Dang, can't believe my luck today. Won the bid on the Primus 8R stove for a great price. The wife and I went out for lunch, as is our common practice on Sunday, then we normally go antiquing. I have stated in a few posts that I never see any camp stoves, as this area isn't really a hiking mecca. As many of you have said, patience pays off. Today was no exception. What is it? An Optimus 99! I know, I know, not the fanciest stove, and I already have one, but hard to pass up for the price, and never expected in a million years I would even see anything like that around here. Here's the shots I took when we got home a few minutes ago: Not a bad price at all. As I found it. Note the Aladdin burner next to it: This was on the shelf under the stove. More Aladdin burners: Also, I have seen this before, but took some photos this time. It says it's a Kerosene stove. Two burners, and i guess that's the fuel tank to the right, under the table. The whole stove is maybe 2 to 2 1/2 feet tall. The label said $250:
Good score. I like the 99s. Perhaps more than 8Rs. At least, it's more fun to convert an 8R I bought -- with a rusty, overprimed, scorched case -- into faux 99. Off EBay, I got a 99 base pan and 99 priming cup [it's threaded on the bottom for a securing screw] and a Coleman Peak One aluminum case. Also a silent burner by Gideon and X-type pot support to make it a phoney 199. It will only run on Coleman fuel, unlike a real 199. Nice antique shop. If I were there I'd check out the green enameled Cowboy Coffee Pot. Same color as a Coleman 2-burner.
Oh yeah, you did really well. I like the 99's. Keep looking you just never know what's around the next corner! Alex
@SveaSizzler Thanks man. That green pot is cool, but I'm not a coffee drinker. @MrAlexxx Thanks. It is definitely encouraging. I never even came close to thinking I would find something like that locally.
Thanks man, super stoked about finding it. I have the original box for my other 99, my fil gifted to me. Well, I just fired her up, and she seems to burn well. Priming: Other shots, in the light, and dark. I have an instamatic, so my photos aren't anything to write home about.
Noticed it's missing the screw that holds down the stove, haha. Anyone know what size it is right off? I can always take the one out of my other 99, and take it to the hardware store with me.
Nice find and you have been very lucky lately! Maybe you should also try lottery... Few years back I found nice stuff at flea markets & car boot sales, but now no stoves stuff for sale for long time...
@Afterburner Very lucky day indeed! I thought I would wake up to being outbid on the 8R. My high bid was $65, and I ended up getting it for $62. That doesn't happen very often on eBay, haha. @SveaSizzler That's what my local hardware is, ACE. They should have it. Make sure I get a stainless screw.
Brass would be about the same composition as the threads in the priming cup/burner base. You're bolting a brass structure to an aluminum pan. Would a stainless screw not be introducing a third dissimilar metal? I wonder about the galvanic chemistry.
I think it would be fine. Surprised they didn't use stainless to begin with. Maybe they did, not sure.
You will have to check your other one. When you do, look at the bottoms of both. Are they the same? There are differences after a certain year. Bumps or dents. I do not recall right now. (Have to look that up, and will edit soon.) Here.. Optimus 99, Help And Here: Early Optimus 99
Thanks man, they're both the same. I took the screw out, and will stop by the hardware store tomorrow after work.
Not good news. The Base-Camp.co.UK lists p/n: 2530.........Screw for 111.....1.50 GBP p/n: 2531........Screw for 111C....3.70 GBP No clue if this would be the right screw, but they also list p/n: 2201.........Spirit cup for 111, 199....5.30 GBP The spirit cup pictured is on an 8R. The Optimus 99 is machined for a screw. Is this screw common with the 111 and 199? The 199 has many parts in common with the 99. How does the 111C differ from the 111, that it would need its own screw type, worth 2.20 GBP more?
I have no idea. ACE said they didn't carry the cheese head machine screws, which is what comes out of the 99, which is metric. Cap heads were the closest they had. I want an exact duplicate. I'll have to go to Menard's, or Lowes, I guess.
