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Come on then you lot, what's this?
snakebelly - 22/10/14 at 06:28 PM

Recently had the opportunity to clear out the Sheds of an old chap in Birmingham for his family. 3 Transit Loads later including 2 FOBCO drills (I already have one I'm rebuilding) and some quite nice rare bits and pieces, i.e. Sturmy Archer bits.

But in amongst some other bits n bobs I found this, Google isn't much help, anyone seen anything like it before?













The label reads DSWH1 in the top right hand box and volts 230/50 in the bottom left and 30 watts in the bottom right.

Early single cup heater?

blakep82 - 22/10/14 at 06:34 PM

Iron

Edit, I can't work out how exactly, but dowsings, with that logo made electric irons

[Edited on 22/10/14 by blakep82]

snakebelly - 22/10/14 at 06:35 PM

to iron what though!

splitrivet - 22/10/14 at 06:35 PM

Heater for a propagation tray ???
Cheers,
Bob

splitrivet - 22/10/14 at 06:40 PM

Aha what do I win.linkydink
Cheers,
Bob

tegwin - 22/10/14 at 06:40 PM

That... is a heated bog roll holder... hmmmm

snakebelly - 22/10/14 at 06:43 PM

quote:
Originally posted by tegwin
That... is a heated bog roll holder... hmmmm


Or possibly a haemorrhoid treatment device? :-)

snakebelly - 22/10/14 at 06:44 PM

quote:
Originally posted by splitrivet
Aha what do I win.linkydink
Cheers,
Bob



Nothing! don't think that's even close, this doesn't have a bulb for a start!

sickbag - 22/10/14 at 06:46 PM

UV or IR lamp?

ReMan - 22/10/14 at 06:47 PM

Its would appear to be an immersible heater element, exactly for what though?
Would appear Dowsing made various thing with electrical heated elements in them so this fits their repatoir.

Sealing wax? Something that didn't need boiling at only 30W

snakebelly - 22/10/14 at 06:48 PM

don't think its a lamp, the long probe bit is metallic and chromed.... oh and the wiring is far too old for me to rick plugging it in!

snakebelly - 22/10/14 at 06:49 PM

quote:
Originally posted by ReMan
Its would appear to be an immersible heater element, exactly for what though?
Would appear Dowsing made various thing with electrical heated elements in them so this fits their repatoir.

Sealing wax? Something that didn't need boiling at only 30W


Hence my original early cup heater quip :-)

splitrivet - 22/10/14 at 06:53 PM

That Dowsing gadjee made loads of heater doodahs entering it in google came up with that patent but looking at it Dowsing didnt have owt to do with it.
Could be a sump heater.
Cheers,
Bob

Smoking Frog - 22/10/14 at 06:56 PM

A willy warmer, warmer.

RichieW - 22/10/14 at 07:00 PM

Reminds me of a bigger version of the heating element on my mam's old Carmen Rollers for doing her hair back in the 80s.

mark chandler - 22/10/14 at 07:04 PM

Early sex machine, later variants included a push pull movement.

Failing that it has a keyhole fixing on the base, is it used for heating home brew beer?

[Edited on 22/10/14 by mark chandler]

splitrivet - 22/10/14 at 07:06 PM

Sheep defroster, insert anusly into said frozen sheep and hay presto 5 mins later a toasty sheep.
Cheers,
Bob

[Edited on 22/10/14 by splitrivet]

Trollyjack - 22/10/14 at 07:16 PM

Looks like a heater to heat up bearings before fitting on a shaft

JMW - 22/10/14 at 07:30 PM

I'm more impressed by what it's sat on. Does the other side have the timing for G45s, G50s and 7Rs? That would be even more impressive.

AdrianH - 22/10/14 at 07:33 PM

As they did a lot of irons for snooker tables/billiard tables etc. I wonder if it was to iron inside the pockets?

The tube does look like it would be the heater, and chromed to be smooth

What is the inside face look like when hung up on the wall?

Adrian

gremlin1234 - 22/10/14 at 07:33 PM

my guess is photographic processing, note also the 'probe' would be vertical downwards, (see keyhole slot on base/ back)

bi22le - 22/10/14 at 08:00 PM

Diesel tank preheater?

Mini space heater

Glove dryer

gremlin1234 - 22/10/14 at 08:02 PM

or perhaps, an aquarium heater

Rod Ends - 22/10/14 at 08:06 PM

It's for warming up a tin of grease to increase the viscosity and make easier to handle.

ReMan - 22/10/14 at 08:06 PM

Is there no chaffing (ooer mrs) or liquid marks on it as evidence of it being used for anything?

ReMan - 22/10/14 at 08:09 PM

6000 posts. Fook me, I need to get a life!

Benzine - 22/10/14 at 08:15 PM

Judging by the mounting hole, it'd be mounted on the wall so the silver rod is facing the floor*, so you'd push something from below up over the rod?

*unless that hole is there so you can secure it to a workbench etc

An early form of those machines you used to see in bars? Grip the rod and if you're hot the red light comes on?

[Edited on 22-10-2014 by Benzine]

snakebelly - 22/10/14 at 08:37 PM

quote:
Originally posted by JMW
I'm more impressed by what it's sat on. Does the other side have the timing for G45s, G50s and 7Rs? That would be even more impressive.


The other side is blank but its amongst some of the more interesting bits I found, its for sale BTW :-)

coozer - 22/10/14 at 08:38 PM

quote:
Originally posted by ReMan
6000 posts. Fook me, I need to get a life!


