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AUSTRALIA'S ORIGINAL AND BEST CAMP OVEN AND OUTDOOR COOKING CAMPING AND LIFESTYLE FORUM › Camp Oven & Outdoor Cooking › Camp Ovens - The History › Carmichael Camp Ovens

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Carmichael Camp Ovens (Read 25015 times)

Feb 9^th, 2010 at 6:30pm

Saltbush Bill Offline
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Don’t know if this pot should really be in the history section….but it may be useful for identification purposes and also to see how many others are out there.
This is the roughest cast oven Ive seen to date, The mob that made this could have taught Furphy a thing or two.
The oven size is about 11 ½ inches…..a Metters 11 lid nearly falls right into the pot, a 12 Metters is way to big,
The lid shape is very similar in shape to a Metters, the legs are a Metters shape, how ever they are much more solidly built.
The whole oven is very solidly built and is quite heavy 9.57 kg, as something to compare to my Metters 11 inch weighs 6.40kg and my 12 inch 8.25kg.
It has weird shaped ears that are mounted about half way down the pot, not near the top like most ovens.
The wall thickness varies from almost 8mm down to 4.5mm.
As mentioned before the casting is as rough as guts, see attached photos.
Has anyone seen others like this?…..or does anyone else own one? Or does anyone have any idea were it might have been made?

Casting mark around lid handle

Casting marks around ears

Ears positioned half way down pot

legs

NOOOO thats not rust thats more casting marks

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Reply #1 - Feb 9^th, 2010 at 7:30pm

poddy dodger Offline
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Yes SBB, I have one, maybe not as rough as yours but the same. The casting marks around the lid and ears are identical to mine, I tried to tidy them up a bit but gave up as they don't affect its performance.
I paid $55 for mine last year, I reckon it's Aussie made and I like it as the lid fits well and it's robust enough to take bush. I have no idea who made it, I will bring it to Broke for the "Show and Tell".

pod

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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Reply #2 - Feb 9^th, 2010 at 7:46pm

Saltbush Bill Offline
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Ugly little buggers PD.......but they have character and I love mine
SBB

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Reply #3 - Feb 10^th, 2010 at 11:28am

Stump Jump Offline
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I've got one too SBB, however it appears not quite as rough as your's. The old lady I bought it from claimed it had been in her family for at least 40 years. It apparently belonged to her parents and she thought it may have been purchased new out Ballarat way, however she wasn't sure.

Ive found it to be a very well found and robust cooking pot with decent sized sturdy legs and a good heavy heat holding lid, equipped with 3 venting lugs like the Metters. I have always suspected it to be of Australian origin, as the design seems to reflect the influence of other fine Aussie camp ovens like Metters, Harding, RM Williams, etc.

It bakes, roasts and cooks superbly. The only defect is that the ears are cast a tad too low which causes a full pot of stew, for example, to be a little unstable when suspended from a bale handle, however this is of a very minor concern compared to it's other fine attributes.

Overall it's a top cooking pot and well suited to the rough and tumble of bush camping. I love to cook with it and would rate it superior to Furphy and due to the height of the ears, not quite as good as Harding, RM Williams or Billmans.

Ready_to_bake_some_trout.jpg (101 KB | )

Gems_baking.jpg (115 KB | )

Gems_baked.jpg (124 KB | )

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Reply #4 - Feb 10^th, 2010 at 12:48pm

skiproosel Offline
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Reckon I've got one as well

or at least it looks similar
I have not cooked anything in mine from memory

Skip Smiley

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Reply #5 - Feb 10^th, 2010 at 1:13pm

Michaelb Offline
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You would have to say that the poor casting on these ovens sure makes them a collectable item, now I need one, I feel left out.

Don't waste a day, not while your breathing.

Michaelb (A Mexican)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWCVbBkd0j0

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Reply #6 - Feb 10^th, 2010 at 1:36pm

Stump Jump Offline
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Michael,

There certainly worth getting if you come across one.

I picked mine up for $20 some years back.

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Reply #7 - Feb 10^th, 2010 at 1:43pm

Saltbush Bill Offline
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SJ
Thanks for the photos ,,,,I notice your lid looks pretty rough inside.

Skip
Those photos jolted my memory.......I remember you posting photos of that pot on the forum ages ago and asking if anyone knew anything about it. Yours has the interesting swirl marks inside and out in the casting

SBB

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Reply #8 - Feb 10^th, 2010 at 1:54pm

Stump Jump Offline
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One good thing about a rough casting is that the black seasoning seems to stick like sh%t to a blanket Wink

Wink

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Reply #9 - Feb 10^th, 2010 at 2:57pm

mikel Offline
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I have one also.

