UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Mystery vintage electric fire/hotplate. Identified as a Magnet (GEC) D2400.

Paul_RK · 1st Aug 2017, 6:15 pm

Yes, that's an electric fire designed so that a pan could be sat on top of it to keep warm - a very common idea in the '30s. Early Belling Champions were designed with a ribbed top to allow air passage around a pan or kettle. later models had a flattened top and a decal saying 'Do Not Cover'. Quite a lot of simple bar fires were designed such that the heating bar could either point forwards, for heating the room, or be turned to point upwards at a kettle placed on top.

It's the combination of conventional fire bars and a conventional hotplate that makes your unit so unusual. A bit surprising really that we've not been able to trace the same combination made by anyone else, but as has been pointed out it probably wouldn't have held much appeal beyond the impoverished housemaid / night-watchman market.

1st Aug 2017, 6:15 pm	#52
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,259	Re: Mystery vintage electric fire/hotplate. Identified as a Magnet (GEC) D2400. Yes, that's an electric fire designed so that a pan could be sat on top of it to keep warm - a very common idea in the '30s. Early Belling Champions were designed with a ribbed top to allow air passage around a pan or kettle. later models had a flattened top and a decal saying 'Do Not Cover'. Quite a lot of simple bar fires were designed such that the heating bar could either point forwards, for heating the room, or be turned to point upwards at a kettle placed on top. It's the combination of conventional fire bars and a conventional hotplate that makes your unit so unusual. A bit surprising really that we've not been able to trace the same combination made by anyone else, but as has been pointed out it probably wouldn't have held much appeal beyond the impoverished housemaid / night-watchman market.