The war arrow (picture opposite) on the bottom of this stove tells us that it was made for, or at least acquired by the military, often referred to as the M.O.D….Ministry of Defence. Though its actual origin is somewhat obscure, the arrow ↑ has appeared on nearly all M.O.D. metallic objects since at least the 15th Century. In this case we have a standard Valor 55 stove which was probably bought as a batch by the military to be used by troops in the field. Dating from 1951 – a time when most folk were still using paraffin stoves prior to the introduction of various gas, petrol and diesel versions. Valor were better known for their range of paraffin heaters for homes and greenhouses. The Primus like 55 seems to be the one and only divergence into the camping market but the stove is not collapsible, making it cumbersome to pack. It may well have been more for the domestic market at a time when not every home had electricity.