There is very little information commonly available about the Caledonian (sometimes written as Caledonia) Stove and Iron works yet many of their products have gained more and more popularity over the years. The Caledonian Works was owned by Lane and Girvan Ltd on a site near Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire. It operated from 1904 and finally closed in 1977.
Images of the works can be seen here;
https://scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/record/hes/46793/bonnybridge-caledonian-stove-and-iron-works/rcahms
They produced many light castings such as rain water goods as well as products like the Queen Anne Stove ( or Queenie), Dumpy Stove, ‘Nipper’ Stove and ‘Dover’. Examples of these can still be found today and Osborne Restoration supplies spare parts and full restoration services for these appliances.
I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for these Guidwife ranges. There’s just something about the simple yet traditional design that really works and they have a few nice features like a flip up toaster. This one was supplied by us and has been fitted in a historic living van in Yorkshire.
We just finished this nice little 24″ Guidwife Portable Range for a client. This one is staying fairly local to us and will end up in a Showman’s Waggon that is currently undergoing restoration.
I found the time to restore this nice little Queen stove today. These are fondly referred to as Queenies these days and can be found in any small space like parlours or offices. They also find favour with owners of gypsy caravans and are often in bow tops.
This one will be on its way home to its owner next week just in time for winter.
Here we have a nice little “Nipper” stove ready to head back home. Due to their compact size these stoves were used in all sorts of place from caravans, boats, cabins and offices. At 21″ wide they can fit almost anywhere
And here’s another beautiful Hostess No35 from a 1930s showman’s van. You can’t get much posher than this! We completed a full restoration on this including new casting, vitroeus enamel and nickel plating. A picture speaks a thousand words comes to mind.
Here is a little “Nipper” that came in this week for restoration. It is having a new top plate and new flue box as well as the more general restoration work. The cream mottled enamel is in pretty good order and will be kept. This is a very nice example of a rare sought after stove and it was found at a car boot sale for £25 would you beleive!
Don’t forget O.J.Osborne & Co manufacture brand new “Nipper” stoves and they are available for £1500 in black lead finish. Enamelled finish is also available but please get in touch for a quote.
It’s been all stoves this week with four fantastic examples being restored and ready for their new homes. The first is a ‘Caledonian Queen’ which is a great example of Art Deco designs in a stoves whilst the one next to it, a ‘Queenie’ is very much of the previous century. There is also a Tortoise No1 and Dumpy No2, both were used extensivley in Shepherds huts and Living vans.