And a little bird tells me they were made at the old Alexander Carmichael foundry in Sydney (remember the old carmichael gas ranges?)

How do I know this? A good friend who was the engineering manager there gave it to me about 40yrs. ago. He used to hand them out to his camping/fishing mates.

The CI skillet was also made there (12,1/2") and is almost as heavy as the camp oven.

I think Carmichaels were taken over some years ago by the NZ Kirby group.
mikel

Oven___skillet.JPG (87 KB | )

life is a bed of gidgee coals and a camp oven

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Reply #10 - Feb 10^th, 2010 at 5:00pm

Saltbush Bill Offline
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Thank you very much for that Mikel. As your are aware alot of the history of our Aussie Ovens is already gone Sad

Sad

Would it be possible to get any more infomation regarding these ovens?. Numbers produced or the reason why the ears and handles have those square casting marks around them? Period of manufacture or anything else of interest.
It seems that they pumped out quite a few as four have surfaced here in 2 days.
SBB

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Reply #11 - Feb 10^th, 2010 at 5:05pm

69conroy Offline
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love the skillet
looks like could take yrs of abuse
then still keep going

Daryl

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Reply #12 - Feb 10^th, 2010 at 5:53pm

LogFire Offline
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I may also have a member of this family of ovens. Bought new in 1971 at the store in Georgetown NQ. Don't know who their supplier would have been.
Measurements top inside 11" bottom inside 91/2" Depth 43/4"
LogFire

Keith_camp_oven_001__Small_.JPG (43 KB | )

Keith_camp_oven_004__Small_.JPG (58 KB | )

Keith_camp_oven_005__Small_.JPG (42 KB | )

Keith_camp_oven_006__Small_.JPG (67 KB | )

Keith_camp_oven_008__Small_.JPG (67 KB | )

Keith_camp_oven_010__Small_.JPG (52 KB | )

I have gone off to find myself. If I get back before I return,keep me here.

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Reply #13 - Feb 10^th, 2010 at 6:24pm

skiproosel Offline
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Not a bad looking piece of opal there mikel, did you find that?
If so,would that have been at Yowah by any chance.

Skip Smiley

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Reply #14 - Feb 10^th, 2010 at 6:36pm

mikel Offline
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SB.
Sorry I cannot be of any more help, I met old man Carmichael (Alex) through my very good mate.
Sadly both are now long gone.
Daryl.
The skillet is a real doozy, the bottom must be nearly 1/2" thick.
Once up to heat you can just keep cooking egg(s) after egg(s)!
Its only problem is the weight plus the heat of the handle. But with a glove and a lifter under the lug on the opposite side things can be overcome.
Used to regularly camp/fish with a group of 6-8, that old skillet sure got some use around brekkie time!

But like me, will probably end up as land fill (not yet, not yet please!) Roll Eyes

Roll Eyes

mikel

life is a bed of gidgee coals and a camp oven

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Reply #15 - Feb 10^th, 2010 at 6:44pm

mikel Offline
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No Skip. Just a bit of junk boulder from a bit further north of there.
We dig a bit out from time to time (like with a 30t excavator and push most back in with a D7)
Keeps me sometimes busy and off the forum. It does relieve the boredom though, you never know what is in the next bucket. Huh

Huh

cheers mikel

life is a bed of gidgee coals and a camp oven

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Reply #16 - Feb 10^th, 2010 at 6:48pm

Saltbush Bill Offline
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skiproosel wrote on Feb 10^th, 2010 at 6:24pm:

Not a bad looking piece of opal there mikel,

I must have castironitis worse than I thought Cry

Cry

.....didnt even notice the opal till Skip pointed it out Sad

Sad

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Reply #17 - Feb 10^th, 2010 at 7:14pm

poddy dodger Offline
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Is'nt it interesting, a forum like this brings to the surface at least four uncommon but identical ovens, well I thought mine was uncommon until now.
I bought mine last year breaking my rule of only buying old named Aussie ovens because I liked the good fitting lid and I thought it well made and very usable. I like it even more now that mikel has suggested it is possibly made by Carmichael in Sydney.
Just measured mine LogFire, 11" ID and 4 3/4" deep so the same although the handle on the lid is a bit different.

pod

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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Reply #18 - Feb 10^th, 2010 at 8:06pm

astroboy Offline
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Stump Jump wrote on Feb 10^th, 2010 at 11:28am:

The old lady I bought it from claimed it had been in her family for at least 40 years. It apparently belonged to her parents and she thought it may have been purchased new out Ballarat way, however she wasn't sure.

