I think many of us would love to find out when Furphy first started making camp ovens and I am starting this thread to spark a little debate.

My interest was sparked when Peter put up his post on his Kangaroo Furphy.  Due mainly to the lid.  It is definitely a Kangaroo lid even thouigh I have never seen one with the date on before.

After looking at it I delved back into several emails I traded with Furphy a few years back.  As many would be aware the history of Furphy camp ovens is often vague.

Here though is a quote from Furphy when I questioned them about the Kangaroo camp ovens


Quote:

Hi Derek, Supposedly, we purchased the Kangaroo Stove Company when we went into production of Stoves etc and we also purchased the 14” Camp Oven pattern from these people.  Furphy’s Foundry only made these products for approximately 20 years, commencing around 1980 to the year 2000.  So you can be assured that this Camp Oven is certainly a genuine Furphy. Regards

It was while reading this that it suddenly hit me, and what hit me was this part of the email


Quote:

Furphy’s Foundry only made these products for approximately 20 years, commencing around 1980 to the year 2000

I do not believe that Furphy made the Kangaroo camp oven for that 20 year period and if my reading of that is correct then Furphy only made camp ovens from around 1980 until 2000 when they sent their production overseas.

Interested on everyone's thoughts on that.

By the way, the person I used to correspond with at Furphy is no longer around so cannot follow it up again.


Derek

derek
          mums friends great great grand father was one of the founders  of Gawler SA. they have a garden seat 8ft long mum says,
furphys brand on it, so it must be 100yrs old or so, did they make COs
then ? makes you wonder / was there only 1 foundry

Daryl

Daryl

The Furphy Foundry was established on its current site at Shepparton in 1873.  Below is a quote from their website.  Still unable to find out for certain when they manufactured camp ovens though.


Quote:

Since 1873, Furphy Foundry has grown from an agricultural implement maker, to a diversified foundry and manufacturing company which is now one of Australia’s oldest companies and managed by fourth and fifth generation family members.

geezs
        history is interesting aint it!
        only trouble is anyone knowing
        about it is passed on by now pity

   Daryl

Derek wrote on Dec 28^th, 2009 at 5:25pm:

Still unable to find out for certain when they manufactured camp ovens though.

I Googled "Furphy history", heaps of interesting sites came up, but nothing to answer your question Derek.
Might be easier to contact Furphy direct?

KD

I don't think you read my first post David.

Like you Derek Im yet to be convinced that Furphy made Camp ovens any longer than about thirty years ago. By that I mean the Victorian Furphy foundry.......not those owned by other family members in WA.
Will try to post some photos of differnt designs of Furphy lids some time soon to kick off debate.
SBB

Derek wrote on Dec 24^th, 2009 at 7:40pm:

Supposedly, we purchased the Kangaroo Stove Company when we went into production of Stoves etc and we also purchased the 14” Camp Oven pattern from these people.

If this is the case ....why are there no pre Furphy "Kangaroo Camp Ovens" around???????. Either these other people never used the mold or there were never many made

Good point Rory.  Furphy also made an 8" camp oven that has a kangaroo base on it.  I think Astro has one.

Folks I have nothing to offer this discussion, but sure enjoy the topic, and the history. :)

Derek I have the Kangaroo base 8 inch oven as well.
I don't think that they were too rare and by all counts there should be thousands of 'em about.


Skip [smiley=chris.gif]

G'day Derek, that's me that has the 8" Kangaroo Furphy oven, I also have a 14" Kangaroo Furphy, both have 'roos on the base of the pot and a KSC for Kangaroo Stove Company stamped (?) on the lid along with Furphy heavily cast.
pd

poddy dodger wrote on Dec 29^th, 2009 at 3:46pm:

G'day Derek, that's me that has the 8" Kangaroo Furphy oven, I also have a 14" Kangaroo Furphy, both have 'roos on the base of the pot and a KSC for Kangaroo Stove Company stamped (?) on the lid along with Furphy heavily cast. pd

PD

Going back to SBB's comment.  Have you ever seen or heard of a straight Kangaroo Camp Oven without Furphy on it.

