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

Reply #10 - Mar 11^th, 2008 at 12:04pm

Derek Offline
COCIA Owner
The "Camp Oven Cook"
Joined: Nov 10^th, 2003 at 2:00pm
Last online: Today at 4:32pm

Gender:
Mood:
Zodiac sign:
Posts: 18960

wogboy wrote on Mar 11^th, 2008 at 11:48am:

This is the whole CO.

Definately a Billmans Furphy. The bale handle is the defining feature. Chinese ones don't have the little u shape at the top,

These are the Chinese Furphy's. See the straight through bale handle

Derek

Retired
Camp Oven Cook

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #11 - Mar 11^th, 2008 at 1:25pm

wogboy Offline
COCIA Bronze Member
I Love COCIA
Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2008 at 1:44pm
Last online: Jun 29^th, 2011 at 8:02pm

Gender:
Zodiac sign:
Posts: 6

Thanks Derek. Looks like it's a Billman's Furphy. Is it as good as one made at the Furphy Foundry. Thanks Wogboy. Undecided

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #12 - Mar 11^th, 2008 at 1:26pm

Derek Offline
COCIA Owner
The "Camp Oven Cook"
Joined: Nov 10^th, 2003 at 2:00pm
Last online: Today at 4:32pm

Gender:
Mood:
Zodiac sign:
Posts: 18960

Mine seems to be pretty good.

Retired
Camp Oven Cook

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #13 - Mar 11^th, 2008 at 3:21pm

poddy dodger Offline
COCIA Diamond Member
Joined: Jun 3^rd, 2006 at 8:03am
Last online: May 27^th, 2026 at 5:08pm

Gender:
Zodiac sign:
Posts: 2935

I was told by John at Billmans Foundry that they made the Furphy ovens under agreement or licence using, I think, molds supplied by Furphy, the lids are a bit different. I notice the handle on the Chinese made lid is the typical thicker at one end type on all Taiwanese and Chinese lids.
I have a Billmans and the bale with the hoop ends etc is the same.
Just my two cents worth.

pd

When I die I hope my missus doesn't sell my camp ovens for what I told her I paid for them. pd

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #14 - Mar 11^th, 2008 at 9:54pm

astroboy Offline
COCIA Platinum Member
I Love Camp Oven Cooking
Joined: Feb 7^th, 2007 at 11:34am
Last online: Jun 7^th, 2026 at 9:52am

Gender:
Posts: 783

Here's a few pics of a couple of different ovens and some noticable differences in the handle.
This begs the question, what was the year that Furphy started producing Chinese made ovens and what period did Billmans do casting for Furphy.
I have included a picture of a Billmans 9" oven and the hande is identical to my 20" and 15" Furphy oven. You can tell that the same method was used when casting these ovens. One similarity with these three ovens is that there is no gap on in the middle of the handle, so one would assume that they were possibly all produced at Billmans. The other pictures are of an 8" and a 10" Furphy and the most noticable difference is the gap in the middle of the handle. The 10" oven was made in 1993 and i'm unclear on the year of the 8" oven. I beleive that the 10" and the 8" were made at the Furphy foundry. The Last photo is of another 15" Furphy oven lid that I picked up at a camping store that was orderd in for a replacement, this lid has the same handle design as the 12" oven that Wogboy and MW have. I personally think that the two 12" ovens and the 15" lid may have been some of the first cast in China. This handle mould I can only recall seeing after the year 2000 and i'm led to beleive that this was the first year of Chinese production. I could be wrong but I would love to know your thoughts.
Astro.
FURPHY 20"

FURPHY 15"

BILLMANS 9"

FURPHY 10"

FURPHY 8"

FURPHY 15" LID

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #15 - Mar 12^th, 2008 at 7:31am

poddy dodger Offline
COCIA Diamond Member
Joined: Jun 3^rd, 2006 at 8:03am
Last online: May 27^th, 2026 at 5:08pm

Gender:
Zodiac sign:
Posts: 2935

I still reckon it's more than a bit misleading to put FURPHY SHEPPARTON on the lid when they're made in China.
The 12" and the 14" ovens which sold on eBay last week were both Chinese but I'd bet the people who bought them thought they were the real deal, made here.

BTW astroboy, I drool over your little black babies, the 9" Billmans looks very desirable, and made in Victoria too, mmmm might give them a call......

PD

When I die I hope my missus doesn't sell my camp ovens for what I told her I paid for them. pd

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #16 - Mar 13^th, 2008 at 9:13pm

Mackerel Whisperer Offline
COCIA Diamond Member
Mad Keen - Fishin' Crabin'
& CO Cookin'
Joined: Jun 11^th, 2007 at 7:33pm
Last online: Mar 21^st, 2025 at 8:56am

Gender:
Zodiac sign:
Posts: 1576

Here we go. I always thought it was an original. Can anybody help me out? Aussie or Chinese? Thanks

Also my first go at Imageshack, It takes a bit of sorting out. Think I'm getting it right.

Cheers

Jono

"Mackerel Whisperer"

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #17 - Mar 13^th, 2008 at 10:13pm

astroboy Offline
COCIA Platinum Member
I Love Camp Oven Cooking
Joined: Feb 7^th, 2007 at 11:34am
Last online: Jun 7^th, 2026 at 9:52am

Gender:
Posts: 783

MW, in my opinion that is without a doubt an Aussie made oven, I would say produced at the Furphy foundry not by Billmans. The handle is a dead giveaway and the mark on the base. Its a great looking oven hope to get one like that myself one day to complete my collection.
Astro.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #18 - Mar 13^th, 2008 at 11:08pm

Little_Kopit Offline
COCIA Hall Of Fame
& I, I took the road less
traveled by.
Joined: Dec 19^th, 2005 at 2:05pm
Last online: Apr 13^th, 2020 at 2:27am

Zodiac sign:
Posts: 2254

Jono,

Over here on the flip side of the planet, that ridge on the base of the pot is called a gate. It's from the hole where they poured in the iron. They quit doing a gate about 1890 over here and started putting that hole along an edge where it can be removed. And the round uneven spot, that's called a spru. Also from where they poured in the iron. I have no idea of the time frame when foundries tended to use either or both. Still, like here, it confirms that that oven is older.

I'd love to be told the time frame for gates and sprus.

Count your lucky stars and colour me green, very green.

Cool

My Photo Album, featuring Labrador 2006

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #19 - Mar 14^th, 2008 at 7:02am

Mackerel Whisperer Offline
COCIA Diamond Member
Mad Keen - Fishin' Crabin'
& CO Cookin'
Joined: Jun 11^th, 2007 at 7:33pm
Last online: Mar 21^st, 2025 at 8:56am

Gender:
Zodiac sign:
Posts: 1576

Thanks Astro and LK

I picked it up at a clearing sale auction last year for $230, I'm thinking thats pretty good price compared to what you see the new ones sell for on ebay. It would have been a lot cheaper, only one other lady was on to it!

I see a clearing sale on this weekend at Millmerran, Might be worth a look if any of us are handy to there.

http://www.mattclearyrealestate.com.au/clearing.htm

Cheers

Jono

"Mackerel Whisperer"

Back to top

IP Logged

	am pm	Welcome, Guest. If this is your first visit to COCIA, be sure to check out the many references on the Help Board. You will have to Login or Register, before you can post. Click the register TAB below to proceed or to start viewing messages, simply select the Board that you want to visit.