Historical information

Hexamine stoves, such as this example, were used in the field by soldiers for the preparation of food and boiling of water. The stove would have been fuelled by hexamine tablets, which contain flammable elements of formaldehyde, ammonia, nitrogen oxide and hydrogen cyanide. Associated tablets have been removed from collection as a safety precaution. Due to the fumes of the fuel tablet, food cooked on such a stove would have been sealed in a container when cooking.

Physical description

Silver coloured aluminium hexamine stove. The stove is made of three pieces of metal, the 'floor' and two sides, which form a box when closed and when open appear like an upturned table. The floor of the stove has a series of holes and lines stamped into it. The sides of the stove have been attached to the base with brass rivets. When open, the sides open to form a stand at the base and the interlocking grooves which line the edges of the sides act as a cooking platform on top. When closed, the stove appears as a small box.