This is all very intriguing.


Derek

Derek wrote on Dec 29^th, 2009 at 5:31pm:

Have you ever seen or heard of a straight Kangaroo Camp Oven without Furphy on it.

No I haven't and as far as age goes my guesstimate would be they were made in the 90's, not before or after.

pd

Google searches for " Kangaroo Stove Co' " "Kangaroo Foundry"
dont reveal anything about The Kangaroo stove Co.
For that matter has anyone ever seen or heard of a Kangaroo Stove?????
Kangaroo stoves do come up in internet searches but they are small propane fueled camp stoves. Hardly relevant.

Could it be that the Kangaroo Stove Co was invented by furphy as a marketing gimmick?????? but then if that was the case why would they put Furphy on the product as well????

Three different 15 inch Furphy lids.........are there more out there and do we have photos?????

Lid A   Marked Furphy "15"  This Oven was bought new from a local camping store in approx 1988. From memory they stocked a full range of sizes at that time.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/4226394179_c1bd28ff25_o.jpg

Lid B Marked Furphy "15" 93
Might be interesting to see what dates are out there....when did they begin and end ????
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2684/4227162582_c0616241a8_o.jpg

Lid C Marked Furphy "15" 89 Furphy in curved writting..... date and size on same side of lid......pinched this photo from Dereks for sale .......
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2614/4227162844_caa8b73fd7_o.jpg

Saltbush Bill wrote on Dec 30^th, 2009 at 10:59am:

Could it be that the Kangaroo Stove Co was invented by furphy as a marketing gimmick?????? but then if that was the case why would they put Furphy on the product as well????

I'm pretty sure that I have seen a Kangaroo Stove Company cast iron stove on ebay not that long ago. I will ckeck it out and see if I can find it. Let's not forget the water fountain that also has Kangaroo Stove company on the base as well as the Kangaroo stamp on top of the lid.
I showed a photo of an 11" Furphy camp oven not so long ago that had all the hallmarks of the E & G Foundry camp ovens which is completely different to any I have seen before it could be the missing link. Don't suppose you could find that Derek so we can have a look.
Astro.

hi all
       does anyone have a book called Made in Shepparton
its history of J Furphy & sons 1873 to 1998 ; could have
some answers in it.

Daryl

also this ABC radio nat program
Hindsight 14 sept 2008 called ITS A FURPHY
for some reason cant attatch link sorry
its a bit of j furphy history

Daryl

astroboy wrote on Dec 30^th, 2009 at 2:20pm:

I'm pretty sure that I have seen a Kangaroo Stove Company cast iron stove on ebay not that long ago.

Yep I remember that one

There are two websites on the web about Furphy

http://www.furphyfoundry.com.au/

http://www.furphys.com.au/

Here is a little history of the Furphy family.  It would seem that I was wrong in saying that Furphy have been on the same site since inception.  This is an interesting read


Quote:

The History of Furphy John Furphy, the company founder, was born June 17, 1842 at Moonee Ponds in Victoria. His younger brother, Joseph was destined to become a famous writer later in life using the pen name Tom Collins. He wrote the Australian classic bush novel, 'Such is Life', which was published in 1903 when Joseph was sixty. In 1873 there were about 13 families living in and around the Shepparton area. John Furphy, then 31 years of age, selected and bought ten acres of land fronting Tocumwal Road (now Wyndham Street) and this area is now prime city space in Shepparton. John quickly set up a blacksmith and wheelwright shop and began business. He soon added a steam works and was able to progress from light smithing and engineering to heavier work. About 1878 a Copula Furnace was installed and the iron foundry section of the business began. The implement and foundry works flourished and by 1880 there were 38 men and boys on the payroll. By 1888 John Furphy could claim to have the most extensive establishment of its kind in Northern Victoria. In 1906 the business moved from the Wyndham Street position to a site opposite the railway station. The plant was modernised with the addition of a suction gas engine to drive a large DC generator. J. Furphy & Sons was one of the few electrically powered factories in Victoria at the time and certainly the first in the Goulburn Valley. Some time in 1908 the entire generating plant was moved to the recreation reserve in Shepparton, and the townsfolk were able to witness their first athletic carnival under lights. John Furphy was a pious man with a strong sense of duty and right like his father. He pioneered Methodism in the district and the first religious service in the area was held by the United Free Methodists in his cottage at the rear of the blacksmith's shop in 1873. In his 35 years of unbroken association with the Methodist Church in Shepparton he filled every office open to a layman and was a prominent figure in other local affairs. John Furphy showed the flair of his family in his speaking and writing even in his advertising. In editions of the Shepparton Chronicle published around 1889, he wrote general letters related to his products or some facet of the business which was appropriate at the time. On his farm gates, John Furphy wrote, "My price for 12 feet wide with rails, hangings, and fastenings with the name of the owner or place cast on the centre in raised letters is only four pounds. I have made very little out of them, except for the satisfaction of spreading the marks of civilisation". In another letter to the public he wrote, "The stripper which I exhibited at the Centennial is now on view at my factory. It is the best I know how to make and only modesty prevents my adding - the best in the world". John Furphy left Shepparton at the age of 67 leaving control of the business to his sons William, George and Charles. John Seeley Furphy, son of George and grandson of the founder, started with the business in 1925 and took over most of the casting works in the foundry and supervised the assembly side. He worked closely with his cousin Fred, looking after general production. In 1938, the partnership was made a company with the six directors being William, George and Charles with Fred, Albert and John. In 1950 the three older directors were bought out and in 1960 John bought out the interests of his cousins. In the 1960's John Furphy's three sons, Andrew, Roger and Timothy were introduced to the company and assisted with its running. In 1978 the company relocated its operation to its present site in New Dookie Road bounding on the city limits. Modern offices, an Engineering workshop and the Foundry were established first. Since that time continued growth and diversification has seen the addition of a Metal Service Centre, Industrial Store, Hot Dip Galvanizing plant (1984) and a high tech Laser Cutting facility (1997). These divisions combine to form, on the one site, a truly unique metal trades centre. Subsequent galvanizing plants, developed, owned and operated by Furphys, were established in Geelong Vic (1991), Albury NSW (1994) and Blayney NSW (1999). Project engineering and fabrication remain however, Furphys core business activity. Since the late 1960's, there has been a concentrated effort in developing skills and infrastructure for stainless steel, aluminium and mild steel fabrication. Today the company enjoys a national profile of being a versatile, innovative and quality driven fabricator of specialised equipment and structures for major engineering projects. It also prides itself on the continued service offered to the local community and industry who play such an important role in ensuring the company's successful growth. In 1989, Andrew Furphy bought out the interests of his two brothers, effectively leading to the 're-establishment' of Furphys Foundry as a separate company. Andrew continued as Managing Director until 1998. At this time Andrew's only son Adam, a fifth generation Furphy, assumed the role as Managing Director of J. Furphy & Sons and now leads the company into the new millennium.

astroboy wrote on Dec 30^th, 2009 at 2:20pm:

I'm pretty sure that I have seen a Kangaroo Stove Company cast iron stove on ebay not that long ago.

But was it made by the Kangaroo Stove Co .......or was it another Furphy product marked " Kangaroo Stove Co" :-/

A photo of my furphy lid

---

Thanks for that Nelson.  That is 4 very distinct types now.  Have created a new thread to keep them all together.

FOUND THIS        Australian Camp Oven Festival
Kampers Kitchen visited the Australian Camp Oven Festival (again) at Milmerran during October. There were camp oven demonstrations, cooking competitions, country music, bush poetry, sheep dog trials, a tour of local places of interest and lots of other country events and displays.

It was held at the show grounds and was well attended especially by caravan clubs from all over Australia but surprisingly there were no 4WD clubs. Ned Winter who is regarded as the King of camp oven cooking was doing his usual displays. Ned has a collection of around 100 camp ovens. His biggest is one of 10 cast at the Toowoomba Foundry for a cattle property in the Northern Territory. The lid alone weighs around 90kg with an all up weight of around 200kg. It holds 24 gallons (109 litres) of stew. Another giant camp oven was around 4 feet in diameter and was made from an old tractor rim. Ned used 25 kg of flour to cook a damper in it.

