Having a spare 96 riser tube somewhere to replace the obviously missing one, I took a chance and got this one http//cgi.ebay.fr/RECHAUD-THE-POKET-primus-outfit-n-96_W0QQitemZ190048574515QQihZ009QQcategoryZ32643QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem It just arrived and includes also the folding wind shield and spirit cup. Only other important parts missing are burner plate and wrench (spiritbottle of course having long gone). Most interesting thing though is that it's stamped D - which should make it 1914-vintage. Any older Pocket's known here? Jur
Hello, Jur, Great buy on your PP!! The earliest of mine is from 1920, and it is a sweet little stove. I'll try to post some photos of the tools, as the cleaning pin is a sliding affair, and somewhat different than is normal. You will love your little PP, and again, congrats on a fine score and an outstanding price! Check with Bryan Miller about a burning plate, or maybe Albert White can cast one for you. Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc Mark
I think I have a B or a C, but then that could be a No.1 I have, I'll have to check. Very good buy Jur, nice one
Thanks guys, Beware though that (ordinary) postage from France was a hefty EUR 15. I checked and that ?s the present rate over there for only the smallest of packages. So better keep that in mind when buying from Ebay France. Jur
Hey, Jur, I promised, in a PM, to send along some photos of my 1920 Primus Pocket Outfit, so here there are. Please note the sliding cleaning pin arrangement. This is the only cleaning pin specimen of this kind that I've seen, but I'm sure that more of the Brits and Scandanavian Stovies have seen more of these. Here's a shot of my 96, all packed up. All setup and ready to do. Check out the sliding cleaning pin. Neat, huh?!! Here's a close-up shot. Note the separate tank venting, and the neat fuel cap engraving, same as yours, Jur. Here's a shot of the stubby little legs, which I think are very cool, indeed! "J" = 1920, according to the Primus dating chart on CCS. This stove was given to me by two US Marines, who were brothers, and from whom I had bought a ton of other stoves! They said I was the only one they knew who would appreciate it for what it was, and they wanted me to have it as a gift. Very nice of them, don't you think?!! In case you'd like to see a set of original instructions on the card that came with these stoves, here are two shots, one of each side of the card. I apologize for the poor quality of these photos, and if you'd like, I can retake them, using a tripod and better lighting this time, and send them along to you. You can print them out on card stock and there you go!! So, that's my 1920 Primus Pocket Outfit. It was my very first paraffin stove, and I fell in deep lust with it, from the very first time I saw it!! I couldn't believe my good fortune on the day it was gifted to me. These fellows had TOLD me about this stove exactly one year, to the day, that they actually gave it to me. As they took so long, I had actually believed that they were yanking my chain for an entire year, until the day they handed it over!! That will teach me to be more trusting, eh??!! 8) Jur, let me know if you want better shots of the instruction card, and I'll take them and send them to you, or post them here. Congrats on getting such a fine little stove, and for a DIRT CHEAP price, too!! Very cool!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc Mark
Thanks Mark, Great pics, and now I understand finally how the two lower clips on the tin's lid are meant to be used. Only yesterday I was trying them to hold an ordinary pricker, wondering how on earth it would ever stay put in that place. Next problem of course will be sourcing one of those sliding cleaning pins ... You don't have to bother photograping the instruction card, as there is already a usefull pic here on this site http// which I can print and make into a 'new' card. I did the same with the instructions for my other Primus 96, and it's hard to tell the diffrence from an original instruction card. And yes, my Pocket Primus is the same as yours. Upon cleaning the tank's underside there showed besides the letter D (btw not inside the factory stamp, as in yours, but somewhere beside it) a very small number 4. I suppose that was the month of factory, as my other 96 has a similar small nr. 6 besides its letter (forgot wat that exactly is, will check later). So that'd date my Pocket Primus april 1914. Guessing just a bit further, it's not at all unlikely that the stove came to France (where from it has come to me) as part of an English officer's private kit, for use whilst on duty in the trenches of WW I. I think this because a typical camper's stove like this one would have been just the thing for that small and privileged group of people with enough time and money for that - at the time - new and typically English passtime of camping just for pleasure, which in France probably would have been unheard of as yet. Jur
Great stoves it's hard to see how you can improve on that old design. Perfect, just perfect. Regards, Alan
Morning, Jur, I'm glad the photos were of some help, and sorry to have been so long in getting them taken and posted. You have a wonderful little stove there, and I think you will very much enjoy it. Maybe next time Sweet Bride and I get over to Amsterdam, we can meet up with you again, and you can have your Pocket Outfit "in your pocket", like you did your Campus stove!!! 8) 8) I know it would be hard to arrange, but it would sure be fun if we could do an overnight, or a weekend campout, with you, Bart, and any other Stovies in the area!! We'd have to rent tents and such, as we would certainly not pack such things with us. But, that would be a blast!!! Hummmmm, now to see if we can make it happen!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc Mark
No need to rent anything Mark, We have enough tents etc. here to house a complete family (+ dog) in comfort with lots of space to spare, and the two of you will fit in anytime. Stoves in abundance as well of course; I imagine something like a virtual trip through stove history, starting with the oldest (presently the PP) and ending up with something ghastly modern (how about a Camping Gaz?), all the time comparing performances, deciding that all those newer stoves are nothing like the classics, and finally pulling yet another cork to celebrate this momentous decision. Just let me know when you're ready, and we''ll make it happen. All other stovies (US, UK and elsewhere) are invited herewith as well. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BTW anyone knows about present state of Runegutt's Stove Gathering next year? I was planning to go by motorcycle (5000+++ kms, looking forward very much), pm-ed him, but no reaction thus far.
Hey, Jur, Sounds just great! Sweet Bride and I will look forward to that happening! I do have one small correction to make about my own PP, though. I am embarrassed to admit it, but my recollection of exactly when I got the gift of that stove, was more than a little off base. Though my very first kerosene stove WAS a 96, which was stove #19 in my then small collection, it was not the PP! Instead, it was an Optimus 96, which I got in 1988, in mint shape, at that same old swap meet which produced most of my stoves, for the cost of $25!! My 1920 Primus Pocket Outfit came to live with us on January 14, 1989, and was stove #52 in my growing collection!! Dang, my memory ain't what it used to be!!!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc Mark