Me an all, but theres a target...

snakebelly - 22/10/14 at 08:39 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Benzine
Judging by the mounting hole, it'd be mounted on the wall so the silver rod is facing the floor*, so you'd push something from below up over the rod?

*unless that hole is there so you can secure it to a workbench etc

An early form of those machines you used to see in bars? Grip the rod and if you're hot the red light comes on?

[Edited on 22-10-2014 by Benzine]


Yep looks like its supposed to be wall mounted with the chromed rod pointing straight down. A lot of good ideas but I'm still stumped myself. Normally Google provides the answer eventually but on this occasion its come up blank. Grrrr

coozer - 22/10/14 at 08:40 PM

Go on, put a plug on it and flick the switch...

ReMan - 22/10/14 at 09:05 PM

quote:
Originally posted by coozer
Go on, put a plug on it and flick the switch...

Defintltly get it turned on and see how long you can hold it for

bi22le - 22/10/14 at 09:38 PM

who says it gets hot?

It might vibrate. . . .

AntonUK - 22/10/14 at 09:46 PM

Can it be opened to see the insides?

coozer - 22/10/14 at 10:23 PM

quote:
Originally posted by bi22le
who says it gets hot?

It might vibrate. . . .


Ooo. if it vibrates I want it, as long as it can point up

adithorp - 22/10/14 at 10:52 PM

Condom warmer.

02GF74 - 22/10/14 at 11:03 PM

It is for ironing ties.

JoelP - 23/10/14 at 06:45 AM

I vote sphincter stretcher.

Dick Axtell - 23/10/14 at 08:22 AM

quote:
Originally posted by adithorp
Condom warmer.

+1. Probably used during quality control testing.

After checking out the US patent, I noticed that the "dodgygram" didn't properly ID the heater element. So not 100% conclusive IMHO.

[Edited on 23/10/14 by Dick Axtell]

minitici - 23/10/14 at 09:09 AM



[Edited on 23/10/14 by minitici]

Trollyjack - 23/10/14 at 11:12 AM

Drop these a line they should know what it is

Dowsing Radiant Heat Co
91-93 Baker Street, London, W1 - Head Office. Electrical Works ats Bollo Lane, Acton, London. Telephone: Mayfair 1570-1

If they are still there it was 1929

or try these guys

Cambridge Museum of Technology
The Old Pumping Station
Cheddars Lane
Cambridge
CB5 8LD

[Edited on 23/10/14 by Trollyjack]

snakebelly - 23/10/14 at 12:54 PM

quote:
Originally posted by minitici


[Edited on 23/10/14 by minitici]


Yep had followed the breadcrumbs and ended up at the Dowsing Radiant Heat company and its founder but cant seem to find any sort of catalogue of their products.

snakebelly - 23/10/14 at 12:55 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Trollyjack
Drop these a line they should know what it is

Dowsing Radiant Heat Co
91-93 Baker Street, London, W1 - Head Office. Electrical Works ats Bollo Lane, Acton, London. Telephone: Mayfair 1570-1

If they are still there it was 1929

or try these guys

Cambridge Museum of Technology
The Old Pumping Station
Cheddars Lane
Cambridge
CB5 8LD

[Edited on 23/10/14 by Trollyjack]


Again had already found the first address but the company itself doesn't seem to exist anymore. The second address looks useful so will drop them a line.

snakebelly - 23/10/14 at 12:56 PM

quote:
Originally posted by snakebelly
quote:
Originally posted by Trollyjack
Drop these a line they should know what it is

Dowsing Radiant Heat Co
91-93 Baker Street, London, W1 - Head Office. Electrical Works ats Bollo Lane, Acton, London. Telephone: Mayfair 1570-1

If they are still there it was 1929

or try these guys

Cambridge Museum of Technology
The Old Pumping Station
Cheddars Lane
Cambridge
CB5 8LD

[Edited on 23/10/14 by Trollyjack]


Again had already found the first address but the company itself doesn't seem to exist anymore. The second address looks useful so will drop them a line.


Well that's a dead end then :-(
Quote from their website.

"As the Museum of Technology is run almost entirely by volunteers we can only answer questions related to objects that are held in our collection. For general enquiries about the technology we encourage enquirers to use their local library or the Internet."

snakebelly - 23/10/14 at 01:08 PM

Email with pics currently on its way to the Science Museum...

myke pocock - 23/10/14 at 01:38 PM

Splitrivet, was it designed by Thora Heard then???

gremlin1234 - 23/10/14 at 02:03 PM

since this is a car related forum, I think this is of interest.

from his obituary in the IEEE http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=5315547

...After many years of working the laboratory he evolved the combined electric generator and self-starter for motorcars as far back as 1890, but engineers engaged in the building of cars were then far too busy in concentrating upon horse-power to consider the proposition of the generator...

adithorp - 23/10/14 at 02:15 PM

quote:
Originally posted by gremlin1234
since this is a car related forum, I think this is of interest.

from his obituary in the IEEE http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=5315547

...After many years of working the laboratory he evolved the combined electric generator and self-starter for motorcars as far back as 1890, but engineers engaged in the building of cars were then far too busy in concentrating upon horse-power to consider the proposition of the generator...


So that'll be the "new" technology being used on hybrid cars and stop/start petrol ones (the more hi-tec ones).

gremlin1234 - 23/10/14 at 05:57 PM

could it be one of these...
http://www.directorypatent.com/GB/386445-a.html

A new or improved appliance to facilitate the use of sealing wax for fastening packages and the like United Kingdom Patent 386445-A