During the week a Metters 14" on eBay went for $298 plus postage, is this a sign that camp ovens are steadily appreciating in value ? At this rate I'll be able to retire soon as I have several lol.

IMHO Metters ovens are every bit as good as Furphy but just don't have the same sort of reptutation, what do you think ???


pd

I don't think I've ever seen one PD! my mum says she used to have Metters CO's at Dajarra but I can't remember them.

All the best
Skip

What about that 14 inch furphy on ebay that has $255 on it. Its a chinese made oven you can buy at most camping stores for about $150. People are morons!!
I'm thinking of listing an 8 inch metters in the next few weeks, i'm sure it would bring a pretty penny, what do you think?
Astro

G'day Astroboy, I'll be in the outback until the end of May searching for any pots looking for a new home so could you hold off putting that little black 8" baby on eBay until then ? lol.
Think I'll buy some new Furphy's and flog them off on eBay, going on the two that just sold I can at least double my money.

pd

Hey Skip, I came through Dajarra just before last Christmas, they have a free museum there with lots of old camp ovens.... all cracked or rusted out ! Never mind, it's still worth a visit, maybe your mum's old Metters is there ? Now...... I have some pics somewhere ???

For anyone who hasn't seen a Metters oven they are very well made, smooth finish and snug fitting lids, the only down side is they have thin walls and are a bit fragile, I've cracked two of mine and had them repaired. Now I only use them at home and don't take them on the road.

pd

I have a 10 inch metters poddy in pristine condition I dont dare take it camping with me, I use the cheapo chinese ones for that. The metters is saved for cooking at home.

shane

Hey pd,
keep an eye out for a 24" Metters base, I have got onto a lid in really good nick apparently, looking forward to checking it out with my own eyes. I'll hold off on that 8 inch for ebay, might have to give you first dibs. What do ya reckon?

Astro.

G'day astroboy, the museum in Barcaldine has a 24" oven, I carried it outside to take pics of it, big and heavy, it would take two men and several wild dogs to lift it off the fire if it was full of pork spare ribs or Irish stew or anything ! I'll look for one that's for sale for you though.
I would like a go at your 8" Metters, I've never seen one. I have a mate at Dubbo who bought me a box of rusty old ovens at a property clearance sale before Christmas, who knows what I'll find in there when I pick it up in a couple of weeks time.

pd

Poddy Dodger,
Hi there . i know this is a long shot but when you recieve your box of goodies and if you happen to find a 14" albion oven without a lid , well i have a lid to suite in very good nic. Found in a tip in WA would you beleive. Have been on the look out for ages but can't seem to find. Would pay a fair price if one were to be come available.
Well you never know unless you ask the question.

Rossco

G'day Rossco, like you say you never know if you never ask. I have both a 10" and a 12" Albion but I've never seen a 14", They'll be around but just thin on the ground. I will keep my eyes peeled for one anyway, at some of the Camp Oven Cooking festivals people have odd stuff for sale.
An old bloke at the museum in Boulia told me a while ago that there is a surplus of lids as it is always the pots that get broken....


pd

PD, I'm not sure about the appreciation in value, but I CAN tell you that cast iron has gone UP, UP, UP in price!  There have been three price increases in the last six months or so.  I guess the Chinese are realizing that they can charge more and we're forced to pay it . . .

Julie

PS, I know, you're talking about an OLD oven, I just thought I'd throw out there what's up with the price of cast iron lately . . .    :)

G'day Julie.
So I'm told, the quality of cast iron drops every time it is re-cast so all those camp ovens coming out of China made from recycled scrap are not as good as those old pots made from original ore.
I'm always amazed at how good some of those vintage ovens are, they certainly knew how to pour molten metal in the old days.

pd

PD, what's behind this statement that everything coming out of China is re-cast iron?

:-?

PoddyDodger,
Thanks i would appreciate that.
You mention Boulia , i was up that way back in 1990 , went from StGeorge to Kakadu . On the way up we stopped at every old museum between Blackall and Camoweel. some of the old gear they have in those places is terrific. Must have taken years to gather all of it together. It's a credit to the people that run these museums so people like us can be reminded of how things were done back in those day's .Some of those big camp ovens must have had 3 or 4 sheep in them to feed a mob of sheares and rousies. Anyone heading up that way should do themselves a favour and have a look around , they would ba amazed.

Rossco.

There is a museum at Morven west of Mitchell in Qld that has all sorts of lovely old camp ovens and pots. It is run by volunteers and the old lady there on the day we called in was born there and has spent all her life there, 75 years +. The museum is well worth a look, nothing else in town is !


pd

I see another new Furphy on eBay http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Furphy-Camp-Oven-14_W0QQitemZ120229403589QQihZ002QQcategoryZ62117QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem