AN IMPROVED CAMP KETTLE OR CULINARY APPARATUS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED CAMP KETTLE OR CULINARY APPARATUS."-A communi-
cation from abroad by Florian Bouthéon, of Lyons, France.
Sealed the 6th December 1872, and dated the 19th June 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 19th June 1872.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED Camp Kettle or Culinary Apparatus,” to be
as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to provide every soldier with the
means of preparing his food, and thus render him entirely independent
of the assistance of others in this respect.

page_text: The improved camp cooking apparatus forming the subject of the
present Invention is calculated, from the number of parts of which it is
composed, and the method of arranging the same, and also from its
lightness and small bulk, to satisfy every requirement, and may be
carried without fatiguing or impeding the movements of the soldier.
The improved camp cooking apparatus
present Invention is calculated, from the number of parts of which it is
composed, and the method of arranging the same, and also from its
lightness and small bulk, to satisfy every requirement, and may be
carried without fatiguing or impeding the movements of the soldier.
The apparatus is illustrated in Figures 1 to 12 of the accompanying
Drawing.
The camp kettle A, Figure 1, in which the food is cooked serves to
contain or carry the various articles herein-after mentioned, and is pro-
vided with a loop a for attaching it to the pack, it being further made of
slightly oblong form to fit the better on the latter; B, mess tin (one or
more) provided with loops b, b, and fitting in the top of the kettle; C,
Figure 10, lid which may be used to close either the kettle or mess tin;
D, Figures 5 and 6, plate resting on the edges of the mess tin, and pro-
vided with studs & for attaching a small coffee mill E. Figures 7 and 8,
by means of slots in the rim of hopper e, as shown. Plate D also forms
a cover for said hopper; G, Figure 3, case fitting inside mess tin B, and
covered by lid D. being divided into compartments for containing
different articles, such as coffee or rice. The mill handle H when not in
use is placed in the bottom of the mess tin in the centre of case G, sec
Figure 9. Figure 8 shows the handle H in position on the mill. The
ground material falls into the mess tin, the space between which and
the bottom of the kettle serves to contain provisions.
Figures 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 represent modifications in the
details of the apparatus, the same reference letters being used to
represent similar parts. The improvements consist, 1st, in varying the
position of the loops a, b, on the kettle and mess tin; also in providing
a chain c and swivel, Figure 13, for attaching the lid C either to the
kettle or mess tin according as it is used with one or the other; also in
fixing the coffee mill E by means of rivets to the plate D, which in this
case is provided with an aperture for introducing the coffee into the
hopper closed by a sliding plate I, having a nib i for moving the same;
also in mounting the mill come on a bearing M at bottom hooking at m
on a rim N formed on the mill. O is a screw for adjusting the cone;
also in jointing the handle H to the top of the mill spindle, position 1
in Figure 14, showing the handle as turned down out of use between

page_text: the lid C and plate D, while position 2 in Figures 14 and 17 shows the
forked end of the handle as abutting against the spindle, and in position.
for use; the handle may also be readily dismounted by simply
removing pin P.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 18th December 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special
licence that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Melville
Clark, 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 "AN
IMPROVED CAMP KETTLE OR CULINARY APPARATUS," a communication to me
from abroad by Florian Bouthéon, of Lyons, France, upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, 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 VE that I the said Alexander Melville Clark do hereby

page_text: by the following statement, reference being bad to the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that
is to say):-
.
The ordinary method of providing soldiers in the field with the 5
necessary cooking utensils, by distributing them among a number of
men comprising a squad, has the disadvantages that the presence of all the
members of the squad is required, otherwise if the bearer of one of the
principal articles be absent the set is rendered incomplete.
The object of this Invention is to provide each soldier with the means 1
of preparing his own food, and thus render him entirely independent of
others, ensuring full liberty of action to each, without preventing a
number from combining in the preparation of the meal.
The improved camp cooking apparatus, forming the subject of the
present Invention, is calculated from the number of parts of which it is 1
composed, and the mode of arranging the same, and from its lightness.
and small bulk, to provide every requisite without fatiguing or impeding
the movements of the soldier by whom it is carried.
The apparatus comprises:-1st, a camp kettle, properly so called, in
which the food is cooked, and made of oblong form to lie close against the 2
knapsack. 2ndly, a mess tin of the same shape as the kettle, in the top
of which it fits. Several mess tins may in this manner be placed on the
same kettle for carrying the food. 3rdly, a lid to cover either the kettle
or mess tin. 4thly, a coffee mill attached to a plate fitting on to the
mess tin, and carrying a hopper for the berries, the ground coffee falling 2
into the tin. A mill handle is provided which, when not in use, is placed
at the bottom of the tin, and fitted on an axis so as to work above the
edges of the tin for grinding. 5thly, a box divided into compartments
for containing coffee berries, rice, and other dry articles of food. The
space between the mess tin and the bottom of the kettle serves to contain 3
meat or other provisions carried by the soldier. The weight and size of
the various articles contained in the camp kettle, which is carried on the
knapsack, are reduced to a minimum. All these articles are not however
indispensable, but they are made of exactly uniform pattern, so as to fit
auy kettle.

