Good Morning, SS and Trebor, Excellent job, Trebor, in illustrating the slot and tab form of making an outer cap captive! Well done! Optimus used to make a Model 45A, based upon a regular 45 font, but with a Meths burner, and it got some very good reviews back then, as being actually better than many white gas stoves of that time. I have one in The Hobbit Hole, and whilst the hole and tab situation is a bit different than Trebor's, it works in exactly the same manner. Your burner, Dave, is setup just like Trebor's, and so, "now, we know..... the rest of the story", for those of you who remember the late, and very great, Paul Harvey!! Glad that the mystery has been solved, and once again, CCS shows why it's the best forum on the internet today, IMHO!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
hi all and thanks for sharing, Sunny I wish I could link you to an Optimus catalog of your stove w/that burner. Finding "Optimus" details of their 111s w/silents was a challenge, for me anyway. You asked: What have I got? (good question, ie what model 111? what No. burner?) and How old do you think it is? here's a "dating a 111" post from '08 you may finding interesting. https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/ You asked Doc "I would be interested to see some photos of your other burner with the slots and the cap" RE that: Doc's image does show how burner secures his outer caps. Many of us are familiar with his but his burner nor caps are secured like yours. An Optimus cap w/2 male tangs like yours, "the cap", is common as it was in use many years including iirc on Optimus 209N regulated alcohol burner. re YOUR exact "burner"... I wonder are these 2 examples the only ones on CCS? (sure as I suggest this there will be more examples but I don't recall seeing 1). I'll go out on a limb w/a guess that your burner w/that latch mechanism is rare and was short-lived replaced by what Doc shows us. re "How old do you think it is?" Quick question/ for Trebor. My impression is yours is "original", can you also share with us a pic: control knob set on top of 111 showing the top of case and w/label? (we see if it matches sunny) The facts shared w/us can help us try to determine approx. how old. > "OPTIMUS PRIMUS". Trebor added (for yours and his) "That is the original burner cap". > Doc [certainly pre-8 "I'd say you have the first version of the Optimus 111Triple Fuel stove" "It doesn't have a Cobra burner, but instead the simply unbeatable #221" This burner seems, to me, genuine Optimus and rare (w/that latch) and I'm curious. As mentioned in my open it would be nice to link it to catalog(s). 80s are suggested but fwiw the 67 Primus catalog (from Optimus) ie "OPTIMUS PRIMUS" years?), the 5R stove refers to a No. 4150 burner (a regulated alcohol burner). There are no details for 4150 burner. I would guess in 67 it was an Optimus 4-tube kero burner restricted/jetted for alcohol? ...a guess. curious omc
So, just replaced the fuel cap washer and NRV and cleaned jet. Fired her up with Kero and seems to run OK, but not what I would call great. Not a lot of turn between 'closed' and 'clean', but with very slight adjustment can get steady blue flames, but not as strong as I would like. Suggestions? Try different fuel perhaps? Are the extra holes affecting the flames? And then there was a bonus - I cleaned the (very good) paintwork on the case and lightly hand engraved on the base is a broad (MoD) arrow, 1988, and NSN (googled = STOVE,GASOLINE BURN). So guys, you were very accurate with the 1980's guess-timates and I've learned even more about its history!
I can only show the burner since I don`t have it complete with a 111. But I do remember when I was in the Norwegian army in 1989 we had these burners. I did fettle hundreds for the battalion and I saw and fettle a couple of these ones. Rob
Sunny Many on this forum, including me, run their 111s with the self cleaning pricker removed. In old stoves the pricker ratchet is often worn or burred. If you want to run it with the pricker it can be easily re-set (there are instructions on this forum). I would try cleaning the burner and nipple thoroughly (try carburettor cleaner and a pipe cleaner), and then running it with clean kerosene for about 15 mins, making sure the jet is kept clean. Cheers Tony
Thx again to all, I'm not questioning it but will say dating that OPTIMUS PRIMUS burner to '88... I am surprised by that. Thx too Rob for responding, those are very cool details to hear " ...fettle hundreds for the battalion and I saw and fettle a couple of these ones." I've seen 2. I should get out more often. thx omc
As the date is hand engraved (neatly scratched) into the paint on the base, I guess it could be that the stove was issued in 1988, but may have spent some time on the shelves in the 'Quartermaster's Store'???
Hi, have a look at this old post on informal markings on a Military stove: https://classiccampstoves.com/posts/284474 Beat Regards, Kerophile.
Morning, Dave, I'm glad you are finding more info on your stove, and also that the dating of it is coming together. As to my own comments on dating it, I used to keep copious notes as to when, where, and what I bought, when it came to my stove collection. As I mentioned in a previous post, I bought my stove in 1988, but it had languished on the store shelves for many years before that, and I had seen it quite often in those days, and yearned to own it! The day Tim, at A16 accepted my offer of purchase, was a VERY happy day for me, indeed!! I actually have an old A16 catalog, "somewhere" that shows that exact stove when it first came into the store, and if memory serves, that catalog, and the 111T, dates closer to 1984, originally. When the catalog comes to hand, I'll know for sure, and can update this info for you at that time. I have your instructions laid out for Mailing, if you want them, so let me know. If not, that's OK, too, and I'll just put them back into the file from whence they came. Glad you're having fun with your stove, and keep us posted as to your further adventures with it. Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
These two holes @sunny.sixteen - I have at least two 111T with same holes. I was told by a trustworthy officer in the army up here; There was one incident/nearly accident during tenting winter in the army in the Troms-region; a soldier stumbled onto a burning 111. The stove turned over and started a fire. The outer burner cap loosened (and so did the inner cap) from the burner. Lots of flames I guess. After that incident the army asked Optimus to make a solution for fixing the outer cap to the burner. I guess this solution (the two holes / special outer cap) is only found on stoves used by the Norwegian army. My two 111T with this fixed outer cap were for sure used by the army. Noen of my civil 111T has got this fixed burner cap.
