I was able to spend some time in my workshop this afternoon and got this old and tatty-looking R46 up and running. New washers and a bit of TLC and it's working well. Decision time: do I take it apart again for a full restoration / repaint / re-chromed reflector, or do I leave it as it is - obviously well-used and loved? Four pictures: in my workshop and lastly in the lounge fireplace - doing what it should!
Very nice. I could use one for our soon to come Canadian winter. I thought a R55 was nice but this beats it by far.
I had the same dilemma on my first Bialaddin 310 . I decided to just get my first lamp up and running and leave it as it was. After all it had 60 odd years of history. My second 310 i went to town with all the bells and whistles
@tilleyscout That looks like it’s going very well. I’ve got one in pieces in similar condition. I should get it going before winter comes around again. Cheers Tony
Looks like it's working wonderfully. I'm always one for a full make over, but remember once you have done this you have lost the history and value, it's a win loss situation. My reasoning behind full restoration is I just love to see how the lamp or heater would have looked off the production line or as close as possible, especially the colour matching which is the hardest part. I'm one of the lucky ones as my son will be keeping them in our family, after all he is the spray painter in team Buggerlugs and if he is happy my collection will last, but we also leave some of our lamps or heaters in original condition as well. I hope that makes sense good luck with your decision and a very fine addition to any lamp collection your heater is.
I'd be inclined to neutralise/stabilise the rust in the tin cover then give it a waft with satin lacquer, or a good couple of layers of beeswax (if its living in the house now), to protect it. Lovely heaters, really great workhorses, less likely to put your back out moving it than the R22. Alec.
Thanks for your comments everyone. I think I'll leave it as it is to 'retain the history', but maybe have another try at improving the reflector. The eagle-eyed amongst you will have spotted the 'Coleman' Mustard pot in picture 3: I've found that these make good containers for meths and tongs. As I use them a lot (and they go camping with me frequently), it saves the originals from getting broken . . I noticed I am missing one of the very small brass bolts that secures the front panel to the sides. I'd like to find a replacement so can anyone tell me what size / thread / type they are? Given their age I know they are not metric, but what? BSP? Whitworth? Any information would be welcome.
I think you will find on something that age the threads will be BA . They are measured in 1.2.3.4.etc BA .
It will clean up a bit better I think - but whatever you decide it does seem to be burning very nicley
A good find and in my opinion, it's well worth a full restoration, but the decision is yours of course.
My solution would be to keep that one in the workshop and to get a better looking one for the lounge! Looks well in that fireplace, maybe stand it up on something?
