Dusty Door-closer
June 22, 2004
An old door-closer, that leaks oil, has collected many summers worth of dust from northerly winds.
Tags: infrastructure, hardware
An old door-closer, that leaks oil, has collected many summers worth of dust from northerly winds.
Comments
matthew wain wrote, on 19 July 2005, at 2:07PM:
hello my name is matthew and iam interested in door closers could you give me this door closer for 5 pounds please iam very interested in them especially the old ones like what you have got please email me and i will tell you more thanx
matthew wain wrote, on 19 July 2005, at 2:08PM:
please can i have this thankyou
Marty wrote, on 22 July 2005, at 6:27AM:
Matthew: This door closer is actually a working part of our local school, so I'm pretty sure that selling it to you might be a touch unethical :-)
Good luck with your door closer collection.
jess wrote, on 20 July 2007, at 10:20AM:
matthew wain: odd i guess im not alone here with door closers, i collect them as well i have been doing so since late 8th grade but didnt find my first hydrualic arm kind until late 11th, this style is called traditional or pot belly style closer. this one in photo i see no name but appears from body shape that it might be a briton ( they are made in uk)
very odd thing is that im female and got soo into it that people would nick name me the door closer doctor becuase i knew (and still do) soo much about how to repair them.
Jeff Ramstad wrote, on 5 September 2007, at 10:45AM:
Hello Jess, I wonder if you might help me with some information about Briton door closers? My apartment building in Vancouver, Canada has 6 still in operation (4 were replaced before I moved in). These 6 originals are now closing too fast and I expect that they have leaked oil and no longer contain enough to dampen them sufficiently to close quietly. There is a drop of oil on the outside low point of each. Can you provide me with some info on recharging their oil supply or would you re-build them yourself or is it practical? They are such robust units, I'm thinking perhaps an "O" ring has failed or the like and if I was to tinker it I might get them working again. I have been Googling like crazy but only finding tips on newer models. I can e-mail a photo but the unit is similar as displayed on this Dusty door-closer page and it is a Briton patent number 621457/47 Canadian No. 2 circa 1960 or so. The "valve" on the end is somewhat recessed into the casing as opposed to surface as displayed. Thanks in advance, I'd most appreciate your reply, Jeff
jess wrote, on 6 September 2007, at 10:36AM:
hello jeff, thanks for the question, this is common to old models such as the one seen in the picture we see at top of this page. i can agree as well, great made units (i live on east coast of the states)i have not seen a briton personally but have heard great positive experiances with briton closers (installation, action, servicing) now about fixing the slammer, this is best done in a garage or a shop or the maintenance office(i presume ur the maintenance person for the apt building??) leaks such as seen in picture usually are from the valve, best thing to do is look up at it and see if you see a trail leading to the valveto the lowest point (on bottom in middle) if there is, remove the closer from the door and take it to a workbench in shop or garage and mount closer in a vise(also good idea to use rubber blocks or wood between closer and vise jaws)with valve area pointed upwards. then take an allen wrench (or screwdriver) and remove the valve (note: to remove valve on surface valves such as that seen on the pic, use a wrench and loosen nut between casing and valve screw (toolless adjusting i call it,no need to use screwdrivers r special wrenches to adjust speed), check the O-ring on the valve if looks cracked or flat on sides replace it by taking off the old O-ring with a dental pick (can be bought at a hardware store) put on new o-ring that dont look flat or worn (o-rings also can be found at a hardware store usually in like a kit of multiple sizes) at this point if closer dont have any fluid many differant closer brands use differant types but to replace lost fluid a fluid like automatic transmission fluid or power steering fluid should work well since they are multiviscosity thus less adjusting between weather changes, pour it in slowly (you may also want to have a funnel while doing this!!) and pump arm back and forth so the oil will go into closer and you will start to feel some dampaning on arm as you move it while filling it with oil, when oil level is really close or at end of closer with funnel out, put valve with new oring back in (surface toolless valves, tighten up the nut alittle) and then clean up area (your hands if dirty, the