History
Early examples of devices that heat water surrounding a fire include samovar tea urns from Eastern, Central, and Southeastern Europe, as well as the Middle East. The Kelly Kettle Company first manufactured portable devices of this type four generations ago in the early 1900s. The Thermette was invented in 1929 in New Zealand by John Ashley Hart. It was standard issue to the New Zealand army serving in the North Africa during WW2 when it was known as the 'Benghasi Boiler'. In 1939 the New Zealand Army asked Hart to waive his patent so they could make their own Thermettes; he agreed and the device was issued as standard equipment to every small army unit.
A modified version of the idea was created by the Eydon Kettle Company in the early 1970s and sold as the 'Storm Kettle'. Fixed (and portable) rocket stoves used for cooking were developed in 1980s; with variants for heating water and for space heating.
Read more about this topic: Kelly Kettle
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