Vintage British General Electric heater

[adam-aussie-vac]

Hey guys, I recently had got a heater for 35 bucks, the only issue with that is that the switch the original one had died and one of the elements have died as well, does anybody know if it is possible to transfer the heating element out of an old bar heater because essentially the construction is always the same

 

[adam-aussie-vac]

Scratch that, it was actually both elements

And here is the same wattage of here but the length is a little bit too short, I could probably try using some brass or aluminium spacer things whatever they called

 

[aquarius1984]

I personally would use it. These things are an accident waiting to happen. Not only dangerous but also terribly inefficient at heating spaces. They radiate heat in the immediate area but that’s as far as they go.

My advice would be to clean it up and keep it if you like the look of it, but I wouldn’t waste money on buying parts.

 

[thomasortega]

I have to agree with Aquarius1984.

I love vintage appliances, I wish I could have as many as possible but safety comes first.

That kind of space heater (or any space heater that have anything that "glows") are basically a time bomb.

I dont understand how the USA, a "1st world" country that has so many codes wisely created (and even some codes created because of an e cess of caution) ever allowed those fire starters to be sold.

I must co fess, every winter I feel tempted to buy one of those Presto "Heat Dish" at Costco, because both the insulation and the furnace Herr are dreadful, but then the Talking Cricket lands on my shoulder and say a huge NO.

Clean and polish it, keep it as original al as possible because it is undeniable it has a very interesting design but please, don't use it.

Get one of those silly ceramic heaters or, if you don't like the noise, get one of those electric oil radiators. They're MUCH safer than this "thing".

Here I have six electric space heaters: the best of them is a tiny Lasko that costed only $9.90 on Amazon. The worst is one that has those quartz elements concealed in a box with a fan. When I realized it has those quartz elements, I put it in the balcony to use briefly when I sit there for 5 minutes to relax, so not long enough to justify lighting the propane patio heater. And I use it ONLY because it's for average 5 minutes and it's placed immediately next to me, so I'm looking at it all the time.

Modern space heaters are inexpensive, most of them made in China, I don't e pect them to last too long but surprisingly some of my space heaters are reaching the 6th winter and working as new. The important thing is, they are a lot safer with safety thermostats, thermal fuse and even tipping sensors.

 

[thomasortega]

What I really, really, really wanted was a way to put back the cast iron radiators and the cast iron wood burning stove this apartment had originally.

I'm still looking for a round Victorian stove (salamander), but of course it would be only for esthetics. Maybe I'd hide the tiny lasko heater in the wood burning chamber only to make it feel lukewarm.

I know there are those electric fireplaces, but they are not as charming. This winter, maybe I'll end up buying one of those fireplaces only to have a 3rd heater in my bedroom. This apartment is so crappy that next to the furnace (in the bedroom wall) it reaches over 100F and right where my bed is, sometimes is as cold as outside.

 

[combo52]

Portable Electric Space Heaters

I would fix it and use it if you like it, ALL electric space heaters are 100% efficient at producing heat from all the power they consume, does not matter if they are new or 100 years old.

 

The radiant heaters generally give you more warmth in a shorter time than the slower oil filled radiator style heaters.

 

I love my Presto Hot Dish heater here in my office it throws a lot of heat and only costs 14 cents an hour to operate, it probably ran 3-4 hours last night and is on again this morning.

 

I also have several old radiant heaters some more than 80 years old that I still use some of the time here or at the other house.

 

Yes use common sense about safety , even the old 80 YO Hotpoint heater has a tip-over switch that works fine. I don't leave them on when I leave the home or go to sleep, if you are forgetful plug them into an appliance timer. and use the timer to turn them off in an hour or so as needed.

 

John L.

 

[gizmo]

Hi Adam

Can you post a few more photos, what you have posted so far doesn't make anything clear.

- Photo of the heater complete and assembled (show what guards/grilles it has over the elements)

- labelled photo of the broken element

- labelled photo of the intact but wrong size element

(show tape measure alongside each)

- photo of the broken switch.

 

TBH I want to see if the "project" looks deadly or a reasonable thing to restore. I have some ideas for you.

 

I used to have a gorgeous round heater with a polished copper reflector and the centre element was like a ceramic pine cone with the wire spiral element wrapped around it. It gave a lovely glow on the copper dish.

 

I reckon replacement elements will be available in the right places. Tom's Element Shop in Richmond, Vic would be my first place to contact.

(I see it is now called Tom's Appliances, link below.) I used to buy parts from them over 30 years ago when I lived nearby, they had every element you could imagine and had little paper packets with different wattage wire spiral elements - just the wire, so you could rewind a broken ceramic element. I think the element brand was Eva-Glo, locally made, probably no longer around but I wouldn't be surprised if Tom's still has old stock out the back...