closer and workbench if any oil spilled while filling) then test closer for action while still in vise if works smoothly, then remove from vise, remount on door and then adjust to smooth action or what canadian specs specify for speed of doors in apartments in seconds(for tolless, make sure that nut between casing and adjustment knob is securely tight (dont over tighten, some are made of brass or copper and might end up stripping the threads or breaking off the nut) jeff: as styles got newer they stopped using the tolless adjusting knob and went for a recessed within case to prevent people from messing with it (beleive it or not people are curious about these) sometimes adjusting or being vandels and removing the valve itself leaving just a hole on side with oil leaking out on closer and the floor. as for that number, that is the spring size (as number goes up, so does strength) older closers like from 50's and early 60's used LETTERS such as an A the way up to F, an A would be same as a closer size 1(about same strength as a storm door closer (that tube thing that hissssssss when door is closing), B would be a 2, c would be a 3, all the way to size F(number would be a 6)
you may also if you want send a pic of your problem closers as well, i did give mermission to martin kenny (owner of this photo blog) to send you my email address in case you want havea problem or need more help, since i live with my dad and he thinks id not return any closers being fixed (he things id get too attached and like them too much, this even happens in hardware stores that sell closers with arms) and some hydraulic fluids bother me (odor is nasty in some, but dont believe the britons use anything nasty smelling) if i lived closer (or lived on west coast and not in my parents house) id be more then happy to fix these myself, but since i live with my dad and theres a huge amount of distance between vancouver canada and nj usa, i cant :(. but please try what i have told you above and email me if you need help,
paul wrote, on 9 May 2008, at 4:07PM:
I am a carpenter in England and have just removed a briton 621457/47 door closer in good working order , and good condition. I want to sell this item and would like to hear from anyone who is intrested
Graham wrote, on 2 September 2008, at 4:46AM:
I am also from England and I have a brand new (Old Stock) Briton , never been fitted for Sale !
matt boyd wrote, on 22 October 2011, at 10:20AM:
Anyone got an old door closer? I am looking for one for my parents house but need an old (ish) one...
thanks
Matt UK (Dorset)
Mark Packham wrote, on 4 January 2012, at 4:31AM:
Matt I have some old door closers if you want to get in touch email me markswan59@live.co.uk
dunc wrote, on 18 March 2013, at 9:37PM:
hi i have 5 briton 2004 door closers and a geze 2000 door closer and an extra arm none of them have been used and i am looking to sell if anyone is intrested
Vicky wrote, on 10 May 2013, at 2:42PM:
Hi
I have 2 Briton door closers for sale both model no 621457/47 if anybody interested
adi wrote, on 21 June 2013, at 5:25PM:
Adi wrote, on 22 June 2013, at 1:15AM
Hello Jess,my name adi from Malaysia..if you not mind, can't u help me with some information about Briton door closer?It is a Briton patent number 621457/47... I just want's to know,which country produces Briton and make of year...Thanks for your help, I'd most appreciate your reply, Adi..
Jess wrote, on 25 July 2013, at 4:34PM:
Hello Adi,
first want to apologize that i have not looked on this photoblog in a long time,
about the Britons, they are made by Newman-Tonks group and sold in the UK, Canada and Austraila, the Briton manufacturing plant used to be in Birmingham UK, it has since (not sure what year) moved to turkey and no longer make these "potbelly" style closers.
i believe Briton discontinued the potbelly/traditional closer back in 1980's or early 1990's, there are some companies out there that make similar closers (often times under a different name)
about your questions, are you looking to find a Briton?? or how to adjust one?? or just curious as to info/history of the Briton company??
hear from you soon, and everyone else, keep the questions coming!
-Jess the door closer doctor
Midlands Floor Springs wrote, on 5 June 2015, at 8:10AM:
I work with these old door closers and they are some of the finest ever manufactured. It is great to see them still working and in situ even after some fifty odd years, a testament to their reliability.
If anyone is interested in door closers and floor springs you can see some great pictures of the internals of them (including some Victorian era models) at my site. Midlands Floor Springs.
Please contact me for any further advice/information regarding door closers and floor springs.