The Beetonette range that’s currently being restored required a new flap to its flue box as you can see from the first pic. The second pic shows the pattern I made and the finished casting fitted to the range. We’re making progress on this one now but it has been a challenge to say the least!
Author: OliverOsborne
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More pattern making
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Pattern making for a Bodley range
The first patent for a ‘closed’ range was taken out by an Exeter ironfounder named George Bodley. His appliance was named the ‘Bodley range’ or ‘Bodley stove’ and became very popular. Previous to this cooking ranges had an open fire and but Bodley enclosed the fire with an iron plate and made internal flue ways that heated the oven and boiler thus making effective use of the heat provided and thus economising on fuel.
I was asked to restore one of the only remaining Bodley ranges still in existence. It is made rarer still as it is still in its original situation in a large property in Bristol built around 1800.
The top plate had suffered years of abuse and so required renewal. I instructed for the original to be well labelled and kept within the property for historical reference and I set out making patterns for a new one to be cast. Here are some photos of the the old and new.
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Coastguard cottages, Minehead- Larbert restoration
Here’s another couple of pictures of the Larbert I recently restored and installed into a coastguard’s cottage in Minehead. I also restored the original slate surround. Here it is all finished with coals in the grate. The other photo is of how it was found before I removed it.
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At the foundry
For those that get the opportunity to visit a working foundry its an incredible experience. Iron begins to melt at 1200 degrees centigrade so you can imagine the heat radiating from the furnace! I took my camera along last time I was visiting so share a little of the process involved.
In the first pic the two halves of the sand ‘moulds’ are being assembled while some ‘cores’ in the foreground have been lit up and painting to dry them out. After that the crucible it taken from the fire with its 80Kg load of molten iron and poured into the moulds.
After that its a matter of waiting for the iron to cool before its removed from the moulds. The last picture shows the results of the labour sat on my bench before fettling.
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Early range to be restored
I was contacted by a company restoring a very prestigious house in Bristol that was built between 1780 and 1820. Much of the range appears to be in reasonable condition but the top plate has suffered from a long working life along with the hot plates. As much of the original range will be kept as possible but section that have suffered too badly will be renewed. These news parts will be dated and labelled to add to the chronology of the range whilst maintaining it in working order.
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I spent most of last week out and about and here is one of the things I got up to. This beautiful Eagle range was in a sad state and had been painted completely red at some stage in its past. A victim of the 1960s perhaps?!
The range is not being used but the owner wanted it to look the part so it was rubbed back and black leaded. The brass was revealed once the layers of paint had been revealed and a suitable handle was made to replace the missing one on the tap.
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Larbert found in Coastguard’s cottage, Minehead
I had a call last year from a chap who was very excited having found a Larbert Portable range behind a 1980s kitchen that he was removing from a property. Since it was local to me I popped down that night to have a look. We agreed to remove the range and the remains of the slate surround, restore it and reinstall it exactly how it was. I will be writing an article on this restoration in the near future but before that here are a few pictures of the the opening after the range was removed and after it had been put back again.
For those that have tried to move one of these “Portable ranges”, here is my secret weapon;
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SS Great Britain
We made a long over due trip to the SS Great Britain last December. It’s a great site and well worth a trip. Sadly there is not much left of the interior which is not surprising considering the state it was in by the time it made it back to Bristol. Some clever folk have made a good job of putting it back together again.
Here I am in the galley, it looks as though almost everything here is a fabrication but it has been well done. I’d have loved the opportunity to be involved in the restoration and I’m sure the folk involved and well chuffed with their efforts.
The fabrication of Brunel’s original engine is a masterpiece although I can’t help feeling it would’ve been incredible to see a replica under steam. I doubt the poor old hull would have been able to cope with though!
My only thought was that I would have liked to have seen a steam hammer on the dock side considering the important part they played in the manufacture of the SSGB. Might not have gone down so well with the neighbours though!
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Keith’s Belle Portable
I just received an email from Keith, the chap who purchased the Belle Portable with fiddle rail and hot closet. It looks great in its new home and I’m over the moon that the fires lit and the ovens full!
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Beetonette Boiler range in stock
I just got this Beetonette boiler range in stock. Its in pretty good nick but not looking its best at the moment. Underneath that black paint it is actually pink with red fleck vitreous enamel with nickel plated handles and probably a nickel plated top plate as well! It must have a looked quite something in its day. Sadly I very much doubt if the enamel will be in good enough condition to save- pink is an acquired taste as well!
The good thing about enamelled ranges is that when the enamel is removed the iron beneath is as it was when first cast so this range will look really grand once restored.
The Beetonette range is made by the famous Carron Company of Stirlingshire so it comes with providence.
If you are interested in this range do get in touch as it won’t be around for long!
