A blast from the past

[GreenArmy]

For all you old timers, remember these? Found this one still connected and being used. I was that amazed (heard of them but never seen one) that it threw me and i called gas safe to check that it was alright to stay in use, thankfully for the old bloke that has been using it since the 50's/60's, it stays in use.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

what is it?looks like dusty bin plugged in to the national grid lol

 

[GreenArmy]

Its a laundry washer (tenant called it his copper). Lift lid, fill with water and your dirty laundry, climb under worktop and turn on gas by the butterfly valve, quickly get a match or spark gun under the 'copper' where there is a gas burner and ignite, heats the water while you prod the laundry.
Basically its just a flueless appliance with one big (size of waste paper bin) ring burner connected to the gas tap with a bayonet connector and hose much like a cooker.

 

[Bernie2]

Ha! Seen hundreds. We used them to boil water to make the tea on the sites.

One site I worked at, theirs never got cleaned out for a few weeks. However when it was, they found a piece of human phoo boiled white that somebody must have thrown in some time before.

Interestingly, I think the lads of that time, instead of skipping the boiler, just threw the phoo out, washed the boiler out, and started boiling the water again. Probably moaned about the taste not being as good?

How do I know? I worked on the site. I still don't know if I drank any of the phoo water in my tea, I can't remember. Probably must have I suppose it seemed to have been in there quite some time.

One thing though, I usually checked the boiler if making tea again.

Imagine the furore with Health and Safety if that happened today?