Some of Australia’s best and funniest bush poets were on stage for a couple of hours on Sunday morning and the bands were also very good.

Many of the camp ovens were 100 year old genuine "furphy’s" and there were some new ones, with a Milmerran 2000 lid, on sale for $135. By way of comparison Sherrys had an imported 12-inch oven for sale at just $30. However the lid of the Furphy weighed far more than the imported oven because of the better quality cast iron used.

The great grandson of the founder of the Furphy Company talked about the origin of the company and in particular about the water wagons used in the First World War and which of course gave name to "furphy" for a rumor.

It seems the old guy was a moralist of sorts because many of wagons carried the slogan, "good better best, never let it rest until your good is better and your better best!"

He was also against strong drink, but not wanting to upset many of his customers who weren’t, he cast on his water wagons in Pitmann shorthand, which looks like Arabic, a warning about evils of the demon liquor and that people should only drink the good water carried in his carts!

In case you are thinking of buying a second hand furphy camp oven from an antique shop forget it! One chap we spoke to said he had been all over Australia looking for them and the asking price is now more than for a new one. It seems there is a great revival in camp oven cooking because of TV shows featuring cooks such as Thommo.

However for just $10 more, that is around $145, the Furphy company will make a personalised lid for their 12 inch camp oven. If there is enough interest or demand we could order genuine Furphy camp ovens with the club name and logo as well as individual names cast on the lid. Not only would they be a novelty they will guarantee camp oven cooking success and they will become collectors items worth many times the original cost.

Interesting Daryl, I don't know where you found this text but several claims there I would seriously question, firstly I've never seen a Furphy oven older than about 40 so much for their claim of 100 yo Furphy's. Then the suggestion that the Furphy lid weighed so much more because it was better quality cast iron is total BS. The Furphy Foundry no longer cast in Oz so your chances of getting a personalised Furphy lid are zero. Ned Winter doesn't have 100 ovens any more having sold most of them off. Lastly genuine old Furphy's are available if you look hard enough, I was offered one before Christmas, a nice old 14" for $450 so they are there if you're prepared to pay, I'm not.
Hope I don't sound like I know it all, I will stand to be corrected.

pd

69conroy wrote on Jan 7^th, 2010 at 2:38pm:

FOUND THISAustralian Camp Oven Festival Kampers Kitchen visited the Australian Camp Oven Festival (again) at Milmerran during October. There were camp oven demonstrations, cooking competitions, country music, bush poetry, sheep dog trials, a tour of local places of interest and lots of other country events and displays.

That Kampers Kitchen post must be about 8-9 years old, if not more....

A few of mine for the interested

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee181/hughesmeister/IMG_1340-1.jpg


http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee181/hughesmeister/FURPHY001.jpg


http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee181/hughesmeister/IMG_0998.jpg



Skip [smiley=chris.gif]

poddy dodger wrote on Jan 7^th, 2010 at 4:16pm:

Interesting Daryl, I don't know where you found this text but several claims there I would seriously question, firstly I've never seen a Furphy oven older than about 40 so much for their claim of 100 yo Furphy's.

Just about agree there PD although I would suggest that 40 might even be pushing it out a bit as well.  More closer to 30

Not really getting far with working out when Furphy first produced camp ovens are we????? :( :(
Did anyone here buy one brand new pre 1988...which was the year that Santa delivered mine ;) ( I wrote a very convincing letter to him and left it were Lil could find it ) ;D

PD
   Rastas is right didnt look at date  :-[
   i only posted because they said COs
   where 100 yrs old ;and because of your
   reply i have learnt something as well.
   will keep looking someone must know

Daryl

This is interesting.  They claim this is only 8 years old.  So Furphy may still be even making them.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Cast-Iron-Homestead-Cooker-Wood-Coal-Electric_W0QQitemZ250580374206QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Home_Appliances?hash=item3a57c112be

That'd certainly be a conversation piece out on the patio.


pod

I have noticed a lot of activity lately with people viewing this subject.

