Gas Heater - Cast Iron, Decorative Arch, circa 1890

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This item is on display at Melbourne Museum

Summary:: Cast iron gas heater or fire made from black cast iron. The heater is made in the shape of a decorated arch with a protruding gas heater grille in the lower centre. Donated to the Museum by Myles Welan after his scrap metal merchant company, Whelan the Wrecker, went into receivership in 1991.
Description:: Cast iron gas heater or fire made from black cast iron. The heater is made in the shape of a decorated arch with a protruding gas heater grille in the lower centre. The front of the arch has a lined border, decorated with circles containing a simple flower design. At the top centre of the arch a small semi-circular cast iron piece protrudes from the line of the heater, decorated with an image of sun rays. Flat inner section of fire place features a raised relief of an urn or vase in the centre of a wreath of leaves. The heavily ornamented cast iron grille features borders of more than five different designs, emerge from centre. The grille on the heating element consists of 4 thick columns of cast iron lacework. A black metal pipe for connecting the heater to the gas supply is attached to centre of the grille, and extends to the lower right of the object.
Acquisition Information:: Donation from Mr Myles Whelan, 1991

Tagged with:	working life, metalworking, heating
Themes this item is part of:	Whelan the Wrecker Collection, Working Life & Trades Collection
On Display at:	Melbourne Museum
Primary Classification:	DOMESTIC LIFE
Secondary Classification:	Heating & Cooling
Tertiary Classification:	gas
Collector:	Whelan the Wrecker, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, by 1991
Date Manufactured:	circa 1890
References:	http://www.abc.net.au/rn/history/hindsight/stories/s1609089.htm