parafinn fires

[FLYING SAUCER]

Re: parafinn fires

Just looked on your ebay link, and that led me to a Dalek shaped stove for sale, like someone else mentioned in the threads, and it was called the Valor Viceroy!

[ayrshireman]

Re: parafinn fires

My family had one as 'back up' from the 70's until 1996.

I am fond of the big smelly contraptions.

[FX02]

Re: parafinn fires

I remember my grandparents using them. They used to go down to the local garage with a large plastic drum and there would be a seperate filling machine for paraffin which would require a token (purchased from the shop) to be placed in pump, then the paraffin would be dispensed.

[Trickyvee]

Re: parafinn fires

I think I remember one of these in my gran's house at some point. The memories are vague though. Looking at a flame through a window rings a bell, and a big thing made of unpainted metal.

[sf1378]

Re: parafinn fires

I remember my grandparents using them. They used to go down to the local garage with a large plastic drum and there would be a seperate filling machine for paraffin which would require a token (purchased from the shop) to be placed in pump, then the paraffin would be dispensed.

I remember the tokens. Didn't they have grooves in them like on a key? Brass coloured too weren't they?

[FX02]

Re: parafinn fires

I remember the tokens. Didn't they have grooves in them like on a key? Brass coloured too weren't they?

I think they did have a groove, so they could only be used for those machines.

Also, I think there was a glass bowl on the top, which filled up first, then it would dispense into the container you placed below? I could be wrong...

[Jooly]

Re: parafinn fires

Yes! We had two for use upstairs as we only had a gas fire in the front room for heat. I remember it being a VERY dangerous time in our lives. In my nylon nightwear I practically wasn't allowed in the front room lest my floor length sky blue nylon nightie or orange floor length quilted nylon with two buttons at the top and a bit of lace either side dressing gown should spontaneously combust. The paraffin heaters were a whole new peril to overcome each night. Mum would walk in front and hold her arms out like a cattle herder to keep you away until you were safely escorted to bed. Once you were in bed, you stayed there, end of. She was terrified they would just tip over. They were about two feet high and absolutely stank. Pure rancid choking fumes. They gave out very little heat and proved to be far too worrying for mum who was constantly asking, "are you near the heater?" despite the fact it was the ONLY way to feel the heat tales of little girls covered from head to foot in orange, molten nylon kept me safely in bed each night. Anyway, it was too cold to get up!

[ClaudineJones]

Re: parafinn fires

little girls covered from head to foot in orange, molten nylon

Sounds like a Keith Lard quote to me

[Advent]

Re: parafinn fires

One thing I do recall about these Aladdin heaters was that they seem eat those wicks
quickly once the parrafin ran dry.
Remember this ditty from the tele back in those days...

Bum bum bum Esso Blue....

[Llamarama]

Re: parafinn fires

Me and a friend got a small paraffin heater from a car boot sale for 50p, the old guy on the stall mentioned that it put out a surprising ammount of heat (supposedly...). We thought "Great! Now we'll be able to feel our fingers when we're in the shed fixing up the push pedal and pop!". It surprised us, certainly. Even on full belt it barely took the chill off! It was a nice temperature for about 6 inches from the sides. Useless, but it gave us a funny story!