Even more items to date. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

60 oldjohn · 8th Apr 2017, 5:05 pm

Anyone know when these items first went on sale?

1 Belling Bed Warmer.
2 A Bakelite bed warmer.
3 Another "Magnet" I presume GEC saucepan with an element.

TFL, John.

60 oldjohn · 8th Apr 2017, 5:15 pm

4 A Black & Decker model B Drill, 30v-50v ? AC/DC. Made in England. Voltage ? it has a 13amp plug fitted!

TFL John.

robin coleman · 8th Apr 2017, 7:38 pm

The Bakelite bed warmer is probably from the 1940s. My late grandmother used to put one in my bed in the 1970s as a child. We also had a brown bottle shaped one. The kettle is probably about the same age. We used to get a few of these at my grandfathers scrap yard.
Regards
Robin

dseymo1 · 8th Apr 2017, 7:47 pm

The drill wll be 230 - 250V mains operated - the '2' just hasn't been very well stamped on the rating plate.

Paul_RK · 8th Apr 2017, 10:21 pm

I can't think where my 1927 Sunco catalogue is currently hiding, but the saucepan looks at least old enough to be in it.

dseymo1 · 9th Apr 2017, 7:52 am

Checking online images, the 1944 B&D of this style seems to have had an embossed brass plate, rather than a printed aluminium version, so I guess yours is a little later than that.

David G4EBT · 9th Apr 2017, 8:35 am

There are lots of identical Bakelite bed-warmers on ebay, invariably described as '1940s' mostly made by 'Veret', some with their original box and instructions.

Typical information from the 6-page fold out instruction leaflet states:

The VERET Electric BED WARMER.

Made by Veret Ltd. 136 Woolwich Road, Abbey Road, London SE2.

No more cold beds for my Guests - 150 Hours warmth for ONE PENNY

Instructions:

Special Reinforced Bakelite is Heat-Proof and Heat-Absorbing Container
Should be used in Beds or AIRER Linen in cupboard.
200V - 250V Electric Thermostatically Controlled.
Just plug into the Lamp (Light Bulb Fitting)

SIZE: 235mm Tall & 90mm Wide
+ 3m (3000mm) Electric Cable.

They came with a velour case, but whether or not that was an optional extra, I've no idea. Either way, with the passage of time, it's easy to see how the velour cover would become worn, lost or discarded.

Original price 16/6d.

Assuming that was in 1945, it equates to about £30.00 now when adjusted for inflation.

I'd have thought that the copper electric saucepan was more late 1930s, and the B&D drill 1950 - 55.

Hope that helps a bit John.

Brigham · 10th Apr 2017, 5:43 pm

The Belling Bed Warmer (No.90) is listed in the 1953/4 catalogue, and still appears in 1961/2.
Colours are initially 'pastel shades of blue, pink or yellow', but by 1955/6, only blue is mentioned. By 1957/8, the three colours are back, but by this time 'yellow' has become 'primrose'.
Power is a frugal 40 Watts, chiefly because the heating element is a 40w bulb.
List price in '53/4 is £2/2/9 inc. p.t.. rising to £2/5/1 (inc.p.t.) in '61/2.

60 oldjohn · 10th Apr 2017, 7:48 pm

Thank you every one for your help. It is nice when there are catalogues with the items in.

John.

emeritus · 10th Apr 2017, 11:00 pm

The "Magnet" saucepan probably dates from the inter-war period. The cooking utensils in the 1911 GEC catalogue are referred to as "Archer System", and as far as I can make out, the connector pins were proud, not recessed, mating with a free 2-pin socket.

The initial letter of the "Catalogue No" probably refers to the section of the then-current GEC catalogue in which it was listed. In the 1911 catalogue, cooking apparatus are in Section H, and the product codes are all prefixed with "H". Similar saucepans are shown, but they stand on three legs, and the knobs on the lids are completely different. The archive of GEC catalogues that used to be kept in the Marconi Museum are now in the Bodliean Library, Oxford. Yours would be in a GEC catalogue in which cooking utensils were in part D.

