AUSTRALIA'S ORIGINAL AND BEST CAMP OVEN AND OUTDOOR COOKING CAMPING AND LIFESTYLE FORUM

AUSTRALIA'S ORIGINAL AND BEST CAMP OVEN AND OUTDOOR COOKING CAMPING AND LIFESTYLE FORUM
https://www.aussiecampovenforum.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl General Chat Area >> Let's Chew The Fat >> Cast Iron Foundries in Oz https://www.aussiecampovenforum.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1161772188 Message started by poddy dodger on Oct 25^th, 2006 at 8:29pm

Title: Cast Iron Foundries in Oz
Post by poddy dodger on Oct 25^th, 2006 at 8:29pm

I don't know if others are interested but I think a list of known makers of camp ovens in Australia would be a good thing. We've all heard of the old foundries like Furphy, Metters and C.C. Harding who have closed their doors with Billmans in Castlemaine still making a few but there must be plenty of others around.
I have several very old ovens without a makers name on the lid but with distinctive features, for example one has a very high domed and flanged lid, never seen one like it but some one might be able to identify the maker. pd.

Title: Re: Cast Iron Foundries in Oz
Post by camper bear on Nov 22^nd, 2006 at 10:25pm

pd could you post some photos so we can have a look then we might be able to help cheers mate cb

Title: Re: Cast Iron Foundries in Oz
Post by mikel on Nov 23^rd, 2006 at 8:13pm

PD. This will take you to ferrous foundries in au.

www.metals.rala.com.au/supp_ferrous_aust.htm.

Many moons ago I knew old man Alexander Carmichael, makers of the Carmichael gas stoves. They are still at Granville (you will pick up their new name from the site)
The very heavy (theres a story in it! ;)) CI frying pan I have was made by them. I think with the right approach they would cast camp ovens from a given sample.

I have actually thought about this as a project myself, hence the above site found.
cheers mikel

Title: Re: Cast Iron Foundries in Oz
Post by Furphyslinger on Nov 23^rd, 2006 at 8:23pm

Thats a top link Mikel and some of those foundrys are not far from me I shall investigate

Furphy

Title: Re: Cast Iron Foundries in Oz
Post by poddy dodger on Nov 24^th, 2006 at 6:37am

Mmmmm, food for thought mikel, I would be interested if the final price was reasonable. Whats reasonable ? Well I spoke to a bloke at Billmans Foundry and he said they made very little profit on their ovens which are all priced under $200 and are only done as a sideline. To give you some idea I think I paid $150 for a 12" plus postage. They will also do personalised lids for an extra $30.

Let me know if you make contact with a foundry and their response.
Rob

Title: Re: Cast Iron Foundries in Oz
Post by Derek Bullock on Nov 25^th, 2006 at 5:02pm

Guys

The foundry I am dealing with is the same. They used to make camp ovens and in fact still have the molds. No money in it anymore for the outlay.

I have been negotiating with them to make mine. They are happy to use their base mold but need to make the lid mold with my inscription. The cost of the mold is huge and I would need to resell at up around $180 to $200 each for a 12 inch oven. In saying that I would also most likely need to sell 30 to 40 before I made even.

No wonder everyone is going to China.

If I really put my heart in it and was prepared to outlay the dollars I could most likely do the same and get half a container of them from China for less than half the cost.

Stupid isnt it.

Derek