Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[old gto]

Here`s an item for you guys....anybody ever seen one of these?
Any guesses as to what it is? Here`s a hint.....
I know what it is, but am too young (age 50-something)
to have used one.

[47p2]

Would it be a garage heater?

[buzzy bee]

Hi

Is it an early automobile heater, for inside the cabin, or like sugested a garage/sump heater?

Cheers

Dave

P.S...If I am wrong have you any beter pictures of the writing on it, or does that give the game away?

[Rick]

I'm thinking sump heater too

R
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[47p2]

Looks too high to be a sump heater which were only about 5 or 6 inches high, this looks much taller

[Rick]

thats true! they were quite a bit flatter (still a bit early in the day for clear thinking ), so back to garage heater maybe?

R
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[47p2]

Unless it waas a sump heater for trucks

[pigtin]

I don't know how tall it is? but I bought something similar in the 50s to hang in the engine compartment of my Standard Big 9. It is easy to forget how much room there was under the bonnet of the old sidevalves, and there was usually room alongside the engine for something like that.

On a similar subject: anyone ever heard of a mains powered (240v) heater that fitted in the top hose? I have something in my shed that almost certainly was used for that purpose.

[buzzy bee]

Hi

I am wary about a sump heater as it has a wire to hang it from, surely a sump heater wouldn't have this?

Cheers

Dave

[buzzy bee]

Hi

I think pigtin has posted at the same time as me, and I seem to agree with him.

Cheers

Dave

[Rick]

pigtin, as far as I know those heaters are still available. A friend of mine bought one for his Minor a few years back brand new, I don't think he ever fitted it but he liked the idea of having the water pre-warmed before setting off to work in the morning - the Minor was at the time his daily user.

R
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[47p2]

Yes Rick, they are still available here on Amazon for less than £20.00.
Keeps your engine nice and cosy in the winter

[Penman]

Hi
I remember having both an under bonnet heater like this (well different pattern but same job) and also an undersump one.
If you didn't have off road parking and had to leave the car on the road this type was less likely to get nicked, but you had to remember to remove it before starting up whereas with the sump heater you could just start up and drive away leaving it to keep your garage warm (Not so cold) for the next few hours.

In some countries I believe they have a sort of immersion heater set into the cooling system which is plugged in to the domestic power supply overnight.

[47p2]

[old gto]

I believe pigtin has it. It is an "Auto Motor Heater", a small kerosene heater designed to hang inside the engine compartment on very cold nights, to prevent the engine block from freezing.
The small hook on the top fits right over the radiator support rods (from the radiator to the cowl). Light the fire, hang it in, and close the hood, and it should keep the engine compartment warm through the snowiest of nights!
Used primarily, I think, in the 1930s.
(Please pardon the V-8 in this example, LOL!)