The Dining room heater - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

rob77 · 18th Oct 2010, 7:56 pm

Hi all

As we seem to be having a heater fest I thought I would post a couple of pics of my very early Heatrae Sadia. She has been brought back into service this weekend after her summer holiday (under the stairs) into the dining room. I think it is from the late 20s early 30s but I'm happy to be corrected.

I restored her a couple of years ago, and most of the original mica washers had crumbled to nothing. After making some more from the window of an old parafin stove she lived once more!! The body is built of cast iron and once she has been on for a while you can switch off and enjoy the storage effects of the cast iron for ages after!!

Boy I love this old gear!!!

Cheers chaps
Rob

Tractorfan · 18th Oct 2010, 8:11 pm

Hi,
That's a splendid bit of kit is that! Can the switches be turned either way, or only clockwise - ON then OFF then ON then OFF, etc.? I've got a switch similar that only goes one way. Are they the original elements? My first job after leaving school was in an old fashioned radio & TV dealer and he sold replacement spirals made by PIFCO.
Cheers de Pete

rob77 · 18th Oct 2010, 8:28 pm

Yes clockwise only switches. If you turn them the other way the knob comes off!! As far as I can tell they are original elements.
She is lovely. I have such an affection for this old gear. I cant imagine a modern 2KW 'plastic special' heater to still be working in 70 years time!

mark pirate · 18th Oct 2010, 8:29 pm

Thats a nice old fire, is there meant to be a guard that fits in to the four rectangular holes in the front?

Mark

rob77 · 18th Oct 2010, 8:32 pm

? I have been told that there was some form of child guard that fitted to it but I've never seen one. It would seem that something sholud have fitted to the front though.

bobsterkent · 19th Oct 2010, 7:16 am

that is just drop dead gorgeous!

richrussell · 19th Oct 2010, 8:55 am

My grandmother had a similar type of heater, and it was placed in the fireplace instead of the coal grate when the Clean Air Act came in. She used to put the same fireguard that was used when she had a coal fire in front - hence there's no real need for protection on the elements in the same way as there's nothing to stop people (or my daft dogs) touching the flames on a coal fire...

PaulR · 21st Oct 2010, 6:52 pm

Wow - I want one, but SWMBO wouldn't let it in the house I am sad to say. Looking at the knobs on the front I have to ask whether it has a built in radio?

Paul

robjkmannering · 21st Oct 2010, 8:05 pm

Hi,
I worked for a while for Heatrae Sadia here in Norwich.
The older members of staff had fond memories of being covered in asbestos dust and being blown off with an airline after work in the early 60s! (Those still alive anyway......)
Lovely looking heater, Heatrae mainly make water heaters and showers now and I cant see anyone collecting these in 50 years time.
Regards,
Rob

Hybrid tellies · 21st Oct 2010, 8:20 pm

What a wonderful looking fire and still working after all these years.

18th Oct 2010, 7:56 pm	#1
rob77 Tetrode Join Date: May 2005 Location: Norwich Posts: 87	The Dining room heater Hi all As we seem to be having a heater fest I thought I would post a couple of pics of my very early Heatrae Sadia. She has been brought back into service this weekend after her summer holiday (under the stairs) into the dining room. I think it is from the late 20s early 30s but I'm happy to be corrected. I restored her a couple of years ago, and most of the original mica washers had crumbled to nothing. After making some more from the window of an old parafin stove she lived once more!! The body is built of cast iron and once she has been on for a while you can switch off and enjoy the storage effects of the cast iron for ages after!! Boy I love this old gear!!! Cheers chaps Rob Attached Thumbnails

18th Oct 2010, 8:11 pm	#2
Tractorfan Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St. Frajou, l'Isle en Dodon, Haute Garonne, France.(Previously: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, UK.) Posts: 3,183	Re: The Dining room heater Hi, That's a splendid bit of kit is that! Can the switches be turned either way, or only clockwise - ON then OFF then ON then OFF, etc.? I've got a switch similar that only goes one way. Are they the original elements? My first job after leaving school was in an old fashioned radio & TV dealer and he sold replacement spirals made by PIFCO. Cheers de Pete __________________ "Hello?, Yes, I'm on the train, I might lose the signal soon as we're just going into a tunn..."

18th Oct 2010, 8:28 pm	#3
rob77 Tetrode Join Date: May 2005 Location: Norwich Posts: 87	Re: The Dining room heater Yes clockwise only switches. If you turn them the other way the knob comes off!! As far as I can tell they are original elements. She is lovely. I have such an affection for this old gear. I cant imagine a modern 2KW 'plastic special' heater to still be working in 70 years time!

18th Oct 2010, 8:29 pm	#4
mark pirate Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK Posts: 5,185	Re: The Dining room heater Thats a nice old fire, is there meant to be a guard that fits in to the four rectangular holes in the front? Mark

18th Oct 2010, 8:32 pm	#5
rob77 Tetrode Join Date: May 2005 Location: Norwich Posts: 87	Re: The Dining room heater ? I have been told that there was some form of child guard that fitted to it but I've never seen one. It would seem that something sholud have fitted to the front though.

19th Oct 2010, 7:16 am	#6
bobsterkent Hexode Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Medway towns, Kent, UK. Posts: 271	Re: The Dining room heater that is just drop dead gorgeous! __________________ "Oh yes I love television, all those wiggly lines"!

19th Oct 2010, 8:55 am	#7
richrussell Heptode Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Selby, North Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 979	Re: The Dining room heater My grandmother had a similar type of heater, and it was placed in the fireplace instead of the coal grate when the Clean Air Act came in. She used to put the same fireguard that was used when she had a coal fire in front - hence there's no real need for protection on the elements in the same way as there's nothing to stop people (or my daft dogs) touching the flames on a coal fire...

21st Oct 2010, 6:52 pm	#8
PaulR Dekatron Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Southport Lancashire, UK. Posts: 3,233	Re: The Dining room heater Wow - I want one, but SWMBO wouldn't let it in the house I am sad to say. Looking at the knobs on the front I have to ask whether it has a built in radio? Paul

21st Oct 2010, 8:05 pm	#9
robjkmannering Retired Dormant Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 717	Re: The Dining room heater Hi, I worked for a while for Heatrae Sadia here in Norwich. The older members of staff had fond memories of being covered in asbestos dust and being blown off with an airline after work in the early 60s! (Those still alive anyway......) Lovely looking heater, Heatrae mainly make water heaters and showers now and I cant see anyone collecting these in 50 years time. Regards, Rob

21st Oct 2010, 8:20 pm	#10
Hybrid tellies Nonode Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: 1966-1976 Coverack in Cornwall and Helston Cornwall. 1976-present Bristol/Bath area. Posts: 2,965	Re: The Dining room heater What a wonderful looking fire and still working after all these years. __________________ Simon BVWS member