SJ, the funny thing is I bought one the same from a lady in Victoria along with the same story attached Huh

Huh

I sold it some time ago on ebay when I listed a few ovens to thin out the collection.

They are very similar to the RM Williams camp ovens that I have seen but a bit rougher.
Astro

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Reply #19 - Feb 10^th, 2010 at 11:19pm

TBF Offline
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mikel wrote on Feb 10^th, 2010 at 6:44pm:

No Skip. Just a bit of junk boulder from a bit further north of there.

Mikel

I gather you worked the claims at Yowah?
Have you bumped into a bloke named Kent Barton?
I haven't seen him in years.
Did hear he had done very well at Yowah.

Aart

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Reply #20 - Feb 11^th, 2010 at 6:20am

Stump Jump Offline
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astroboy wrote on Feb 10^th, 2010 at 8:06pm:

[quote author=32393B3337580 link=1265704241/3#3 date=1265765304]The old lady I bought it from claimed it had been in her family for at least 40 years. It apparently belonged to her parents and she thought it may have been purchased new out Ballarat way, however she wasn't sure.
SJ, the funny thing is I bought one the same from a lady in Victoria along with the same story attached Huh

Huh

Astro,

The old lady didn't happen to have grey hair and wrinkles, DID SHE??? Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Seriously though, I would not be at all surprised to discover that these pots were sold in Ballarat.

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Reply #21 - Feb 11^th, 2010 at 8:56am

mikel Offline
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Aart.
No, sorry the name is not familiar to me.
Have been to Yowah a few times, but only to sell there at the annual sale fest.

We are a 2 couples partnership mining in the Eromanga area since '96.

It was on our way back up there some years ago we met Mr. & Mrs. PD camped on the Bulloo R. at the end of a nice greasy blacksoil track (well, it wasnt greasy until it rained overnight).

We left first, towing the van, not even sure we would get out without some winching. PD followed a little while later and we met them again in Quilpie. I dont recall exactly, but I think I apologised for what would have been a hairy, sideways drive out for him.

Then again it must have been ok, cos we are still on good terms!

Another pic of some opal rough. Unfortunately the nice red colours do not show very well.
mikel, with apology for the thread hijack.

opal_rough_web.JPG (124 KB | )

life is a bed of gidgee coals and a camp oven

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Reply #22 - Feb 11^th, 2010 at 1:40pm

poddy dodger Offline
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astroboy wrote on Feb 10^th, 2010 at 8:06pm:

The old lady I bought it from claimed it had been in her family for at least 40 years. It apparently belonged to her parents and she thought it may have been purchased new out Ballarat way, however she wasn't sure.

Getting off the thread a bit but isn't funny how stories like this do the rounds. At Bathurst last weekend I heard for the hundredth time (or seems like it) about the half dozen or so Metters ovens this particular dealer had sold to a bloke just the week before; sorry, he couldn't quite remember any details like sizes or prices.
I just jolly them along saying, "WOW, just my luck, missed out again".
Had a laugh at your post mikel, yeah, isn't it a small country ?

pod

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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Reply #23 - Feb 11^th, 2010 at 2:35pm

Cactus Offline
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Mikel,
Could you bring some opal to Broke for a show and tell.
I to know a mining couple that mined that area also.
Muzz

Have Camp Oven will travel

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Reply #24 - Feb 13^th, 2010 at 4:39pm

mikel Offline
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No Problems Muzz.
You bring the money, I bring the opal, eh! Wink

Wink

(looking foward to meeting you all there)

cheers mikel

life is a bed of gidgee coals and a camp oven

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Reply #25 - Feb 20^th, 2010 at 4:01pm

Pete and Lez Offline
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GeeeeEez they seem nearly as common as a commodore now. Hahahahahaha. But I want one anyway.

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Reply #26 - May 19^th, 2010 at 2:16pm

Stump Jump Offline
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Just in the way of background of the manufacturer of these fine camp ovens, Alexander Carmichael have been operating for over 60 years, now a division of L H Jackson Pty Ltd – Iron Foundry. Supplying Commercial/Domestic Gas Burners and associated Cast Iron Components, all being AUSTRALIAN MADE.

IRON FOUNDRY
Their Foundry has been operating for approximately 50 years, which is designed to suit the production of Gas Burners and associated components.

They also produce castings for Pump Bodies/Bearing Housings and General Engineering.

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Reply #27 - Apr 13^th, 2020 at 4:07pm

Birricannia Offline
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Great information folks, just need a lid for mine. They are so sturdy though, I don’t like my chances.

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