Belling electric fire. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Line whistle · 21st Jul 2010, 9:29 pm

Hi,
I've just picked up the above. I spent most of this evening cleaning it and checking it over. It fits in well beside a vintage tv.
cheers,
Des.

Tim · 22nd Jul 2010, 9:13 am

I like that. Nice plain, clean lines and authentic mains plug too!

Zelandeth · 22nd Jul 2010, 8:22 pm

That's a nice one. I'll need to dive up in the loft this weekend and snap a photo of our one. Pretty sure it's a Belling as well.

My parents keep trying to chuck it out, and I keep rescuing it.

...No less than four occasions now in the last couple of years they've been mighty grateful for that when the central heating's gone on the blink!

Proper old open-wire heating elements on our one (which yours look to be as well), which I'm pretty sure are the originals. They make one heck of a lot of "plinking" noises while warming up/cooling down too...A noise which always causes a huge amount of nostaliga for me as this thing has been in the family far longer than my 25 years!

Seems to manage to create far more heat with even one bar on (1.5kW) than many modern heaters (either radiant or convecting) seem to...

Only real problem with it these days is trying to get hold of the three-pin fireglow bulbs it uses now that the last little independent lighting store locally has closed down...Guess it'll have to be the internet when the next one blows.

Line whistle · 22nd Jul 2010, 9:03 pm

Hi,
My fire takes a standard red bayonet bulb. I must admit I thought these might be hard to source but I noticed that Maplin sell them. I'll stock up on Saturday.
Cheers,
Des.

McMurdo · 22nd Jul 2010, 10:17 pm

Quote:

three-pin fireglow bulbs

My dad aquired a huge job lot of these from a closed-down electrical wholesalers, only to be told (by me) that our fireglow fires (when I lived at home) took standard 2-pin ones.

I must dig them out.

Peter.N. · 23rd Jul 2010, 7:35 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim

I like that. Nice plain, clean lines and authentic mains plug too!

They had round pin plugs on them when we used to sell them.

Zelandeth · 8th Aug 2010, 9:54 pm

As promised - albeit rather later than planned!

I'll try to drag it down out of the loft to be properly photographed sometime soon - this photo was taken balancing at the top of the ladder however. Since the Council re-insulated the loft it's like Russian Roulette going up there as you can't see what you're standing on.

The black paint isn't original, my parents having done that a few years back to make it fit in with the decor of the time - originally it had a dark silver "hammered" finish. I would have resisted the repainting had I been there!

As with quite a few it seems, this is shaped to fit actually inside a fireplace. Not visible here, but it seems to have its original (huge!) rubber covered mains lead, which is still in good order I'm glad to report.

PaulR · 21st Oct 2010, 2:15 pm

I have just come across this thread rather late.

Re 3 pin bulbs, we had a Magicoal fire in the 1960s which fitted into the fireplace rather than standing in front of it, similar to the one in the previous posting but with open wire wound elements. It took 3 pin bulbs which were always more expensive than the 2 pin ones and a ready source of after market income for Berry we suspected. I found that I could replace the three pin top collar part of the bulb holder with a standard two pin one from a brass bulb holder. It might be worth trying one. It is easily reversible if required.

Paul

Zelandeth · 21st Oct 2010, 6:06 pm

Hmm, might have to have a look at that Paul. Thanks for the heads up.

The elements on my one are in fact of the open type - just not too easy to see that in the photo.

PaulR · 21st Oct 2010, 6:27 pm

Our elements were just coiled wire with no ceramic centre former or reflector.

As a matter of interest I have been looking for an open element "fire bar" type of heater but assumed they are no longer made, then I found one on Amazon. It is supposedly Swan Brand but was actually made in South Africa of all places. It has two 900w bars but gives out loads of heat with just one switched on. A blast from the past!!

