Red's Restored Cauldron

[British Red]

Some of you may have seen the thread "Junk or Jewel" in which I showed this lovely iron "cauldron" that BB discovered propped against a wall when we went to the local tip

Not in the best condition huh? To be honest, I wasn't sure this one was salvageable given the degree or rusting etc, but some tests showed it was sound. There followed some hard work with wire brush, some dilute vinegar to dissole rust and then some "seasoning" (painting with fat / oil and then baking in an oven.

After 6 coats of seasoning, this is what we have!

I have to say, restoring and using antique pieces is always a pleasure. Especially when, as this time, there is no cost - just elbow grease!

What do you think?

Red

 

[SCOMAN]

That looks incredible, any food cooked in it should taste all the better, I take it it's not going to be a flowerpot

 

[fred gordon]

Red, that is a first rate restoration. What will you use it for, or is it too fragile to use regularly? I remember some time ago, when I was hunting for a Dutch over, looking at a website which had similar pots for sale. Have you any idea how old this one is?

 

[Fin]

Excellent job.

That didn't take as long as I thought it might!

 

[British Red]

Scoman - it sure isn't going to be a flowerpot (although I suspect it has been ). If it was I'd have painted rather than oil seasoned it (which has smoked the kitchen out for two days )

Fred, its pitted inside but sound as a bell. The pitting makes it unsuitable for frying (but I'd use my restored cast iron skillet for that anyway). I see this as very much a stock, soup and stew pot on a fire crane. As for age its made in sections rather than cast so I'm with Toddy's view of "pre-Victorian". Couple of hundred years maybe ?

Red

 

[Too Much Kit To Carry]

Nice work Red

Hope you get a lot of uses out of your restored cauldron mate

Phil.

 

[weaver]

Red,

That looks like a sectional casting to me. The wooden mold was made in sections so it could be taken apart from the finished pot.

Later they learned to use sand for the mold so the seam lines went away.

 

[jon r]

That is amazing! i cant beleive how youve traansformed it! A job well done!:You_Rock_

 

[weaver]

Look at the bottom picture of a pot from around 1750.

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/jselmer/cauldrons.htm

 

[JonnyP]

Nice one Red...Bet your glad you didn't chuck it out now eh..?

 

[Tadpole]

Some of you may have seen the thread "Junk or Jewel" in which I showed this lovely iron "cauldron" that BB discovered propped against a wall when we went to the local tip

Not in the best condition huh? To be honest, I wasn't sure this one was salvageable given the degree or rusting etc, but some tests showed it was sound. There followed some hard work with wire brush, some dilute vinegar to dissole rust and then some "seasoning" (painting with fat / oil and then baking in an oven.

After 6 coats of seasoning, this is what we have!

I have to say, restoring and using antique pieces is always a pleasure. Especially when, as this time, there is no cost - just elbow grease!

What do you think?

Red

that's a classic Abraham Darby’s Cooking Pot, made from 1707 onwards , there is one just like it in Iron Bridge, Coalbrookdale.

 

[john scrivy]

this lovely restored pot should be shown in use at the next moot what you say Red think you shoud have an exhebition of your brill photograhs as well

 

[British Red]

Look at the bottom picture of a pot from around 1750.

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/jselmer/cauldrons.htm

Spot on weaver - thats almost identical . Thanks for the info - made when we still had the colonies

1750 -

Thanks for the kind words all - it was alot of fun and just requires patience - no real skill involved!

Red

 

[British Red]

Thnaks Tadpole! BB is dead chuffed she looked through the scrap heap while I was dumping!

John - generally too shy for large groups of people I'm afraid - I plan to look into the WG as its near but only as a day visitor so I can run away when it all gets too much. I'll promise a picture of it on a fire though!

Red

 

[topknot]

Nices job. Red

 

[Toddy]

Nicely done Red (and BB! )

Great information too, Weaver and Tadpole.

cheers,
Toddy

 

[EdS]

how big is it. It looks a lot like the wash pots that all the terraces around here had, some until the 1960's.

They are a fairly large cast pot that is set in a heath under which the fire is built. They where more or less bricked in. You still see a lot in gardens, i've even seen a few still in the orginal hearth by ranges.

 

[Toddy]

How big *were* your wash pots? The washing bing here was about 3' across

BR I came across this link that might be of interest

cheers,
Toddy

http://www.antiqueoakfurniture.co.uk/view_details.asp?prod_id=77

 

[British Red]

EdS, This is a small iron pot..maybe 8" across - do for Barbies bikini but that's it! I remember the old washing pots (we called the "coppers") - there's still a few about

Mary - no link in the post mate?

Red

 

[Toddy]

S orry Red , there is now

cheers,
Mary