Another Wiles Cooker Recovered

[Mike Cecil]

Yes, Keith, the chances of that are pretty slim. The boiler numbers 2599 and 2600 actualy correspond to boilers manufactured in the late 1950s/early 1960s after Wiles did their last batch of complete Wiles 4 wheel steam kitchens in 1958-59 (which all have boiler numbers in the 2400 range), so I suggest they might be replacements? Hard to see how that could be, though. The critical number listed by Robert is the Oven assembly numbers - 174M and 749.

Wiles numbered their boilers and ovens sequentially at manufacture, commencing at assembly no.1, and reaching more than 2600 by the early 1960s. The same boilers were installed in static oven assemblies for fixed camps, Wiles 4 wheel and Wiles Junior steam kitchens. Hence, the actual number of 4-wheel Wiles is only about 1,000 or so (hard to tell, as RAAF and RAN records are pretty woeful)

The manufacturer's serial numbers for these two complete trailers were:

123508: Boyded serial 508.
44113: Wiles serial 340.

These numbers should have been stamped on the nomenclature plate, afixed to the rear panel, low down in the centre, but being bronze, are usually well gone by now.

Robert: thanks for the numbers, and look forward to receiving the numbers from the other one when you get around to it.

Regards

Mike C

[Euan McDonald]

Like this one Mike?
poor pic from phone sorry.

[Mike K]

We are becoming all steamed up over these cookers .

There was another one in regular use , a VMVC member hauled one around and put on cooked meals for club events years ago, the hauler was a early 1950's ex army Inter truck . He passed on and no more hot meals for the members .

[Euan McDonald]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

We are becoming all steamed up over these cookers .

There was another one in regular use , a VMVC member hauled one around and put on cooked meals for club events years ago, the hauler was a early 1950's ex army Inter truck . He passed on and no more hot meals for the members .

Mike you need to get out more, we have put on hot meals (pies & scones) with our wiles jnr at a few club outing over the last couple of years.

[Mike Cecil]

Yes, Euan, that's the style of plate. Do you have the number off that plate by any chance?

And you are right, Mike, I have been steamed up about Wiles cookers and their construction for years. The original correspondence makes for very interesting reading.

Mike C

[Ryan]

Holy crap, I spotted one of these on ebay last night while surfing!

I'll go look for it now.....


found it! Is this one of the ovens? Looks to have the same handles.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Antique-W...item4d014704fe

[Euan McDonald]

I will have a bash at this one on Ebay as I could do with the trays for ours and its in the next suburb to me.