Original WWII German Field Kitchen

[grenadierss17]

salut,
Nice one !!
that beats a BBQ ... and good luck with the restoration

Thanks!!! Maybe we can have a WAF BBQ when it is done! Thanks for all the nice comments guys! I am very pleased you could say! I could not sleep the whole night before I picked it up!!!

[grenadierss17]

I suppose you have talked to Scott Thompson from 2p in the midwest right?


DL

I have talked with Scott! There are 2 other guys that have them in the USA as well, that I have talked with and all have been a big help. I also have Scott's book which has helped a lot too. The other book I am VERY fond of is Jim Pool's book, Rations of the German Wehrmacht in World War II. These two books have been like bibles for me!

Very nice! Jim

Thanks Jim for the comment and Thank you very much for all the hard work on your book! You do not understand how happy that book has made me!

[djpool]

Thanks Jim for the comment and Thank you very much for all the hard work on your book! You do not understand how happy that book has made me![/quote]

Thank you for the kind words. Volume II is in the works. I never figured there would be enough info for a second book, but I have a lot of new info courtesy of the British Intelligence services. The focus of the British studies is not on individual food items but 1 level higher. Plus a lot of new wartime pics and contemperary pics from collectors. Hopefully Schiffer will agree to publish it. Still a few years out but coming together nicely. Jim

[grenadierss17]

Sounds awesome Jim! I can hardly wait!

[Jägermarty]

Amazing that any survived! well done

[Admiraal]

Looks like its in a very nice condition as well!
I´ve seen these for sale (from scrapyards) in much worse condition
Good luck

[Thomas9]

Hi

Very nice fieldkitchen!
After finishing, it should look more or less like mine.


By azertyazert at 2011-06-10

By azertyazert at 2011-06-10

By azertyazert at 2011-06-10

Regards and congrats on your find!
Thomas

[grenadierss17]

Whoa Thomas! Very cool! I have never seen one setup like that with those wheels and the carriage looks different too. Any information on it?

[Thomas9]

Hi

It's all original, except for the shaft.
Once, they putted a new one on it (unfortunately).

Thomas

[Michigan Dawg]

Photo Request

First of all, congrats on your acquisition!

If possible, can you show images of any data and manufacturing placards on your feldkuche that show the build information or instructional text on them?

For obvious reasons, these placards attached to vehicles, trailers, and the like, don't always survive and whenever possible it's important to capture the information on them!

Thanks for any additional photos you can supply.

[Thomas9]

Hi

If the question was towards me.
Here some photo's.


By azertyazert at 2011-06-10

By azertyazert at 2011-06-10

Perhaps there is a date on it, but I can't remember.

Regards
Thomas

[grenadierss17]

First of all, congrats on your acquisition!

If possible, can you show images of any data and manufacturing placards on your feldkuche that show the build information or instructional text on them?

For obvious reasons, these placards attached to vehicles, trailers, and the like, don't always survive and whenever possible it's important to capture the information on them!

Thanks for any additional photos you can supply.

Thank you!

Mine has 3 original data plates on it (I think). I actually had reproductions made up already and I have them coming next week. I can take pictures of both if you like. There are originally 6 data plates on the feldkuche. The date and manufacturing information is always on the one part of the tow bar like my first picture. Sometimes the main pot is marked as well with a date and manufacturers code. Let me know what pictures you would like.

[grenadierss17]

Thomas yours has the brat cooker as well so it is after 1942.



Below are all the data plates in German and there translation:

Nach Gebrauch Schmortopf und Deckel innen gründlich reinigen, trocken auswischen und leicht einfetten.

After use clean stew-pot and lid inside thoroughly, wipe dry and grease slightly.



Rauchklappe B darf nur geöffnet sein, solange Feuer unter dem Kaffeekessel ist.

Smoke trap/valve B must only set open as long as fire is under the coffee kettle.



Gebrauchsvorschrift für den Kaffeekessel
Reihenfolge der Verrichtungen genau beachten!
a) Kessel mit Wasser füllen, Deckel schließen, Rauchklappe B und Aschenfall öffnen
b) Feuer anzünden und solange mäßig unterhalten, etwa 1 Stunde, bis aus dem Deckelventil Dampf entweicht (Beginn des Kochens)
c) Aschenfall u. Rauchklappe halb schließen, Feuer mäßigen.
d) Den gemahlenen Kaffee allmählich unter beständigem Umrühren in das im Kessel hängende Sieb schütten, wobei darauf zu achten ist, daß der Kaffee nicht überkocht. Dann den Inhalt des Kaffeesiebes nochmals tüchtig umrühren, bis er vollständig durchfeuchtet ist
e) Nach etwa 5 Minuten Feuer ausgehen lassen, Rauchklappe B und Aschenfall ganz schließen

Usage instruction for the coffee kettle
Follow sequence of activities precisely!
a) Fill kettle with water, close lid, open smoke trap B and ash tray
b) Ignite fire and keep on medium level/moderate, ca. for 1h, until steam comes out of the lid valve (start of boiling)
c) Close ash tray and smoke trap half way, turn fire lower.
d) Pour grinded coffee slowly and with constant stirring into the sieve/riddle, which hangs inside the kettle, in the meantime it has to be watched that the coffee does not boil over. Then stirr up contents of coffee sieve/riddle properly once again unitl it is completely moistened.
e) After approx. 5 minutes let fire die. Close smoke trap B and ash tray completely



Rauchklappe A darf geöffnet sein, solange Feuer unter dem Speisenkessel ist.

