At 14:05 1/8/00 , Bulley wrote:
>I think some folks who have SEEN a Catalytic heater are confusing these
>with an ol'-timey parabolic dish heater.

Could be, could be...

>While I'm not Dr. Propane or anything, I'm positive these small bottle-top
>Catalytic heaters weren't available (at least on the K-Mart consumer level)
>until a year-or-so ago.

I'm sure you're right there.  But catalytic heaters for camping have been
available using Coleman fuel for at least 35 years, and using propane for
at least 20 or so.  In fact Bernzomatic is recalling one of the fairly
early propane models, with a $125 (!) reward for every one you turn
in.  The one I have is the next model over (cost me $5) and they say it's
fine.

Incidentally, the catalytic combustion of fuel gas has been used back into
the 19th century -- the lamplighters (some of them anyway) had a long stick
with a hook to turn on the valve, and a little bit of platinum sponge which
they held in the gas stream until the lamp ignited.  Platinum sponge is
sort of the platinum equivalent of activated charcoal -- enormous surface
for a given amount of material.  I forget how they made it.

David Beierl - Providence, RI
  http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"