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Other Vintage Household Electrical or Electromechanical Items For discussions about other vintage (over 25 years old) electrical and electromechanical household items. See the sticky thread for details. |
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20th Jan 2011, 3:18 pm | #1 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK.
Posts: 2,543
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HMV Cavendish fan heater
Hi,
I've never dealt with vintage fan heater before, so I'd appreciate any tips and advice about general dissasembly and the re-painting of it. Probably, more importantly, the heating element is damaged (please see photo #2). Can I get a replacement or is it repairable? Also, whilst looking at that photo, can anybody tell me if that "fuseable link" (circled red) is okay? It looks more like a soldered link to me TIA David |
20th Jan 2011, 5:34 pm | #2 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
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Re: HMV Cavendish fan heater
Hmmmm Looks fishy to me!! I have no idea about heaters either.. But them heating elements look in bad shape.. I think radiator paint might do the job?
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20th Jan 2011, 5:56 pm | #3 |
Octode
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Bath, Somerset, UK.
Posts: 1,804
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Re: HMV Cavendish fan heater
Dave, the only way to repair the element would be to try and crimp the ends together either with a brass join or by twisting the ends together tightly. The soldered fusible link would spring apart during an overheat incident as the solder melts thereby cutting the power to the unit. This action is similar to that on those Philips mains transformers of the fifties.
Neil
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20th Jan 2011, 6:21 pm | #4 |
Retired Dormant Member
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Re: HMV Cavendish fan heater
Going by its general appearance, I think you might find that the element has become brittle, and any attempt to join it will result in bits breaking off.
You might be lucky, though! |
20th Jan 2011, 6:25 pm | #5 |
Dekatron
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Derby, UK.
Posts: 7,735
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Re: HMV Cavendish fan heater
Special high-temperature paint is available for use on radiators. Disassemble carefully, taking pictures as you go.
The break in the element can be repaired; although it will have to be a mechanical connection, as ordinary solder doesn't stick to resistance wire. As long as you don't shorten the element by too much, you shouldn't affect the current significantly. Just slip a few mm. of thin brass tubing over the broken ends and crimp with pliers. Note that resistance wire is also not very springy, especially after many heating and cooling cycles, and is prone to accidental breakage. I'd fit a modern thermal fuse just to be on the safe side (82p from Maplin is cheaper than your house burning down). Douse this liberally with freezer spray before and during soldering, obviously
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20th Jan 2011, 6:40 pm | #6 |
Moderator
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Re: HMV Cavendish fan heater
It might be an idea to have the case powder coated. The coaters will blast the casing back to bare metal, which is much easier than stripping it off yourself using wirewool or whatever. High temperature resistant coatings are available, but probably unnecessary.
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20th Jan 2011, 6:47 pm | #7 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Selby, North Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 979
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Re: HMV Cavendish fan heater
I've got one of those The outer panels do come off fairly easily if things aren't too rusted up. The enamel on mine isn't too bad - but I would guess that some cream radiator enamel would do the trick.
I too had many breaks in the heater elements (I think if you do a search on here you'll find me asking for suitable replacement wire). However, as one of the elements was broken very near to one end (about 7cm worth of coil), so I just spread the coils a bit so it was long enough. The other element I used a crimp connector (plastic body and the spade bit removed) to clamp two sections together. Standard oven bulbs fit in the bulbholder, though I think it's meant to be red coloured. The only thing I need to do with mine now is balance the fan blades a bit more so it's not so noisy. |
20th Jan 2011, 7:10 pm | #8 |
Pentode
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK.
Posts: 149
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Re: HMV Cavendish fan heater
Both of my Cavendishes have bakelite grills,only the top and base being metal though only one has shed its paint. this does not appear to be anything special, and I use car spray with good effect. The easy (and so far, safe) way to repair the elements is to use the inner of a small choc-block connector as the ends can be clamped by the screws. They don't produce a great deal of heat, but look great with a small orange or fireglo bulb when switched on. Hope this is of some assistance.
