Wiles Junior Cooker

[jack neville]

I took my Wiles Junior Cooker to the Battle of Bannockburn day at Bannockburn, Victoria, last weekend as part of the Geelong Miltary Re-enactment Group display. I had it operating for two days just making steam and nothing more than heating pies. It was amazing how much interest it created with people walking all around it and fascinated with the boiler works. I met three old blokes who all used these cookers in their time with 2/10 Medium Regiment. This was an artillery reserve unit based in Geelong, and each battery was issued with a cooker to take to the field with their guns. One bloke told me the cooker was still being used by him in 1975. Does anyone know how long they had use for? The big four wheel cookers were still going into the 80's I believe. I have another of these Juniors and at some stage I will rebuild one very good cooker out of the two. I would love to know if anyone has any advice on how to get the steam bins replated. I think they are tinned, not galvanised. Is there a food grade quality process that would be required?