I had some time this past long weekend and came across a very sad looking Primus heater at an antique fair. Haggled a bit with the seller and got it for a bit more than what I bargained for.....I had a look and everything seems to be in place, although very dirty, it holds pressure and the jet and needle is still intact. Will be doing some more cleaning and post some pics. on the bottom it is stamped AD29, I am not familiar with the dating of Primus, but this one looks pretty old
Hi Jacov, this is the correct forum for the Primus 1010 as it is a lamp based heater rather than a stove based heater. AD translates to 1939. It should clean up very well, but be gentle when cleaning the nickel plating; it can be very fragile on these old ones. I'm sure everyone here would like to see pics of it fettled and running.
Congratulations on finding a 1010. It's been a while since there has been anything about a Primus heater. Does it still have the guard which clips on the reflector?
Hi all. Did some cursory cleaning this afternoon, sadly most of the plating is gone. I got it running without too much trouble, it always amazes me that these items run without any major work! You don't get that anymore with the consumer items for sale these days. Some pics of it running again Jaco
Hi Nils Thanks, I could not believe it when I came across it, the seller thought it was a very unusual lamp Unfortunately the reflector is in real bad shape, no guard
That burner is the same basic design as certain Primus lamps such as the 1015 and 1001. They even use exactly the same jet and needle. Judging by the flame pattern, yours may be running a little rich. This could indicate a worn or dirty burner or a worn jet. Good to see it running, though!
It looks like it has had a hard life and well used. They do work well though. They tend to be more forgiving of worn jets than lamps, but there are limits. A new jet could be in order for this one. The filler cap looks interesting. With those large grooves around the edge it is either from another brand or someone has modified the original.
Hi Nils, indeed a hard life, I will be taking it apart and properly cleaning the parts, will have some more detailed pictures of all the parts. I would be keen to get a replacement jet, maybe you can point me in the right direction? Interesting about the fuel cap, the air release screw also does not come out once loosened, could well be from another appliance.. Would this be able to run as a lamp or are there modifications to the burner needed? I looked on the reference gallery at the 1015 lamps, but they have a much longer stem, cannot see an example of a 1001 though. Thanks Jaco
The 1001 is a lantern, so you need to look in the outdoor section of Primus. Here is the part with the 1001's. That the air release screw doesn't come out is normal on this period of the Primus cap, so that fact alone doesn't mean it's not an original one. But it doesn't look completely as it should even apart from those large grooves.
I'm pretty sure the flame spreader is different on the heaters compared to the lamps. The distance between the top of the air tubes and the flame spreader is also different. Best to jet get a proper lamp. I was actually thinking the filler cap looks right apart from the grooves. Possibly a home modification to give extra grip. A close up photo would be good.
Hi Nils, If only I had a time machine . I have been searching for a place to purchase jets, but cannot seem to get for this model, lots of stove jets, not sure if the are interchangeable though? I will post some close ups of the cap, planning to do a full break down and cleaning Jaco
I don't know if there is anywhere closer to you, but I would get them from either Fogas in Sweden or Base Camp in the UK. The part you need is 6145. It is the same jet used for the 1020, 1001 etc.
I did some further cleaning of the heater and have some close up shots of the cap, seems as if the previous owner/owners made some modifications, not only to the cap, but I have also seen some brazing evidence on the burner. Seems as if the one air tube was added on, it is steel and the other one seems also to be brazed in place. Thanks Jaco
The air tubes should just screw in, so as you say, someone has replaced one and brazed them both in place. As long as they are clear then it should work fine. The filler cap looks like an original with some added grooves around the edge.
Looks like your heater has led a very long and active life But it is a testament to the manufacturers skill that it is still working at all! The fuel cap seems to have had grooves cut into the circumference to provide more grip. This is sometimes done by ignorant users who want to tighten it more rather than replacing the hardened rubber seal The screw thread on the air tubes tends to burn away with age and use, and that would probably be why they were brazed in place. It would also be a sign that there is a lot of internal wear in the burner, which could explain why it seems to be running a little rich or inefficiently. You can check inside the burner where the air tubes enter that they do not protrude too much into the air space. If they do, you can file them away, level with the inside wall. This may improve air flow past the jet and correct the combustion mixture.
Thanks Nils, Phil. It is amazing how these were built, the engineering that goes into them, they just last! I am really impressed with the cleaning rod and needle set up, so much more sturdy and of substance! I will check the air tubes, thanks. With the recent cold weather here, been using it a couple of nights and I must say it really puts out some nice heat It takes quite a lot of pre heating, but once its going, it is really going, now to shine up the reflector some more! Here it is running, the photo shows the flame as very light blue, it is in fact quite a nice blue flame. Now to find a 1001 lantern!
After actively searching for about four years to no avail, a 1001 fell into my lap out of a clear blue sky one Saturday morning So there is hope that you may find one yet! In the mean time, look around for a 1020. It will make you fall in love with Primus all over again.
That flame doesn't look too bad. There is at least a nice even glow of the mesh. Why not get a 1001 AND a 1020.
