The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Marketplace => Topic started by: Sylvia on October 17, 2011, 02:01:55 pm
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I don't suppose anyone under the age of 60 will remember copper boilers, usually known as "the copper" If anyone has one not needed, I will walk to the ends of the earth and carry it home on my back, plus I will pay you for it.For any youngsters amongst you,"the copper" was, as apparent, a copper boiler, usually encased in brick/stone and with a fire-pit underneath.
This heated the water every Monday for the washing, was used for dunking poultry prior to plucking, plus, heated the bath-water for Sunday nights :) :)
In latter days( when we were rich enough ::)) dad used it to boil up raw tripes etc. for the dogs in it.
Surely someone has got one, somewhere :-\
I'm in Devon but will travel, if not to the ends of the earth, a fair distance for one :)
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Can I ask what you are going to use it for just being nosy ? ::)
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it might be worth asking a local plumber to cut the top off an old immersion heater for you, they often save them up for scrapping just before christmas, as a beer bonus.
are you branching out into moonshine sylvia? ;)
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good luck with your search up here they used to be cast iron never seen a copper one
the immersion heater might be a good substitute or the copper tanks without the heater element :farmer:
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thanks robert, thats what i meant to say.
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Ive got one :wave: Encased in brick next to the original fireplace, outside in the what i can only assume used to be the washroom / cook house YEAAAHHHH But its alll mine and its not for sale ;D
Seriously when we moved here in Feb of this year the buildings outside where really dirty the old fire place was covered over years ago with corrugated steel roof sheets ive ripped off the sheeting and yep there is the old fire and bread ovens, next to it is the "copper" i haven't had time to look at it all properly yet but i will next year.
I can put up photos when i can get to it.
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Ahhh I've got the wash-house and the brick surround and even the chimney and fire grate.... but no copper :(
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Can I ask what you are going to use it for just being nosy ? ::)
For it's original purpose. Though, thinking of moonshine :-\ ;D Robert, do you think a modern immersion heater would withstand a fire underneath it?
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Got one too in old outhouse - hadn't thought of getting it going, what a good idea!
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I am not quite old enough to remember the copper being in use :) I think your best chance is there being one iin an unrenovated house - there are a few houses still around where it looks as though time has stood still!!
Although, scrap prices being high at the moment, I daresay they have been weighed in at the local scrap yard......We had a immersion heater tank in the outhouse at the empty farm we are selling, and some "viewer! has robbed it.
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sylvia it depends on the thickness of the copper and the temp applied to the boiler only one way to find out :farmer:
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If you are still looking, one for sale on ebay, search under washing copper.
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Will search right now :wave:
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There's one at my old house. I presume it's just the copper basin you're after? I can ask if they'd sell it if you tell me what you're prepared to pay for it.
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I know your request for a copper boiler was some years ago, but i have one that i want to dispose of.
if you are interested |I can give the dimensions but believe it or not I have no facilities to photo.
Incidentally I live in North Devon
regards
godfrey
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I remember the old copper, ours was kept in the old outhouse/shanty, my b----y stepmother was very handy with the copper stick.
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Thank you for your reply Godfrey. A friend rigged me up a water heater using an old copper immersion heater as suggested which , to my surprise worked very well. If anyone has one of these I would advise you to preserve it and use it. You'll save a fortune on gas/electricity :)