Stove of the Week: Hank Roberts Mini Stove

I haven't done one of my reviews for a while. This week's stove is an oldie (1970's) but a goodie, the Hank Roberts Mini Stove.



HJ

Happy B day Jim..i have a clone of this stove,i wish i could use it more like it was intended and not with a hose.Alan from CCS GAVE me a real Roberts gaz cart for mine at our Mid West camp out and i have yet to find just the right event to try it out at.

That's neat, especially the wick in canister stuff, cold performance without the bulk.

The hose isn't a bad deal. It's probably safer since the fuel is well away from the heat.

Still, I hear you. It's lighter and more compact with the orginal cansiters. Those canisters are few and far between. I found seven in a surplus store last year and bought 'em out. Gave half to Doc and kept the rest for myself.

I think I can refill them with a Primus Fuel Tool.

HJ

Great review as always Jim. Excellent stove! I can't understand why someone hasn't made an updated version?

The Hank Roberts stove really was advanced for its day, so advanced in fact that it still stacks up pretty well against today's stoves. When almost everybody else was using piercable canisters that couldn't be removed until empty, the HR stove had a detachable canister that could be removed, and the HR stove could completely outperform other gas stoves of the day because it was a liquid feed stove. In cold weather, the HR stove to this day will still outperform modern upright canister stoves, including things like the $150 MSR Reactor!

HJ

It's funny, in the world of outdoor gear, what survives and what doesn't. One of the best modern cold weather gas stoves, the Coleman Xtreme (also the Xpert and Xpedition) has been discontinued. It's problem? I think it had a lot to do with a non-standard canister -- even though the canister was clearly superior. The Coleman Xtreme can operate at temperatures down to about -10F. Let's see a Pocket Rocket do that.

As for a modernized Hank Roberts type stove, it's an interesting idea. I think one could be made for half the weight with modern techniques. I'm not sure why no one has tried, since it really is a nice design. I love how the "clam shell" comes apart and becomes a base and a windscreen/pot support. The clam shell protects the stove, keeps everything in a tidy package, makes a very nice stable base, and provides much better wind protection than the typical gas stove has as well as a stable pot support.

HJ

I like it. Has you reviewed the Msr Pocket Rocket yet? <.<

Not yet. So many stoves; so little time.

HJ

I think I still have the BSA version of this stove in my attic somewhere.

Got photos?

HJ

I think that stove started out as the Gerry stove made for/by Gerry Cunningham and sold with the Gerry branding. That was a high-end brand in the '60's and '70's.

I used to keep one in my mountain rescue pack along with a GI canteen cup. Nice little stoves and light. Thanks for the happy flashback Jim!

It doesn't appear to be used, though the brass nipple (or "needle") has corroded a bit. I am wondering if the needle can be unscrewed and a hose plumbed directly into valve assembly? If so then that makes the special adapter unnecessary.

From what I've read, Gerry didn't claim to be the first, although I think Gerry put that type of stove on the proverbial map. The stove was manufactured by EFI. Hank Roberts sold the stove before Gerry (this is per an interview with Gerry that I read). The stove was sold under the EFI, Gerry, Browning, and Hank Roberts brands, possibly more. There were several variants. They're really good stoves, and really secure (as well as highly packable) in their aluminum "clam shell." The canister and the canister connection I believe is what killed them. They got a reputation (deserved or undeserved) for exploding and were quickly withdrawn from the market.

You're welcome. Interestingly, this is one of the top 10 most popular posts I've ever done (according to the stats on my blog). Whoda thunk? I guess there are a lot of closet Gerry/Hank Roberts stove aficionados out there?

HJ

Yours is a beautiful example of this type of stove sold under the EFI brand. Take good care of her; she's a nice one!

Yes, absolutely. I have two different types of stoves that have the "needle and bud" type connector (like your stove has). One has a needle that unscrews. The other does not. The person who made the adapter for me, made me an adapter that could work with any needle type connector.

For you, unscrewing the needle and screwing in an adapter would be a much better solution.

Nice stove! Thanks for posting the photos!

HJ

Well Jim, as usual, you are the stove guru. I appreciate you sharing your knowledge with us. It is always an informative pleasure reading your posts.

I have kept a lot of the stoves I have used over the years but unfortunately I no longer have that Gerry. I liked it for the size and weight and the convenience. That is probably why I mostly use my SnoPeak these days. It too is quick and easy and light as they can be.

Have you ever played with the military M1950 stove? I have one and used it in the military some. It is a heavy beast but when I was very young this was one of the most compact stoves you could find. Here is a link to one. Cheers!
http://store.colemans.com/cart/stove-gas-burner-m1950-with-shroud-p-1861.html

Hi, Widget,

I've seen the M1950 as well as the M1942. I think the M1942 is a little classier looking, but it's generally harder to find. Both are Coleman - US Army collaborations.

