Picked up this kettle for £3.00 at a car boot sale on Saturday. The seller said it was used by his grandfather when he used to run a pair of working narrow boats on the Kennet & Avon canal. Sitting on a 2 pint patent Phöbus stove that I picked up the next day: The kettle has a odd, extended, spout/filler: And running from the kettle through the handle is a vent pipe: The kettle has a thick flat base suggesting it was for use on a range or similar. Considering the work involved in producing a kettle like this, I was surprised that it carries no maker's name or other marking. It weighs 1.04kg (2.29 lbs) and holds 2.38 litres. Given the seller's comment regarding his grandfather's use of the kettle on the canals, I can only conclude that the tall spout was to prevent spillage and that the vent pipe was to relieve pressure if the spout was blocked by slopping water and to provide a smooth flow when pouring (which it does). I won't be polishing it as it has a lovely mahogany patina. Terry
Terry that is a good find. I certainly have not seen anything like it. It is a very innovative design.
They certainly pushed the boat out with that design. Very plausible reason you offer for the break from usual design Terry. No concerns about getting scalded by steam from a loose fitting or vented (a hole) lid, or losing the lid for that matter. John
@Trojandog Terry That is a fine kettle! It's good to know something about its history as well. Cheers Tony
Hi @Trojandog . I do like your kettle. Unique, or at least I have never seen one like it before. Best Regards, Keropile.
i have looked at the pictures again and i think you have an early form of whistling kettle, the shape of the spout suggests a cork was used to form a seal forcing steam to escape through the tube, easy to test it stuff a cloth in the spout and boil up
Hi @Trojandog I reckon the small pipe acts both a vent pipe to release steam, and a breather pipe when pouring water from the kettle. If you don't have a breather you can get glugging or an air-lock. Just Saying, Beet Regards, Kerophile.
it remains a mystery! and a compelling one at that - just the thing to get the brain going on a sleepy sunday morning my only other guess is that it might be something a chemist might use, maybe to boil up cough syrup perhaps
I'm in love with your kettle. It would be just the thing to use with Sea Swing gimbled stove outfit. My only concern is that that the copper handle might get too hot to touch without a pot holder. Perhaps the handle was originally cane covered like this one: Ben
@Trojandog , Hey, Terry, WOW!! You and John alway find the most interesting kettles, and I love that you both share them here!! We love the little copper kettle that you gifted us at CASG #8, and have it on display in our living room! Next to it, we have the little ceramic/polymer clay bear that Lin made, on it's cross-stitch mat. And, you will see the little Governor Lamb stove, in the Brit #7 case, that you also gifted me at #8! Lovely and appreciated gifts, all!! We've used the little kettle quite often, and it's taking on a patina of it's own, just as it should. I have yet to try my hand at cane-wrapping the brass handle of the kettle, even though John's outstanding tutorial on same should get me there, IF I could get started on it!! In any case, your new find of this unique and most certainly interesting kettle of yours, is truly a wonderful find!! Good on you for scoring it, and many thanks for sharing it here!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Mark
I just saw a Simplex copper kettle in an antique shop marked down to ........... 150.00 USD from 299.99.
Blimey! I rejected a Simplex at a car boot sale on Sunday as I thought £20.00 (roughly $26) was expensive! I'm still trying to descale the strange kettle. It's obviously had extensive use. I'm on the fourth batch of Kilrock descaler solution and it's still fizzing away.
is it possible that the tube was added to the kettle by the user? it is starting to look like a pot still to me - for making small amounts of um medicinal um alcohol purely for medicinal purposes of course
Greetings, All, Yes, it seems that most all of the Simplex kettles, are made of gold, price-wise. I know that, occasionally, a good deal can be found. But, most of the time, The Simplex kettles go for high cotton, even if they are beat to hades, and as crusty as can be imagined in the inside!! SB and I have "enough" kettles, unless we run across a wonderful deal on a good, copper Simplex. Then, the "just one more" rule will be invoked!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