Is there anyone out there who has any additional information for us.

I do note that since the early days of this post we did in fact see an 8" Kangaroo Camp Oven with no Furphy markings on it sold on eBay.

If you are a visitor to the Forum and have some information yet do not wish to post then please send  me an email to derek@aussiecampovencook.com

Currently on Ebay for sale by  "bonebag10"
What appears to be extremely rusty camp ovens with 'Kangaroo Stoves VIC Australia' on the bottoms


Beware any item with "Furphy Kangaroo Stove Company" on it that looks a little too new or modern...

Formation Date      16 July 2010
Universal ID: AU-66007292097
Name: TRANSRIG PTY. LTD.
Trading Name: THE FURPHY KANGAROO STOVE COMPANY
Registration Number: 66007292097
Alt. Reg. No: 007292097

Information from businessprofiles.com
LAST UPDATED FROM THE AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS REGISTER ON 31 January 2013

LG wrote on Feb 19^th, 2013 at 4:10am:

Beware any item with "Furphy Kangaroo Stove Company" on it that looks a little too new or modern...

Why do you say that LG????

Found this on the Furphy website. 

Not so sure on the accuracy as it has camp ovens made in the 1940's and 50's. If it is correct then we have a whole new slant on the history

http://www.furphyfoundry.com.au/images/stories/125_years.jpg

Derek wrote on Feb 19^th, 2013 at 9:14am:

Found this on the Furphy website.  Not so sure on the accuracy as it has camp ovens made in the 1940's and 50's. If it is correct then we have a whole new slant on the history

As I've said in the past some of the ovens I have aquired were from old blokes who mentioned they had them in the 40's & 50's. Makes sense to me  :)

astroboy wrote on Feb 19^th, 2013 at 10:43am:

As I've said in the past some of the ovens I have aquired were from old blokes who mentioned they had them in the 40's & 50's. Makes sense to me

Ahhh, I should have read all previous posts correctly :)

I'm a newbie am hoping this is the right place to post. I have what I think is an old Furphy camp oven and was looking to sell it as I have a couple by E & G Foundry. Most of the Furphy's I have seen have a size number this one doesnt. I have searched for information online but don't seem to be picking up much.Anybody out there who could identify it from a pic?

Thanks Baz

Can you attach the pic here Baz??

Trying to upload pics. Looks like I'm not doing something right! Directs me to imageshack then says error?

Baz

Baz

Don't use the ImageShack links. Use the one above it.  Click on Browse, select the photo on your computer and then post message.  Pic needs to be no bigger than 250 kb

If you still have problems email the photo to me at derek@aussiecampovencook.com and I will do it for you.

Cheers

Still having problems...Will email direct to you Derek.

Thanks
Baz

Here are the photos.  Baz says it measures 140mm Deep without top on. 350mm across with top on. Height excluding handle 225mm

Seems to have a few nuts welded on the top of the lid Baz. Any idea why??

Looks like a 12 inch Furphy.

Anyone hazard a guess at age??

Photos were over 3 meagbytes that is why they wouldn't load.  Reduced them down :)

---

Not sure why the nuts were welded on. I hazard a guess the original owner has screwed bolts or legs into it to use upside down like a frypan. Can't think of anything else that might make sense? Its a 14" In good nick, no cracks etc. And the nuts can be removed without any damage.

Cheers
Baz

I often look back through old posts.  It is amazing sometimes what information comes out.

Has anyone got any updates on Furphy they can share????

I haven't.

Derek wrote on Sep 18^th, 2016 at 1:08pm:

I often look back through old posts.  It is amazing sometimes what information comes out. Has anyone got any updates on Furphy they can share???? I haven't.

Are they supposed to be closing down Derek,..or just a general enquiry?

No just any updates anyone might have about the history/age of Furphy Camp Ovens considering we have quite a few new members.

I spoke to a friend recently and he mentioned having a Furphy camp oven (it is the same as Baz62's oven). We have one the same also.

