Objects Database

Primus No 96 Paraffin Stove

Accession Number

507.2008.1(a-n)

Object Name

Primus No 96 Paraffin Stove

Created

26/11/2008

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

26/11/2008

Brief Description

Primus stove in red metal box. Small brass camping stove with twelve associated parts. Base has three metal feet, unscrewable lid for refuelling , pump and unscrewable lid for burner. Three cylindrical holes for removable pot rests. Box has hinged metal carrying handle.

Materials

brass, iron

Dimensions

box - 14(l) x 12(w) x 7(h) cms.

Number Of Objects

1

Inscription Description

"PRIMUS NO 96 MADE IN SWEDEN PRI(picture of stove)MUS" inscribed on stove. "PRIMUS A/BBA.HJORTH & CO. STOCKHOLM SWEDEN REG. TRADE MARK" on lid of box and picture of stove. "PRI (picture of stove)MUS" inscribed on each side .

Colour

gold, red

Maker

Primus

Object Production Place

Sweden

Provenance

The Pressure Stove

The paraffin, (kerosene), pressure stove first appeared in 1892 when a Swede, Frans Wilhelm Lindqvist, registered his 'Sootless Kerosene Stove'. The design burned Paraffin gas which was vapourised from the liquid fuel in tubes forming the burner head. His design was so successful a Company was formed to manufacture the stove and
'Primus', (Latin for first), appeared to the World.
The first model was the No. 1 stove and the range rapidly expanded into many dozens of models aimed at different markets. With Amundsen using a 'Primus' to reach the South Pole and Hillary taking 'Primus' stoves to climb Mount Everest the word became used by many people to describe any
pressure camping stove. In 1962 the paraffin division of Primus was sold to Optimus but continued to manufacture stoves under the name 'Primus Trading'.
The Company was closed in 1972 and the range consolidated just to Optimus models.
In 1966 Primus joined with one of their rivals, Sievert, and concentrated on L.P.G., (Liquified Petroleum Gas), camping stoves as well as blowlamps. In 1997 Primus re-entered the liquid fuel stove market with some excellent designs of multi-fuel stoves still available today.
The Optimus Company had also been making a range of stoves since the late 1890's and continued the traditional paraffin stove right up to 1996 when the range was gradually withdrawn to concentrate on the range of Petrol, (Gasoline), and multi-fuel stoves manufactured today.
The basic Lindqvist burner design was copied by manufacturers all over the world, many adopting the same method of numbering their models by the burner size and style, ie. 00, Nol, No5.
This variation in models makes stoves appealing to collectors, some prefer to find one model from many different manufacturers, some try to collect every model from one manufacturer. Further interest is added by long running models 'evolving' over the years.
A glance down a list of some brands shows the wide choice such as Monitor, Burmos,Parasene, Buflam, Valor, Royal Standard, Thermidor, Kenrick, (U.K.), Optimus. Radius,Primus, Svea, Prince, (Sweden), Coleman,(U.S.A.), Meva, (Czechoslovakia), Metacel,(Australia), Petromax, (Germany), Hipolito, (Portugal), Anchor, Shinabro, (China),Manaslu (Japan).

Acquisition Method

Donated by Malcolm Faulkener

Acquisition Date

26/11/2008

Condition Check Date

28/04/2009

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

28/04/2009

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