My step-father has this neat little colapsible stove for solid fuel. We think it was a military issue item at one time. The thing is wicked light and works great. He got it years ago but despite our search everywhere (on-line and in about every Army/Navy store we come across) we've never found another one.

A friend who works for GE found the patent on it and below is a description.

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?u=%2Fnetahtml%2Fsrchnum.htm&Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&r=1&l=50&f=G&d=PALL&s1=4794906.PN.&OS=PN/4794906&RS=PN/4794906

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4794906.html

http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/4794906/description.html

Has anyone seen one of these and know where I can get my hands on one.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Sounds interesting, but for some reason I can't view the images - nothing pops up. Wonder why? Can anyone paste an image into a post?

Do you mean the hexamine stove?

http://www.surplusandadventure.com/shop/survival-emergency/british-army-1-man-hexi-cooker-310462.html

Following the first link there is an "images" button at the top and bottom of the page, that brings up a similar design to the classic Esbit stove (as in the the Rog link).
The difference is the way the walls fold down, flat rather than leaving a space for the fuel. I have seen that particular version (or a close copy) for sale but don't know the name of it or where I saw it (provably a disposal store here in Melbourne...)
Franco
Classic Esbit at REI
http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?productId=3079032&storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&langId=-1
DIY version
http://www.angelfire.com/art/enchanter/flatpack.html

The army hexamine stove was a bigger version of the esbit stove. As I recall, the esbit stove is about 3"x2"x3/4" whereas the army clunker was more like 4"x3"x1". It came with a pack of evil smelling hexamine tablets which sooted yur pot and drove you out of your lair.

The stove was tested in the CO series:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/stoves_tents_carbon_monoxide_pt_5.html#ADI

Commonly available in Army Disposals and family camping shops, in both Esbit and Army versions.

Cheers

I think a simple hobo stove and some esbit tablets to get the wood going if conditions or fuel aren't ideal is the better bet.

Hey folks. Sorry - away from my computer for 24 hours.

It is not any of the stoves in the links above.

I found another patent site for it which provides a better diagram.

Click on the "high" or "low" resolution attachment and a drawing will come up.

http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US04794906__

This stove is hinged. The shortest side walls of the stove are hinged in the center of those planes and fold inward to make it flat. The floor hinges on one side and locks the short sides in place. When folded it is about half the thickness of a deck of cards and about 2/3 the size.

I'll try to get some photos of it but for now just have the attachment.

Any help appreciated....

Edited by VanGo on 09/08/2009 12:57:49 MDT.

Hmmm, neat. Don't see how the hinged floor could fold 'inward' at the same time as the sidewalls though, unless it detaches from one long side?

I'm sorry - I didn't write that very well. The short sides hinge inwards. The floor is hinged on one side and swings into a locking position to lock out the short sides.

I've edited the post above yours to clarify.

I think photos will help if I can get them.

Edited by VanGo on 09/08/2009 12:59:49 MDT.

From pouch to full set up....

Again, has anyone seen one of these or know where to get another one.

Thanks!

....somehow two pictures weren't included. I'll try those again....

Interesting. That does look like a nice design, certainly nicer than the standard Esbit stoves that I've seen at REI.

eBay is one place to find interesting stoves, although I've not seen one like the one you're looking for.

The other place you could probably get good information is the Classic Camp Stoves forum, http://www.spiritburner.com

Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

HJ

Thanks Jim. I'll take a look there as well.

Anyone else?

That is a cool stove. The shape of it reminds of the Nimblewill Nomad Little Dandy Stove. I would bet that one could take the plans of the NNLDS and covert it into a folder like the design you have there.