Jack Absalom stove

[S3ute]

Hello from Brisbane.

An American Land Rover owner had recently come across one of Jack Absalom's old videos and was pretty impressed. Posted it up on one of the US chat sites (Guns and Rovers).

The video appears on:

YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akQSZ071f2k)

Anyway he contacted me and asked if I knew anything about the stove that appears around the 18:45 mark of the video as he thought it looked pretty "cool". Basically, he was looking for feedback on its design and whether there was a diagram anywhere for making one.

I hadn't seen that particular stove before and was wondering if anyone on the forum knows much about it?

It looks like a homemade unit and the design could probably be worked out from the attached thumbnails - but I thought it was worth asking in case there was some hidden secret to making one work properly.

Cheers,

Neil

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[loanrangie]

Looks a similar principal to a bush kettle which has an open center chimney that you stack with twigs and leaves.

[S3ute]

Hello again.

The guy who asked me about the stove thought it looked a bit like a Kelly kettle which has the central firebox - but I’m not sure about the hatch on the side which seems to be for stoking it. The mesh floor covers most of the base which also suggests that the fire box goes right across the bottom.

It must be reasonably self-contained because the theme at that section of the clip is about not firing up the bush.

The base is a bit like an American coffee pot which would be good for stability.

Interesting anyway.

Cheers,

Neil

[Don 130]

Nothing that I know of available commercially, but very easy to fabricate if one had a few tools and the skills to match.
Don.

[DiscoMick]

Could that be made from an old milk can? Wrong shape for a gas bottle.

[loanrangie]

Could use one of those heat bead chimneys and put mesh on the bottom.

[S3ute]

Could that be made from an old milk can? Wrong shape for a gas bottle.

Hello again.

I don’t think the one in the clip was.

However, one could be made from a cream can - milk can would be too heavy. That was a thought that did cross my mind - working in both Indonesia and India you see very small milk cans used by smallholders that I had thought to bring home. Thought the excess baggage might beat me - although bringing various bits of Land Rovers never seemed to stop me.

Cheers,

Neil

[OneOff]

Ahh, Jack Absalom,

I know nothing about the stove but where does he keep his ironing board??
The man was always in a freshly pressed shirt and trousers creased perfectly. Not how I look when I go camping, or traveling in the outback... [thumbsupbig]

[S3ute]

Ahh, Jack Absalom,

I know nothing about the stove but where does he keep his ironing board??
The man was always in a freshly pressed shirt and trousers creased perfectly. Not how I look when I go camping, or traveling in the outback... [thumbsupbig]

Something that I hadn’t really given much thought to - but on watching a few of the videos lately can’t help but notice. Certainly puts my ironing to shame.

Some years ago David Attenborough was asked what he packed for travelling and he mentioned always having a blue shirt and bone trousers. That way they could film anything, anywhere and any time, and still get apparent continuity.

Wondering if Jack didn’t work to much the same plan with his khaki shirts and strides?

Cheers,

Neil

[gromit]

I hadn't seen that particular stove before and was wondering if anyone on the forum knows much about it?

It looks like a homemade unit and the design could probably be worked out from the attached thumbnails - but I thought it was worth asking in case there was some hidden secret to making one work properly.



Both the Bush Kettle & Kelly Kettle contain water round the outside.
From the pictures it looks like a way of containing a small cooking fire and with the mesh underneath and legs it will have a good draw and burn hot & fast.

I think you're on the money when you say it looks homemade.

I have a couple of older Bush Kettles (one complete in the wooden box). Great for a quick cuppa and even, dare I say it, a pot noodle for a quick lunch break.
Company has changed hands a couple of times but still being made. Seems to be in stainless now, was aluminium.
Home (https://www.campology.com.au/)



Colin

[S3ute]

Hello again.

A lot of people have mentioned Kelly kettles or similar. I’m pretty sure that Jack’s stove doesn’t have a water jacket.

It was supposedly designed to minimise the chance of a fire getting away from it when used around longer vegetation.

Cheers,

Neil

[gromit]

Hello again.

A lot of people have mentioned Kelly kettles or similar. I’m pretty sure that Jack’s stove doesn’t have a water jacket.

It was supposedly designed to minimise the chance of a fire getting away from it when used around longer vegetation.

Cheers,

Neil

A few modern incarnations exist but no firewood door, and no flip over hotplate like Jack's.

