I got an old box down from the loft during a clearout, and found a copy of Radio Times from 1999. In it was an advert for a "New Freedom Gas Range". This amazing object of desire could be bought only from Scott's of Stow, and was 'the latest breakthrough in cooking technology'!
It promised "Now, for the first time, you can cook anywhere, any time and at just a few seconds' notice. The new Freedom Gas Range offers an instant solution wherever you are. Just remove the Gas Range from its smart carrying case, snap in a butane gas cartridge, depress the safety lock and you are ready to cook, all in less than 30 seconds!"
By now most of you will have recognised this amazing gadget as the humble suitcase stove! It was £39.95 plus p&p in those days , which I suppose wasn't bad for a completely new product, but it came down in price very rapidly as the idea took off. The best bit is that it was available in 'British racing green', burgundy, blue, yellow, white or black, so you could choose one to match your tent or car! If you were feeling extra posh you could pay an extra tenner and get 'The Independent' - a racy little number in chrome! By the end of the advert I was beginning to wonder if I was being persuaded to buy a vintage car!
If you all want a different colour one, what not buy a tin of heat resistant spray paint and DIY.. Quick 10 mins and you will be done..
------------- Thank you Donnod123
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Coleman Evolva (might have more than one shhhh)
And now a VW T25 high top.
Tilley Titan
Tilley Trio
Cobb BBQ
I had one of these back when the first come out... Haven't used one for years, but weren't there a spate of accidents with this type of stove? They seem a lot more convenient than other gas hob type stoves - but if they're unsafe I wouldn't want to use one.... But if they are safe, I'd love to get one again.
However - great find in the advert. :-)
------------- Mr Bukey
Wants to go camping again...
Hi Mr. Bukey, I don't think there have been any more accidents with this type than any other. I don't know the statistics, but considering how many of these stoves are currently in use, I'd say they were safe, so long as you follow the instructions and always check the canister for leaks, just as you would any other gas appliance.
The big advantage for me is their stability compared with other single burners, and also there's no tubing to fail as there is with the double burner. I love ours and use it in the garden as well as camping.
I think I must have just been looking at these again a year or two ago and news about the accidents seemed to be in a fair few places. However, looking now actually those accidents (and 1 death) seem to be low in number and - in some if not all cases seem to have some kind of wrong use technique used (eg canister not aligned properly, too big a pan used, etc).
I agree totally - I liked the ease of use when I had one before, not having to have a large gas bottle, piped tubing, regulator, etc to mess about with is a huge bonus.
------------- Mr Bukey
Wants to go camping again...
They're certainly convenient. I took one down to my brownie pack meeting a few weeks ago and cooked sausages for them! It did feel very safe and stable to use in that environment, whereas I would never have bothered to drag my big gas bottle and double burner down there for that. I would have cooked the sossies at home and they would have had to eat them cold, which wouldn't have been half so much fun!
I was so impressed with the suitcase stove when I first bought it that I got one each for my grown-up son and daughter for their camping trips. I remember there were a few nasty incidents when these first came out, but I'd say that had a lot to do with the fact that people weren't used to them, and didn't apply the safety rules properly.
Sadly there will always be accidents when people use anything combustible or potentially explosive like gas appliances, fireworks etc. But, like crossing the road, if you think safety first, you'd have to be incredibly unlucky to fall foul of one.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Amusing old advertisement
, which I suppose wasn't bad for a completely new product, but it came down in price very rapidly as the idea took off. The best bit is that it was available in 'British racing green', burgundy, blue, yellow, white or black, so you could choose one to match your tent or car! If you were feeling extra posh you could pay an extra tenner and get 'The Independent' - a racy little number in chrome! By the end of the advert I was beginning to wonder if I was being persuaded to buy a vintage car!
