This Military Field Kitchen is based on a 1916 model : one such original design is on display at the “Musée de la Grande Guerre” (World War I) at Meaux in France (http://www.museedelagrandeguerre.eu/en). It was then horse-drawn with removable shafts. This design was modified in 1936 and again in 1938.
Several manufacturers made them :
– Compagnie générale de construction Atelier de Saint Denis.
– Avis (Atelier de Vincennes).
– Atelier d’Orval Maguin.
– Somua.
About 3500 field kitchen have been produced for the french army.
One such field kitchen can cook for about 200 soldiers.
It includes 2 wood burning fireboxes, 2 wood ovens, 2 ovens used to preheat the wood and 4 cooking pots.
Weight empty : 2300 lb / 1040 kg.
Total weight : 3200 lb / 1450 kg.
Length : 134″ / 3.40 m.
Width : 77″ / 1.95 m.
Height : 61″ / 1.55 m chimney folded ( 83″ / 2.10 m with chimney raised).
Works on wood only (2 gasoline burner after the 1960s).
It is a complete restauration that has been conducted : everything has been taken to pieces, sand blasted, treated and painted.
