In 1962 Optimus acquired the Primus brand name for liquid fuelled stoves together with spare parts. They then produced both brands of stoves.The spare parts appear to have been tipped into the top of the assemblers' boxes so stoves of either brand made immediately after the Primus brand name acquisition were mostly fitted with Bahco parts. The more Bahco parts on the stove, the closer to 1962 the stove was made. However, I have never seen a Primus Trading Company period 96 fitted with Bahco made reserve lids, reserve lid bosses or feet. These appear to have been scrapped. On 31 December, 1963 Optimus also acquired the Radius brand name together with spare parts. These parts could not have been originally fitted to Optimus 96s before 1964. These parts are less common on the stoves than the Bahco parts The features are given in the order of Primus, Radius and Optimus. Primus or Optimus parts are correct for stoves made in 1962 and 1963. Primus, Radius or Optimus parts are correct for stoves made in 1964 and probably 1965 but Optimus parts are more common in the later stoves of this version You will notice that the notches in the Optimus burner head are still becoming shallower. In the case of the tank lids there are four tank lids shown. The right one is a Primus one (part no 4029) from the 1920s which sometimes appears on this version of the Optimus 96 however it is impossible to say whether Optimus fitted it or if it was a spare fitted by an owner The leg on the left is a Primus leg. The one on the right is an Optimus one. Version 3 was reintroduced after this version was dropped. It sounds odd but the order was Version 3 followed by Version 4 followed by Version 3 followed by Version 5 Regards Bryan
Version 3 precedes version 5. This is not a mistake V3 occurred both before and after V4 Version 5. 196X?- 1969. This version started at some time in the latter 1960s. The 1970 catalogue does not mention a 96 so I presume that it was temporarily dropped in 1969. When the pre Primus Trading Company burner plates ran out Optimus introduced the two burner plates shown above. The left one was first and can occur on this version or the 1960s V3. The right one is more common on this version. The plate looks as though it had been sawn in half with odd looking lettering on the flat side. It had to be used flat side uppermost. The reserve lid parking boss was left off the tank and the pump knob was threaded externally to park the reserve lid on Despite the model being dropped in 1969 there is still one more version to come Regards Bryan
Version 6 1977?-19XX?. The 1976 catalogue makes no mention of the 96 but at some time after that the stove was reintroduced in this form. I do not know when the model was dropped but it was in production in the 1980s The burner head had a captive brass burner plate. Initially it was fitted with the two piece vapourising tube soldered together. Later on it was fitted with a one piece vapourising tube machined out of solid brass. This may have happened after Optimus closed their factory in 1983. There seemed to be problems with the makers getting the taper on the vapourising tube and the taper in the tube of the burner head to match as many of the later brass vapourising tubes project into the burner head. Initially this version came out with the diamond knurled fittings shown on the left but later on the knurling changed to straight knurling Regards Bryan
Dear Bryan, I can only guess at the amount of time you have put into this comprehensive article on these fascinating 96's. Thank you very much, if only for giving me (us) a line to follow, to add or perhaps even substract to. Impressed in Holland, kind regards, Michael Meijer
Dear Bryan, a very impressive and comprehensive piece of work. I know that it has taken you many years of collecting and study to produce such a complete picture of the well-loved Optimus No.96 model. You have been rigorous in your approach and I believe the work will stand the test of time, even if we are able to add further detail as more information becomes available. Thank you for undertaking the study, and for so generously sharing your findings. Best Regards, George.
Hi Mike, George I think that I started arranging the stoves into Versions about 10 years ago as a buying aid. I did manage to collect all 6 versions. If I knew what features were on each version I could put the stoves into a period so my bidding level was governed by how rare the version was. This meant that I did not have to ask questions that sellers could use to alert other buyers of the rarity of the stove and kept my buying price low. The versions were not official in that they were solely for my own use and had little meaning to other people. The history was originally put on as six different topics. However I made a mistake and there was a photo on V5 that should not have been there. I asked Ross to remove it which he did and then he came up with the method of linking the topics together into one topic Thanks for the hard work Ross. Please keep an open mind when reading the topic. I honestly believe that the information is accurate AT THIS TIME. However information could become available which contradicts some of the statements that I have made. You have a starting point for information and it is now up to site members to build on that. Hopefully in the end you will have accurate information Regards Bryan
Hi Bryan, A brilliant and informative article with superb photos with each version clearly described. A true labour of love. All of us interested in the 96 will benefit from your excellent portrayal of this super series of stoves. Thanks and very best wishes, Rob
Here's a link to my V1 Optimus 96 with some more info to narrow down the start: https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/optimus-no-96l-late-1920s.33450/
