*edit: possible appr. year of manufacturing changed in title after later posts. Here we have a largely unrestored early Høvik Værk No.1 type stove. The only markings are 'CHRISTIANIA GLASMAGASIN. HOVIK. ETAB 1739' (Christiania Glass-holdings, Hovik, established 1739), Christiania Glasmagasin was the parent company that owned the Hovik works, on the filler cap: and a very tiny, impressed, 'HØVIK VÆRK' (Hovik Works) on the tank base: All of the various features of the stove, other than the distinctive form of the pressure release key, closely mirror the design of pre-1911 Primus No.1 stoves: If this is pre-WW1, however, the pump rod assembly would suggest that it could not be any older than c.1908/9 at the very earliest. It is uncertain, however, when exactly the production of pressure stoves at the Hovik Works actually began. Historical sources suggest that there was a big movement to promote home based production of all sorts in Norway that started immediately after WW1, so that may be the sort of time production of these stoves began. On the other hand later dated Hovik produced stoves were marketed using their own new 'Standard' brand. The 'Standard' brand was definitely established in use by 1924, so this stove must be earlier than that.
Very nice stove. I especially like the pressure relief key. Do you think it is original or a well made replacement? I've never seen another like it. Ben
@OMC Hei Mark, kan du teste ut din norsk litt mer ved å følge linken som jeg har lagt her. Hilsen, Ian.
No offence but when I try to enunciate Scandinavian, I cannot help myself sounding like a certain Chef.... I have a friend who spent 10 years in Stavanger and became quite fluent, he tried to educate me but gave it up as a bad job Alec
Ben, @z1ulike It looks identical to the one on the Victoria. (I keep promising myself to post this one in the SRG.) ....Arch
@ArchMc you are absolutely dead right about the pressure screw, fancy that! Just coincidence? or evidence of copying from, or a link to, Nyberg/Sievert? (c/f Victoria here). Ian.
Update following on from this exciting new post by @Håvard Kvernelv. The stove in that post differs from this one only in respect of the air screw key and the fact that it bears the name 'STANDARD' on the tank. It is also accompanied by this advert taken out by Christiana Glasmagasin in May 1912: The inference would seem to be that the stove presented above was made only very shortly before the finished version shown in the advert and Håvard's post, i.e. most likely 1910±1 or 2.
Thanks for the update @igh371 as another piece of the puzzle fits together, incredible how early this is. All the more interesting considering the history of this example- I bought this stove in Suffolk from somebody who couldn't give me all the details but could confirm it had been in this country for a long time, from the end of WWII if not before. In a moment of madness (well, desperate for money) I ebayed it and thankfully Ian was the high bidder! How one of Høvik Værk's earliest stoves ended up in use in England I have no idea, possibly during one of the wars....?
Regarding the question on when Høvik Verk began their production of stoves: During a visit to Høvik Library, I found the manuscript for a speech given at a Jubilee dinner (?) in 1973 where Aasmund Gundersen (I believe a former employee and engineeer at Høvik Verk) said: "A new and big line of products was initiated around the turn of the century, when the company started the production of kerosene pressurized-gas-devices. Primarily stoves, but also burners for soldering, and pre-heating of motors/engines." The translation from Norwegian may not be 100% precise, but I guess you get the message. ;-) Blow torches were important for the small fishing boats in early 20th century, to heat semi-diesel engines during start.
I think we can see a "time line" for the No. 31 model (roarer) from Høvik Verk. The oldest in this post, and my "1912-model" being no. 2. I also presented this model: Høvik Verk - early No. 31 which I think is the 3rd model before the 'final' and most common No. 31. It should be noted that we don't know any model numbers for the three first variant mentioned here. In the catalogue of 1933 (https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/høvik-verk-katalog-l-1933.50678/) the product has got its number "31".
