Optyl Frame Heater
 Catalogue Number: 3689 Optyl Frame Heater Category: Equipment Sub-Category: Frame heater Corporation: K & Cie, Panora Modell Year Of Publication/Manufacture: c 1989 Time Period: 1940 to 1999 Place Of Publication/Manufacture: Possibly France Publisher/Manufacturer: K & Cie, Panora Modell Description Of Item: Cream plastic box 180 mm x 115 mm x 130 mm with Optyl logo decal applied to one side, a timer switch attached to the front and silver coloured labels imprinted K & Cie, Panora Modell and 21710 adhered to the rear, containing a heating element and a separate cooling fan. The unit has two control switches, one red, one yellow and a temperature control knob with a coloured scale, blue through yellow and orange to red imprinted Max. 250 degrees C, on the top surface. The chromed heating tube of diameter 40 mm stands 85 mm above the top of the box. Historical Significance: Fan heaters for frame adjustment were introduced as an alternative to heated glass bead baths to avoid dimpling of the surface of frames. They were particularly useful for heating small areas of frames which was important when adjusting those made of Optyl material. The time switch on this unit is an after market addition probably to ensure that the unit was turned off after use by students and staff in the busy ACO clinic. How Acquired: Donated by David Leeming, ACO Clinic Date Acquired: 11/02/2019 Location: Archive room. East wall Unit 3 Cupboard |