page_text: This Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1
of which shows an elevation of the camp cooking apparatus complete
with cover; Figure 2, a plan, and Figure 3, a vertical section of same;
Figure 4 shows a plan with the cover removed; Figure 5, an under side
plan of the plate to which the mill is fixed; Figure 6, an edge view of
same; Figure 7, a plan, and Figure S, a vertical section of the mill;.
Figure 9, a plan of the box with double compartment, with mill handle
detached and placed therein; Figure 10 shows the lid detached;
Figure 11, the mess tin detached; and Figure 12, the kettle. The
reference letters apply to all these Figures.
A, kettle provided with a loop a for a strap by which it is attached to
the knapsack; B, mess tin fitting firmly into the top of the kettle, and
provided with one or more handles b; C, lid, which may serve cither for
the kettle or the mess tin; D, plate resting on the edges of the mess tin,
and provided with studs d, d, on its under side for attaching a small
coffee mill E by means of slots in the rim of hopper e, as shown.
Plate D also forms a cover for the hopper e containing the coffee berries;
G, Figure 9, box made with compartments, more or less in number,
fitting into the mess tin, and covered by plate D; H, mill handle dis-
mounted and placed at the bottom of the mess tin in the space between
the compartments of box G. The handle, when in use, is mounted on
the end of the mill spindle, the knob being sufficiently raised to pass
when grinding over the edges of the mess tin into which the ground
material falls.
Figures 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 represent modifications in the
arrangement of the improved camp cooking apparatus herein-before
described, which consist more particularly:-1st. In changing the
position of the loops on the kettle and mess tin, which are made of the
same form as before. 2ndly. In the use of a swivel and chain for
attaching the lid to the mess tin with a spring clip for connecting and
disconnecting the same. 3rdly. In fixing the mill to its supporting
plate by riveting instead of connecting it by studs as before, and also in
providing said plate with an opening closed by a revolving cover for
admitting the coffee berries into the mill hopper. 4thly. In the method
of jointing the handle to the mill spindle, so that it may be turned down
in the space comprised between the plate D and the cover of the mess
tin. By this arrangement the separation of the handle from the mill

page_text: spindle is rendered unnecessary, thus avoiding any liability of losing it.
5thly. In a method of adjusting the mill cone for grinding the coffee
coarse or fine, as desired, by means of a turnscrew with which every
soldier is provided. 6thly. In the method of dismounting the mill come
without the aid of any tool by attaching it to the fixed part by a bayonet
slot arrangement, so as to attach or disconnect the same by giving it a
quarter of a turn. 7thly. In jointing the mill handle to the end of the
spindle by means of a pin, which may be easily withdrawn if required.
Figure 13 shows an elevation of the camp cooking apparatus complete;
Figure 14, a section of same closed; Figure 15, a vertical section of the
mess tin with the cover removed; Figure 16, a vertical section of the
box with compartments fitting within the mess tin; Figure 17 shows a
vertical section of the mill and plate carrying the same, with the handle
in the working position; while Figure 18 shows a vertical section of the
lid of mess tin. The same reference letters apply to all these Figures.
A, kettle in which the various articles are contained, provided with a
loop a by which it is attached to the knapsack; B, mess tin fitted into
the top of the kettle, and provided with a loop & corresponding to that
of the kettle; C, lid either for the kettle or mess tin, to one or other of
which it is attached by a chain c having a clip for connecting or dis-
connecting with loop c or b; D, plate resting on the rim or bead edge of
the mess tin, to which plate the mill E is riveted around the edges of
the hopper. Plate D is provided with an aperture at which the coffee
berrries are introduced into the hopper, said opening being closed by a
plate I, which may be rotated on plate D by pressing on nib.i. The
mill spindle is supported by a bridge piece M, the two ends m, m, of
which fit on the projecting rim N of mill E. An adjusting screw O is
fitted in the centre of bridge M. for regulating the position of the mill
cone in the fixed part. G, box divided into compartments fitting within
the mess tin and covered by plate D; H, mill handle having a forked
end embracing the mill spindle to which it is jointed. The line
position 1, Figure 14, shows the handle turned down in the space
between the lid and plate D, while when brought to the dotted position 2,
Figure 14, the inside of the forked end of the handle abuts against the
mill spindle, in which position it may be rotated by the knob clear of
the top of the mess tin. By removing pin P the handle can be at once
dismounted, the pin being inserted for security in the end of the spindle.

page_text: The several articles are made of sheet metal in one or more pieces united
by soldering or otherwise, and of various sizes.
Having described the nature of the Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to
be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, fitting
the one in the other the several utensils required by soldiers in the
field, constituting the improved camp culinary apparatus herein shown
and described, in which vacant spaces are utilized and the whole made
readily portable and of small bulk, as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of December,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
tuza