Bush Barbie - Mini Camping Wood-Fire Stove 703694043765 | eBay (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Bush-Barbie-Mini-Camping-Wood-Fire-Stove/113049023750?hash=item1a523f3506:g:hDYAAOSwsrlcBzQ h)

Outdoor Camping Wood Stove Set Pot Combination Set Hiking Travel Firewood Stove | eBay (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Outdoor-Camping-Wood-Stove-Set-Pot-Combination-Set-Hiking-Travel-Firewood-Stove/273769671176?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SI M%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140106155344%26meid%3D8b52ba8 213424ba2b27baf0c0731da8d%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3% 26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D182888114109%26itm%3D27376967117 6&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851)

CESHUMD Camping Stove Wood Burning Grill Portable Collapsible, Stainless Steel | eBay

(https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/CESHUMD-Camping-Stove-Wood-Burning-Grill-Portable-Collapsible-Stainless-Steel/183762654542?hash=item2ac91b954e:g:IBIAAOSwjXZcp16 5)https://bushbuddystove.com/pages/about-us



Colin

[4bee]

Interesting & have got got one of these kettles. Made of copper, central cone funnel inside, aprox 16" high & 6" diam. 2 brass spouts on top with a wound wire handle & was apparently made by Railway Apprentices for use when on the tracks. Well that is the story but I suppose it could have been made by anyone really.

Odd how I came to get it though. It was at a local garage sale years ago in an actual Garage really, [smilebigeye] before they became popular & no-one seemed to know what it was, including me & they were glad to get shot of it.
A few weeks later I sent it off to a Metal Polisher after which he rang me to say how he'd buggered it up & the base had come apart from the main body & he was full of apologies.
Turns out he hadn't busted it at all, it was just the loose demountable base/firebox that had overcome a bit of corrosion & it fell apart when he stated buffing it. Was designed that way & it simply slid back on & packs up for travel & storage.

Have used it once or twice & it did work well, but that was before bottled gas was popular. Now it sits a few feet away from me in all it's shining glory as a Monument to Apprentice Workmanship of times past.

Just sayin'.[bigsmile1]

[Don 130]

Interesting & have got got one of these kettles. Made of copper, central cone funnel inside, aprox 16" high & 6" diam. 2 brass spouts on top with a wound wire handle & was apparently made by Railway Apprentices for use when on the tracks. Well that is the story but I suppose it could have been made by anyone really.

Odd how I came to get it though. It was at a local garage sale years ago in an actual Garage really, [smilebigeye] before they became popular & no-one seemed to know what it was, including me & they were glad to get shot of it.
A few weeks later I sent it off to a Metal Polisher after which he rang me to say how he'd buggered it up & the base had come apart from the main body & he was full of apologies.
Turns out he hadn't busted it at all, it was just the loose demountable base/firebox that had overcome a bit of corrosion & it fell apart when he stated buffing it. Was designed that way & it simply slid back on & packs up for travel & storage.

Have used it once or twice & it did work well, but that was before bottled gas was popular. Now it sits a few feet away from me in all it's shining glory as a Monument to Apprentice Workmanship of times past.

Just sayin'.[bigsmile1]

Post up a picture or two 4bee
Don.

[Don 130]

This (https://www.solostove.com)is the best looking thing available that I've seen so far.

And there's an Australian supplier here (https://www.survivalsuppliesaustralia.com.au/ProductBrands/Solo_Stove)
Don.

[4bee]

Too flash that, Don. [smilebigeye] My one is more rufty tufty-ish & handmade & if it had balls it would speak in a gruff voice.

NB. This one is only a water heater & not a stove.150244

[Don 130]

Too flash that, Don. [smilebigeye] My one is more rufty tufty-ish & handmade & if it had balls it would speak in a gruff voice.

NB. This one is only a water heater & not a stove.150244

I dunno 4bee, your copper job looks pretty snazzy. Thanks for the picture.
Don.

[gromit]

Too flash that, Don. [smilebigeye] My one is more rufty tufty-ish & handmade & if it had balls it would speak in a gruff voice.

NB. This one is only a water heater & not a stove.150244

That looks very much like the Kelly Kettle https://www.kellykettle.com.au/

Colin

[gromit]

This (https://www.solostove.com)is the best looking thing available that I've seen so far.

And there's an Australian supplier here (https://www.survivalsuppliesaustralia.com.au/ProductBrands/Solo_Stove)
Don.

The background & development of the bushbuddy is interesting.
Interview: Fritz Handel from BushBuddy - Hiking in Finland (https://hikinginfinland.com/2009/11/interview-fritz-handel-from-bushbuddy.html)

Off-grid manufacture, battery operated spot welding, low volume hand made.

Colin

[4bee]

As an aside, when I looked inside the central cone chimney when doing the photo , I noticed it was reasonably carbon-ed up around the walls so it looks like it has had a fair old bit of use.

If only it could speak eh?[bighmmm]

Oh yeah, the mention of the "Railway Apprentices" was made by a visitor who indulged himself in old engines & similar stuff & appeared to know a bit about these. Initially I didn't know what it was.

[4bee]

That looks very much like the Kelly Kettle https://www.kellykettle.com.au/

Thanks Colin, yes it does & maybe that is where the idea originated from. It looks identical in every detail. A great bit of history from the coasts of Ireland to the Australian Bush.

Makes sense. Irish Railway navvies, not a long bow to draw, is it?


Edit. Btw, looking at that website it shows a "Pot Support" so it can be used to cook or heat food. Right, where's me tinsnips?[smilebigeye]

Like most things these days the postage is twice the cost of the article. Support AUD 5.50. Aust Post AUD 10.30