Optimus heater

Hi
I've really caught the bug now ....
I've just bought a job lot of heaters/lamps.
It includes an Optimus 702 (?) heater similar to this one Optimus 702 radiant heater

It is reasonably intact but is missing the cast iron "bell" that goes on top of the burner.

I'll post a photo shortly, but in the interim could anyone who has one of these please post the dimensions of this "bell" so that I can have a go at machining up one from some scrap steel/iron/brass. I would like to know the height/width and wall thickness dimensions please.

regards

Paul

 

This is the beast

regards

Paul

 

try again

 

Hello Paul, yes, the bug has bitten deeply!

It's enjoyable though, Jeff.

 

Hi Paul.

The height is 74,5mm, the main outside diameter is 67,5mm and the outside diameter of the rim where it sits on the burner is 79,5mm.
(The holes are 6mm in diameter.)
The thickness of the material is about 1,1mm, and it's a hard steel (magnetic) of some kind.

On the top there's also a square shaped hole with sides of 8mm.
the hight of the bottom rim, before it starts to bend inwards so to speak, is about 9-10mm.
The locking screw is 4mm in diam, and possibly an M4, but it can just aswell be any other odd threading in that area.
(There are two indents 120 degrees at each direction from the screw for the locking of the dome.)

Hope it helps. Otherwise, just keep the questions coming.




(The folding rule is only there to tilt the dome up for the photo shot. I did of course use a proper calliper for the measurements. The tenths of a mm is not much to pay attention to in reality, but I thought I'd better write what I actually read rather than round the figures.)

 

Thanks Christer

great details ... I'll post some more photos as the project emerges

regards

Paul

 

Good luck with this project!

 

I am afraid I have to give you another bad news, Paul. It is also missing the reflector guard.
But I have one here so I can take some shots and give you the measurements. I think it can be easy made by a handy metal worker.

Bo

 

Thanks Bo

It maybe stretching it a bit to describe me as a "handy Metalworker" but I certainly will have a go...

regards
Paul

 

I haven't got the time to take the photos and check measures yet. But while waitin, take a look at the recently posted 1932 Optimus catalogue, you will find your heater there, and a glimpse of the guard too.

 

Thanks Bo

I will do

regards
Paul

 

A quick update
Dismantled the heater and cleaned all the surface dirt off.
A quick heat and quench (x 4) got a lot of carbon from the burner.
A new jet from the box of spares on the shelf.
New NRV and filler cap washers punched out of Nitrile.
Punched out new Lead Washers for the font/riser seal and for the burner/riser seal.

I mucked around with a sheet of Brass mesh that I got from the oddments bin and my local Hardware store. Sewed it together with brass wire.

A quick prime and away she went

This one puts out an enormous amounts of heat.

I aim to make up a mild steel "dome" as the next project.

regards
Paul

 

Hello Paul, great stuff!

It's fun too.

I see a 1950s Tilley lantern in your photos, it should restore okay, Jeff.

 

...and what's the other pressure lantern? It resembles a Veritas 350 but I can't recall ever seeing one with a red ventilator and the arrangement of the holes in the collar looks different.

 

Sorry for the delay, here are some images.
The guard on the Optimus is a later model, simply 3 bent brass ribbons 6x1mm that is fixed in the middle by a rivet. Total length from edge of reflector is 41cm The hard thing is probably to get the right shape of the end.
The older version, here is a Primus shown, has a center button of 20mm, 4mm thick. The wires are of 2mm steel. Optimus used a similar model.
Good luck with the handicraft.

Bo

 

Hello Paul, David has raised some valid points there.

Perhaps you couls take a few photos of that Veritas look alike and post them here, Jeff.

 

Oops - perhaps I should have posted this earlier.



I bought the one on the left very cheaply to provide a guard for the other one, which is sporting a guard made by Albert White (HandiAlbert). It looks like I needn't have bothered - Albert's replica is spot-on from what I can see in Bo's images...

Sorry about the dust...

 

Thanks Guys

Jeff & David ... I'll take some photos of the Veritas tonight. It came with a very faded receipt that I will try and scan.

regards
Paul

 

It's the same as recognising a duck when you see one. 'Course it's a Veritas 350. Nothing else looks like that. I have seen them with a variet of hood top colours and I have red examples here. ::Neil::

 

That settles that then!

 

Hmmmm. Yes but there is of course the one exception where you might have a P9955 which looks damn near identical except for a pricker control at the top of the generator. That has a green or nickel plated hood top though. ::Neil::

 

Well, with a bit of luck, we'll all get to have collected lamps for over 40 years...

 

Hmmmm. Yes well I would rather be 30 years younger and know less. Count your blessings. ::Neil::

 

Aye, same here, Neil.

I do count my blessings but the reality is that I'm not that many years behind you - I think you've been taken in by my youthful good looks...

Incidentally, I've just posted images of the Veritas 9955 you mentioned above...