A family resemblance in anti-frost paraffin heaters

            Powell & Hanmer (P&H Ltd) were a Birmingham based company who manufactured velocipede lamps in the late 1800s, then bicycle-dynamo lighting sets, and automobile dynamos from the early 1900s. Sucessful in its business, the company was acquired by local competitor, Lucas Limited in 1929.

In the prewar years, P&H had produced a paraffin fuelled anti-frost heater for cars named 'The Nobby'. Made from brass, the slimline 'Nobby' heater could be positioned next the car's engine, generating a mild heat to prevent frosting during the cold winter months. This was of course before the development of antifreeze for car engines. 

In the post war years, the  company went on to produce the 'Nobby II', which was a slightly larger (steel made) version of the original 'Nobby' heater, but was more suited for small greenhouse and outhouse use. In those days a lot of older properties still had outside toilets, and such anti-frost heaters were used in the winter to prevent freezing of the cisterns and water pipes.  

At some point, Lucas must have tired of these oddments that fell outside of their main automotive electrical business. However, there still remained a seasonal demand for anti-frost heaters, and it would seem that the manufacturer of the 'Nobby II' fell into the hands of Desmo, a Cradley Heath based business. 

Desmo continued to produce the Nobby II, but rebranded it as the Desmo 'Radilamp' with some minor alterations. I don't know when production ceased, however, the Radilamp seems to have been replaced by a smaller, more modern looking anti-frost heater by the late 1960s?

Pictured left to right - 'The Nobby", the 'Nobby II", and in red, the Desmo 'Radilamp'.

Taken on: June 21, 2022

Tags:

The Nobby

Nobby II

heater

Desmo

Radilamp

P&H

Birmingham

Powell & Hanmer

1950s

postwar

prewar

anti-frost « less

Sets appears in: • Birmingham • Dudley and the Black Country more » • Retro Stuff. • This and that « less

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