The Modern Gas Fire

Progress, Volume XII, Issue 9, 1 May 1917, Page 947

The Modern Gas Fire

We arc indebted to the "Architectural Review" for this article and illustrations which give the reader an excellent idea of what modern gas-fire development means.

Considering the importance of the fireplace in the English home, and the fact that it is the focus of interest to which the eye first travels as one enters a room, it is surprising that we should have borne so long with the unsightly and inefficient gas fire that was formerly offered to us. In the past, both as regards artistic quality in its design and effectiveness as a heating appliance, the gas fire received very inadequate attention on the part of manufacturers, and, as a result, could only be regarded as an article of questionable beauty and utility. But the developments of recent years have entirely altered the former estimate, and in its numerous

heating, and noisy combustion are all being rapidly eliminated, and in their place are appearing gas fires of excellent form, pleasingly embellished, efficient, silent, and perfectly hygienic. The introduction of the gas fire is thus traced by Mr. W. H. V. Webber in his book: "The general use of town gas as fuel for domestic and industrial purposes is a practice which cannot be dated much further back than the Crystal Palace Electric and Gas Exhibition of 1882. At that period it was still doubtful whether the greater expense of gas in comparison with coal, as applied to the purpose of warming living-rooms, left much opportunity for

attractive forms the gas fire now claims its place in the scheme of interior decoration. An obvious reason for the cumbersome and badly-decorated designs to which we were so long accustomed is found in the fact that the gas fire was first introduced in the Victorian era, and so persistently indifferent have the designs been that, until recently, it has been quite impossible to utilise the gas fire with any degree of artistic satisfaction. The very welcome change which has made the gas fire both an effective heater and an object of pleasing design has occurred only within the last few years. Superflous metal, gaudy decoration, weird and wonderful outline, inefficient and unhygienic

developing the former in this direction. The warmth of gas when burnt for the purpose of lighting was also regarded by the general public with mingled feelings. The large consumption of gas necessitated by the imperfect burners of that day, if a brilliant scale of lighting were desired, frequently produced over-heating of small crowded rooms, and in such cases the warmth produced by the gas was found objectionable. On the other hand, the same incidental effect was appreciated in winter by workers in shops, factories, and warehouses not provided with other means of warming. Consequently, whenever the weather turned cold, a great deal of gas was, and still is, burnt for the sake of the

incidental cosiness and brightness of it, although not by means of regular warming appliances. It is

the gas company’s point of view, although the warmth given off by incandescent gas light is only

largely for this reason that cold weather is even better than fog for promoting gas consumption from

a very small fraction, for the same scale of iliumination, of that produced by flat-flame burners. It

is safe to say, therefore, that the idea of using gas for warming interiors originated with its use for lighting them, and, in fact, the earliest gas-heating appliances put upon the market were no more than ordinary illuminating burners enclosed in casings for safety and made to be fixed on the floor. hi regard to matters of efficiency the thanks of the public are due in the first place to "The Lancet," which journal, as an unbiased authority, has carried out many exhaustive and interesting tests and experiments concerning the suitability of using gas fires for heating all or any of our rooms. The result is summed up in the following extracts from "The Lancet":—"The attractive feature of the modern gas tire is that 50 to 60 per cent, of the heating value of the gas which it consumes is made radiant, which is exclusively the form of beat given by the coal fire. Radiant heat is acknowledged to

a matter of fact this is accomplished by the modern models of gas fires which we have examined, and the endeavour to gain the maximum heating efficiency without hygienic risk has met with a success which is pleasing to record.” Referring to the matter of silent burning, “The Lancet” says:—“While at the bedside in the middle of the room some eight feet away from the fire, nothing could be heard at all, in spite of the gas being consumed at the rate of about 30 feet an hour in a cheery red fire giving a genial warmth and comfortable aspect to the room.” (We might here add that since the above report was made burners of absolute silence have been satisfactorily produced.) It has been proved conclusively by medical and other authorities that the gas fire is hygienically sound, and acceptable to the most exacting critics.