Something to be aware of: Unlike most Coleman stoves, the M1942 and M1950 do not have a "positive" NRV. The NRV (non-return valve) is what prevents pressure from coming back up the pump shaft. Most Coleman stoves have a safety feature that allows one to rotate the dial at the pump rod to the right to lock the pump rod in place. The M1942 and M1950 have no such lock. The NRV has a rubber "pip" down in the pump. That rubber pip is all that prevents pressure (and fuel!) from coming back up the shaft. If that pip has hardened, it could fail -- while you are using the stove. If you have a failure while using the stove, uh, that could be "bad." (think WWII style flamethrower)

Honestly, I've stayed away from these stoves for that very reason even though they're very cool stoves. If you get one, they can be used safely if you know how to tear down the pump and replace the "pip" in the NRV. Short of that, I'd say caveat emptor.

HJ

I do have one, I have not lit the thing in decades. I only keep it because it's there. One day I guess it needs to go on eBay and some collector can scoop it up. I have never seen the M1942 before, it does look nicer. Looks a lot like the Coleman Peak1 stove. I have a Peak 1 and used it excusively for years, I liked the flame adjustment. That is a heavy beast though.

Thanks for the pic, my M1950 looks exactly like that and I have the cooking canister, stove holder too. It is heavy too, aluminum but heavy.

I'd definitely overhaul the pump before lighting it up. If it's in really good condition, a collector might snap it up. There are an awful lot of M1950's out there because the were made for 30+ years for the US Army. Not sure what you could get for it, but keep your eye on eBay and see what things are going for.

HJ

Here's the burner column/valve assembly from my Gerry stove which uses the same type of fuel. Notice that this needle does not unscrew which is why I needed the adapter of the type that I have.



You would be better off if you had and adapter that would thread into where the needle unscrews from on your stove (see attached photo). In the photo, the red arrow indicates the fitting on the end of the gas tube of the type that I bought on eBay for the Chinese S-9 stove. The slightly darker piece is a double threaded adapter. The left side of the adapter (as seen in the photo) threads directly into the EFI type stove. The right side threads into the S-9 gas tube.

HJ

This guy in Japan makes all sorts of stove adapters
http://tumekaekun.com/

Also http://alva.ne.jp offers much of the same. The alva.ne.jp site isn't as nice, but the prices are a little lower. Both sites are extremely expensive though, and neither site offers anything for the Hank Roberts/EFI/Gerry type stoves that I can see. Lots of fantastic other stuff though (drool!).

HJ

you might be able to order an adapator thru this service
http://www.whiterabbitpress.com/..White Rabbit looks like it deals in more popular fun stuff from Japan but the might be able to find what you need stove wise.i have never used them.

http://www.whiterabbitpress.com might be a good option, but don't see anything that looks like it would work with a Hank Roberts stove. Did you see anything?

Lotsa cool adapters. I could go really crazy with that stuff!

HJ

Jim..this is what i was thinking about.
first off this coffee pot with the built-in Gaz tank is something i got some years ago without a can of fuel to go with it,it was cheap on Ebay,i did not want to use it with a hose and adapator but as it was intended.coffee is a survival item is it not? so anyway i ran across Gaz cans at a outfitters up in Ely Mn that went with the Scorpion stoves they had.i bought every can! i also got a twelve pack from a on-line outdoor shop.



now if i can find a adapator from the Hank Roberts to the Lindal fitting on the Scorpion can i can use the HR as it was made to be used.on the left is a real can of HR fuel with the rubber ball fitting and the adapators and hose from Chicken thief,i miss him too..

OK, I get it. You'd have a Scorpion butane can lying on it's side as shown in your second photo. Then you'd have an adapter that fits between the stove and the can. The left side of the adapter would screw directly into the stove, and the right side would screw on to the Scorpion can. Pretty cool.

The Hank Roberts type stoves were made for liquid feed (the canisters had a wick inside), but the stove should work with a side laying Scorpion can. An old cylindrical MSR can should work too, although check the contents. If the fuel is 100% isobutane, then you'd have to be very careful.

I recently saw some of those Scorpion brand cans in a little surplus store near here. I also saw a bunch of the Hank Roberts type canisters. I bought out the Hank Roberts type canisters (some were Optimus brand), but the Scorpion brand ones are presumably still there.

Personally, I don't mind using the hose and adapter I got from Henrik ("Chickenthief"). With the hose and adapter, I can use a full windscreen, and I can also invert the canister which gives me cold weather (down to about 0F/-18C) capability. But your solution is definitely slick and much closer to the original design of the stove.

HJ

So Hikin Jim,
I've loved my HR stove since the 70s, and as I had quite a stash of cannisters I've been able to use it for all these years, but alas, I'm on my last one! I've been reading all kinds of threads about retrofitting my dearly loved stove, and now I see in your photo the key to my quest! Where would I get the double threaded adapter shown in your photo? Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated!

I had one. Great stove.

Blake

www.outdoorquest.blogspot.com