I picked up this Hipolito #2 recently. It has a very strange top section that I've never seen before. Anybody know what this is? You can see in one pic that there is a rivet going through the pot legs making the stove non-collapsible and the top section unremovable without ruining either the top or legs. For a bonus to all viewing this I've included a shot of the ellusive green flame only seen for a short time after firing up old brass that hasn't been lit for awhile. Ray
The stoves was modified for a boat. The one contraption on top is a home made gimbal so it swings when the boat rocks. Ron
Not sure it's actually home made --or if it is, it was made to a set of published plans. I've seen another like it, somewhere, but I can't recall where. I remember because I considered plagiarizing a couple of the details on an design I had a while ago. With my boat named after a horse, I've been thinking I might one day want a Hippolito for her, just for giggles. Alex
A gimbal makes sense and explains the rivets through the legs. Having never seen one that idea didn't cross my mind. Still, I don't know why they would drill the legs instead of using a fixed leg stove. Looks like I'll have to drill out the rivets to get the top off. Ray
Ray. As I understand it, portability was only one reason for removable legs. Since many of these stoves were designed for export, removable legs (and burner) made for much smaller packaging. A fixed leg stove may simply not been an option for the owner or builder of this stove.
That makes sense itchy. You can fit more in a cargo container when they break down into a smaller package. I got the top off and have it cleaned enough to see the engraving. These Hipolitos are nice looking stoves and this one burns nicely. The flame shot was taken before fettle with only a pump leather oiling. After I have it cleaned up and completed I'll add an "after" pic. Any reason my pics posted as an attachment and not pics as everybody elses do? It was around 11pm and I was a bit bleery eyed when I posted. Ray
