Sabtu, 23 Agustus 2014
Variants
The chip heater was very similar to the gas and kerosene powered “geyser” hot water heaters popular in Australian suburban residences from the 1920s. The main difference was the fuel source. The Australian producer “Metters” supplied gas geysers for city clients with access to gas and chip heaters for country clients.
Manufacturers
There were a number of manufacturers and brands. According to Professor Miles Lewis the early twentieth century brands included the Royal, Little Hero, Silver Ace, Kangaroo, Empire and Little Wonder. Peter Wood recalls a “Torrens” brand being popular in Adelaide.
The Australian producer “Metters” have a variety of chip heaters in their 1936 catalogue including oil and kerosene powered chip heaters as well as four varieties of chip heater. Metters claimed a flow of 2 gallons of “very hot water” per minute.
References
Archer, John, 1998, Your home: the inside story of the Australian house, Port Melbourne, Lothian.
Metters Ltd 1936 Metters' bath heater and hot water service : sectional catalogue, Metters Ltd.
Oliver, Julie. The Australian home beautiful: from Hills hoist to high rise, McMahon's Point, N.S.W. Home Beautiful, 1999.
Postings on the NSW Heritage Office Heritage Advisors Discussion Group by Peter Benkendorff, David Beauchamp, Susan Duyker, Elizabeth Roberts and Peter Woods, April 2007.
Posting on Engineering Heritage discussion group by Professor Miles Lewis 26 April 2007
