Martin Camp Oven

ChuckP

Member
A few months back I came across this camp oven on FB marketplace for dirt cheap. Because I can't run my e-tank in the winter, I just put it in the pile
and didn't think much of it until last week. I don't know much about Martin iron, and now that I have it cleaned up, some things seem odd to me.
Things that I noticed were the different location of the lid markings, strange patchwork where lid handle attaches and the huge gate mark on the bottom.
Are there any Martin collectors that could shed some light on what I have here? Might this be a re-cast? https://imgur.com/a/vnYnNjj
 
I would still assume Martin just based on the handle... but I agree it seems unusual for the placement of the size... the red book doesn't really show any camp oven bottoms and I'm not sure I've ever seen another one for comparison, just the ones with handles, rather than bails. Also I wouldn't worry too much about the marks around the handle on the lid, there was a lot of experimentation and different methods used to cast the handles in the early days.
 
Thanks for the reply. I did quite a bit of searching and couldn't find any others that were bottom gated or had the odd marking placement. I'm glad to have it either way. While I'm at it, what's your take on this lid? I Paid $20 for at yesterday's flea market. It was pretty rough and already been through 8 hours electrolysis. It says Odd lid 10 or 11 in. It looks a lot like the one on page 212 of red book. https://imgur.com/a/pmhylj7
 
The orientation of the handle to the marking being 90° off, my take would be the patch areas around the lid handle are a copier's method of dealing with the problem of getting a closed loop handle without using a precast core (the little crossbar) as Martin did. I've never seen a Martin CO with a bottom gate, although many exhibit casting anomalies like sand shifts.
 
I really like the older DOs that are on the big side. I have a semi big family and friends, so I like big skillets, ect......this one is nice!
 
A few months back I came across this camp oven on FB marketplace for dirt cheap. Because I can't run my e-tank in the winter, I just put it in the pile
and didn't think much of it until last week. I don't know much about Martin iron, and now that I have it cleaned up, some things seem odd to me.
Things that I noticed were the different location of the lid markings, strange patchwork where lid handle attaches and the huge gate mark on the bottom.
Are there any Martin collectors that could shed some light on what I have here? Might this be a re-cast? https://imgur.com/a/vnYnNjj

I can only say that is a killer piece. Just speaks to me with the font and history.
 
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