Rick. |
20th Jan 2011, 7:10 pm | #9 | |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK.
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Re: HMV Cavendish fan heater
Thanks for all the replies. I really appreciate it
... I don't suppose you could scan the instructions off the bottom, as mine is half missing. Quote:
Regards David |
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20th Jan 2011, 7:12 pm | #10 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Lynton, N. Devon, UK.
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Re: HMV Cavendish fan heater
I've got one, too.
Mine has an unpainted top (which gets quite hot but not dangerously so), and the metal base is black enamelled. Side pieces are off-white / magnolia. It might be worth checking whether somebody before your time has decided to paint yours. As a heater, by the way, it is really good! (and yes, I have a red fire-glow lamp inside). |
20th Jan 2011, 10:10 pm | #11 |
Heptode
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Location: Garnant, near Ammanford, South Wales, UK.
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Re: HMV Cavendish fan heater
Hi
I have one of these, all working and original. The sides and top are Bakelite, painted, with a red bulb inside. I can post some pics if it helps Richard
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20th Jan 2011, 11:05 pm | #12 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK.
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Re: HMV Cavendish fan heater
5 metal crimps have put back together the element, but I'll wait until I've painted and re-wired it before I see if it works.
I'm having trouble finding heat resistant paint. The only cream colour I can find is only good to 190 deg C, but I'll give it a try. I think I'll strip the top and leave it, bare, black Bakelite (like kalee20's). This also makes it easy to find a black enamel for the metal base. If anybody does have a scan or photo of the instructions, glued to the underside, I'll be very happy David |
21st Jan 2011, 9:36 am | #13 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Selby, North Yorkshire, UK.
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Re: HMV Cavendish fan heater
The outside doesn't actually get that hot, so 190C paint should be fine.
I'll take a photo of the instructions on mine if they're intact this weekend. I can't remember how the sides come off, only that I did take them off (mainly because it gave me better access to fix the heater coils). I'll see if I can work it out again. Sad to say that mine lives in my garage, on the workbench rather than in the house. But because of the way the slats are angled downwards, you get a nice layer of warm air at bench level which is quite pleasant at this time of year. And when set to blow cold air, that's good in the summer. |
21st Jan 2011, 11:43 am | #14 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK.
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Re: HMV Cavendish fan heater
Thanks Richard, I've actually managed to disassemble it. You have to loosen the four clips at the bottom and then lift the sides up and out.
I do want to fit a modern thermal fuse, but what temperature should I buy? David |
21st Jan 2011, 11:03 pm | #15 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, UK.
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Re: HMV Cavendish fan heater
One thought for the elements as well would be to simply pick up a modern heater (or replacement elements for it) and transplant them.
If the clamp repair doesn't hold, might be worth thinking about. At least the coils from a modern heater should still be springy enough to be manhandled into position without breaking apart in your hands. Only headache there I guess might be that we don't know the resistance per foot of the old one, so the overall resistance of the element might not match up. |
23rd Jan 2011, 3:42 pm | #16 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Selby, North Yorkshire, UK.
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Re: HMV Cavendish fan heater
Here's a photo of the label on the base
Note it says you should oil the fan motor every 1st January or you'll be needing a new fusible link. |
23rd Jan 2011, 4:05 pm | #17 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK.
Posts: 2,543
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Re: HMV Cavendish fan heater
Thanks Rich, That's brilliant
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24th Jan 2011, 5:48 pm | #18 | |
Retired Dormant Member
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Location: Shropshire, UK.
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Re: HMV Cavendish fan heater
Quote:
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25th Jan 2011, 9:47 pm | #19 | |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
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Re: HMV Cavendish fan heater
Quote:
It seems nearly every vintage device had some weirdly funny warning about it.. |
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25th Jan 2011, 11:58 pm | #20 |
Retired Dormant Member
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Re: HMV Cavendish fan heater
Actually you should be able to buy a whole new spring, my blower heater has about a 15 inch one, you should be able to use a few of those and crimp the ends on them like they did to this one.
-Chris |