Stoves - vintage camping

[PADDY]

Gentlemen: I've just picked up an old turn-of-the-Century camping/travelling stove. Found it literally plastered in dirt and dust that has coated this brass stove for over half a century. With elbow grease, soap and water and then some Brasso, it came up nicely and even the branded "MONITOR" Label was discovered (it was just invisible under the grime).
Similar stoves were used on Scott's Expedition.
There is an old merchant's store (this place hasn't changed since the 30's and the owner who still works there is in her 90's) near to me that has been going for 'at least' 100-years. They have old wittled tent pegs from the 40's, various brass lamps..etc. There's probably even 'lost tribes' and a colony of Dodo's living down one of the many aisles..!!
I've got a few pieces to find/source before I can have *blast off* (well hopefully it won't be THAT dramatic!) with this little baby.

 

[PADDY]

Meant to say mid-century!

 

[Yeps]

That is pretty cool. I always use an MSR whisperlite, but you definitely win on the cool factor. I have never used a paraffin stove, where do you get the fuel?

 

[Oldsarge]

If anyone is interested, I have a mid-century Primus that saw use less than a couple of dozen times. My father bought it in Kalispell, Montana when I was in Boy Scouts or possibly Explorers. It works beautifully but I have no real need for it. When I take up camping again it will be in a teardrop trailer and a single burner Primus won't be good for much there, either.

I also have a large collection of odd ammunition that I was given by a friend shortly before he passed away. If any of you are cartridge collectors, shoot me a PM.

 

[Bert Fink]

That is pretty cool. I always use an MSR whisperlite, but you definitely win on the cool factor. I have never used a paraffin stove, where do you get the fuel?

I believe liquid paraffin is commonly marketed as "tiki torch" fuel, or lamp oil.

 

[Oldsarge]

Liquid paraffin is, I believe, kerosene. This is a much safer fuel than gasoline (petrol) but one that doesn't burn as hot in a stove. In a lamp it gives a yellower, softer light than white gas.

 

[PADDY]

I use Kerosene in my old brass Tilley Lamps (made in Northern Ireland, no less!) and just buy it in a plastic container at a local merchants'. I love the comforting *hiss* it makes as it's helped on its' journey via air pressure, forced through the nozzle to ignite into something that resembles the glow of a supernova at night.

 

[Oldsarge]

A mid-sixties Swedish Radius stove. It needs cleaning but everything is there, even the little throat cleaning wire on a handle.

 

[mrbieler]

I have a nice Coleman 425 from 1949 I love to use. Little pocket stove from the early 1950's that also gets regular use. The old stoves are fun. So are the old lanterns. Neat projects to get them up and running properly.

 

[nobodyspecial]

Parrafin is indeed kerosene, don't burn anything else in this stove, especially gas. Everything you want to know about your stove will be here.
http://www.spiritburner.com/fusion/index.php

 

[PADDY]

Managed to get another Monitor for parts and had the test firing up the other evening. Once the pressure was up I brewed a pot of coffee..!! Very nice too
Pretty chuffed that this old girl is back in working order and looking for a camping excuse to really test her.
NOTE - pics show the initial flame after the burnt off meths has created enough heat to draw and ignite the paraffin. I then pumped her to really get the pressure going and a strong flame to cook with.

 

[fortworthgal]

Very cool stove you have there, Paddy!

We have cooked on the WWII GI pocket stoves. For our "regular" camping we had a vintage Coleman 2-burner camp stove that we used for years until it finally bit the dust.

Found a photo!

 

[esteban68]

Here's my Optimus 96L as it came from local freecycle;

And after a quick clean and during testing;

and after use and cleaning;

 

[JEEP]

Working at an outdoor store, I have a lot of stoves - some of them vintage.

Above is my new Optimus Svea 123R, a classic design from around 1890. This stove runs on white gas and is a self pressuriser, which you prime with alcohol or white gas.
The123R is one of the most succesfull stove designs - and was, for many years, one of the lightest and most compact stoves available. It is still highly popular among mountaineers.
I have personally seen examples of 60+ years old 123's still being in use and functioning perfectly.

I also use the classic army Trangia from time to time (the steel version), but I must admit that I - despite it's greas popularity - often finds it too heavy and way too ineffective.

I have recently aquired a vintage 1940/-50's aluminium cookset (pot w. lid/pan and kettle) for my 123R. I will post pictures soon.

 

[James71]

Ive moved from super compact whitewater expedition boats to an Old Town canoe, so have a fair bit more space to pack gear. Ive been using a MSR pocket rocket for years, but would love something with more class and a vintage feel. The SVEA looks great, but seems not to be available in australia.

 

[JEEP]

You can always order one directly from Optimus; http://shop.katadyn.com/product/155157/8016279/_/Optimus_Svea

 

[Renault]

My favorite camping and hunting stoves

The Coleman #590 on the far right is often refered to around camp as the "V-2".....

Renault

 

[Yeps]

I like the choice of a macchinetta as part of the demonstration of these stoves. That is camping with good taste.

 

[James71]

Oh man.... I really want one of these. Does anyone have an extra one?

 

[esteban68]

Here's my recent Etsy find a British built Monitor 17B, it needs a a good clean and possibly a new leather cup washer on the pump rod, other than that it looks to be in decent nick;

and in its components

and in its original tin