1940s Domestic Appliances

[WorldWar2]

As some of you may know I am a volunteer for the Harwich Society I am currently working on Beacon Hill Fort Radar Tower.
On the plans for the tower it says ground floor engine room and domestic
facilities.
This tower was manned by the Navy, any ideas what facilities this area would have had?, I assume a cooker, food storage , sleeping area ?
I want to try make it look something like it did when it was active, but there are no pictures of the interior.
can anyone help ?

[broadgage]

Might have included a twin tub washing machine ?
These were not that common at the time, but the military might have supplied one, especialy in a relatively remote location with no laundry nearby.

Probably a domestic type radio receiver, in addition to any specialist miltary radio equipment.

Maybe a fridge? Again not that common at the time but the military might have provided one.

If there is no fireplace or stove, possibly an electric heater.

If the engine driven generating plant was not run 24/7, then I would expect a battery bank to provide basic electric lighting when the engine was not running. Probably 24 volt battery and 24/25 volt GLS lamps of 25 or 40 watts.

[Alan Stepney]

A single tub with a wringer might have been more appropriate.
And a hand wringer at that!

One of the common cabinets known as "kitchen maids" ( glass doors at top, over drop-down flap over twin cupboards).


The stove might well have been paraffin, but as there would probably have been an excellent electricity supply ( to supply the electronics) perhaps an electric stove might have been used, and limited cooking to when the generator was running..

[WorldWar2]

Thankyou both, some of the stuff they have on display needs to be moved, there is a 1950s tv and a Bakelite radio.
neither should be there, the whole fort including the tower was abandoned and cleared out in 1956.

[camallison]

Don't forget the obligatory (Naval) mop and bucket - can't remember the stores number though.

Colin

[broadgage]

As regards electric wiring, this was probably VIR single core cables in surface conduit, if desired this may be replicated with modern materials.
No one need know that new conduit contains plastic cables as they cant be seen.

If you cant obtain truly accurate switches and socket outlets, then at least say 1950s ones won't look as wrong as modern fittings.

Although fluorescent lighting was available, it was generally confined to large factories. Carbon filament lighting was obsolete for general use, so the lighting would have been tungsten filament lamps. These have not changed much, and modern lamps in suitable fittings won't be out of place.

And don't forget a couple of paraffin hurricane lamps! These were almost compulsory in military premises, in case of failure of the electricity supply.

[Radio Wrangler]

Were twin tubs around then? Maybe a single tub with a wringer, but more likely a twice weekly laundry collection and return service from some larger location. Domestic faclities probably just means a cooker, a meat-safe and tea making facilities.

The Dunfermline radio club used to have Outhmuir wireless station, and even inherited an original operator! The generator shed was separate, the kitchen had rudimentary cooking and tea-making capabilities. Water was rain from the roof via a large outside, raised tank. Don't even think of using even for washing-up unless boiled.

The loo went out to a chemical tank and thence a soak-away. Nothing as sophisticated as a septic tank.

No laundry facilities though the kitchen sink could be used and a line strung outside for emergencies. I think the place was late '40s/50s so I'd expect it to be slightly palatial compared to an earlier setup.

David

[G6Tanuki]

If it's in a remote(ish) location then there may not have been a permanent mains-water supply.

Which would suggest the likely presence of an "Elsan" chemical toilet somewhere in the building or its environs. Whether you want to replicate this is down to you .. the aroma of a well-matured Elsan on a hot summer day will be enough to guarantee your visitors make only short stays.

[WorldWar2]

No it wasn't that remote, even back then there where houses near it, it just had a Dacoit fence all the way round.




this is a plan of the site, hope its not going too far ott