 

Failing that, you can rewind the element yourself, if you can get the same grade of nichrome wire.

 

But I would want to be sure it would be electrically safe - ceramic insulators in good condition; no asbestos; modern flex cord fitted (old ones with rubber insulation on the wires is unsafe, the rubber degrades); good safe switches; decent shrouding or grille to prevent touching the live element and end connections; possibly even try to fit a tilt switch so it cuts out if it tips over.

 

If you fit a new cord, make sure you use one for heating devices, they have higher temperature rated cable. The plastic coating has a distinctly different feel, quite "rubbery" even though it isn't rubber, it is a type of plastic. I used to have a few spares but I think I have used them all by now. You might get a suitable cord being sold as a replacement cord for an electric frypan? Tom's might sell them, too.

https://www.amazon.com.au/K9HT-1MB-High-Notched-Appliance-Iec-C15/dp/B079HWK9XK

Parts – Toms Appliances

Parts Tom’s Appliances has over 6000 spare parts in stock and more than 30 years of experience in the appliance industry. If we don’t have your part in stock, we will track it down, if it’s still available. All we need is a Model Number and/or a sample of the part you require. Tom’s Appliances …...

www.tomsappliances.com.au

 

[adam-aussie-vac]

@gizmo

So each element, is broken in different places, the rear one (red circle)has broken close to the middle of the element, and the one up front (blue circle) The holding screw replaced and has broken right where the element would attach to the mounting screw that holds the element in between the two Support bars/electrical contacts, and do you know if a iron cord would work? Or would they not be rated for high temperature? The first picture is the old original switch, which had broken because of some unknown reason, the second photo is the original elements and where they broke from, and the third photo is potentially one of the replacement elements That can physically fit, All three elements are rated for 1000 W at 240v, and the fourth photo is the length difference between the Original and potential replacement elements, the one with the metal Is the replacement one The fifth photo shows the replacement switch that I have fitted, and due to its design it can only fit switches from certain manufacturers, As the two electrical switch connections have to be on the same side of the two mounting holes

 

[gizmo]

So is the ceramic broken or just the heating element wire?

Can you switch 1 or 2 elements, or is it just "both or nothing?" (both on or both off.)

 

If it is just the element wire broken, I'd be rewinding the existing ceramic tubes. I'd bet Tom's Element Shop would have a suitable wire for only a few $ each.

 

You might even be able to wind the wire from the spare elements you have onto the original ceramic cores you have?

 

I have to say, that is not a safe heater. It is so far from any modern safety standard. A museum piece but not safe for daily use. At least don't use it if there are any kids around.

 

Iron cord - maybe. It would have to be 10 amps rated.

 

[adam-aussie-vac]

The element wire is broken and I would need to replace one of the original screws, the switch controls only one element, so I will probably put a new in-line switch in with the new cord, and I’m not sure how to figure out what element would be suitable for it, and yes it is not really a “safe“ heater but I remember I used to have a modern Kambrook heater and that never actually had a front safety guard, so the element could be touched, and don’t worry there are no kids around, as the only kids that were here had already grown up

 

[adam-aussie-vac]

And I did find a

Heater the same model In the same suburb where my dad lives, and the elements appear to be in good condition, so I may pick it up and take it home

 

[reactor]

Heater Safety

Wish you well on your heater restoration, Adam. There seems to be a disparency in the opinions on electric heaters, from a safety aspect.

I have had a couple of GE heaters from the late sixties. As much as I enjoy them, I use them with exceeding caution.

I was reading recently, that 4 out 5 deaths due to residential heating occur with the use of space heaters.

Use yours when it is restored and enjoyed, I just recommend only using it when you are in the room with it, and awake.

When I think of space heaters I always think back to the autobiography of the beautiful soprano, Norma Zimmer (the "Champagne Lady" on the Lawrence Welk show.)

She and her husband had just built a house themselves, it was not quite finished but they were living in in. One evening after they had just moved in, they put their dog in the kitchen and shut the door to keep him there during the night. For his warmth the plugged in a space heater as the house's heating system was not yet finished.

In the night they woke up hearing a terrifying scream, much like the scream of a baby. They ran downstairs and found the kitchen ablaze. Apparently during the night the dog had tipped or moved the heater, which caught the drapes on fire and burned up a large part of their new home before the fire could be put out.

The worst part was the horrible death of their dog.

So, stay with the heater, keep pets away as well as flammable objects/materials such as drapes, sheets, blankets, etc. I am not saying this to put a damper on your heater restoration, but just to say use it with respect and caution.