Optimus No 9

I like it when the postman brings me things.
Now to see if I can turn these two pieces of brass sheet into a replacement end cap, turns out a friend of mine has sheet metal rollers so a trip to visit him over the next couple of weeks is on the cards.
The larger piece is 0.9mm and the little one is 1.6mm I’ll keep you posted of how it goes.
If anyone can help guide me in the right direction as to where I can get replacement tools ( jet cleaner etc ) to go inside the clam shell I would be very grateful for any help.

 

Another update for those that are interested and following my restoration.
It appears that my intended visit to my friend who has metal rollers is a long way off, so I decided to buy a cheap set off eBay and roll it myself.
Started off making a mock up out of paper, then moved onto rolling one out of bit of scrap 1.2mm Stainless.
Next I cut a strip of 0.9mm brass and on my second attempt I cut it the correct length as I wanted it about 1mm to long so I could file it down a bit to get a nice snug push fit.
Then had a go at rolling it, turned out ok and after a bit of fettling with the file I managed to get a nice push fit, next was to cut the 1.6mm brass to make the end piece.
Next job silver solder the whole thing together and that’s as far as I’ve got. I’ll add some more photos once I’ve shaped it all up with files and emery paper, then send it off to the metal finishers for plating.
Im really enjoying doing this restoration job and hope I’m doing it justice, I know some of you are serious collectors and some suggested I should of left it alone, but to leave all the mild steel parts covered in rust in my mind was not an option.

 

Hello, you’re doing great! Once plated it will look great!

Nicola

 

I am enjoying watching this.

 

Had a few hours fettling the new end cab this afternoon, filing it into shape and bevelling the edge followed by a polish on the spindle.

First I’d like to say a big thank you to Ben from across the pond for taking the time to measure the end cap on his one and for sending me the details, I’ve made this one to as close as I can possibly get to the original specifications, just got the little hole left to drill out.

It was suggested way back in this thread that the outer plating finish on the tank and clam shells was bright nickel, this I wasn’t to sure about so I purchased some nickel testing solution and tested it back then and it tested as not being nickel, now the end cap is almost ready to be sent to the same metal finishers that nickel plated the other parts for me, its extremely important that I get it right.

So I’ve decided to test it again and show you all the results in the last photo, the cotton bud on the far left is from testing the inside of the clam shell, pink colour indicates nickel present, the one in the centre is from testing the heat shield and mounting bracket, again pink indicates nickel
(not surprised here as these are the parts I had satin nickel plated)
now, the one on the right is from testing the outside of the clam shells and the fuel tank, no colour change can be seen, so this confirms my results from testing last time that the outer metal finish is actually chrome plated, the nickel that is present on the inside of the clam shells is from the nickel plate that was done prior to the chrome, infact there is a very small chip of chrome plate missing on the edge of the tank and looking through an eye glass I can actually still see a tiny bit of copper plate that would of been under the nickel, so I’m going to bite the bullet and get the new end cap triple plated with copper nickel chrome.
Probably won’t get it back from the platters this side of Christmas/New year as they always seem to be extremely busy, but it’s all heading in the right direction.
Who would of thought a £5 stove from a car boot sale would end up being so exciting and enjoyable to renovate.
I’ll update again once I get the end cap back.
Merry Christmas and New year to you all.

 

Hi @Car Boot Treasure Hunter . Thank you for the recent update on the restoration journey. I cannot think of a more suitable owner of this rare and interesting Optimus stove.
Thank you for keeping us informed of your meticulous restoration.

Best Regards,
Kerophile.

 

@kerophile thank you for your kind words, I must say I’m really enjoying doing it as it’s something different from the usual things I mess about with.

 

I agree.
This is one of the best fettle jobs seen here.

 

Hi everyone, hope you all had a nice Christmas etc.
Just a little update for those that are interested.
Following on from my last post, if you remember just before Christmas I sent the end cap I made off to the metal finishers to be chrome plated, well as you can see it has returned and I am well pleased with the end results, it looks fabulous and fits perfectly.
If anything it now looks to clean and shiny compared to the rest of the stove, but then it is 86 years old and probably had a hard life so it’s bound to be scratched up and dull, I could if I wanted get the rest of the stove stripped and re chromed but I think that would be a foolish thing to do as I’m trying to keep it as original as possible, I only made the end cap because it was completely missing, so although it’s not an original item it at least makes the stove complete, the nickel plating I had done was for preservation, because to leave it rusting away in my opinion was not an option.

