The Stove Collector

Collector Extraordinaire:

'Mad' Monte Dodge,
here at Green River

I live in Olympia Washington and collect mostly Swedish stoves , but has several older American stoves. I have 4 Optimus 8R's, an Optimus 111, Optimus No.1S, Optimus 00 unused, Primus 71, Primus 71L, Univeral No.1 Fray, Landers and Clark Alcohol Stove 1908, Sigg Alcohol, Several Trangia's and several Coleman single burners. 

I first started collecting stoves back in 1972. Bought my first stove with my paper route money at the local Herters store which was an Optimus 8R. Bought a small Nylon tent the same day and was ready to tackle the trails of Washington State!! I did quite a bit of hiking in the rainy Olympic Mountains with there 150 inches of rain per year! Spend many a morning trying to warm up huddled around that small stove!!! ( I even use to prime it like the directions say,  you know, fill stove and put your hands on tank till fuel fills primer plate)  

Later , after high school, I hiked the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada which was 2,500 miles and took six months with my heavy gear.  ( Compared to thru-hikers now days) Used my now broke in 8R the whole way with no problems. (Even though I used mostly unleaded auto gas) The sound of this old friend is like a comfort blanket to my ears. Soon I began to see most backpackers on the trails carrying newer style stoves and less Swedish cookers. I would keep my eye out at yard sales for any Primus, Optimus or Svea stoves I could find. In the states in the early 70's , most folks just used an old Svea 123, Primus 71 or 8R. ( Of course, Mt. Climbers had Optimus 00's and a few Optimus 111's) 

Now days , most hikers use one of the "Cheesy MSRs " with their break happy plastic pumps or a Canister stoves. The class of brass and the durablity of the Swedenish flame throwers is a lost chapter in hiking and climbing. I still love to take my old stoves out on shorter hikes, kayak trips and rafting trips. ( It's great to watch the face of younger folks who don't know to prime this things or have never seen them work!!!) 

I now make my own Alcohol stoves out of pop cans which are very light of long distance hiking. ( Last year I made over 30 for friends doing the PCT or CDT ) in the states as they weigh .7 ozs and boil 2 cups of water in 5 minutes. 

Anyway, I do have a soft spot for older Optimus stoves and have collected a total of four 8R's , two 111's , a 00 nickel plated, one No.1S 1929 vintage plus two Primus 71's, an older Svea 123 ( My climbing stove of choice these days) Also collect colemans which are still easy to find here in USA ( Coleman sporter 502 and a 1977 first generation Peak 1) Have several alcohol stoves which are made by Sigg, Svea and of course Trangia. And yes I do get threats from my wife each time a bring another stove home!!!! Collector's motto? You can never have too many stoves!!! Especially stove they don't make anymore!! My next trip will be Kayaking down the Yukon in Canada and Alaska for 650 miles next year and my old Optimus 111 will be coming along!

All sorts of trail pics: http://www.oakapple.net/dhs/photo/other-pct/through/monte/source.html
PCT pics: http://members.tripod.com/gohike/pct/southcalif2.html  

"The Trail Of Death!"
The Pacific Crest Trail and Long Distance hiking has changed in the last 25 years here in the States. The death bit comes from giving slide shows after the hike. ( People would ask me about lack of water in the desert, snakes bears, etc.) So after giving a number of shows, I would jokingly call it PCT, trail of death.
Ah , where have all those Kelty Seracs and Tiogas gone?? The smell of 5 pound Fabiano, Peter Limmer , REI Chinook and Vasgue hiker 2 boots!! Tents with enough metal in their frames to rebuilt the space needle! Stoves so loud, you needed to walk 50 yards away to talk. A trail angel was a cop in a small town who " Didn't want to see Photo ID". Now where did I put my last "Space Food Stick"? Weldon was dubbed Well- Done!! ( 540 hot desert miles done!) Fleece was something found on sheep. Running shoes were" Just for stream crossing and town". Water filters were only used by Hippies and they were called " Bongs!!!!" Fishnet underwear was " State of thee Art!!" Alcohol was packed by thru-hikers only " At Monument 78". A permit was something you got at 15 y/o to learn to drive. Canister's were a type of Vacuum. People all thought thru-hikers were " Manson Family Members!!" 25 miles WAS a big day. Outdoor catalogs looked like "Wood stock Brochures". Power Bars were something that was fed to Nuclear Plants. AND,,, Greg could still play basketball!!!!!!!! 25 years goes by fast!!!!! Mad Monte PCT 77

Pic is me making alcohol stoves near Mexican Border for Pacific Crest Trail hikers this spring. 

About alcohol stoves. The Leighhi scout stove is a true " Copy" of mine with a little different jet placement on the rim. The problem with those other stoves is that they have never seen mine in use. The baseplate made of a cut down cat food can is  the " whole Key". It is a priming plate like on an old 8R. .You fill stove with 1 tablespoon of fuel per cup of water to be boiled, then add a 1/4  teaspoon of fuel to primer plate and light the plate ( or spririt cup) These lets the stove " Pressure Up" faster than any other design of alcohol stoves on your homemade links. Monte Pic is of me making stoves near Mexican border  for PCT Hikers, which I did as well all this weekend!

My home made burners weigh .7 of an oz. and boil 2 cups of water 90 seconds faster than a Trangia. Made out of soda cans and fiberglass insultion for a wick inside.

(Click to enlarge)
A Rob Roy stove made by Monte.