Metrovick Cosmos - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

newlite4 · 30th May 2013, 2:57 pm

I bought this electric fire a short while ago at my autumn/winter car boot. It was made around 1928, note the porcelain connection box with separate holes for line and phase and no proper earthing facility. I paid around £18 for it. Surprisingly, the seller told me that it still worked.....um!

Neil

30th May 2013, 4:06 pm

Does it still work? I bet that cost a lot to run in 1928.

60 oldjohn · 30th May 2013, 4:08 pm

Could this be another offering from the Metropolitan-Vickers-Electrical company who made the Cosmos Radiophones "Crystal sets" ?
John.

G6Tanuki · 30th May 2013, 4:23 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by 60 oldjohn

Could this be another offering from the Metropolitan-Vickers-Electrical company who made the Cosmos Radiophones "Crystal sets" ? John.

Almost certainly!

MetroVick also sold valves under the "Cosmos" brand - indeed it was E. Yeoman Robinson of MetroVick who in the mid-1920s developed the "slip coated" heater which made indirectly-heated valves a practical possibility.

newlite4 · 30th May 2013, 4:27 pm

One of the two elements is open circuit and is difficult to remove. The element connectors are very tight having been heat treated over time. I would need some 10 amp, three-core twisted fabric covered cable to connect via the porcelain box, this is harder to obtain than the 3 amp twisted cable. At the moment it is display only.
Metropolitan Vickers was a huge concern in the first half of the 20th century, the Trafford Park factory was one of the biggest plants in the world. Cosmos was a Metrovick brand name covering many product lines. Ultimately, after several takeovers, what was once Metrovick became absorbed into BAE Systems.
Neil

Tractorfan · 30th May 2013, 8:13 pm

Hi,
I think they used three core fabric covered twisted cable for theatre lighting, if they weren't using black TRS cable. I used to have a length at one time. It had heat resistant rubber(?) insulation and was rated for the full 3Kw. Try a theatre supplier.
Cheers, Pete

mike_newcomb · 1st Jun 2013, 11:27 am

Hi Neil, a nice museum piece.

When I saw your second photo, I assumed if the earth was a modification by a previous owner.

Also wondered if the other connections originally had the fishbone (ceramic) insulators.

Regards - Mike

robin0577 · 1st Jun 2013, 3:22 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tractorfan

Hi,
I think they used three core fabric covered twisted cable for theatre lighting, if they weren't using black TRS cable. I used to have a length at one time. It had heat resistant rubber(?) insulation and was rated for the full 3Kw. Try a theatre supplier.
Cheers, Pete

Indeed they did use twisted fabric covered cable for theatre lighting, but not for about 35+ years, so finding any in a usable condition might be hard work. Also worth noting that some of the earlier versions contained asbestos fibres in the fabric to aid the heat resistance.

Brigham · 1st Jun 2013, 11:24 pm

I have a single-bar version which still works fine. I had no idea it was by MetroVick.

Does yours have a wooden knob to tilt the grille when making toast?

newlite4 · 4th Jun 2013, 2:29 pm

Yes Brigham you can just see the ebony knob to the left in the second image. Mike, the fishbone insulators run from the element wiring to the switch and neutral post. Thanks Pete, I will keep an eye out for some rubber single core cable and see if i can plait it somehow.
Neil

30th May 2013, 2:57 pm	#1
newlite4 Octode Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bath, Somerset, UK. Posts: 1,805	Metrovick Cosmos I bought this electric fire a short while ago at my autumn/winter car boot. It was made around 1928, note the porcelain connection box with separate holes for line and phase and no proper earthing facility. I paid around £18 for it. Surprisingly, the seller told me that it still worked.....um! Neil Attached Thumbnails __________________ preserving the recent past, for the distant future.

30th May 2013, 4:06 pm	#2
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Metrovick Cosmos Does it still work? I bet that cost a lot to run in 1928.

30th May 2013, 4:08 pm	#3
60 oldjohn Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 3,988	Re: Metrovick Cosmos Could this be another offering from the Metropolitan-Vickers-Electrical company who made the Cosmos Radiophones "Crystal sets" ? John.

30th May 2013, 4:27 pm	#5
newlite4 Octode Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bath, Somerset, UK. Posts: 1,805	Re: Metrovick Cosmos One of the two elements is open circuit and is difficult to remove. The element connectors are very tight having been heat treated over time. I would need some 10 amp, three-core twisted fabric covered cable to connect via the porcelain box, this is harder to obtain than the 3 amp twisted cable. At the moment it is display only. Metropolitan Vickers was a huge concern in the first half of the 20th century, the Trafford Park factory was one of the biggest plants in the world. Cosmos was a Metrovick brand name covering many product lines. Ultimately, after several takeovers, what was once Metrovick became absorbed into BAE Systems. Neil __________________ preserving the recent past, for the distant future.

30th May 2013, 8:13 pm	#6
Tractorfan Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St. Frajou, l'Isle en Dodon, Haute Garonne, France.(Previously: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, UK.) Posts: 3,184	Re: Metrovick Cosmos Hi, I think they used three core fabric covered twisted cable for theatre lighting, if they weren't using black TRS cable. I used to have a length at one time. It had heat resistant rubber(?) insulation and was rated for the full 3Kw. Try a theatre supplier. Cheers, Pete __________________ "Hello?, Yes, I'm on the train, I might lose the signal soon as we're just going into a tunn..."

1st Jun 2013, 11:27 am	#7
mike_newcomb Rest in Peace Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: West London, UK. Posts: 665	Re: Metrovick Cosmos Hi Neil, a nice museum piece. When I saw your second photo, I assumed if the earth was a modification by a previous owner. Also wondered if the other connections originally had the fishbone (ceramic) insulators. Regards - Mike

1st Jun 2013, 11:24 pm	#9
Brigham Octode Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Co. Durham, UK. Posts: 1,118	Re: Metrovick Cosmos I have a single-bar version which still works fine. I had no idea it was by MetroVick. Does yours have a wooden knob to tilt the grille when making toast?

4th Jun 2013, 2:29 pm	#10
newlite4 Octode Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bath, Somerset, UK. Posts: 1,805	Re: Metrovick Cosmos Yes Brigham you can just see the ebony knob to the left in the second image. Mike, the fishbone insulators run from the element wiring to the switch and neutral post. Thanks Pete, I will keep an eye out for some rubber single core cable and see if i can plait it somehow. Neil __________________ preserving the recent past, for the distant future.