Objects Database

Optimus 8R Gasoline Stove

Accession Number

083.2008.1(a-e)

Object Name

Optimus 8R Gasoline Stove

Created

10/10/2008

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

10/10/2008

Brief Description

Optimus camping stove in square blue/green metal box. Box has hinged lid with catch and hinged front. Two removable pot rests and two metal rods, one cylindrical. Burner and cylindrical fuel reservoir are joined and reservoir has protection plate. Reservoir has screwtop.

Materials

brass, tin

Dimensions

Metal box-8(h) x 13(w) x 13(d)cms.

Number Of Objects

Inscription Description

"OPTIMUS 8R CAMPSTOVE MADE IN SWEDEN FOR GASOLINE" Picture of globe with "OPTIMUS" in centre.

Colour

blue/green

Maker

Optimus

Object Production Place

Sweden

Provenance

It seems that Optimus introduced their 8R stove onto the market on 1955 as an upgraded version of the 8. This fits nicely with a lady called Margaret Berwick who bought this particular stove in 1960, used it for many a camping trip with her husband and finally donated it to our collection in 2015 when the camping days were over.
The 8R burned what we now call lead free petrol, white or Coleman fuel, though at the time Optimus chose to call it gasoline which caused a lot of problems in the UK since most folk didn't know what gasoline was - and still don't!
The stove needed to be primed by warming the tank with your hands - some folk used a candle - and allowing a little of the fuel to fill the cup below the burner which could be lit to heat the system which then - hopefully - sprang into life. Methylated spirit could be used to prime the system and a small pump was available, though this required a modified filler cap.
The Berwicks have left an interesting wee note inside the stove:
"Stove burns .13litres in 50 mins. 1 litre (segg blue) bottle will last about 9 days @ 50 mins(1 filling per day). Lead free or Coleman fuel"
There's also a spare wick and needle bought from Tiso's, Edinburgh for £8.00 in July 2000, which seems rather expensive when we consider the stove only cost £4.50 back in 1975 as we can see from the advert opposite.