Paul

21st Jul 2010, 9:29 pm	#1
Line whistle Hexode Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bedfordshire, UK. Posts: 341	Belling electric fire. Hi, I've just picked up the above. I spent most of this evening cleaning it and checking it over. It fits in well beside a vintage tv. cheers, Des. Attached Thumbnails __________________ www.freewebs.com/405tv

22nd Jul 2010, 9:13 am	#2
Tim Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 3,310	Re: Belling electric fire. I like that. Nice plain, clean lines and authentic mains plug too! __________________ "Nothing is as dangerous as being too modern;one is apt to grow old fashioned quite suddenly."

22nd Jul 2010, 8:22 pm	#3
Zelandeth Heptode Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, UK. Posts: 931	Re: Belling electric fire. That's a nice one. I'll need to dive up in the loft this weekend and snap a photo of our one. Pretty sure it's a Belling as well. My parents keep trying to chuck it out, and I keep rescuing it. ...No less than four occasions now in the last couple of years they've been mighty grateful for that when the central heating's gone on the blink! Proper old open-wire heating elements on our one (which yours look to be as well), which I'm pretty sure are the originals. They make one heck of a lot of "plinking" noises while warming up/cooling down too...A noise which always causes a huge amount of nostaliga for me as this thing has been in the family far longer than my 25 years! Seems to manage to create far more heat with even one bar on (1.5kW) than many modern heaters (either radiant or convecting) seem to... Only real problem with it these days is trying to get hold of the three-pin fireglow bulbs it uses now that the last little independent lighting store locally has closed down...Guess it'll have to be the internet when the next one blows. __________________ Zel's Lair - A random bag of vintage tech, lighting information and other assorted geekery

22nd Jul 2010, 9:03 pm	#4
Line whistle Hexode Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bedfordshire, UK. Posts: 341	Re: Belling electric fire. Hi, My fire takes a standard red bayonet bulb. I must admit I thought these might be hard to source but I noticed that Maplin sell them. I'll stock up on Saturday. Cheers, Des. __________________ www.freewebs.com/405tv

8th Aug 2010, 9:54 pm	#7
Zelandeth Heptode Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, UK. Posts: 931	Re: Belling electric fire. As promised - albeit rather later than planned! I'll try to drag it down out of the loft to be properly photographed sometime soon - this photo was taken balancing at the top of the ladder however. Since the Council re-insulated the loft it's like Russian Roulette going up there as you can't see what you're standing on. The black paint isn't original, my parents having done that a few years back to make it fit in with the decor of the time - originally it had a dark silver "hammered" finish. I would have resisted the repainting had I been there! As with quite a few it seems, this is shaped to fit actually inside a fireplace. Not visible here, but it seems to have its original (huge!) rubber covered mains lead, which is still in good order I'm glad to report. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Zel's Lair - A random bag of vintage tech, lighting information and other assorted geekery

21st Oct 2010, 2:15 pm	#8
PaulR Dekatron Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Southport Lancashire, UK. Posts: 3,236	Re: Belling electric fire. I have just come across this thread rather late. Re 3 pin bulbs, we had a Magicoal fire in the 1960s which fitted into the fireplace rather than standing in front of it, similar to the one in the previous posting but with open wire wound elements. It took 3 pin bulbs which were always more expensive than the 2 pin ones and a ready source of after market income for Berry we suspected. I found that I could replace the three pin top collar part of the bulb holder with a standard two pin one from a brass bulb holder. It might be worth trying one. It is easily reversible if required. Paul

21st Oct 2010, 6:06 pm	#9
Zelandeth Heptode Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, UK. Posts: 931	Re: Belling electric fire. Hmm, might have to have a look at that Paul. Thanks for the heads up. The elements on my one are in fact of the open type - just not too easy to see that in the photo. __________________ Zel's Lair - A random bag of vintage tech, lighting information and other assorted geekery

21st Oct 2010, 6:27 pm	#10
PaulR Dekatron Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Southport Lancashire, UK. Posts: 3,236	Re: Belling electric fire. Our elements were just coiled wire with no ceramic centre former or reflector. As a matter of interest I have been looking for an open element "fire bar" type of heater but assumed they are no longer made, then I found one on Amazon. It is supposedly Swan Brand but was actually made in South Africa of all places. It has two 900w bars but gives out loads of heat with just one switched on. A blast from the past!! Paul