Collecting
stoves
Picture
donated
by
'Mad'
Monte
dodge;
a
small
part
of
his
collection.
The
simplest
way
to
start
a
collection
would
be
to
visit
any
sports
shop
and
spend
a
month's
wage
on
the
models
currently
in
stock.
But
that
would
spoil
the
fun,
be
very
expensive,
and
only
provide
you
with
a
few
current
models.
However,
the
same
shop
is
a
good
starting
point
for
learning
which
models
and
brands
are
currently
available.
There
are
also
countless
pages
on
the
Internet
where
backpackers,
alpine
climbers,
interrailers
and
camping
people
discuss
stoves
of
every
kind.
Useful
technical
information
and
quite
a
few
entertaining
stories
you
will
find
readily,
but
information
about
stoves
older
than
10
years
will
be
considerably
shorter
in
supply.
The
natural
place
to
look
for
old
stoves.
Second
hand
shops
get
them,
but
often
used
stoves
are
sold
almost
the
day
they
are
put
out
for
sale,
no
matter
age
or
condition.
Second
hand
shops
know
perfectly
well
that
old
stoves
are
collection
items,
and
sometimes
ask
outrageous
prices
even
for
badly
stripped
objects.
The
most
popular
objects
are
pre
WWII
stoves
in
neat
tin-boxes
complete
with
keys
and
cleaning
pins,
and
can
be
as
expensive
as
new
ones.
Old
Optimus
kerosene
burners
ean
be
had
for
half
that
price
-
but
in
very
varying
condition.
Other
hunting
grounds
are
garage
sales
and
outdoor
markets.
Unless
you
want
an
object
badly
you
should
consider
twice
before
paying
more
than
a
fair
price;
most
stoves
have
been
produced
in
great
volumes
and
you
will
most
likely
get
another
offer
at
a
later
time.
This
is
also
the
place
where
you
are
most
likely
to
get
in
touch
with
other
collectors.
Of
course,
haggling
is
mandatory.
Once
you
have
started
your
collection,
you
should
consider
your
objects
for
completeness,
working
state,
and
exterior
-
in
that
sequence.
An
old
stove
may
often
lack
some
minor
part.
If
the
brand
still
exists,
you
might
visit
a
nearby
vendor
-
you
will
be
surprised
by
the
amount
of
spare
parts
still
in
production.
Should
important
parts
be
missing,
you
might
consider
buying
another
of
the
same
model,
and
disassemble
the
most
incomplete
one
for
parts.
Second-hand
markets
might
have
the
odd
part,
but
you
will
usually
find
yourself
looking
for
a
very
small
needle
in
a
very
large
haystack.
The
working
state
of
even
a
complete,
old
stove
can
be
dubious
when
you
receive
it..
If
the
stove
have
not
been
used
for
a
considerate
time,
pump
gaskets
may
have
dried
up
and
shrivelled,
and
there
might
even
be
leaks
in
the
fuel
tank.
Gaskets
and
pump
pistons
can
easily
be
oiled,
pipes
can
be
cleansed
with
a
pipecleaner,
and
a
tiny
hole
in
the
tank
can
be
mended
with
cold
welding.
Enhancing
the
exterior
of
an
old
stove
is
a
question
of
taste
and
delicacy.
Are
you
sure
that
you
want
to
remove
all
signs
of
wear
and
age?
Polishing
the
steel,
copper
or
tin
is
easy
to
do,
but
should
be
done
carefully
-
and
using
a
lathe
is
for
heathens.
Rusted
iron
can
be
removed,
but
if
the
rust
is
deep,
my
advice
is
to
brush
away
loose
residue,
and
allow
the
rest
to
hang
on
and
tell
of
years
of
use.
Bumps
in
the
tank
should
be
allowed
to
stay
for
the
same
reason,
unless
they
are
the
center
of
a
leak. |
