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

Reply #10 - Apr 9^th, 2010 at 2:33pm

COwest Offline
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Found this extract from a Queensland Main Roads - Our Story - MRD location Branch 1928-1961

The Branch also regulated the type of camp equipment issued to parties. A Circular Letter, issued in October 1958, listed the cooking utensils to be issued to each man as :- 2 mugs, 3 plates, 1 knife, 1 fork, 2 spoons, 2 billy cans 4 quarts, 1 billy can 12 quart, 1 small water bag, 1 small frying pan, 1 wash basin, and to be shared by 2 men, 1 meat safe, 1 open bucket, 1 bucket with lid, and 1 camp oven.
The first refrigerator was issued in 1949. Wood stoves were not approved for issue until 1958. The Branch also designed the pyramid tents which were the first choice of surveyors, and purchased the first 4WD’s. ex- army jeeps.

Could this be the Queensland camp oven with the cross on the lid?

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Reply #11 - Apr 9^th, 2010 at 2:57pm

Saltbush Bill Offline
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Interesting reading COwest........could well be one and the same.
At one stage KD added this in another part of the forum it also mentions Main Roads Dep

Kingsthorpe David wrote on Jan 29^th, 2010 at 6:12pm:

I bumped into Ned Winter (famous Qld camp oven cook) today in the Tender Centre. He owns one of these and calls this item "the main roads camp oven, made by the Government, also used by Railway fettlers".
Has a cross like a Hotcross Bunn on top.

KD

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Reply #12 - Nov 25^th, 2010 at 3:04pm

Glenndog Offline
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This maybe a bit late after this topic started, but I just joined and I have one of those Camp ovens. They are made in the Bundaberg Foundary on rainy days. They also make a much bigger one maybe 20-24 inches. I haven't seen to many of the big one though many people from Bundaberg do have the 12 inch one.

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Reply #13 - Nov 25^th, 2010 at 6:15pm

Saltbush Bill Offline
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camp oven"
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G'day Glenn and welcome to the forum.
I have a few questions
Does the bigger one have the same cross pattern on top?
Do they sell either size from the foundry.......if they are still made????
Also wondering if yours was second hand or you got it from the foundry somehow????
Any other info you have on these ovens would be of interest to many of the members here im sure.
SBB

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Reply #14 - Nov 26^th, 2010 at 7:15am

Glenndog Offline
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Hi Bill, yes the bigger one does have the cross on top. They don't actually sell them to the public, I think the guys just make them on rainy days for themselves and their friends. I was just lucky to get one from a friend. It still had the pouring dag attached on top of the lid and underneath the base which I had to grind off. I then sand blasted it and made sure the lid had a good fit by chalking the contact rim of the lid and spinning it on the base and grinding off any high spots(which there was only one very small one). My friend has since moved on so I can't ask for another as I would like to get the big version. I know they have been making them for many years, I remember my father talking about them when we went camping 40 years ago(hell I'm getting old). I don't know how you would get your hands on one, but if I find someone I know that works there,( I never stop looking and asking) I will certainly find out what I can and let you know.
Glenn

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Reply #15 - Nov 26^th, 2010 at 8:11am

Saltbush Bill Offline
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camp oven"
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Thanks for that Glenn......all very interesting. Id love to get hold one of the bigger ones too. If you ever come across a base without lid for a small oven Id be keen to know as well as mine has had its legs chopped off Sad

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Reply #16 - May 9^th, 2014 at 7:40pm

frypanfil Offline
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northern rivers nsw, New South Wales, Australia

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what are they worth? are they valuable or just interesting? wondering,frypanfil.

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Reply #17 - Apr 3^rd, 2015 at 2:50pm

Derek Offline
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A little bit more history to add to these. Click on the linkl.

https://ehive.com/account/5386/object/402173/Camp_Oven

Retired
Camp Oven Cook

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Reply #18 - Apr 3^rd, 2015 at 6:38pm

Chally Offline
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Excellent little piece of history Derek.

Jeff

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Reply #19 - Apr 4^th, 2015 at 8:02am

poddy dodger Offline
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Yeah...I know someone who has TWO. Cheesy

Rob.

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

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