Well thanks for all the extra help here, I'm going to buy a new pan
BUT.....
I went into a takeaway and bought an old one of theirs anyway
I've seen them use this same pan to cook curries with
It definitely "works" with them
I've attached a picture, I still don't know what it's made of.
I am worried about this aluminium/altzeimers thing, but it seems silly not to use it.
This pan will be one of my most precious belongings, and guess what?
No one would ever steal it!
Note the bashed in side, this is from where chef strikes the spoon as he cooks.
When they've cooked with this pan, nothing burns
The pans I currently use burn near the outside of the base
I guess that's where the flame is directly underneath, coupled with poor heat distribution