I am really showing my ignorance, but is there any reference on the site to the different brands of COs?  I would also be interested in the history of the CO - particularly in Australia - and what the "collectable" types are.  Apologies if this is represented somewhere but I could not find it.

Far from a silly question VS,
I think manufacture maybe more to the point and the way I see it some old ovens where manufactured by the better known makers of a similar patten and thus where unbranded. (Aussie ovens copyed of over seas makers)Example a lot of ovens look like Meters but have no name.
Our early sellers came from all over the world  so who really knows every now and then something different comes along.(I would just like to be there when it does)
PD can you help?
Muzz

Hi VicStar ........there is a heap of stuff on this site in referance to different old ovens, types, history, Brandnames ect...........and a lot of photos of them.......Ya just have to search around a bit.......Im sure i still havnt found it all yet either and ive been looking through this site for ages now .......even though i only joined up a while ago.
Cheers SBB
PS I think there was some talk of a reference page being set up not long ago.......Photos ect.

G'day VS .  They're all collectable and to me a collectable oven is any pot that is old. The first things I look for are the "seven" ears, the notch in the centre of the lid handle and the spru or gate mark on the underside of the pot, if its got a name the price becomes secondary as castironitis kicks in.
Not much to distinguish old unnamed pots, it's not often you find one that is different, I still buy 'em though if the price is right and often they are good quality. It's a nice surprise when you're cleaning up an old oven and you find a makers mark.
Carrons, Etnas and Sheldons were all made in the UK and are identical in looks to our old ovens which I reckon were copied from them.
I particularly like named Australian ovens like Albions, Metters and the newer Billmans and my favourite, the Hardings , as I've said before I reckon they're all better than the over rated Furphy's (helmet on, incoming fire).
Astroboy has some nice Australian ovens, he might come in on this.

pd

How about a couple of photos of a Harding PD...............Ive never seen one :'(  
Ive got to agree with you on the Furphys......the casting on my two is as rough as guts. Maybe the really early Furphys where better.......Ive never seen one in the flesh to know.
SBB

There is a challenge here for the members of COCIA to record (for posperity) the ovens used in shaping the country.

Derek - a library page would be appropriate, with identifying marks and features catalogued for each oven (e.g. leg length/height of dome) to accompany good photos.

Are we up to the challenge.

H

VS, you've gone out and bought what you could find easily.

http://www.furphyfoundry.com.au/media/camping/camp_oven.jpg

Recently outlets have opened up in Oz for ovens currently made elsewhere in the world, especially in the N. American market.

I've seen the Lodge, which are N. American made for sale at UK and other EU sites.

http://www.lodgemfg.com/images/logic_2qt_8qtcdo_subcat.jpg

Camp Chef is also in current production for via a N. American company in name and management, but the contract in Asia for the manufacturing.

http://www.rvingoutpost.com/products/2122.jpg

Both can be bought in Australia. both are of good repute over here. Over here, you find it, the lids will match the pots well, in 99% of the sources.  But it still pays for any buyer to check each oven.

Also, I know of folks down there who have bought  from Mrs. Mik's (Julie) RVing Outpost http://www.rvingoutpost.com/  & from Cabelas, http://www.cabelas.com

Also in Australia you have a very high quality producer by all I have heard and seen here, Billmans.  http://www.billmansfoundry.com.au/index.htm

All that is what you can get that's being made now and is fairly easy to find.  

Older, out of production ovens are things we all (well, almost all) lust for.  Were I in your shoes, I think I'd follow what Sundryed and Poddy Dodger did, make a trip down to Castlemaine for self and friends and pick up what you see and like (having alerted them to your interests maybe).

8-)

---

SBB
A couple of 17" Hardings & a 15" old school Furphy.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee104/billybushcook/VacyFair010.jpg

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee104/billybushcook/VacyFair009.jpg

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee104/billybushcook/VacyFair008.jpg

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee104/billybushcook/VacyFair007.jpg

Note the handle on the lid of that Furphy, it looks as if it is one of the Furphy lids that were cast in the Billmans Foundry.

by the way this thread should be under the "Camp Ovens & Camp Oven Equipment" section.
Mick.

I do like the look of the Hardings, and now fully appreciate their appeal for PD.

Never run accross one in my travels, much to my (now) dissapointment

H

Thanks BBC, gee there's some nice iron in those pics, several thousand $$$ worth at a rough guess. Up until now I'd never seen a 17" Harding, now I gotta have one.
I have an similar Furphy to the one in the pic and agree, it was cast by Billmans under licence to Furphy who were discontinuing making camp ovens about ten or so years ago. It is unusual in that the well fitting lid has a 12mm flange that comes down the outside of the pot making it almost air tight.

pd

BBCThat Harding 17 is a good looking CO.Very masculine.

