The first time I saw a Hobo-Stove was in 1980 in a older survival handbook. At this time I was hiking in the Canadian wilderness (British Columbia and Alberta), accompanied by my big Leonberger dog. Up to this time I used always conventional fireplaces.  This was not particularly funny in everyday life. The time I spent to collect and prepare my firewood was not negligible and bored by the day more and more. A more effectife system was needed.... I then tinkered my first Hobo-Stove at Home Lake, B.C., out from a big dogfood can, who was bevore kindly emptied by my furry companion. I was absolutely trilled at first and had from then on virtually only worked with the Hobo. The disadvantages standed out quickly. I was most disturbed by the pack size. I was also sure, that the performance can be increased by a optimal layout of the stove.   It took several years before I started with this project. The goal was the construction of a Hobo-Stove that goes, in terms of pack size, performance and production quality to the limit of the feasible. After numerous experiments, the first (non commercial) Magic-Flame was born. However, this first MF had nothing in common with the actual model, except the material. Over the years, we subjected the stove a milde facelifting. The basic layout is so good, that there is nothing to ameliorate. Minor modifications culminated in the Next-Generation version, which turned the MF to a even more versatile multi-fuel stove.   Here is a chronological essay on the history of the Magic-Flame:     1996 The first: Nine separate parts, sidewalls have to be screwed together, bottom plate loosely inserted. Industrially produced small series, was never traded. 1997 After the “Igniting” idea of a foldable design, here the first laboratory model, made of aluminium. 1997 First functional model of aluminium. Very promising, but unfortunatelly only one time...., the bottom plate was completely melted away. 1997 The hour of burth: First commercial model of stainless steel, surface is sumptuously trovalized. Hinges spotted, weight is 620 Gramm, thickness is 15 mm. 1999 Successor with rolled hinges and optimised fuel entering openings. Wight is now 520 Gramm, thickness is 10 mm. 2002 Restrained facelifting: Again enhanced fuel entering openings. Now with noble brushed surfaces. 2009 Actual version with the Next- Generation enhancements: Beveled corners, breadboard for the two NG-Claps (made from stainless spring steel) and a branding. Manufacturing of the single components by a mix of conventional punching and laser cutting. Sorry for my rugged English... ;-)