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Monarch (Early one)

3/21/2016

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I was recently contacted by Jan Vink about an object that had been in his family for approximately 20 years. Jan 's father, Jan Snr, had picked up the object at a flee market in Schiedam, South Holland, believing it to be some sort of vintage fitness machine or medical device for strength testing and or exercising.

Jan sent me pictures to identify the object and I was thrilled to see that it was an early Monarch floor spring housed in a box with handles attached. The handles were obviously attached for 'bench testing' and demonstration purposes, as is the perspex lid, thereby allowing prospective customers to quite easily see the 'action' of the Monarch when operated.

As can be seen from the pictures the internal parts have been highly polished and it appears that it has never had any oil in it.

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Jan has donated the Monarch to MFS and we would like to therefore thank Jan for his kindness and Jan Snr for his inquisitiveness.

I hope this blog post is an interesting talking point for you and your family and is dedicated to your late Father, Jan Snr.

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Gibbons door closer (1950's/60's)

3/8/2016

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Last week we were called out to a Gibbons single action door spring on a glass door to the reception area of Alvan Blanch. As I understand it Alvan Blanch are a company specialising in the manufacture of machinery involved in the processing of crops after they have been harvested.

Their exact Gibbons was one I had not come across before its pin instead of having the usual gentle taper had a marked step between its widest and narrowest points. The Gibbons was also diagonally cut away near the pin area only on one side and the top centre pin was far larger than I have come across in the past.
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The eagle eyed readers should note this (the after shot) is not the exact same closer as we repaired.
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The above Gibbons pin was seized and we had quite a job getting the door off because of this, we could not saw the pin to remove the door as we had no replacement for it. Note its size in comparison the top centre from the previous blog post.

Thanks to all at Alvan Blanch.

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Gibbons door closer (1960's/70's)

3/8/2016

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A few months ago I had the pleasure of meeting Reverend Father Neil Bayliss, Parish Priest of Holy Cross and Saint Francis,  Walmley, Sutton Coldfield. The Church is a more modern one than some I have come across, is well attended by the community and has Gibbons closers throughout.

The entrance door closer (not in picture) was so badly corroded that we were unable to save it, years of salting the path to the entrance had taken its toll on the aluminum like casing.

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Above is the top centre pin from the inner door, it was totally seized before we serviced it.
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    Author

    As there is so little information out there with regard to door closers, especially vintage and antique model floor springs, I thought I would start this blog.

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