Isaac Sherwood Ltd. seem to have been making brass lamps and spirit stoves in Birmingham since, at least 1904, though we suspect the little Sphinx that we have here in the collection comes from a later era – probably around 1950/55. Methylated spirit stoves were very popular with outdoor folk in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. The more efficient paraffin pressure stove was invented in 1892 but took a while to become ‘universal’- which it eventually did – and even then it was more expensive than a spirit stove. A Sphinx retailed for eight shillings and six pence 8/6d in the 1950’s (42p). The spirit stove had a revival in the 1970/80’s with the Trangia and while they are still fairly popular in 2014, the pressurised petrol or white fuel stoves are now the most used. We are pleased with our little Sphinx which was kindly donated by friend of the SMHC, Rod Pashley.