General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

METAL EXTERIOR; CERAMIC HEATING PANEL; ASBESTOS LINER IN GAS FITTING LOCATED IN BASE OF HEATER.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

60.0 cm

Width

30.0 cm

Height

54.5 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Domestic Technology

Category

Environment control

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

General Gas

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Michigan

City

Kalamazoo

Context

Country

North America

State/Province

Unknown

Period

THIS TYPE OF HEATER USED IN THE MID 1920S +

Canada

PART OF A LARGE COLLECTION OF DOMESTIC AND LIGHTING APPLIANCES, AND MEASURING INSTRUMENTS ACQUIRED FROM CONSUMERS' GAS COMPANY LTD. THESE ITEMS ILLUSTRATED THE PRODUCTION, TRANSFORMATION, DISTRIBUTION AND USE OF GAS RESOURCES IN CANADA OVER MORE THAN 150 YEARS. (REF. 1)

Function

PLACED WITHIN A FIREPLACE ENCLOSURE, IT IS USED TO RAISE THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OF A ROOM.

Technical

EXAMPLE OF FIREPLACE HEATER, DESIGNED FOR USE IN HOMES WHICH DID NOT HAVE CENTRAL HEATING EQUIPMENT BUT RELIED INSTEAD ON MULTIPLE FIREPLACES FOR WARMTH. ESSENTIALLY A SPACE HEATER, THESE UNITS WERE PROMOTED AS CLEAN, ODOURLESS AND SMOKELESS SOURCES OF INSTANT HEAT. BECAUSE THE COST OF HEATING WITH GAS SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER THAN THAT OF WOOD OR COAL, THESE HEATERS WERE USED PRIMARILY IN SPRING OR FALL, OR TO WARM A COOL BEDROOM OR BATHROOM, NOT TO HEAT A HOME IN THE COLD OF WINTER. ASBESTOS FIBRES ADDED TO CERAMIC PANEL WOULD GLOW WHEN HEATED, GIVING THE IMPRESSION OF A BURNING FIRE. HEATER RATED AT 20,000 BTU. (REF. 2)

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

" HUMPHREY- RADIANTFIRE/ PATENTED No 30 " cast in raised print on top edge of heater body; " MG " cast in raised pront on back. " OFF ON/ OFF ON " cast in raised print on gas control knob on heater front. " HUMPHREY SUPER COMBUSTION HEATER PATENTED " cast into gas jet housing beneath heater body.

Missing

MISSING 10 HEATING BLOCKS. From CA of 09/12/2001 by Flora Davidson: Undetermined

Finish

FLAT BLACK FINISH ON HEATER BACK & SIDES; MIXTURE OF BRASS- AND COPPER- COLOURED FINISHES ON LEGS, FRONT CASING PANEL AND TOP. CERAMIC PANEL WAS PRESUMABLY OFF-WHITE IN COLOUR: NOW DEGRADED, WITH BROWN AND GREEN DEPOSITS.

Decoration

ACANTHAS LEAVES, SCROLLING VINES AND BANDS OF RAISED HORIZONTAL OR VERTICAL BARS CAST IN UPPER FRONT EDGES OF HEATER CASING. GAS ADJUSTMENT KNOB CAST TO RESEMBLE A ROSETTE. RAISED DIAMOND-PATTERNEDGRILL OVER SOLID HEATER FRONT PANEL TOP; PANEL FACE IS COPPER-COLOURED.