On another note I have come across a problem that wasn’t there before but is now, although I changed all the rubber seals during my restoration it seems that the non return valve in the primer pump has started letting fuel leak past into the primer tube, this only became apparent when I brought the stove out from the cold garage into the house to acclimatise before trying the new end cap for the first time, coming down the stairs in the morning to the house stinking of paraffin didn’t go down to well with the wife, the cat didn’t look to impressed either, I think the warming increased the pressure in the tank overnight and flooded the lounge floor with paraffin. Oops
I now have a new seal kit on the way.

I’ll update again once it’s all back together and maybe fire it up again to make another cup of tea and just marvel at it roaring away, preferably in the dark, to me it’s a thing of beauty and I’m astonished it actually works.
I’m rather glad I found it.

 

@Car Boot Treasure Hunter
Bloody marvellous !
Great work!

 

Incredible work. Bravo!

 

I'll echo what @nmp , and @snwcmpr , wrote! Stunningly good work on that wonderful #9! It's a thing of beauty, for sure! Well done, and congratulations on your scoring the stove, and for your excellent work in refurbishing it!

- Doc

 

Another little update for those that are interested.
So following on from my last post, indeed it was the non return valve leaking past in the primer pump, so I was going to order another seal kit but decided as I only needed the small rubber slug that sits in the little brass cup I thought I might as well make one instead, this I done by using a hole punch in a piece of 5mm rubber and used the bit that came out and it fits and seals perfectly.

Next I had to order another leather cup washer for the primer pump as I damaged the other new one I fitted whist putting all back together, only difference this time I managed to source the correct size 1/2”
the last one was 14mm and I had to file it down a bit to fit, so that’s probably why it split.

Anyhow because the primer pump now works as it should I just couldn’t resist firing it up again, I know some of you probably cringe every time i fire it up because of possible catastrophic failure with regards to the fuel tank, sorry I’m a great believer in if it works it should, no matter how old or rare a thing is.

Ben has kindly sent me the measurements of the little spanner that clips inside one of the clam shells, I will get my friend to laser cut me a replacement, I’m not having much luck trying to source an original Optimus jet cleaner/pricker, so I’ll probably have to settle for a Primus one.

I wonder if I can make a new replacement canvas/cotton cover for it ?
Ben can you help again ? have you got the original cover/bag for yours ?

I would like to show you all a video of it roaring away, but I can’t work out how I post a link for you to view the video I took, I’ve never used or posted on a forum before so no idea what I’m doing.

 

I would recommend a fuel resistant material instead of rubber.

Well done. I make my own pips now, too. I drilled a hole in a bolt, then ground it down to an sharp end. Works a treat in the drill press with a bit of oil.

 

Trepanning NRV washers.

 

That's what I learned. Thanks @kerophile

 

As my restoration of the No9 is drawing to and an end I thought you might like to see and hear it in all its glory, the video was taken last week when i fired it up again after carrying out a pressure check after replacing the little seal in the primer pump and the fitting of a new leather cup.

I suppose my restoration will soon be coming to an end, quite sad really as I’ve really enjoyed doing it, makes a change to mess about with something different.

It would be interesting to hear your thoughts on something though, should I leave the worn and scratched chrome plating on the clam shells and fuel tank ? or get it stripped and re-plated, personally I’m thinking leave it as it is.
I will summarise with a post once it’s finished and then try and decide whether to keep it or sell it.


vimeo.com/910437945/46f668eb5e?share=copy

 

Amazing!

 

Excellent!

Cheers

Tony

 

I forgot to respond until you posted today. I do have the bag and it seems to be made out of green lightweight canvas. The finished bag is 13.25 inches long. The bottom is a circle with a 3.5 inch diameter (same as the stove bottom). The cylinder portion of the bag has a 4 inch diameter. The cylinder has to be gathered to fit the bottom. The top is folded over and has 11 eyelets that the string goes through. The odd number of eyelets means the string has to go over the top of the bag to come out right.

Top of the bag when tied.


Bottom of the bag


Closeup of drawstrings


Inside of the bag showing one of the bottom gathers.


Another gather


Top of the inside


Because of the odd number of holes the drawstring has to go over the top of the bag then back through the last hole


Ben

P.S. - Let me know if you need any further information or dimensions.