A Companion brand Model 43 blowlamp (abt 1950)
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Introduction
A variety of small household appliances have been powered by liquid fuels, such as kerosene, Shellite or methylated spirits or 'Metho' as it is commonly called in Australia. These include small stoves, lamps, lanterns, blowtorches, flat irons and heaters. Indeed many of these were made here in Australia, though, many were imported from countries like the UK, Sweden and the U.S.A. Mostly these devices are now used in parts of the world where electricity is not yet reticulated. However in some pursuits such as camping the portability and heat output have enabled stove manufacturers to continue production and release new and innovative models. Some Australian examples were made in the nineteen-twenties but much of the stove, lamp and lantern production occurred during and after the Second World War through to the late fifties and early sixties when rural Australia was connected to the main electricity supplies. |
Some popular Australian brands included Companion, Lane, Kayen, Handi, Lanray, Peerman and Austramax.
The diverse range of Kayen products were almost, but not quite, the same as Tilley products from the UK and often even included Tilley parts. Kayen was distributed by two separate companies, Kopsen (NSW) and Nettlefold (Vic).
Coleman was an overseas manufacturer that had some products manufactured here in Australia such as the popular Coleman 249 model kerosene lantern and even an Australian version of the Coleman model 4A iron.
The diverse range of Kayen products were almost, but not quite, the same as Tilley products from the UK and often even included Tilley parts. Kayen was distributed by two separate companies, Kopsen (NSW) and Nettlefold (Vic).
Coleman was an overseas manufacturer that had some products manufactured here in Australia such as the popular Coleman 249 model kerosene lantern and even an Australian version of the Coleman model 4A iron.
Stoves & HeatersFrom the classic Primus stove through to the ultra-modern MSR hiking stoves there are many varieties. Heaters were and still are liquid-fuelled in many parts of the world.
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Lanterns & LampsAh! The glamourous lamps and lanterns, mostly pressurised to give the optimal light from liquid heated and turned into gas. Aladdin, Tilley and Coleman were popular in Australia.
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Irons & BlowtorchesHousehold flat-irons, fuelled by Shellite or kerosene were popular in the early to mid 1900s. Similarly industry relied on liquid-fuelled blowtorches until LPG took over in the 1960s.
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