Anyway he said he bought it in 1975 or 76 from Grice Stoves at Wooloongabba in Brisbane. The owner of the shop told him it had been there for years as no one wanted to pay the money with all the cheap Chinese ovens around. He is pretty sure he paid $70 for it.

Anyway I thought that information would belong in this thread..

Jeff

If this is the case ....why are there no pre Furphy "Kangaroo Camp Ovens" around???????. Either these other people never used the mold or there were never many made[/quote]

There is Rory as I have a 12" kangaroo stove work camp oven

Come on Brett. You can't say that and not show us some photos?  8-)

Sorry Derek not sure how to put photos up on here so I pm photos to Rory through Facebook

I just posted the photos up in another thread.
http://www.aussiecampovenforum.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1488230807/0#0

This all still intrigues me and I doubt regardless of everything we ever got to the end of it.

Reading through the history of Furphy again something hit me and I have highlighted it in red.

Do you know, it would not surprise me if Furphy didn’t start making their camp ovens until they opened that new foundry in 1978


Quote:

The History of Furphy John Furphy, the company founder, was born June 17, 1842 at Moonee Ponds in Victoria. His younger brother, Joseph was destined to become a famous writer later in life using the pen name Tom Collins. He wrote the Australian classic bush novel, 'Such is Life', which was published in 1903 when Joseph was sixty. In 1873 there were about 13 families living in and around the Shepparton area. John Furphy, then 31 years of age, selected and bought ten acres of land fronting Tocumwal Road (now Wyndham Street) and this area is now prime city space in Shepparton. John quickly set up a blacksmith and wheelwright shop and began business. He soon added a steam works and was able to progress from light smithing and engineering to heavier work. About 1878 a Copula Furnace was installed and the iron foundry section of the business began. The implement and foundry works flourished and by 1880 there were 38 men and boys on the payroll. By 1888 John Furphy could claim to have the most extensive establishment of its kind in Northern Victoria. In 1906 the business moved from the Wyndham Street position to a site opposite the railway station. The plant was modernised with the addition of a suction gas engine to drive a large DC generator. J. Furphy & Sons was one of the few electrically powered factories in Victoria at the time and certainly the first in the Goulburn Valley. Some time in 1908 the entire generating plant was moved to the recreation reserve in Shepparton, and the townsfolk were able to witness their first athletic carnival under lights. John Furphy was a pious man with a strong sense of duty and right like his father. He pioneered Methodism in the district and the first religious service in the area was held by the United Free Methodists in his cottage at the rear of the blacksmith's shop in 1873. In his 35 years of unbroken association with the Methodist Church in Shepparton he filled every office open to a layman and was a prominent figure in other local affairs. John Furphy showed the flair of his family in his speaking and writing even in his advertising. In editions of the Shepparton Chronicle published around 1889, he wrote general letters related to his products or some facet of the business which was appropriate at the time. On his farm gates, John Furphy wrote, "My price for 12 feet wide with rails, hangings, and fastenings with the name of the owner or place cast on the centre in raised letters is only four pounds. I have made very little out of them, except for the satisfaction of spreading the marks of civilisation". In another letter to the public he wrote, "The stripper which I exhibited at the Centennial is now on view at my factory. It is the best I know how to make and only modesty prevents my adding - the best in the world". John Furphy left Shepparton at the age of 67 leaving control of the business to his sons William, George and Charles. John Seeley Furphy, son of George and grandson of the founder, started with the business in 1925 and took over most of the casting works in the foundry and supervised the assembly side. He worked closely with his cousin Fred, looking after general production. In 1938, the partnership was made a company with the six directors being William, George and Charles with Fred, Albert and John. In 1950 the three older directors were bought out and in 1960 John bought out the interests of his cousins. In the 1960's John Furphy's three sons, Andrew, Roger and Timothy were introduced to the company and assisted with its running. In 1978 the company relocated its operation to its present site in New Dookie Road bounding on the city limits. Modern offices, an Engineering workshop and the Foundry were established first. Since that time continued growth and diversification has seen the addition of a Metal Service Centre, Industrial Store, Hot Dip Galvanizing plant (1984) and a high tech Laser Cutting facility (1997). These divisions combine to form, on the one site, a truly unique metal trades centre. Subsequent galvanizing plants, developed, owned and operated by Furphys, were established in Geelong Vic (1991), Albury NSW (1994) and Blayney NSW (1999). Project engineering and fabrication remain however, Furphys core business activity. Since the late 1960's, there has been a concentrated effort in developing skills and infrastructure for stainless steel, aluminium and mild steel fabrication. Today the company enjoys a national profile of being a versatile, innovative and quality driven fabricator of specialised equipment and structures for major engineering projects. It also prides itself on the continued service offered to the local community and industry who play such an important role in ensuring the company's successful growth. In 1989, Andrew Furphy bought out the interests of his two brothers, effectively leading to the 're-establishment' of Furphys Foundry as a separate company. Andrew continued as Managing Director until 1998. At this time Andrew's only son Adam, a fifth generation Furphy, assumed the role as Managing Director of J. Furphy & Sons and now leads the company into the new millennium.