Aart

Great set of ovens BBC, I have never seen a Hardings oven before, they sure look good, thanks for the pics  :)

Great photos BBC .................Sometimes its better not knowing  :o .........I think i need a Harding now ;D
That Furphy 15 lid  looks exactly like my two .....one of which I bought brand new 18-20 years ago.......Do the really old ones look different again..........im getting confused ;D I do Know what a chinese one looks like  ;)
SBB

This Topic was moved here from Let's Chew The Fat by Derek.

hotshins wrote on Jan 16^th, 2009 at 8:24am:

There is a challenge here for the members of COCIA to record (for posperity) the ovens used in shaping the country. Derek - a library page would be appropriate, with identifying marks and features catalogued for each oven (e.g. leg length/height of dome) to accompany good photos. Are we up to the challenge. H

I can certainly set a page up but who has the knowledge and how accurate is it.  Unfortunately there is very little written documentation that you can research.


Derek

Derek wrote on Jan 16^th, 2009 at 9:07pm:

I can certainly set a page up but who has the knowledge and how accurate is it.Unfortunately there is very little written documentation that you can research

It may be a matter of those of you with the most experience listing what you have - and I know you do this right throughout this forum, but it would be much easier if it was just in the one place.  I am sure I would not be the only inexperienced one to appreciate this kind of information.  I must admit I am enjoying finding out little bits and pieces as I go, but I get frustrated when I know I have seen something somewhere and can't find it again later. If it was all in the one spot it would make life so much easier - just like the recipe sections.

Having been reading here for some time and not being where I can see these ovens live, I know what I need is the different types of ovens all in one photo showing like features.  

ie.,
- one shot for from the top
- one shot for profile with ears profile too
- one shot for profile without ears side on
- one shot for bottoms, both lids and pots.
- one shot looking at inside of oven

etc.    Only when I see them together in the same scale can I take in the differences.

JHMO
:-/

PD's photo assistant here.  & think between me and others we'll have PD doing his own pics soon

HARDINGS:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uzySPN3TXgw/SXEGeNdftyI/AAAAAAAAAdo/Mln_hIyR8Js/s640/P1010119.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uzySPN3TXgw/SXEGi46_AaI/AAAAAAAAAeI/nkvtMliY_Gs/s640/P1010123.JPG


http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uzySPN3TXgw/SXEGmP0ttOI/AAAAAAAAAeg/v3NvwEz2vAI/s640/P1010126.JPG



http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uzySPN3TXgw/SXEGnecUXvI/AAAAAAAAAeo/F9x5FWzy9cs/s640/P1010127.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_uzySPN3TXgw/SXEGorDzJ-I/AAAAAAAAAew/P2ktsO1Pvag/s640/P1010128.JPG

& they are all @  http://picasaweb.google.com/poddydodger/PicsOfHardingPots?authkey=IpwIjebTWko&feat=email#

Captionless.  PD will have to say his say with other persuaders.

:-/

OK PD

No fooling around.
What is one of those black beauties going to cost me?

Aart

Aart
If you can get one off those  Hardings out of PD ...The Pope is going to marry. And heavy snow will fall in Darwin.
Muzz

Cactus wrote on Jan 17^th, 2009 at 12:36pm:

Aart If you can get one off those  Hardings out of PD ...The Pope is going to marry. And heavy snow will fall in Darwin. Muzz

So you reckon there is a chance Muzz.  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

H [/quote]


I can certainly set a page up but who has the knowledge and how accurate is it.  Unfortunately there is very little written documentation that you can research.


Derek [/quote]

As you have pointed out Derek….there is very little written documentation that people can research on old Aussie camp ovens. I for one have scoured the net over the years and come up with very little……..Until I found this site!.
It has taught me a huge amount even before I became a member. The information held on this site is the best you will find regarding Australian oven brand names ……and the history of the companies who manufactured them
My feeling on this is that there is very little to lose ….and possibly much to gain by devoting  a page to this subject..
If the members of this great site don’t do it ….Who will ?????. Our society is changing rapidly, the old folk who had knowledge of these things are disappearing quickly, and most others don’t give a rats @#% about things such as camp oven History.
Many of the members here seem to have a lot more knowledge than can be found anywhere else.………..I think that over a period of time the problem of accuracy will sort its self out. through sensible debate
Cheers SBB

Derek wrote on Jan 17^th, 2009 at 12:52pm:

Cactus wrote on Jan 17th, 2009 at 12:36pm: Aart If you can get one off those  Hardings out of PD ...The Pope is going to marry. And heavy snow will fall in Darwin. Muzz So you reckon there is a chance Muzz.  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

One of the greatest attributes of this forum is its collective sense of humor

Aart

Those ovens are like my own children and you wouldn't sell your kids would you ? Damn right you would if the price was right .... lol.
Seriously Aart, not really interested in selling but trading ???

pd

poddy dodger wrote on Jan 17^th, 2009 at 7:38pm:

Seriously Aart, not really interested in selling but trading ???

