Onepot I'm on the same wavelength as you. Provided it's functional I think it ought to be left this way. It's like the hammer that I've had for 40 years, only 1 new head and 4 new handles Albert Thanks for the seals. I'll make sure you and everyone involved gets due credit. I've just got off the phone to the features editor of yachting monthly wanting to do a feature on the stove for their web site and the mag. I've given spiritburner.com a plug. I'll post some pics maybe tonight. cheers
Yes, Henry, I've been giving this some thought for a couple of days... As I see it, there two choices - either completely re-enamel it OR leave it cosmetically completely alone with the couple of chips as they are. IMHO you do not want to be farting about with 'goo' / tarting up the exposed edges etc. Anyway, I suspect the goo stuff is to do with enamel paint rather than vitreous enamel with which the stove was finished originally - two vastly different finishes. So I feel it's 'all or nothing' - as far as the enamel is concerned, anyway. Service parts are a completely different matter and these will have to be changed if the stove is to be reliable and safe. Doing that wouldn't alter the 'uniqueness' of the stove whereas anything else likely would. Like OP, I get a bit offended by people who over-restore things (usually Yanks with cars/motorbikes etc. but also women) to the point that they end up bearing only a passing resemblance to the artefact as it was originally. The trick, of course, is to know when to stop restoring. I'm happy just to get my lamps and lanterns back to somewhere near the condition in which they left the factory - and call it a day at that point. Others may have, and are entitled to, a different view...
No big deal Henry You are the one who is doing the hard yard mate. I would like to give them a spare stove the same, But the postage cost is probably worth more than the stove. Now if they had another boat leaving Brisbane Queensland I could drop it off.
Come on you lot HELP!!!!! We're talking a piece of maritime history here I've had only 2 real offers of bits. See further back in this listing for bits that I need. I also need a jet removal tool. It's not the standard 'primus' size. Same size as the NRV at the bottom of the pump or the jet on a 111 I also need some literature. Has anyone got lighting instructions that I can have a copy of??
Henry the seals and likes should be with you in a few days if not already there. Jet tool I got one last week-end I will send this over, as soon as I find it again. But I think a valve tool would be better for them. That way one tool will do both jobs.
Albert Thanks for that. As long as it goes down the tube of the silent burner. Also I assume setting the cleaning needle is the same as a 111
When I was a young lad, on a Sunday morning I would hear WAKEEE WAKEEEEEEE, the wake up call of Billy Cotton on the radio; I now give the same shout to the forum, wake up and lets support Henry here. This is a bit of British History we are talking about for crying out loud, lets put the Norway trip, and saving for our super duper rare stove on hold for a little while and help in a positive way. As a bunch of collectors and enthusiasts go,,,,,,, well, all I can say is that I've seen more "Go" in the last suck of a boiled sweet than has been shown here. Shame on us all. Why don't we chip in a few quid, and let Henry bid on the ebay stove, I'll send a tenner to start the ball rolling, so come on, lets be seeing some cash or some bloody support for this project RIK ?10 PLEDGED This post is not meant to offend any forum member(s), I just hope it wakes one or two up All the best
Gordon Thanks for that but I don't think a complete stove is the way to go. I'd like to keep it as original as poss. The main frame, pot stands and tank are all fine, as are the burners (well they worked ) I suppose a couple of spare burners may come in handy but not essential. What I really need are spare parts to supply with the working stove so that in the middle of the southern ocean they're not stuck. Rik Thanks for your 'call to arms' I think we as a group ought to be able to sort this out. !! EVERYBODY !! just look at the pic further back in the link and see if you have anything that's needed Thanks also for the pledge of the crinkley stuff. I don't want to sound ungrateful but cash isn't always the way. If I need to buy anything I don't suppose it will come to a vast amount, anyway I can always stop James' pocket money and tell him it could be his way to help I've been on to our sponsors and as yet I've heard nothing, I think it may be because they've been on holiday. cheers
I realize as an American, I don't have a dog in this hunt, but I have to agree with Graham on this one. I've been involved in two historical restorations and over restoring is a mistake people usually try to make. Unless the stove was damaged after Sir Francis owned it, I would only put it into good working order and clean it up. It should be left as close to how it was when he last owned it. As for actually using it, I would be tempted very strongly to move Heaven and Earth to obtain a duplicate for actual use. As we Americans say: "Just my two cents worth." How can I help? What's the easiest way to get some boodle into the kitty for this project from here? If I mail some American greenbacks, is there a convenient way to get them exchanged? One other thing, I had no Idea Gypsy Moth was built of plywood. As a boat and yacht builder and repairer, that's fascinating to me. Gerry
Gerry They fully intend to use this stove and nothing else. There are no plans to install gas on board. I can see no reason at all why when it's all up and running it shouldn't last for 20 or 30 years, just like most Primus stoves. Yours and others concerns about 'over restoring, I completely agree with. There's little or no point in going down this road, they'd just as well buy a new one. Thanks for the offer of the folding stuff but as I said before I don't think that's the way to go. If I do need money I feel sure that the trust would come up with what ever is required. They are as keen as me to get it back on board. I think that as a group of like minded enthusiasts (nutters ) we have an opportunity to 'do our bit' An awful lot of Primus parts are interchangeable so anything from the parts list from anyone would be good. cheers
Henry I have the jet tool in my hot little hand at this point in time. Ugly critter it is. Stamped Sweden/Primus. Another part on it to tighten the gland seal nut. Will be in the mail next trip to Post Office
Hi Henry - what a great project for you & James to get involved in! I can let you have a couple of pump leathers, end bosses & nut's plus some burner washers. I'll have a dig through my stuff to see what else I've got. Do you need rubber to make any of the other seals? I'd leave the enamel well alone - just clean & service. It'll have earned it's chips!
I side with those who express the suggestion to keep the stove original. It is the stove used by the great man himself, right? Then why destroying the only reason why it is exceptional by errasing signs of his use? Even when really damaged, which obviously is not the case, you do not touch it other than service it. If it is a (like) new one the owner wants, where presentability is paramount, I would gladly buy a new-in-box replacement for it in exchange. There are enough 535's in such condition around. Or is this a joke? After all, Britain is known worldwide for a national developed sense of historical value. And again, replacing would be easier, quicker and probabely cheaper. On the matter of rebuilding the boat: almost any vintage build wooden boat that I know of, a lot of even their basic structure has been replaced already through the decades. And damage repaired as a matter of course, but that never compromises its authenticity, or historical value as many owners and insurance companies(!) can attest. Granted, how it is done matters, but in the case of an authentic and very presentable stove it is "Not Done"! So Henry, keep a straight course on this one! I wish you succes on this wonderful project that caries a considerable historical weight! Regards, Mike Meijer.
Hello Rick, I also noticed this topic is a bit "dated", but what was the outcome of this story? Regards, Wim
The boat sank, or went aground on an island in the South Pacific. The skipper was sacked, the yacht recovered, shipped to Australia and repaired I believe. Some NZ members of CCS were going to be involved in trying to recover and repair the stove(s) which the crew had buggered up well before the yacht sank. The stoves proved too complicated for today's youth, or at least the ones chosen to crew this vessel. https://classiccampstoves.com/posts/49149 A cynical, Kerophile.
Well George, who would not be cynical? . This is really unbelievable. Let's hope ship and stove are in safer hands now! Regards, Wim
