New water boiler

[thor]

Those US prices!

Check the availability of Calefones in Garbarino, a local store in Argentina. To calculate the prices in US dollars just divide the peso price by 3. The cheapest "Calefon" is around US$ 233, the most expensive (page 3) US$ 525. They are all built with excellent quality. You have two choices: natural draft (uses indoor air for combustion, outdoor discharge of combustion gases) or balanced draft (uses outdoor air for combustion, outdoor discharge of combustion gases).

With the larger units you can use up to three faucets simultaneously.

Gosh, I know what I can make for a living from now on! Sell calefones to the US!

Emilio

http://local.garbarino.com/g2008/productos/catalogo.php?id=14351|14292&pagina=1

 

[sudsmaster]

Maybe I don't use that much hot water either?

I loves me hot showers and the Neptune rarely does a cold water wash. All washers are hot or at least warm.

The water heater here is a 31 year old 50 gallon Montgomery Ward gas fired unit, still going strong. It's got two layers of extra external insulation - what the previous owner added, and then I added another inch of foil backed fiberglass (left over from insulating the heating ducts).

My June gas bill was all of about $19.17. An average of .4 therms/day. The gas usage will increase about 50% if I run the gas clothes dryer for all loads, so I line dry as much as posssible. So for this home I just couldn't see the economic justification for a tankless water heater. But I am considering a small one for the workshop, where the distance from the main house is far too great to justify running hot water lines from the tank in the main house. But for now the Mieles back there manage to heat their own water from tap cold just fine.

 

[rayjay]

Hi Greg

Nice pic of the bathroom. Also....I like the pic of the front of the house. I would love to have an old house, but they do require a lot of work. I can do some of the work, but the plumbing and electrical I leave for the professionals. I do like to paint. I find it relaxing. Right now, we are in the process of major renovations. Deck is being built from Fiberon, (a composite material, no maintenance), vinyl siding, french doors in dining room, new kitchen and new front door and side lites. I started taking pics of the deck being built and also the demolition of the old porch. When it gets near the finised state, I will post the pics as I go along through the renovations.

Would love to see more of the inside of your house when you are finished.

Ray

 

[oldhouseman]

Thanks Ray

the bath is, like with alot of old houses, in an enclosed porch. That is actually a shot of the back of the house where the water heater is mounted. Check out thread #18101 for more more shots of the house and a look at the front of the house. The front got an update in 1848. The back was the original front but the County moved the road going into town in 1805. I'm glad for the 1848 addition and I'm very happy they never changed anything inside from the original construction.

I would love to see some pics of your project.

 

[rayjay]

Hi Greg

As soon as things get moving, I will take pics. I saw on another thread that you are an expert on refinishing Mahogony furniture? I have a Mahogony Governor Winthrop secretary desk that a great aunt gave me. I always like it as a little boy. However.....many years ago she got tired of it and Antiqued it in a Wedgewood blue. It does look nice as an accent piece in our living room because that is one of our colors. I replaced the wood shelves with glass, added a light to make it a curio on top. I have the chair which is Mahogony and would some day like to restore it to its original finish. The desk has got to be over 60 yrs old. She also left me a Mahogony Duncan Phyfe bedroom set. DOuble bed, chest, double dresser and two night stands. This is still in its original finish. Some scratches, but still rally nice.

What would be the right product to remove that antiquing paint? I am not ready for this now, but maybe next year.

Thanks

Ray

 

[oldhouseman]

Ray

send me a pic when you can of the desk. Most of that "antique" paint from the late '60 and early 70's was oil based. I will send you an email with some instructions and tips.

 

[rayjay]

Thread 18101

Gredg. How did I miss this thread??? The house is coming along beautiful. The fretwork, (is that the correct term?) is great. I really like the dining room....but most of all the dining room set. Is it a Duncan Phyfe?

 

[oldhouseman]

check you email Ray

I sent you some basic instructions. email me back if you have any questions.

Greg

 

[oldhouseman]

Oh the dinning table,

Actually it's Chippendale, 1770 English, that's the Marlborough leg. The Duke of Marlborough wanted to give Thomas Chippendale a furniture commission but he did not like the ball and claw leg that was so popular at the time so Chippendale came up with the straight leg design and named it after the Duke. The chairs are 1760's. The globes on the table are 1820's and the Old Paris centerpiece is about 1815. The table with the the wine bottles on it is Virginia about 1770 and the shelf above it is about 1820 New England.

Yes, the fretwork, that was a real bear to repair. Took months. But the end result was worth it. Those front flanking rooms were added in 1848 with the piazza to accomodate the growing family at the time. One is my bedroom and the other is a guest room, both 18X18, a fireplace and 14 ft. ceilings.

 

[rayjay]

Dining Room

When we are done with our renovations, I do want to get a Chippendale Dining Room. This is also one of my favorite styles, along with Queen Anne, Duncan Phyfe. What threw me off with the chairs, is that I have seen similiar chair backs and they were listed as Duncan Phyfe. This cabinet maker did make several different styles of chairs. What I am looking for now is a Duncan Phyfe drop leaf table, but the depth has to be no more than 18". I also like the Sheraton style.
These styles never go out. They are classics.

Anyway, your dining room set is really nice.

 

[oldhouseman]

Get a subscription

to "The Magazine Antiques" Ray. You will find interesting articles and good scolarship on the subject. A couple of times every year they do some really neat things on mid 20th century design. Some of my things I did inherit but most are flea market finds and estate sales. Many so called antique dealers don't really recognize what they have. I have bought many pieces that were called reproduction and they were not.

I have a knack for metal items, especially candlestick holders. I found a pair of Charles X chambersticks for 8 bucks once. My partners jaw dropped when I picked up a Louis XV (1730's) candlestick for two dollars at a yard sale. The sale of that item paid for my porch renovation.

You don't have to settle for reproductions if you want the real thing. There is nothing wrong with a reproductions if that what you want but if you know what you're looking at you can get the real stuff for about the same price of reproductions. And the real thing is usually a better investment.

I'm waiting for some of the earlier appliances to start showing up in articles in the trade journals.

 

[rayjay]

Greg, Thanks for the advice on the subscription. I will go to their website now.

Most of my stuff was also inherited. My wife inherited china that is at least 150 years old from her grandmother. I would like to take a pic of it and send it to you. Cannot remember the manufacturer.

As not to clog up this thread, I will continue through email to you.

THanks for all of your help.

Ray