IMPROVEMENTS IN FIELD OR CAMP STOVES FOR COOKING
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Savill Tomkins, Lieutenant Victoria Rifles,
Head Quarters, Kilburn, Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN FIELD OR CAMP STOVES FOR COOKING."
Sealed the 27th December 1864, and dated the 4th July 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Savill Tomkins
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th July 1864.
I, ALFRED SAVILL TOMKINS, Lieutenant Victoria Rifles, Head Quarters,
Kilburn, Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
" IMPROVEMENTS IN FIELD OR CAMP STOVES FOR COOKING," to be as follows:-
Fig. 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a plan view, Fig. 2 an elevation,
and Fig. 3 a section of my apparatus, which consists of several ovens (in the
Drawings four are shown) constructed of sheet iron with doors, which are
placed with the backs inwards, leaving a square hole in the centre. The ovens
are sunk in the earth or rest on the ground, in which latter case they should
be banked up with soil to keep in the heat; if sunk, a pit is dug in the form

page_text: of a cross, into which the ovens are set, leaving room for a man to have access
to each oven door. Each oven is placed on two ledges, one on either side, so
as to leave space for a draught to pass underneath to the fire. The fire burns
on a grating, dropped into the square space in the centre, which rests on a few
bricks or stones placed at each corner. The backs of the ovens are faced
with sheet-iron cases filled with fire-clay or soil, or with fire-bricks, which rest
on the fire-bars or grating, and being mitred, keep each other in their proper
position when dropped into their places. A square grid of iron is placed over
the fire, covering at the same time more than half of the four ovens ; the grid
is supported on turf, or other material at hand, at each corner, so as to be
raised slightly above the surface of the ovens; on this is placed a sheet of
iron (divided for convenience of packing) which forms a hot plate for boiling,
frying, or the like. When in use the draught holes may be closed with turf,
except that which faces the wind, so that a draught may be obtained which-
ever quarter the wind may be, and the heat of the fire may be regulated by
entirely or partially opening or closing the apertures. The edge of the aper-
ture between the hot plate and the ovens should be banked up with turf to
prevent the heat escaping, and thus increase and equalize the heat of the
ovens and of the hot plate, and a small portion of the aperture may be left
unturfed to the leeward to allow the smoke to escape. The fire is fed from
the top through a square hole in the hot plate, which is closed by the boilers
if in use, or otherwise by two small pieces of sheet iron. For packing, the
grid forms the base on which is placed the hot plates, and the ovens are so
sized that they all fit one within the other, and inside the smallest oven are
packed the boilers, pots, pans, and other receptacles; and the other portions of
the stove are placed round the outside of the ovens, the whole being covered
with a tarpaulin corded or fastened over, which also forms a screen for the
cooks in the event of bad weather.
The advantages of this stove are, that baking and boiling are performed by
one fire and at the same time; there is a very small consumption of fuel;
the lateral as well as the surface heat is secured; it is light and portable; it
can be carried in a wagon or on a pack horse; it is very simple in con-
struction; a portion of the ovens can be used; and they are easily mended
if damaged.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Savill Tomkins in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 3rd January 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
SAVILL TOMKINS, Lieutenant Victoria Rifles, Head Quarters, Kilburn,
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Alfred Savill Tomkins, Her special licence that I, the said Alfred
Savill Tomkins, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Alfred Savill Tomkins, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIELD OR CAMP STOVES FOR COOKING," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Alfred Savill Tomkins, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Savill Tomkins, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
forming part of this Specification, and to the letters marked thereon, that
is to say:-
Figure 1 of the Drawings annexed is a plan view, Figure 2 an elevation,
Figure 3 a section, and Figure 4 a mode of packing my apparatus, which
consists of several ovens, (in the Drawings four are shown) constructed
of sheet iron or other metal or material with doors. The ovens are placed
with the backs-inwards, leaving a square hole in the centre; these ovens are

page_text: sunk in the earth, or rest on the ground, in which latter case they should be
banked up with soil to keep in the heat. If sunk, a pit is dug in the form
of a cross, into which the ovens are set, leaving room for a man to have access
to each oven door. Each oven is placed on two ledges, one on either side, so
as to leave a space for a draught to pass underneath to the fire. The fire
burns on a grating dropped into the square space in the centre, which rests on
a few bricks or stones placed at each corner or is otherwise supported. The
backs of the ovens are faced with sheet iron cases filled with fire-clay or soil,
or with fire-bricks which rest on the fire-bars or grating, and being mitred
keep each other in proper position when dropped into their respective places.
A square grid of iron or other metal or material is placed over the fire,
covering at the same time a portion of the four ovens; the grid is supported
on turf, or other material at hand, at each corner so as to be raised slightly
above the surface of the ovens, on this is placed a sheet of iron (divided for
convenience of packing) which forms a hot plate for boiling, frying, or other-
wise cooking. When in use the draught holes may be closed with turf, except
that which faces the wind so that a draught may be obtained in which ever
quarter the wind may be, and the heat of the fire may be regulated by
entirely or partially opening or closing the apertures. The edge of the
aperture between the hot plate and the ovens should be banked up with
turf to prevent the heat escaping, and thus increase or equalize the heat
of the ovens and of the hot plate, and a small portion of the aperture may
be left unturfed to leeward to allow the smoke to escape, the fire is fed from
the top through a square hole in the hot plate which is closed by the boilers
if in use, or otherwise, by two small pieces of sheet iron. For packing,
the grid forms the base, on which is placed the hot plates, and the ovens
are so sized that they all fit one within the other, and inside the smallest
oven are packed the boilers, pots, pans, or utensils, and the other portions
of the stove are placed round the outside of the ovens, the whole being
covered with a tarpaulin which forms a screen for the cooks in bad weather.
The advantages of this stove are, that baking and boiling are performed
by one fire and at the same time; there is a very small consumption of fuel;
the lateral as well as the surface heat is secured; it is light and portable
and can be carried in a waggon or on a pack horse; the apparatus is very
simple in construction; a portion of the ovens can be used; and they are easily
mended if damaged.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I do not confine myself

page_text: to the precise details herein specified, as the same may be varied without
departing from the nature of the said Invention, but what I claim, and wish to
secure is, the so forming, arranging, combining, and constructing the said
parts or apparatus constituting my Invention for improvements in field or
camp stoves for cooking, substantially as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Savill Tomkins, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
0 Witness,
BENJ. TOMKINS,
29, Ladbroke Squr.,
Notting Hill.
ALFP. SAVILL TOMKINS. (L.B.)