I have a few optimus 8r stoves. but this one is a little unique with the embossed optimus logo. i had another similar a few years back that i got for a bargain. but this one is even nicer. i think it's around 1960 era. does anyone have any idea of value? i understand the embossed ones are quite rare. it looks a lot nicer in the flesh than on the pictures. thanks
Unfortunately CCS does not endorse values of stoves. The good news is you can go to auction sites and see plenty of 8Rs that sold. Not terribly rare but a great everyday runner.
I think the value of stoves is one of the interest aspects of collecting them. Crunchiespg, these are hard to value, but I did see your ad to trade for a Trangia Duo. Unless you have a mint 8R in its box etc. you will be very unlikely to find any takers.
id add cash on top for the trangia, i basically threw it as an option as it might pique someones interest in parting with their duossal. but I've never seen an 8r with the optimus logo embossed on top sell. thats basically my point, is how rare are they with that?
I have picked up a few so they are not that rare. Just depends what's on the market at the time. Great little stoves, I love mine to bits. Reliable, rugged and lots of character. Alec.
A year ago I would have offered $2 for it but now I have one so I recon the value is $1.50 as long as that includes free postage (probably $20 to post to here). There is a very good reason why this site doesn't offer valuations.
The embossed case 8R's are older and have a bit more collector interest than the non-embossed. I'm not sure how rare they are but from my observations they usually fetch a little more at auction. Ray
Hi, Crunchiespg, Your Optimus 8R is a very nice stove, but unfortunately, the embossing, alone, have not made it worthy of being "super collectable". I have two of those, and paid $5 for one, and $20 for the other, if memory serves. To get a really collectable stove of that family, you would have to be offering an Optimus #8 (NO R), which does not have the internal cleaning needle, and also has a lovely embossed case. My $20 one if one of those. We surely don't want to poke holes in your great little 8R, because it's a wonderful little stove. But, it is not highly collectable, in and of itself, and it's "value", whatever that turns out to be, is in being a great little user stove. That would be just right for your stove, and congratulations on scoring it. Use it, love it, and enjoy it, but don't be bummed if your stove does not bring a high price, if you are trying to sell or trade it! The Trangia DuoSSal set that you seek, has far higher "value" to most of us, than an 8R, even a nice one like yours. I hope that helps a little. Enjoy your stove! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Can you guys not see the pictures I attached? It's not one of the ones with just "8R" embossed. It has the italic writing "Optimus" embossed too. I've never seen any others with that and when I had another one a few years back it was creating quite a stir of excitement on this very site. Maybe things have changed.
I think the "stock" answer for evaluations should be ... ..."more than some...and less than others." The interesting thing about rare and evaluations is they don't necessarily equate. An Edsel is by its very nature a rare car... but who wants one?
Did you click on 'Fullsize' in the File Manager when you uploaded your images? I presume not because one of the other Mods has had to attend to your first post...
Hi, Crunchiespg, Yes, I saw the photos, and again, you have a nice stove, for using. And, yes, it might be sought after by some folks. But, times change, and now there seems to have been a plethora of those same stoves available, for very reasonable prices, in the last couple of years. The stove Mydogchillroy mentioned is one of the really rare ones, and it will probably go for huge dollars, even though I was hoping to get it "under the radar", for far less!! Again, don't be bummed out about your stove. It's wonderful. Just not hugely collectable, nor will be bring huge dollars, UNLESS someone specific wants that specific stove for a specific spot in their collection. I hope you use it well, and enjoy it for what it is!! "Value" is very, very, very relative, and what garners huge dollars for a period of years, may fall from popularity, as more and more of them suddenly become available. The Optimus #8 stoves are more rare, and the older #8 stoves are very rare. Hopefully, you are a happy owner of that lovely little 8R, and will enjoy it for many years. If all you wanted to do was sell it, list it on eBay, and see what it brings you. Whatever price you get, will be it's "value" for THAT day, and for THAT buyer. Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
that is a very nice stove, especially considering it comes with a pump/cap, but it would be a lot more valuable with a silent damper/minicap! :-) willie on the sunny Gulf of Mexico
This is my experiance on 8r stoves. When I bought mine I got it for 20 needing nothing more than a quick paint. On the same auction site at the same time was another 8r with rust holes in the case but it sold for over 100. Why I dont know but there was nothing special about the other one. I got my 99 for under 30 as well. Yours having the embossed case should sell well but dont expect the world for it. At auction the price only goes high if 2 people are interested and both are willing to pay the high price. What you list today could sell for 10 times what it will next week Or a tenth of that amount. Thats the life of all collectables
It is true that the cases with the embossed top like yours is older than those without the embossing. However, they are not all that rare. Here are just some form our own CCS Stove Gallery . . . . .
crunchiespg, If you like the embossed case, be happy you have a nice example of one. I have a couple and would not consider them too special, but I like the look. My experience is that the stoves with an embossed logo heat water and food about as well as those that don't.
I picked up two of these last year, one eBay the other craigslist, cheaper than later editions. Its just a stove, not a Matisse.
