Another Wiles Cooker Recovered

[Mike Cecil]

Robert,

As you would already know, the baking dishes were heavy duty black steel with rolled and wired top edges and tapered sides. They are a difficult item to manufacture. However, I am aware that Cecil & Company in Bayswater, Melbourne, have made at least one set, so if you want accurate replicas, then Chris Cecil is the man to talk to. Yes, I am related: he is my nephew. The company was started by my grandfather in 1922, and is now up to its fifth generation of family tinsmiths (Chris is 4th gen, his son also works there).

You mentioned another working Wiles in your area: could I ask you to provide me with the boiler number, ARN, etc if you could manage it, please? I'd appreciate it greatly.

Regards

Mike C

[Mike Cecil]

OK: now you have my attention, Robert.

You have one of the really, really rare 'Wiles' cookers .....because it wasn't built by Wiles. It was one of less than 200 built by a company called Boyded, located in NSW. The Army were so frustrated with the slow rate of production from South Australia that they had the NSW Board of Business Administration award a contract to Boyded to build Army Steam Kitchens to the Wiles basic design, as improved by Army. Wiles were not amused. There was all sorts of problems with the contract, and not due to Boyden, either, if you get my drift. Certain assemblies were Wiles patents.

I don't know much about the Boyded companmy, but would like to find out more, as I'm sure you would now, too.

I'd be really interested to know the boiler details and any info from the nomenclature plate, please: this would be a rare find in any condition, let alone in the condition in which you have found it.

Regards

Mike C