8th Apr 2017, 5:05 pm	#1
60 oldjohn Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 3,985	Even more items to date. Anyone know when these items first went on sale? 1 Belling Bed Warmer. 2 A Bakelite bed warmer. 3 Another "Magnet" I presume GEC saucepan with an element. TFL, John. Attached Thumbnails

8th Apr 2017, 5:15 pm	#2
60 oldjohn Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 3,985	Re: Even more items to date. 4 A Black & Decker model B Drill, 30v-50v ? AC/DC. Made in England. Voltage ? it has a 13amp plug fitted! TFL John. Attached Thumbnails

8th Apr 2017, 7:38 pm	#3
robin coleman Hexode Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 354	Re: Even more items to date. The Bakelite bed warmer is probably from the 1940s. My late grandmother used to put one in my bed in the 1970s as a child. We also had a brown bottle shaped one. The kettle is probably about the same age. We used to get a few of these at my grandfathers scrap yard. Regards Robin

8th Apr 2017, 7:47 pm	#4
dseymo1 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Shropshire, UK. Posts: 3,051	Re: Even more items to date. The drill wll be 230 - 250V mains operated - the '2' just hasn't been very well stamped on the rating plate.

8th Apr 2017, 10:21 pm	#5
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,255	Re: Even more items to date. I can't think where my 1927 Sunco catalogue is currently hiding, but the saucepan looks at least old enough to be in it.

9th Apr 2017, 7:52 am	#6
dseymo1 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Shropshire, UK. Posts: 3,051	Re: Even more items to date. Checking online images, the 1944 B&D of this style seems to have had an embossed brass plate, rather than a printed aluminium version, so I guess yours is a little later than that.

9th Apr 2017, 8:35 am	#7
David G4EBT Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 5,760	Re: Even more items to date. There are lots of identical Bakelite bed-warmers on ebay, invariably described as '1940s' mostly made by 'Veret', some with their original box and instructions. Typical information from the 6-page fold out instruction leaflet states: The VERET Electric BED WARMER. Made by Veret Ltd. 136 Woolwich Road, Abbey Road, London SE2. No more cold beds for my Guests - 150 Hours warmth for ONE PENNY Instructions: Special Reinforced Bakelite is Heat-Proof and Heat-Absorbing Container Should be used in Beds or AIRER Linen in cupboard. 200V - 250V Electric Thermostatically Controlled. Just plug into the Lamp (Light Bulb Fitting) SIZE: 235mm Tall & 90mm Wide + 3m (3000mm) Electric Cable. They came with a velour case, but whether or not that was an optional extra, I've no idea. Either way, with the passage of time, it's easy to see how the velour cover would become worn, lost or discarded. Original price 16/6d. Assuming that was in 1945, it equates to about £30.00 now when adjusted for inflation. I'd have thought that the copper electric saucepan was more late 1930s, and the B&D drill 1950 - 55. Hope that helps a bit John. __________________ David. BVWS Member. G-QRP Club member 1339.

10th Apr 2017, 5:43 pm	#8
Brigham Octode Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Co. Durham, UK. Posts: 1,115	Re: Even more items to date. The Belling Bed Warmer (No.90) is listed in the 1953/4 catalogue, and still appears in 1961/2. Colours are initially 'pastel shades of blue, pink or yellow', but by 1955/6, only blue is mentioned. By 1957/8, the three colours are back, but by this time 'yellow' has become 'primrose'. Power is a frugal 40 Watts, chiefly because the heating element is a 40w bulb. List price in '53/4 is £2/2/9 inc. p.t.. rising to £2/5/1 (inc.p.t.) in '61/2.

10th Apr 2017, 7:48 pm	#9
60 oldjohn Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 3,985	Re: Even more items to date. Thank you every one for your help. It is nice when there are catalogues with the items in. John.

10th Apr 2017, 11:00 pm	#10
emeritus Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK. Posts: 5,337	Re: Even more items to date. The "Magnet" saucepan probably dates from the inter-war period. The cooking utensils in the 1911 GEC catalogue are referred to as "Archer System", and as far as I can make out, the connector pins were proud, not recessed, mating with a free 2-pin socket. The initial letter of the "Catalogue No" probably refers to the section of the then-current GEC catalogue in which it was listed. In the 1911 catalogue, cooking apparatus are in Section H, and the product codes are all prefixed with "H". Similar saucepans are shown, but they stand on three legs, and the knobs on the lids are completely different. The archive of GEC catalogues that used to be kept in the Marconi Museum are now in the Bodliean Library, Oxford. Yours would be in a GEC catalogue in which cooking utensils were in part D.