Handsome-looking kettle, British manufacture so maximum capacity in Imperial Pints is 1 3/4, or the equivalent of the 1-litre Primus Litech I've pictured it with The Registered Design number on the base checks out as a 1956 registration - it's a case of identifying the date year by consulting a table such as this one:- http://www.925-1000.com/registry.html I applied to the National Archive for a copy of the Registered Design for the kettle, stumped up the princely sum of £4-something (including postage) and got a couple of photocopies back showing contemporary photographs of the prototype kettle. There was no accompanying text, which disappointed me a little, since I'd have liked to have read the designer's reasoning for putting the (uninsulated) folding wire handles outboard - they get scorching hot in use (the Bull Dog bites) and the offset weight of a kettle full of water makes it difficult to lift the kettle. The barrel distortion on the prints is down to my camera and not the copying process Posing the production model kettle to reproduce the perspectives the prototype was photographed by clearly shows a more curved shape on the prototype and differences in the detailing, primarily the handle shape and fixing arrangement In use it's wholly impractical. I've even tried some silicone sleeving on the handles and the silicone scorches at the ends nearest the flame - even with the moderate flame spread of the Primus 96. Simply, the handle's too low down and near the flame Curious design dead-end. John
Looks like a shelf queen, hope you have the space. Lovely to look at, thanks for the education use wise. john
Great research John. Hope you find a way to use it. Looks like a ideal candidate for a speedster windshield. I have a Ti pot with handles like that & they stay cool on the windshield Gary made for it.
Spiritburner said, Made sense, so I gave it a try with the windshield of the set I bought from Gary at Newark. The stone base is to project my decking from scorching. Success! Though the aluminium of the kettle obviously reaches the temperature of the boiling water inside, the steel handles poke out between the gap in the windshield, so they're in cool air, are shielded from the burner heat and don't get too hot to hold. Nice one Ross and Gary! John
Hi John, Perhaps you could tie or knot some tight rope windings around the handles (like on the hilt of a survival knife). Sisal rope worked for me on another kettle, although the sisal wasn't directly in the flame. Cheers, Peter
It's a good idea Peter, especially if I use it with spirit stoves for a gentler, less intense flame. John
Like my kettle in my avatar - string then coated in epoxy as the rubber was long gone & I don't think I'd heard of silicon tubing all those years back. The end's charrred & smelt for a few brews but been sound for years