PD swop you a gearbox for a 69 Valiant and the missus for a 12' Hardings  :D

Sooty.  What year model is yer missus and with the g/box, is the synchro on first gear still OK ?

pd

poddy dodger wrote on Jan 18^th, 2009 at 5:57am:

What year model is yer missus and with the g/box, is the synchro on first gear still OK ?

LOL! PD, isn't another name for a Missus the "trouble and strife"?  Do you really need more of that?! [smiley=laugh.gif]

Saltbush Bill wrote on Jan 17^th, 2009 at 2:02pm:

As you have pointed out Derek….there is very little written documentation that people can research on old Aussie camp ovens. I for one have scoured the net over the years and come up with very little……..Until I found this site!. It has taught me a huge amount even before I became a member. The information held on this site is the best you will find regarding Australian oven brand names ……and the history of the companies who manufactured them My feeling on this is that there is very little to lose ….and possibly much to gain by devotinga page to this subject.. If the members of this great site don’t do it ….Who will ?????. Our society is changing rapidly, the old folk who had knowledge of these things are disappearing quickly, and most others don’t give a rats @#% about things such as camp oven History. Many of the members here seem to have a lot more knowledge than can be found anywhere else.………..I think that over a period of time the problem of accuracy will sort its self out. through sensible debate

Exactly the point I was trying to (very unsucessfully) make! Thanks SBB!

This Topic was moved here from Camp Ovens & Related Equipment by Derek.

We have a new Section now specifically for this.

VicStar im not to sure i put it any better .......maybe i just babbled on for half an hour to say the same thing. ;D

:o OMG! I can't believe a newbie - me - has created the idea for a NEW section!  I am so amazed!  How humbling.  Thanks Derek for taking my suggestion on board.  You are a legend! [smiley=blush5.gif] I can only imagine that the wealth of information that will be put into this section.  It will be so helpful and a great source for future generations.

poddy dodger wrote on Jan 18^th, 2009 at 5:57am:

Sooty.  What year model is yer missus and with the g/box, is the synchro on first gear still OK ? pd

PD the missus is a bit older than the box or the same age depending on which one you mean.  ;D
What is syncro?  it is a crash box
Kev

Don't like looking a gift horse in the mouth Soot, but does the missus have her own teeth and not them store bought ones either.
I am a bit worried about this gear box, a crash box, you mean you got it outta a wreck ?

You can understand me wanting to know a few details before I part with one of my babies.

pd

Old Girl has own teeth probably more than the g/box  :'(
Kev

Hi David,

I had a look at the website you mentioned (COCIA), the boss calls me Kerrie Camp Oven because everyone calls me for camp oven orders, now we know why!  Gave  us a good chuckle.

To answer you question, yes we can remove the phone number from the lid, but unfortunately the extra charge for the personalised lid will apply.  The reason being that our wooden patterns (except 18") have all the detail's including Billmans the phone number, oval logo and size, so we will have to use a blank lid pattern (photo attached - Billmans Logo only) and glue the lettering (BILLMANS) to the top as we do with the personalised lid, make the sand mould and then remove the lettering from the pattern.  Hope this makes
sense, but we do have to charge for our moulders extra time or we will end up like a lot of other foundries (importing from China or no longer in operation).  Hope this info helps explain the extra charge.

I will pass the info on about the 18" for sale at Millmerran to our founder Gerry Billman who is now retired but pops into the factory each morning, he is proud of what he started here in 1980 .  Gerry's son Max now runs the foundry and grandson finished his moulding apprenticeship nearly a year ago and works on the factory floor.  The rest of us are just like family, being a small company.  Hey did they sell the 18", in reality I'm not sure it would have been old enough to be classed as an antique!

Should you require any further information, please contact our office.

Kind regards

Kerrie Camp Oven

Billmans Foundry Pty Ltd
Langslow Street (PO Box 242)
Castlemaine 3450
Ph:  03 5472 4302
Fax: 03 5470 6933
website:  www.billmansfoundry.com.au

KD posted in this Forum before, but appropriate in this discussion thread.