Smoke trap/valve A may set open as long as fire is under the food kettle.



Glyzerin in das Kochbad durch Trichter und Füllrohr einfüllen. Kochbadstand mit Probierstab, der sich in der Verschlußschraube befindet, nachprüfen. Probierstab muß bei wa(a)gerecht stehender Feldküche mindestens bis zur Hälfte eintauchen, andernfalls Glyzerin nachfüllen.

Fill Glycerin thru funnel and filling pipe into boiling tub. Check boiling tab (filling) level with test stick, which is in the fastening screw. Test stick must dip in at least up to half (of it´s lenth) for a horizontally placed field kitchen, otherwise refill Glycerin


Gebrauchsvorschrift für den Speisenkessel
Niemals ohne Kochbadfüllung heizen! Reihenfolge der Verrichtungen genau beachten!
A. Verwendung als Selbstkocher.
a) Kesseldeckel hochklappen und feststellen, Kessel füllen, Deckel schließen. Rauchklappe A und Aschenfall öffnen.
b) Feuer anzünden und solange mäßig unterhalten, etwa 1 1/2 Stunden, bis aus dem Deckelventil Dampf entweicht (Beginn des Kochens).
c) Nach weiteren 20 Minuten Rauchklappe A und Aschenfall ganz schließen. Feuer ausgehen lassen. Die Speisen kochen selbstständig weiter.
-----------
B. Verwendung als gewöhnlicher Kessel
a) Kesseldeckel hochklappen und feststellen, Kessel füllen, Deckel schließen. Rauchklappe A und Aschenfall öffnen.
b) Feuer anzünden und mäßig unterhalten. Sobald aus dem Deckelventil Dampf entweicht (Beginn des Kochens), Aschenfall und Rauchklappe A halb schließen.
c) Während der für die Speisen erforderlichen Kochzeit ganz kleines Feuer unterhalten.
d) Nach beendeter Kochzeit das Feuer ausgehen lassen, Aschenfall und Rauchklappe A ganz schließen.
Wenn aus dem Entlüftungsbehälter Kochbadflüssigkeit ausspritzt, Feuer sofort mäßigen.
Höhe des Kochbades bei täglichem Gebrauch der Küche wöchentlich nachprüfen.

Usage instruction for the food kettle
Never heat up without boiling tub filling! Follow sequence of activities precisely!
A. Usage as self-boiler.
a) Open kettle lid and fix it, fill kettle, close lid. Open smoke trap A and ash tray.
b) Ignite fire and keep on medium level, ca. for 1.5h, until steam comes out of the lid valve (start of boiling)
c) After further 20 minutes close smoke trap A and ash tray completely. Let fire die. The meal will continue boiling independently.
-----------
B. Usage as ordinary kettle.
a) Open kettle lid and fix it, fill kettle, close lid. Open smoke trap A and ash tray.
b) Ignite fire and keep on medium level. As soon as steam comes out of the lid valve (start of boiling) close ash tray and smoke trap A half way.
c) During the for the meal neccessary boiling time keep fire on minimum.
d) After finished boiling time let fire die, close smoke trap A and ash tray completely.
If boiling tub liquid squirts out of the ventilation container, turn down fire immediatelly.
Check level of boiling tub (filling) weekly, if the kitchen is used daily.

[Michigan Dawg]

Thank you!

grenadierss17 and Thomas9 have not only made my day, but my month and my entire year!!!!

I know it's weird, but I really enjoy collecting images of manufacturer's data and instruction placards from various German WW2 vehicles and equipment items and then trying to translate them. Some I've even turned into decals to superdetail my scale models (unfortunately, the only way I'll ever be able to own an "example" of the feldkuche or any other item). I would estimate that I've been trying to piece together the text on the feldkuche for over 5 years as I recall having inquired about them for the first time on the Axis History Forum in 2005 or 2006.

It took me almost six years to finally complete the text on the tetra feuerloscher so it's usually just a matter of patience and periodically and diligently scanning the internet for updates to forums such as WAF and the various militaria sites. And then occasionally I just get lucky like today!

Besides the feldkuche I'm looking to complete my search for the four placards attached to the flammenwerfer 41. But I've only been working on that for about three years so that quest is in its infancy.

At any rate, if you gentlemen can post any other photos of the placards so that the text is legible I would be grateful beyond words.

Thanks again for your magnificent help!

[Thomas9]

Hi All

Thanks a lot, Chris!
Very impressing!

Perhaps there are more plackets on it, but I can't remember.
And I can't have a look at it right now because it's completely covered with
all kinds of material. But when I am cleaning it up, I will certainly have a search at it

Regards
Thomas