Benjamin Tucker

I once saw an on-demand water heater in a European hostel, and would
like to
discover the manufacturer and model. The unit was not vented, in that
flame
shot out the top while in use, and the sink faucet underneath might have
been
part of the heater itself. The whole thing was smaller than a soccer
ball, had a
white enamel casing.

Thanks,
---ben

Owain

"Benjamin Tucker" wrote
    | I once saw an on-demand water heater in a European hostel, and would
    | like to discover the manufacturer and model. The unit was not
    | vented, in that flame shot out the top while in use,

I think this is a hint it might not have complied with current safety
regulations :-) In Britain it is illegal to have a gas appliance that is not
room sealed (balanced flue) in a bathroom.

They're called geysers, were invented by a German, and look to be still
popular in India and Africa. A popular brand in Britain was Ascot:

I remember with great pride the day I brought home to my parents at the age
of 17 my first pay packet which I earned working at the Ascot gas geyser
factory in north London. No other penny that I ever earned in later life
gave me more pleasure.
Ms Quill, speaking in the Dáil Éireann
http://historical-debates.oireachtas...602200208.html

The bathroom was a dark den with leprous walls and a rickety verdigrised
geyser which would spit two inches of tepid water into the bath and then
mulishly stop working.
George Orwell, Burmese Days
http://www.george-orwell.org/Burmese_Days/6.html

There was no bathroom, central heating or double glazing. It got a bit nippy
in the winter, and to this day I can't stand being cold. My mum used to
bathe me in the kitchen sink, being careful not to burn my willie on the hot
water from the 'Ascot', a gas powered water heater on the wall. When I grew
too big for the sink, they bought a tin bath tub. It was luxurious.
http://pink-mouse-productions.com/spruce/ref/01.htm

Innerkey Gas Geyser
http://www.vijaygasgeyser.com/Innerkeygasgeyser.htm

I remember when I was a lot younger, there was a large noisy water heater
( ASCOT.) in the bathroom to heat water instantly. When you turned the tap
'on', a large puff of back draft flame would shoot out of the sight hole.
This hole was to light the pilot and I do not remember a cover like the wood
burner downstairs of MICA to close off the 'view port'. It was like watching
the space shuttle launch inside this thing.
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fu...39/gotomsg/139
62535.cfm

The Self-Uninstalling Gas Water Heater
http://www.diyfaq.org.uk/humour.html#uninstalling

Here's a model Ascot for a doll's house
http://www.goodies-dollshouse-miniat...scotborder.jpg

'Ascot' water heater in a post-war housing project
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/i...f2_44ascot.htm

Nowadays we use gas multipoint heaters like these
http://www.bhl.co.uk/shop/list.asp?tid=581
if there is no need for central heating as well.

Owain

Mark Fagan

In any event, it wouldn't be allowed under building codes in North America
(and would invalidate your insurance). On demand water heaters (with flues)
are available...check out Home Depot.

"Benjamin Tucker" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > I once saw an on-demand water heater in a European hostel, and would
    > like to
    > discover the manufacturer and model. The unit was not vented, in that
    > flame
    > shot out the top while in use, and the sink faucet underneath might have
    > been
    > part of the heater itself. The whole thing was smaller than a soccer
    > ball, had a
    > white enamel casing.
    > Thanks,
    > ---ben

Keith Willshaw

"Benjamin Tucker" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > I once saw an on-demand water heater in a European hostel, and would
    > like to
    > discover the manufacturer and model. The unit was not vented, in that
    > flame
    > shot out the top while in use, and the sink faucet underneath might have
    > been
    > part of the heater itself. The whole thing was smaller than a soccer
    > ball, had a
    > white enamel casing.
    > Thanks,
    > ---ben

Ascot used to market them in the UK but such units are no
longer available in the UK or I suspect any EU country,
due to the possibility of carbon monoxide
emissions

Modern units tend to have a balanced flue which requires
a penetration of the wall.

http://www.gasman.fsbusiness.co.uk/water_heaters.htm

Keith