Jack Absalom stove

**S3ute** · 18th January 2019, 08:35 AM

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

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

Jack_Absalom_1.jpg Jack_Absalom_2.jpg Jack_Absalom_3.jpg Jack_Absalom_4.jpg Jack_Absalom_5.jpg

**loanrangie** · 18th January 2019, 12:35 PM

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

**S3ute** · 18th January 2019, 01:12 PM

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** · 18th January 2019, 01:26 PM

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 · 18th January 2019, 08:01 PM

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

**loanrangie** · 18th January 2019, 09:20 PM

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

**S3ute** · 21st January 2019, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

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** · 28th March 2019, 12:06 PM

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...

**S3ute** · 2nd April 2019, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by 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...

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** · 22nd April 2019, 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by S3ute

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

Colin

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