The Scottish Mountain Heritage Collection
1152.2014.1
Palam Rocket (collapsible) Stove in tin
31/07/2014
Hermione Cooper
31/07/2014
Rocket packaway stove in metal tin box with carrying handle.
brass
box -18(l) x18(w) x11.5(h) cms
11
On tin - "ROCKET TRADE MARK FOLDING STOVE TESTED AND GUARANTEED MANUFACTURERS AND EXPORTERS PALAM STOVE INDUSTRIES MUMBAI, INDIA"
On stove " ORIGINAL ROCKET NO 0 MADE IN INDIA "
gold, silver
Palam
India
Surprisingly, in 2014, Palam Stove Industries in Mumbai, India, are still making brand new paraffin stoves very similar to the Primus which appeared around 120 years earlier in the 1890's. Much of the world moved away from paraffin in the 1960's and 1970's in favour of the much cleaner and easier to light gas, petrol and white fuel stoves. Interestingly, the Palam advertising brochure[see opposite] shows pressure cooking stoves which are primarily aimed at the domestic market with one "specifically manufactured for heating or cooking in canteens, hotels, laboratories and hospitals" the Optimus 510
[rocket] Stove that we have elsewhere in the collection was aimed at exactly the same market 60 years earlier and we can only speculate that this reflects the state of urban progress - or lack of it in India.
The Rocket pack away stove we have here in the collection seems to be part of the Liberty range of products and leaves us wondering about the outdoor camping and mountaineering scene in India which we know nothing about.
Seemingly, a fairly cheap buy at around £25, our good friends Ian and Jane Thomson decided to get us one for the collection. Unfortunately, things did not go quite as planned and the cost eventually was in excess of £100. One major obstacle was deciding which Scotland we lived in as you will see from the e-mail below which was sent to Ian from Palam Stove Industries.
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Which Country Scotland
Date: 07/01/2014 06:07
From: Richit Shah
To: "Mr. Ian Thomson
Dear Ian Brother.
We Request you to please give us your Complete Address with Country.
Because as Air Freight Company told me that, there are 3 scotland in world.
They are in USA.. UK & AUSTRALIA.
And rite know we don't have tin box ready in stock. If you need Tin box then you need to wait for 30 days.
We have small carton of 1 pc ready. That is what we export in regular basis.
Thanks to Jane and Ian for persevering , acquiring and ultimately donating this fabulous little stove.
Donated by Ian and Jane Thomson
31/07/2014
31/07/2014
Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007
31/07/2014