1978 ? mmmm I'd agree, I think the oldest Furpy oven I have seen would be late 1980's.
I have a Furphy Commemerative oven, on the lid it says:
Limited Edition 98. Furphy 12. Est 1873. To Commemorate 125 Years. That would lead you to think they had been making ovens all those years but not so, they are new boys on the block compared to other Australian foundry's.

That's quite possible I think. There are those who say they have been around longer , but Ive still to see any positive proof of that.

This old post still intrigues me.

Has anyone got anything to add to what is already here???

Here is a 91 15 that I have inherited.

---

Nice oven for sure.

Thanks Derek, Does that make it Australian made?

Yep that one is definitely Aussie made at the foundry in Shepparton.

By the way, welcome to the forum.

Thanks for the info and welcome.

Mainly use hillbilly or bedourie now when on the road, cast if we are going to camp in one spot.  Will be good to try this one out.

I wrote this little bit of information up on early Furphy camp ovens for my Facebook page. Some don't agree but I think it gives us a pretty good indication when Furphy started making camp ovens.


Early Furphy Camp Ovens

Furphy camp ovens are one of the most collectable ovens in Australia yet their history is really not known. Furphy themselves seem to have no clue either and when I visited the Furphy Museum in Shepparton five years ago this was made very clear as the only camp oven on display was a Chinese made one.

Some say Furphy camp ovens were made 100 years ago, others say they weren’t made until the 1980’s and I have been told the first one was made in 1964. I do know a friend of ours bought one from Grice Stoves in Brisbane in about 1976 and others have mentioned getting theirs in the 1970’s. So, we may never know exactly when they were first made but there is no doubt they were made in the 1970’s.

I publicly say Furphy ovens are rough as guts, and they are, but they are very collectable and we have a number of them. Our 15” Furphy oven is a good oven to cook with though.

The first Furphy oven we bought is what we believe was one of their early ovens. It is an unusual size really as it measures 13 ¼” and I have wondered how they came to make that particular diameter. Yes, us camp oven fanatics do think about such things.

Anyway, in the past week or so I have come across not one but three posts on facebook pages showing four different Furphy camp ovens, and I was told about another, that looked a similar size to our old one. The thing about these ovens was that they all had long legs about two inches long. This was strange in that Furphy ovens, other than the 20”, usually have short legs that are really next to useless. The other interesting thing is that four of the owners clearly remember the ovens being purchased in the 1970’s with the other owner believing her father bought his oven in the 1970’s.

One of the posters showed a photo of underneath their oven and that is when I saw a familiar characteristic that I had seen on some of our own ovens. The thing is, not on our Furphy ovens, no, but on our 13” CC Harding & Sons ovens. Look at the first two photos; the first one is the Furphy and the second is of a 13” Harding oven. To me there is little doubt that a 13” Harding oven was used as the pattern for the Furphy oven. They both have that distinctive ring running half an inch or so in from the edge of the base and legs are near enough identical also.

