Contemporary catalogue references in the Stove Reference Library suggest a 1936 date, or thereabouts. "The Hiker's companion" is a quote from this catalogue entry. While on that catalogue page, note there being an option of a nickel-plated fuel tank for an extra one shilling and sixpence. Though my example has a brass tank, the loss of gold paint due to wear and tear has exposed nickel plating of the steel of the stove frame/windshield beneath. It seems probable that the nickel plated tank version was paired up with a stove frame painted but without the gold paint. That would be a fine sight! In places the nickel plating has peeled off. That last photo illustrates one of the devices (there's another one on the other side of the tank) to lock stove frame to the tank. Thoughtfully, the manufacturer has worked a knurled rim to the stove tank to provide a better grip to twist and pull the two components apart, or assemble them. Comparison with a Svea 123. Fuel tank stamped with the manufacturer's name, country of origin and fuel to be used, "benzoline" or "petrol". Close up of one of the two frame mounting 'pips' on the fuel tank. Stamped inscription on the lid ... ... attached to the regulator key by a chain and the key stows away in a riveted clip. Fettling the stove, I replaced the fuel cap washer (cork) with a viton equivalent and replaced the wick as a matter of course. Good job I removed the burner because I found that the wick was only partially inserted in it ... ... with a good half-inch (12-13mm) of an air gap above it, which would have made priming slow and giving a subdued output. I took the opportunity to heat up the burner to a dull red to dislodge (with the help of blasts of air from an air line) any carbon traces in the fuel passages in it. New wick installed. Lively performance. That flame shot is framed by the wire pot rest ... ... clipped in place within the top of the windshield. A Svea 123 with it's splayed pot rests is a more stable platform, but a kettle of suitable size sits well enough on there. It was @kerophile who made the connection in THIS post featuring my Pifco Camper that Monitor were the likely manufacturer of the Pifco. Now I have the two to compare, though not identical twins by any means, the family resemblance is quite clear. John
What a lovely stove! I notice on the leaflet 'shews'. Is that a typo? Or has the spelling changed? EDIT: looked it up and yes it was spelt this way. It is similar to the svea 123 but I am not sure when the 123 first came out. So is this before or were they rivals? Euther way a lovely little stove and as with all your stoves fettled perfectly.
What a wonderful job on that stove. Do I understand that it's likely this was the inspiration for the Svea 123, 20 years later? Design is way too similar to be a coincidence.
@salan3 The Svea 123 came on the market twenty years after the Monitor as @GeneH pointed out. That pattern of stove was made by some other contemporary manufacturers such as Selus from France, Juwel and Arara in Germany so I wouldn't necessarily give the Monitor sole credit. Here's another contemporary - Le Tiarko from France - with the Svea for comparison.
Some wicks are wrapped with brass mesh (John original one) some maybe rolled with a sheet of brass like on this other example… As John says I don’t think that could affect the performances.
@XF1988 hello brother, you always get super flames, congratulations! Is your wick wrapped in a copper sheet? Is that you are referring to? Thanks
