I found this at auction and was smitten. I can't find any makers marks. It looks perfect for brewing a roadside cup of tea. Assuming fuel is alcohol? Do I just fill it with denatured alcohol and light it? What function do the screen and fiber serve? And any ideas on the material? It's very shiny, and I haven't cleaned or polished it in any way. Thanks!
You are right in your assumption of fuel - it is a meth stove. Fill it so the netting is juuust covered and light it - then put the small pot over the blue flame. Thats it. Some put just a tiny dash of water in to remove some of the soot. When you want to put it out - just put the lid back on. The fiber is there to make the flames steady and not to have the meth boiling - the netting is just to hold the fibers in place. Its hard to tell from the pics - but it looks like Stainless - but it can be some kind of alloy? a great little picnic stove for a quick brew.
I think it’s more likely to be chrome or nickel-plated brass. Just a point @Anne Elise and it’s how to extinguish the flame - pop the burner cap over the burner opening, quickly enough to avoid catching finger tips.
What is this? Carry out a Google search on “Officer’s Campaign Stove” for images and examples. Best Regards, Kerophile.
Most of those were nickel plated brass WW1 time but some were made decades later in glossy stainless steel and in the 1800's there was a span from tin plated iron for the common soldier to guilded silver for the wealthiest officers - nothing like this was supplied by the army, it was bought privately.
Hi @Anne Elise Welcome to CCS. That's a very nice stove kit. It looks like there's some kind of gasket material in the lid. I believe I would snuff the flame with the bottom of the pot, and let the burner cool a bit before putting the cap on, to preserve the gasket. On the other hand, I don't have one like this, and I'm curious about what @Harder D. Soerensen and @presscall have to say. ....Arch
The cap gasket appears to be untanned leather. Alcohol flames aren’t intense and would be quenched instantly. The moderate residual heat of the burner isn’t likely to have much impact on the leather disc I’d suggest.
Thanks, @presscall That makes sense. I once saw someone snuff a Trangia with the cap. They were not pleased with the result. ....Arch
Yes unless you live in California. For some unknown reason denatured alcohol has been banned here. Very nice find. Enjoy!
This I hadn't heard. What does one use for fuel alcohol? All denatured means, after all, is putting something into ethanol to make it poisonous, or at least too bitter, to drink... Or do they just add bitterant, rather than toxins, to the ethanol, and not call it 'denatured'?
It's a surprise to me, too. I'll be writing my state reps. I read one of the boating blogs, and someone said they'd likely be buying a year's supply at a time in Nevada. I guess there's always that. Apparently, it was done for high VOCs, but in that case, how can they justify selling auto gas? ....Arch
No fuel alcohol in California? I have to be skeptical, even if it is California....I would like some more info. This would be beyond radical. The stuff burns completely clean, after all....it has innumerable applications beyond fuel.
I googled "alcohol fuel California" after reading it here, and it seems to be true. I agree: it makes no sense. ....Arch
I am awestruck. Non-beverage alcohol is illegal in California? When did this happen? How is this possible? Alcohol is just a....well, a substance, universally present ever and always....
I just tried Amazon and it went into my basket didn't push the buy it now button but have Purchased the naughty carb cleaner and they shipped it. Worth a try
At first glance it appears to be the methanol in DA that is the issue. Green DA does not have that in it. Neither does bioethanol. Makes no sense if you look at acetone, auto fuel, and others. Mucho toxic. Glad I left CA in 92.
California is cracking down on VOC’s so their concern is with DA used as a solvent. They’ve likewise gone after paint stripper, lacquer thinner, windshield washer fluid, barbecue lighter fluid, and I think they’re regulating dish soap, laundry soap, hairspray, hair conditioner, hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol, brake cleaner, basically anything they can do apart from auto fuel. I think they can reformulate DA and put it back on the shelf but I don’t know for sure. I won’t argue the politics of it, just say what I know.
@Anne Elise You've picked up a very nice set. The information you've been given above is all good. During the first half (and maybe longer) of the 20th century British officers had to purchase all of their own equipment from uniforms to sidearms. During WWI a thriving industry sprang up in creating and selling items the makers claimed were absolutely essential for anyone going off to war. these are generally referred to as "private-purchase items" to distinguish them from items furnished by the army.The list includes things like folding beds, sleeping bags, cutlery, bullet-proof vests and all manner of things meant to make life on campaign more pleasant. The small self contained sets like yours for heating water for tea or soup were one of the most common and actually useful items. Without seeing it in hand it's hard to dated your set, but if it is nickled brass I would think WWI is not unreasonable. I have seen leather items from that period that are in as good condition as yours. the wear on the strap looks about right that age. I suspect your set was either never sold or never sent to France. It certainly looks to have had little use. A great find.