I have since been in contact with the owners of these ovens and received detailed photos of them and they are all near enough the same so Furphy obviously had a production run of these ovens. Although they have the typical Furphy ears and handle, the bases were definitely patterned off a 13” CC Harding & Sons oven.

So why do I say the Furphy is a copy of the Harding and not the other way around? Check the  gate mark on the Harding oven and note its size and position; now look at the Furphy, it has an obviously long and narrow gate mark on the right but on the left it also shows that the oven they used as a pattern had a gate mark near enough identical to the Harding oven. This to me clearly shows a Harding oven was used as a pattern for the 13 ¼” Furphy oven.

I have photos of what I was told was the very first 10” Furphy camp oven ever made and it was said that it was cast in 1978. It too has long legs and you guessed it, it also was cast off a Harding camp oven, an 11” oven. The Furphy shows the Harding gate mark once again. We actually own one of these early 10” Furphy ovens with the long legs and it also clearly shows where the Harding gate mark was.

Lastly I have the measurements of these Furphy ovens and also measured a 10” one of ours and also measured our 13” & 11” Harding ovens. The Furphy ovens are, for example, approximately ⅛” smaller in in their diameters compared to the Harding ovens. This is indicative of an oven that is patterned off another; they are smaller in dimensions by a couple of percent because of shrinkage.

So, what can be gleaned from all this?

The very first thing is that Furphy used CC Harding & Sons camp ovens as patterns to make their early ovens.

Secondly, Furphy must not have made camp ovens prior to the early 1970’s because CC Harding & Sons never started making camp ovens until 1968 and they only made one oven the first year and six the next and these were for a specific customer which was not Furphy. So, I think this strongly suggests Furphy never made camp ovens prior to the early 1970’s.

Thirdly, there are five different people that all state they purchased these long legged 13” Furphy ovens in the 1970’s. Also there is that 10” Furphy oven which is said to have been first made in 1978. Some have given detailed accounts of when and where they purchased their ovens and a couple have also given the purchase price. Sure, all this is circumstantial evidence but for me I believe it shows these ovens were in fact made by the Furphy Foundry in Shepparton during the 1970’s.

There is quite a bit more I could say about other Furphy ovens but I will leave it for another time. I would like to say thanks to those who gave me information and supplied the many photos of their camp ovens.

I must admit I had a bit of a chuckle at how the Furphy camp oven is held in great esteem by some as the best camp oven ever made etc etc; so much better than any others.  The reality, however, is they copied another Australian camp oven makers ovens.

To help with the photos.

13 ¼” Furphy showing the long legs and gate marks etc.
13” CC Harding & Sons camp oven - notice the gate mark.
The 1978 10” Furphy oven that is said to be the very first one made. Note where the gate mark was on the Harding oven used as a pattern.
Our 10” Furphy oven with long legs. Note the Furphy gate mark and again where the gate mark was on the Harding oven used as a pattern.
One of our 11” CC Harding and Sons camp ovens. Note its gate mark shape and position.
Early 13 ¼” Furphy oven.
Another early 13 ¼” Furphy oven.
Early 13 ¼” Furphy oven.
Early 10” Furphy oven.
13” CC Harding and Sons camp oven pair.
11” CC Harding and Sons camp oven.

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Rest of the photos.

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All intriguing isn’t it. Thanks Jeff.

  Interesting to read. I liked the photos Thanks Jeff
regards Kev  ;)

I purchased a 15"oven at Sovereign Hill village I believe it was cast by Hardings or came off their pattern.

huntley cook wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2025 at 12:01pm:

I purchased a 15"oven at Sovereign Hill village I believe it was cast by Hardings or came off their pattern.

Welcome to the forum.

There were four different types of Furphy 15”. 

Original cast at the Furphy Foundry from sometime ion the 70’s up until the late 90’s then some cast by Billmans for Furphy for a couple of years. 

In 2000 Furphy sent their molds to China and they produced one that was different looking again.

Not sure how long they made that one however the Chinese Foundry produced their own molds and another one was made until around 2007/2008.