be the most cheerful and healthful agency for keeping our dwelling-rooms comfortable and warm, and the modern object of the makers of gas fires is (in our view very rightly) to render the heat of combustion in this form. In this they have met with considerable success." (April 4th, 1914). After fully describing the tests "The Lancet" (July 11th, 1914) adds: -"These results justify our expressed conclusion that the present attitude of the gas fire industry towards all questions of improvements is a most satisfactory one, and our inquiry shows that we may fairly expect, in the near future, an encouraging issue. Progress in the direction indicated will mean that no reproach based on hygienic considerations against the radiant system of gas heating can remain." "It is gratifying to find that we have initialed an important movement with regard to rendering the method of domestic heating acceptable from the hygienic point of view." (Sept 12th, 1914). "As

As indicated, its efficiency is almost entirely from radiant heat, this being the proper means of raising the temperature; and in this connection it is inter esting to state that many of our hospitals and sick wards are entirely and satisfactorily heated by gas fires of modern make. The old objection as to drying the atmosphere, and the necessity of providing a bowl of water in front of the fire, is proved to be entirely a thing of the past. The reports of the Smoke Abatement Society are worth mention here, inasmuch as they concern the gas fire as the most efficient cure for the disastrous conditions of many of our towns and cities; while from a domestic labour-saving point of view all will appreciate the vast improvement in the curtailment of labour which the gas fire effects. Although the heating capacity has been so much increased, the actual consumption of gas has been greatly decreased; the improvements which have

mostly effected this result being the utilisation of suitable fuel, perfection of carburation, and flue outlets.

The very important matter of adaptability for use as a fitment has received careful consideration at the hands of some of the makers, and to this end fires have been designed and proportioned so that they may appear as part and parcel of the general scheme, whether the gas fire is placed in front of or actually in the coal grate; and this may be done without in any way interfering with the symmetry of the surroundings. In some cases the attempt has been made to produce gas fires which in all respects compete, or, where necessary, blend with types of coal fires. It would, of course, often be desirable from many points of view if we could have our gas fires planned and fitted in the fire openings as coal grates are, thus obviating any necessity for duplication. This is a matter that should receive the attention of the architects. Manufacturers would welcome the

practice, and would speedily offer productions that met the new requirements.

There are at present on.the market a few gas fires suitable for fixing permanently, and as the demand increases other examples will, no doubt, be forthcoming. Bearing on this point it would be well for architects to consider the planning of flues. For a gas fire, permanently fitted, it is only necessary to have narrow flues, such as can often be built in the thickness of a wall. With the variety of types now available every requirement can be met. The fitment of gas fires under existing canopies, or the insertion in coal grates of a well fitting basket or vertical fire, offers an economical means of utilising hearth space. The most satisfactory results, however, are obtained when the fireplace is designed especially to receive a gas fire. No questions of smoke combustion and updraught have to he considered as with coal fires, and for this reason a very neat and effective arrangement is possible.

It is a common practice to have a tile or marble surround to the gas fire, enclosed by the frame of the mantel, and certainly this is very pleasing in appearance; but there is perhaps no more effective background than a metal one, especially when the surface is broken up into delicate vertical ribs, after the manner of eighteenth-century French work. Apart from the matter of improvement ill efficiency as a heating agent, there is nothing so striking about the modern gas fire as its suitability for inclusion in what are know as "period" schemes that is to say, one can now obtain gas fires that conform to the general character of the interior decoration, whether this be Gothic, Tudor, Jacobean, or Adam, the designers, after carefully studying old types of wood and coal fire-grates, having embodied the prevailing character in their designs for gas fires, so that instead of being obliged to have one more or less stock pattern of gas fire, and that a clumsy and inelegant type out of keeping with every architectural scheme, the makers now offer an astonishing variety of excellent designs. A few of these are shown by the accompanying illustrations.