Belling Champion Query - Page 2 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Paul_RK · 21st Nov 2016, 5:54 pm

Aha, that's very good to hear of: will be interesting to see whether you get an impression of why they didn't persevere with the push-button arrangement, whether it had any weaknesses or was just dropped on grounds of cost. Development was swift in the early years, toward first a better and safer product then a lighter and cheaper one, before settling down for a long time, with further economies being tried right at the end. It seems at least 80% of the Champions in circulation are from that long middle period, models 91A and 92A with cast bases.

kirstyd · 27th Nov 2016, 11:06 pm

My parents had one of these back in the early 60's. The 7 year old me decided to stick one of mum's knitting needles in it you can only guess what happened next! Needless to say even at that young age I learned a valuable lesson that day.

Paul_RK · 1st Dec 2016, 1:48 pm

I'm glad you survived whether or not the heater did! My No.1's new grille, of the largest mesh I could readily find, wouldn't impede any but the fattest of knitting needles, but at least any AAA cell dropped on it in future will bounce.

Brigham · 10th Dec 2016, 2:57 pm

I've dug out the push-button heater, and it IS a No.3.
Pictures are attached. The porcelain push-button switches are by Arrow, and have an enclosed quick-break action. A later No.83 has tumbler-type switches, by Tucker.
The lamp-holder in the No.3 is a bought-in item in bakelite, and not the 'in-house' pressed steel and Tufnol type more usually encountered.
The elements work fine, of course.
As a footnote, a No.1 was also among the items recovered, and it has no trace of a mesh guard.
More later!

paulsherwin · 10th Dec 2016, 3:34 pm

Were these heaters intended to serve as hotplates in places like bedsits? The design of the top certainly gives that impression, though such use would obviously be frowned upon today.

Paul_RK · 10th Dec 2016, 5:09 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulsherwin

Were these heaters intended to serve as hotplates in places like bedsits?

Oh, definitely. Later Champions have top surfaces that give no ventilation if a pan is placed on them, and a DO NOT COVER decal, but the old models were all designed for use as boiling plates when required. I used my 83A that way myself earlier in the year, in conjunction with a vintage pressure cooker, to help provide a hot bath when the Rayburn's boiler had sprung a leak: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...7&d=1453910029 .

Paul

Paul_RK · 10th Dec 2016, 5:22 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brigham

I've dug out the push-button heater, and it IS a No.3.!

Thought it had to be: thanks for showing us that, which is the only Champion I've seen with push button switching outside the 1942 catalogue entry. Very interesting to know too that my No.1 may well have been marketed without a top mesh, but now there is one it will stay at least during my custodianship. The open base design is quite enough of a mortal danger for one little heater to pose...

Paul

WreckTangle · 31st Dec 2016, 3:11 am

I am another fan of these remarkably efficient little heaters and have five 91as in regular use.

The Belling original bulbs are orange coloured incandescent bulbs and not the more modern clear fireglow type although 40W fireglow bulbs make an acceptable replacement. I have also used 40W ruby submarine bulbs for a darker red glow.

https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publ...m&locale=en_EP

Hopefully this link to an original Belling patent will work. It confirms beyond doubt that the original design was intended to be able to boil a kettle.

21st Nov 2016, 5:54 pm	#21
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,259	Re: Belling Champion Query Aha, that's very good to hear of: will be interesting to see whether you get an impression of why they didn't persevere with the push-button arrangement, whether it had any weaknesses or was just dropped on grounds of cost. Development was swift in the early years, toward first a better and safer product then a lighter and cheaper one, before settling down for a long time, with further economies being tried right at the end. It seems at least 80% of the Champions in circulation are from that long middle period, models 91A and 92A with cast bases.

27th Nov 2016, 11:06 pm	#22
kirstyd Heptode Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 902	Re: Belling Champion Query My parents had one of these back in the early 60's. The 7 year old me decided to stick one of mum's knitting needles in it you can only guess what happened next! Needless to say even at that young age I learned a valuable lesson that day.

1st Dec 2016, 1:48 pm	#23
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,259	Re: Belling Champion Query I'm glad you survived whether or not the heater did! My No.1's new grille, of the largest mesh I could readily find, wouldn't impede any but the fattest of knitting needles, but at least any AAA cell dropped on it in future will bounce. Attached Thumbnails

10th Dec 2016, 2:57 pm	#24
Brigham Octode Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Co. Durham, UK. Posts: 1,118	Re: Belling Champion Query I've dug out the push-button heater, and it IS a No.3. Pictures are attached. The porcelain push-button switches are by Arrow, and have an enclosed quick-break action. A later No.83 has tumbler-type switches, by Tucker. The lamp-holder in the No.3 is a bought-in item in bakelite, and not the 'in-house' pressed steel and Tufnol type more usually encountered. The elements work fine, of course. As a footnote, a No.1 was also among the items recovered, and it has no trace of a mesh guard. More later! Attached Thumbnails

10th Dec 2016, 3:34 pm	#25
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,969	Re: Belling Champion Query Were these heaters intended to serve as hotplates in places like bedsits? The design of the top certainly gives that impression, though such use would obviously be frowned upon today.

31st Dec 2016, 3:11 am	#28
WreckTangle Tetrode Join Date: May 2014 Location: Gloucester, Glos. UK. Posts: 71	Re: Belling Champion Query I am another fan of these remarkably efficient little heaters and have five 91as in regular use. The Belling original bulbs are orange coloured incandescent bulbs and not the more modern clear fireglow type although 40W fireglow bulbs make an acceptable replacement. I have also used 40W ruby submarine bulbs for a darker red glow. https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publ...m&locale=en_EP Hopefully this link to an original Belling patent will work. It confirms beyond doubt that the original design was intended to be able to boil a kettle.