The Champion 3a Door Check and Closer.

9/23/2016

Today I traveled to Chesterfield to inspect some door closers that were not functioning as they should. they were fixed to two toughened glass doors in the entry way to the Church of St Mary and All Saints, known to many as the church with the twisted spire.

More information on the wonderful and very popular Grade 1 listed 14th century church can be found here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_St_Mary_and_All_Saints,_Chesterfield

The Champions had lost their ability to hold the glass doors closed in windy conditions. We re-tensioned and adjusted the closing speed of them which means the church can now keep its existing period door closers.

The Champion 3A's were manufactured by the Forson Design and Engineering Company Ltd around the mid 1950's.

On completion of the works to the Champions I noted there was an even earlier surface mounted door check on one of the two main outer doors. It is in a bad state of repair but is not beyond saving, I hope to be able to work on this beauty in the future after informing the Church of its existence (Just in case they were not already aware).

Some readers may recognise this early patent model door check from an earlier blog post of mine, but can anyone see what aids the door spring/check in its goal or possibly put better how the door spring/check is aided?

Finally here are some shots of the gravity defying, fantastically crooked spire that is known and loved so much, locally, nationally and quite possibly even further afield.

As always please feel free to comment.

2 Comments

Jess the door closer doctor

9/24/2016 05:40:45 am

Rod,

loved what I read about the Champion 3A and the Newmann door check, I think you certainly found a cool old building that would keep me daydreaming for a while with what could also be there that you have not shown on your blog yet, this is the first time I EVER seen champion or any other closer like that mounted to a full glass door that does not have top rail (where you normally install a closer on top a door)

now as for the question on the Newmann door check, hmm, thinking the dynamics of how it's arm and (pneumatic) cylinder work as the door opens and closes or its the size of the cylinder what your pointing out, I dont see anything assisting it that is not already a part of the closer (arm and cylinder)

cannot resist but ask, if you go back to this church in future, can you please try to get a video recording of the old Newman door check in action?? I already know how they are suppose to move, but I wonder that if you recorded a video, that I could see for myself how rapid or smooth the speed control is, and also to upload to the group on facebook, they may actually get a kick out of this and be wondering why you are not a part of the group!

crooked spire on top of church, looks like something you in some whimsical children's storybook or fairytale or expect a ghost to come out at you. the reason the spire has not toppled over has all to do with center of gravity, the top has not exceeded the weight or pressure the base can hold, enabling it to stand,

now another curiousity, was this crooked spire an intentional feature to add character to the building or an "oops, we should have read the plans before building" (mistake)

Rod Fathers link

9/24/2016 10:47:11 am

Hi again Jess,

Yes the champions are great aren't they and the setting is even better! The Newman check is also equally as cool, although as stated in quite a bad state of repair.

The clue to what aids the Newman can be seen in the first picture through the glass, if you look at the vertical lines. It is gravity that aids the door to close, the door is set in its frame in such away it is permanently wanting to close and is held back by a rather large hook and eye, the Newman is more of a check to slow this want of the door to close and is not a mistake by the person who hung the door. think of it kinda leaning back on itself but instead of it falling over it closes.

I will be happy at sometime in the future to video you the action of the door check, regardless of whether I get to repair it, if permission is granted of course.

If you read the link I provided you should be able to work out if a virgin, the black death (plague) or other factors played a part in the twist of the churches spire. I doubt however that it was the intention of the builders for the crooked spire to be a tourist attraction 700 years later than its construction, but I guess you never know as it is a popular tourist attraction and it could have been the same carpenter who fitted the crooked door possibly after a few flagons of mead from the local pub!

As regards the club of which you speak it is only my lack of understanding/competence/time with these social media sites that kinda keeps me away.

I am really pleased you, your friends and anyone else has enjoyed this post and hope they will continue to do so.

The Champion 3a Door Check and Closer.

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