Canadian snow related equipment post WW2

[Darrell Zinck]

Hi Rob

Yes, they were for snow defences.....and for hauling drinking water to the field. The ice boxes were for drinking water. The jerry can was in our toboggan too but that came into the tent so we had wash water. When available this set up was perpetuated throughout my career. Armoured thing?

I'll try and get some pics of them.

Here's the FE we used. Low temp. Worked well on erratic Coleman Stoves when idiots were involved.

regards
Darrell

[rob love]

The best thing I found for the coleman stoves was to use one of the propane trigger torches on the stove's generator to preheat it before lighting. It prevented the sometimes disastrous initial lighting of the stove....you instantly had the blue flame. The propane torch could also be used to heat the intake manifold of the skidoos so they would start in the arctic conditions. But the problem with propane is that it does not vaporize at temps below -35. In those cases, I remember having to pre-heat the propane torch on the coleman stove, put it into my parka, and then I could pre-heat the skidoo.



I cannot say I miss those days.

[James P]

^ Generator or warming the burner ? Pumping up the stoves tank and then spraying the burner wet (not a crazy amount) light the fuel and let it heat the burner, stick the tank back on and open the valve works great to get a cold stove producing BTUs. The Brits had some diesel fuel stove that must have been invented by a burn care doctor, the Coleman works like a champ compared to it.

[maple_leaf_eh]

Someone mentioned billy cans for melting snow.

The usual source were the largest tin cans from the kitchen with a wire bale. No NSN or common pattern, just to disappoint the rivet counters.

But, a large can you can afford to singe or scalp is better than the issue aluminum pot set. They are durable, but a bear to clean. BTW, snow does burn and it stinks.

[rob love]

Originally Posted by James P

^ Generator or warming the burner ? Pumping up the stoves tank and then spraying the burner wet (not a crazy amount) light the fuel and let it heat the burner, stick the tank back on and open the valve works great to get a cold stove producing BTUs.

The part that had to be hot was the tube running over the burner in order to vaporize the fuel. And yes, most of the time you were good lighting it the way you describe. But some of the time you weren't.....that tube (the generator) had to be hot.

[Robin Craig]

Rob the ice boxes I saw were a rectangular block and about 18" X 5" X 5"

is that the same as what you are talking about?

[James P]

Never saw Rangers in the north heat the generator (not saying some never did, just I never saw that practice) but heating the burner with a wee bit of naptha worked every time.

[rob love]

The Rangers I did a SovOp with were astounded by the amount of fuel we used. They also did not like our skidoos, they ran nothing but Japanese machines. Those guys did not waste.



The torch was unique to my situation as a mechanic. It was there to preheat things, so got used on the stoves as well. But normally, back in my MRT, I used electricity or a fuel fired heater to heat water and rations. Naptha would stink up what was my workplace, my bedroom, my kitchen, my shower room....