I've got a couple of old copper "thermettes" or "Back Country Boilers" that I really value - as they are the ideal tool for a quick cup of tea or 'cuppa-soup' when out and about in the back-blocks.
This type of water heater may have been around for as much as 3,600 odd years with "SAMOVAR" tea urns going way-back in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
The key feature is a water jacket surrounding a tall chimney that produces an up-draught to help the kindling to burn hotly - bringing water to the boil in minutes.
A New Zealander John Ashley Hart patented his version of the 'Thermette' in 1929 and they sold well - but ten years later in 1939 he was asked by the NZ Military to waive his patent so that they could get them made and issued to the New Zealand Army as standard kit - which he agreed to, - and the water heaters became very popular with the men in North Africa as "Benghazi Boilers".
Rod says that the Brits could always tell where the Kiwis had been in the Desert by the blackened rings in the sand where they'd stopped for a brew-up!
Modern versions are available from an English maker Eydon Kettle Co. in aluminium and Stainless steel, called "Storm Kettles" - in four different sizes. I was reading a very positive review from America recently.
- But there is also a New Zealand maker OUTDOOR ATTITUDE of Taupo who still make their version in copper. - Copper has to be the very best of materials as it doesn't corrode, it transmits heat very well, and any copper or copper alloy ( such as brass), has a strong anti-bacterial affect on anything in contact - so is unbeatable for cooking utensils.
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My two battered old "thermettes" (with some home-grown garlic).
- Fill the water jacket, stand boiler on some stones or the proper base, and put some crumpled paper in the bottom - drop in broken twigs, small pine-cones etc down the chimney and light the paper. Get out the drinking mugs and the 'makings', - pour on boiling water when you see the steam - take it easy and think about what's for tonights cook-up.
Marty K
After researching & writing 1,036 blogs I've got something NEW to try .. I've signed-up to Patreon. - In over five years I've not made one cent from this .. NOW you can send me a wee support $ - starting from $1. to get all this stuff from New Zealand - over a year that's nearly the price of one Shooting magazine. - Am I worth it?
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