Objects Database

Optimus 111 b Camp Stove

Accession Number

078.2008.1

Object Name

Optimus 111 b Camp Stove

Created

10/10/2008

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

10/10/2008

Brief Description

OPTIMUS 111b camping stove in square silver metal case. Hinged lid with metal catch. Inside, burner and cylindrical brass fuel reservoir which has pump and screwtop for refuelling. Adjusting handle attached by metal chain. Safety plate attached to reservoir. Metal handle for carrying on back of case.

Materials

brass, iron

Dimensions

10(h) x 16.5(w) x 17.5(d) cms

Number Of Objects

1

Inscription Description

"OPTIMUS 111b CAMP STOVE MADE IN SWEDEN" "OPTIMUS" also written on world map.

Colour

silver

Maker

Optimus

Object Production Place

Sweden

Provenance

Three Swedish engineers, Carl Boos, Carl Neiglick and Petter Ostberg, founded Optimus in 1899 and pretty soon had an arrangement with AR Bildt & Co. to market their range of stoves and blowlamps. The Bildt family eventually became the main shareholder and the company progressed and diversified over the years producing stoves, lamps, padlocks and oilcans.
One of the unique features of these Optimus stoves is the drop down front which was patented in 1927 - presumably in Sweden. They also claimed to work on both petrol and paraffin though there is some debate about the lead content in petrol - the stoves didn't like it very much. The confusion may have come from the fact that Scandinavian countries were using unleaded petrol way before the rest of Europe since it was less susceptible to the cold climate. They also used the word 'gasoline' and most folk didn't know if this meant petrol or paraffin - they still don't.
The armies of Scandinavia and Great Britain bought thousands of these stoves back in the 1960's/70's and founder of our Heritage Collection, Mick Tighe, used one when he was a Royal Marine Commando, posted to North Norway in the 1970's ....seems like he forgot to hand it back to the quartermaster's store when he got home!

Acquisition Method

Donated by Mick Tighe

Acquisition Date

10/10/2008

Condition

rusty inside

Condition Check Date

28/04/2009

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

28/04/2009

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