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Monarch (Early one)

3/21/2016

2 Comments

 
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.

2 Comments
Jess the door closer doctor
3/21/2016 10:13:46 pm

Rod/MFS,

loved what I read, you never know what you may find at a flea market (not flee)/boot sale, it can range from medical stuff to fitness equipment to ......yes... DOOR CLOSERS!!

now if I seen this, I would have bought it and displayed it or educated the public about what's inside a monarch floorspring, as like you did, since its a display peice, and clear lid there is no real need for oil or checking fluid, I suppose if you used any it would just darken the unit and make things harder to see the springs and the checking cylinder in middle of closer,

I know a guy in Oregon state (west coast) who has a clear case Dor-O-matic full depth floor closer that has liquid in it to demonstrate how it works, I find things like this really cool, I just know one day I will bring home a floorspring from one of these flea markets, but if anything, I see locksmiths and they talk to me about closers, seems they are more interested in wanting to BUY MY COLLECTION!! they buy to flip it (resell and make money off them) I have my collections to enjoy them personally, not flip it and sell for profit!

related, I been going to flea markets, and yes... got lucky at 2 of them, within a period of 1 week I brought home 3 door closers, a Sargent 1251,(cast iron rack and pinion) in June,1995,) and LCN 1461 made in Nov 2000 and a corbin 100 made in 6 1987,

as for thinking exercise machine, who says you cannot use a closer as a fitness device, the weight of them perfect, and if light enough spring, a resistance device that cannot snap in your face, but just slowly move arm to start position.

......who says closers are JUST FOR DOORS???.... think outside the box you can do anything and there are many uses for a closer mechanism other then on or under or above the door!

keep an eye out on inbox, going to send pics of the 3 closers I got at flea markets.

-Jess

Reply
margarine
3/25/2016 11:34:29 pm

another interesting blog - keep up the good work.

Reply



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    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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