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Robert Adams Door Spring

8/23/2015

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In this blog entry I would like to introduce you to another late Victorian door spring known as the 'Victor.' This model is one of a few I consider to be the 'Rolls Royce' of door springs and believe it to be of historical importance. Its full name is 'The London Victor Adjustable Compensating' as can be seen on the pictures of the brass cover plate.

The left and right single action 'Victors' were from a converted Chapel that is now a superb family home deserved of its own blog entry. Therefore I will blog about the site I found them in the future.

From the series of patent applications you can see that this particular model floor spring was patented in July of 1891.

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In the pictures below you can see that the Robert Adams was completely stripped down and rebuilt.

Although very well made the 'Victors' were in urgent need of repair and service, there was quite a bit of wear in both the pivot area and the connecting arm that compressed the spring. This I made up with weld and then reground the parts to remove the wear.

I also added weld to the pin where it connects to the shoe regrinding it square again and also welded the cracked cast iron case on one of the closers.

Interestingly the seal in the piston body was made of leather and was, even after a hundred years, perfectly servicable.

 

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The customer wanted the brass cover plates polishing so M.F.S obliged, also polishing up the brass shoes for them.

Below is the same cover plate I found on the internet with a little less wear, as can be seen the sun rays are more visible around the word London.

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The pair of Robert Adams London Victor's are now ready to go back in the ground and will continue their service for another hundred years.


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Charles Smith & Co Ltd

8/13/2015

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Heres an unusual floor spring I worked on a few weeks ago at Nottingham University. It was supplied by Charles Smith & Co Limited, Deritend Bridge Works, Birmingham as can be seen on the brass cover plate.
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It was unusual because although only having a single access hole like the 600's I have previously shown you it had a square pin like the Singlo. It was completely worn out and in this instance I changed not only the floor spring but the shoe also. The Newman 600 I replaced it with has an oblong pin and therefore it would not mate up to the original shoe.
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In the shot above you maybe able to see that the pin is slightly off square, meaning the door was not closing against the jamb, leaving it slightly ajar.
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Above is the fully refurbished 600 I replaced it with. Can you see how the pin sits, making the door sit snuggly against the frame?
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Wing & Webb Ltd, Wolverhampton

8/12/2015

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Just a quick post this time. Heres a picture of another famous company you may find on a lot of floor springs, Wing & Webb of Wolverhampton. This brass cover plate finishes off another 600 I worked on a number of years ago at Derbyshire County Council offices at Matlock, Derbyshire. As can be seen the floor spring was set into a mosaic floor that as I remember lead into a bathroom area.

I will do a blog post covering all the old nanufacturers and suppliers in the future.

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6 Comments

Climax Door Spring

8/8/2015

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I have recently been contacted by Ben Lilley, a furniture maker from Okato, Taranaki, New Zealand. He has an early set of Carltland & Co Climax's that have seen better days, but do appear to be repairable. They have been closing the doors of the premises in the pictures from around 1915 and after Ben has worked on them will continue to do for many years to come.
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What a fantastic setting for the Climax's.
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The two Climax door springs are not identical and from the paint on the doors where the shoes have been this appears to have been from new. You can see from the pictures the shoes are slightly different as are the brass cover plates.
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A hundred plus years off crud removed from out of the cast iron cases.
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Ben tells me that he discovered pieces off white cotton string in the cases of the Climax's. I believe this string was used by whomever assembled the door springs originally to hook the springs on the the small teeth that come down from the pivot assembly.
Thank you Ben for allowing me to publish your story and good luck with the refurbishment of not only the Climax's but also the premises they have come from.

Please feel free to leave a comment and do not hesitate to contact M.F.S if we can be of any further help.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/brian_robinson_nz/6670008405
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600 F

8/3/2015

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Below are the pictures from a visit I made to the charming Grade 2 listed C of E All Saints Church at Clayton Le Moors, Accrington. Whilst the Church was founded in 1840 the inner doors I believe were from around the 1950's to 1960's. The hold open 600 was slamming shut so I exchanged the floor spring to the slightly improved 600F. The 600F has a higher, stronger collar around the pivot area.

Kenny the local joiner was on hand to make the neccesary adjustments to the door where the shoe fits to it. The 600F raises the door slightly unless the shoe is let in to the door slightly. I will show in detail the various versions of the 600 in another up coming blog post.

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Above is a close up of the strengthened collar area surrounding the pivot.
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Its a shame that at some time in the past someone had cut the carpet instead of raising the door correctly so the shoe did not drag.
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The handsome and remarkably heavy oak door is back on and now shutting correctly.
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More about the CLIMAX

8/2/2015

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It seems the James Cartland & Co Climax door spring has got around the world and for quite some time. The previous blog entry is regarding a Climax found in New Zealand.

Here is a link to information regarding the Climax found in a number of historical settings in Australia, including the 1872 Mount Rothwell homestead, page 8.06.8 -
http://www.mileslewis.net/australian-building/pdf/08-metals/8.06b%20ironmongery.pdf

Below is a picture of a Climax supplied by Webb & Greenway from the 1862 Borneham Abbey, found from this site - http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Webb_and_Greenway
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Mention of the Climax in an Australian trade catalogue can be found here -  http://collection.hht.net.au/images_linked/Digital%20Trade%20Catalogues/Cartland/241%20to%20280/0244%20to%200245.pdf
Midland Floor Spring restoration of the Climax - http://www.midlandsfloorsprings.co.uk/blog/victorian-floor-spring
And more about the Cartland brand here from Oldcopper.org - http://www.oldcopper.org/james_cartland_&_co.htm
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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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