vintage paraffin kerosene heater

how to operate this particular vintage heater

[pauleades]

Thank you, an excellent video. FYI in the UK you need to use C1 grade paraffin/kerosene for heaters and lamps used indoors. This is cleaner than C2 paraffin, which is for externally vented boilers and external pressure lamps (e.g. Tilley/Bialaddin) etc.

[parmorama]

Great stuff! I have a Valor Safeway 410 Radiant Heater. Think it’s a 1960s version. It has a tap to open and close the fuel supply, and a lever to turn flame high or low. It puts out 7500 btu an hour at max setting. It can burn for 33hrs on a gallon of paraffin at maximum setting. Though the glass bottle only holds 4 pints. It also has adjustable levelling feet on each corner as it has to be perfectly level to work properly. Thank you for making this terrific video 👍

[corringhamdepot]

Many years ago, I arrived at my brother's shared house. Just as he was carrying a paraffin heater out of the front door that was covered in flames. He put it down on the driveway, whereupon the glass tank broke and burning paraffin flowed out. I noticed that the paraffin heater had newspaper inside the base, so I suspect that it had been leaking for some time. Always keep your paraffin heaters well maintained.

On the other hand, I have started using the modern style of radiant paraffin heaters again, and find them very good. I just miss having the Pink Paraffin man and his van. Who would stop if you put a pink "P" sign in your window.

[davesmith-rsyo]

I have brought a new generation paraffin heater and its claimed to burn 99.9 % efficient, plus the paraffin we use today is much cleaner. The heater is on all day and has been for three winters now. Not had any problems in regards to health and safety. Mine is sat permanently under an open window, thats the secret, plenty of ventilation and you should be fine.

[dboots]

brings back some childhood memories thank you.

[TonyM]

Excellent explanation, thank you. There has been a renewed interest in these heaters for renovation and use. I recently bought a valour 525R for renovation.

[dougabbott]

Really well done. Nice heater. Seen a few of this type but no one has show the run down on operating them. Japan still largely uses kerosene/paraffin heaters as the main heat source as they do not have central heat in the majority of their homes. Greetings from Canada.

[cbestablet]

Excellent video. I heat with vintage paraffin heaters, including this heater, and a modern inverter heater. Paraffin is king!

[NotSoCrazyNinja]

In the USA, the cheapest kerosene heater (new or used) is going to be at least $80. For reasons unknown, sellers of the old ones think it's gold just because it's old. Kerosene here is selling for around $4 a gallon or roughly a pound a liter. Not economical in the slightest. Kerosene used to be cheap, but the price has steadily increased, along with all other forms of heating fuel (except natural gas and electricity). It doesn't even get all that cold here, but it's impossible to heat your home for less than a couple hundred dollars a month during the winter unless you literally set the house on fire. I wish kerosene was cheap like it used to be.

[JayNewberyy]

You're a natural presenter, and very good at explaining.

[paulkennedy]

Hello, I have a similar heater to yours I got it a week ago for €25 bit of a clean and off it went. I'd just like to say that's not a primer on the side. The rod inside the spring screws in and cuts off the fuel flow no need to lift the oil bottle. It's a great video very professional, thank you.

[pontmann]

Hi Alex! Loved the video and your presentation. We bought the same Fyreside (202X) which features 2 bottles in the back which is great. We burn it for about four hours each evening when it's cold and it is remarkably fuel efficient, heating our log home thoroughly. And hey it looks great too. I repainted ours with Hammerite bronze which turns out to be the self same factory colour. And buffing the reflector to a mirror finish (chrome polish and some elbow grease) doubles the heat that it throws out! We pay about USD$0.80 a litre here in South Africa and the two bottles run for around 5 evenings. One bottle which has a filter in the needle valve runs slower than the other, which doesn't, so when one runs dry the other just carries on with no difference in heater performance. Now to STOP heater, you wind in the knurled knob with the spring till it's tight and the heater will go "click" after a few minutes and shut down. So you don't have to mess with the bottles at all - only when you fill them; and remember to only fill them to the ripple limit mark in the glass above the metal strap or they won't drip feed! All my friends want one of these little beauties so my advice to anyone wanting a cheap heating solution or back up, grab any Fyreside you come across! Greetings from the Sunshine Coast, Eastern Cape, South Africa

[totallyfrozen]

Nice video. Just saw one of these (or this one?) on eBay yesterday. Nice to see all about it. Thanks.

[darrendouglas]

Picked one these up at local dumping spot All complete Inc glass bottle Plan clean it up Actually nice interior design piece

[matthewbrown]

Wow just wanted to say great video and very informative nice work can't wait for your next episode.

[newlifeme]

Watched all your vids. Subscribed and looking forward to more.

[matthewbrown]

Would it be possible to see you other heaters please?. I have just restored the very same heater you have here.

[AdeSwash]

Hi Alex, great video! at 9.00 you say you have a video about the volatile nature of paraffin which sounds interesting, but I cant find it in your videos

[MadScientist]

Could those heaters be designed by Royden Axe, the man behind the Hillman Avenger car?
the bottom of the unit reminds me a protector that car used to have..

[notoco]

All gas heaters in these days have oxygen sensor built-in to then and they outo shut below certain level. Carbon monoxide detector cost 20£. Just shows you how life improve over time but still kerosene heater have that amazing feeling of real fire at home. If I would stay in cold draft muldy home with high energy bills I would give one a chance. 4l Kerosene at Amazon is 10£ 250ml of it can give 3kwh of energy