Hi, a few years ago I acquired a stove outfit from Sussex, UK, near the coast. There are some stoves that scare me when I look at the design. Others scare me once I light them up, yet others when I try to shut them off...... This one scared me when I opened its custom-made box: As you can see the box is fully asbestos-lined! The box is well made and, with the lid-stay and fold-down front, is obviously intended to accommodate an operating stove; As you can see the stove is a two-pint collapsible model fitted with a silent burner. I will make a separate posting of this Blaxburner stove. The box has a some nice cubby-holes for holding the priming alcohol bottle, the tools and spares. Unusually the box is fitted with captive screws at all four corners of the base (you can see two at the front corners), which were intended to secure the stove box to a table or work surface. I would judge that this outfit dates from the 1960s. This could be boat-stove but doesn't have any gimbals. Could it have been intended for use on an expedition or when car-touring? Aren't stoves fascinating? Best Regards, Kerophile
Hey, Kerophile, Now, THAT is something you don't see everyday!! 8) Are you going to leave it as it is, or try to "mess" with the asbestos? I'd probably just leave it as is, as it seems the worst possibilities happen when "asbestos clean-up" is underway! Very interesting setup, though. Do you have any idea of it's actual history, from the seller? That would certainly be of great interest, but after rereading your post, I guess that we're left to conjecture as to the exact purpose of this interesting specimen. Thanks for sharing, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
I would leave the asbestos alone. Its only dangerous when the fibers are airborne and can be inhaled in quantity. It is not cyanide. Cool Stove. Why anyone would line the box with asbestos is anyone's guess. My guess is to use the box as a windscreen. I hardly think it was done to use on an expedition, it looks very like dozens of fairly workmanlike home built boxes I've seen made for Coleman lanterns and stoves over here that are only for camping. We campers are an ingenious lot, and the things we cobble up show it. Gerry
I'd guess it was for a small boat or camper van, if the stove flared up, just shut the box and I would think the raised screws were designed to hold it all down to one fixed unit.
Hi Everyone, thanks for your comments and suggestions. Whoever made the outfit was obviously not concerned about weight as the box weighs a lot more than the stove. Gerry, I am sure you are correct about this being a home-build rather than a factory made item. Steve, the red item fixed to the left-hand side of the box is a plastic affair, probably intended to hold a match box. It is a dumb idea as the plastic has been near molten on the stove side. Doc, I really should try to contact the seller, if he is still wiith us, to get whatever history I can on this interesting piece of stove history. Best Regards, Kerophile
Hi As always lovely photos from Kerophile. I guess the location "far north of Scotland" must be heaven for a CCS-member and a stove collector. Nice setup and a stove I have never heard of. I bow my head in admiration!! Regards
great post--i could see where collection stoves in home made box's could be a entire thing in its self somewhat like Ross and his stove tins..that stove is in like new shape--no bangs or bumps..so it stayed in the box all the time..
Kerophile, if you can not leave well enough alone and feel you must mess with the asbestos do yourself a favour and before doing anything else spray it with hair spray and allow to dry. This fixes the fiber dust in place and prevents it from getting in your lungs. Wise old fart taught me this trick. Ohh and remember, if you put the asbestos back in the box, the hair spray is flammable but if the coating is light enough it will burn off quickly without causing any damage to the box or the asbestos. lance
