Is this the oldest boiler in Shropshire?

They have a life expectancy of 15 years, but Marton Hayes’ CRT boiler has been heating his house in Shropshire for nearly 40 years.

Marton with his boiler. He believes it to be the oldest still operating in the county.
Marton with his boiler. He believes it to be the oldest still operating in the county.

They have a life expectancy of 15 years, but Marton Hayes’ CRT boiler has been heating his house in Shropshire for nearly 40 years.

Now Mr Hayes reckons his domestic boiler is one of the oldest still working in Shropshire, if not the UK. He says the appliance is still working perfectly heating the three bedroom house in Oswestry and reliably providing hot water to meet all the needs of his family.

Mr Hayes, of Oswestry, got in contact with heating company, Worcester Bosch, to say that his WEC Firefly HD II boiler had been working in his detached home since it was built in 1973 – the year that Richard Nixon was president in the US and the year that The Last of the Summer Wine first hit our television screens.

Mr Hayes says that despite its age, it is still in fantastic working order.

“I think this is a fantastic achievement as the boiler is still performing excellently after 39 years of service. I moved into the house with my wife and four children back in 1986,” he said.

“The boiler has been served annually and we have experienced no problems other than the odd replacement spare part.”

Mr Hayes, however, is now planning to replace his boiler.

Martyn Bridges, director of marketing and technical support at Worcester, Bosch Group, said the Firefly did not have the output improvements of the latest generation of boilers, but, considering boilers had a life expectancy of about 15 years, this one was very special.

“We were pleased to hear that Mr Hayes’ Firefly boiler has given him and his family such good service and are sure the replacement will prove to be just as reliable,” he said.

“This is a great example of how our extensive product testing and field trials result in products that are durable and long-lasting.”

Do you have a boiler older than Mr Marton’s? Contact our newsdesk at newsroom@shropshirestar.co.uk

Comments for: "Is this the oldest boiler in Shropshire?"

AjiGee

My old boiler is 54 years old - she still works well!

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Nick, Telford

I've had my old boiler for 30 years now and it was second-hand when I got it, with nearly 12 years "on the clock". Still in fine working order but has proved very high maintenance, although I wouldn't swap it for the world. Don't know what she thinks of me though !!

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Andrew finch

Naaaaa , we have an old boiler who has lived in the village for the last 73 years , but to be honest she has been known to leak some gas now and again , more often than not.

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Mr T

And our real boiler is the same age and isn't serviced regular and still provides heat and water for us. As for the other boiler, she is just about older by a couple of months

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Diane Hipfield

Ode to the Boiler,

Oh my boiler,

You're such a toiler,

You heat the house better than a broiler(pan)

The winter has ended,

Will you ever see your retirement sun?

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Rich

Thats good British workmanship for you. Don't get that these days thanks to the unions.

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Nistagmus

True, there were no unions in 1973....err...

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Susan boiler

Yes there were.

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The graduate

Own goal Rich ..............

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Susan Boiler

Fascinating. Has anyone contacted Guinness? Is the another world record Shropshire can claim? It would sit happily with the others: largest landlocked county, England's tallest horse (Lionel the grey- in Clun), the steepest drivable road (the Wenlock death drop) and the world shortest hedge (in height- midgehedge) which follows the A49 for two miles.

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Richard Boulter

Boiler oh boily

Thou makest me oily

I wrap you in wadding

Topped with a doily

I buff you dry

You make my temperature high

Oh god you've been going since the olden days

Whilst thou not die?

(Ive got a grant for solar panels going to waste)

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Katherine de Gama

Well, fancy that. British Gas was surprised that my eight year old one was repairable. I suspect they just wanted to sell me a new one.

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Richard Boulter

British Gas

Pain in the a$$

But at least they let me

Trade in my old boiler for cash

They gave me a grand

She gave them a hand...

Job was a good'un

She was so old her legs were wooden.

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Dan Hatfield

This boiler is amazing, its older than me! I had to have my boiler replaced last February and what a drama that was. It was a costly a messy business that left me with a hole in my wallet I can tell you.

Great poem Diane, very thought provoking. Is the boiler supposed to represent everyman? I mean with all the debt crisis going on will any of us see our retirement sun? Not sure about Richards though, a little clumsy I think.

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Katherine de Gama

Well, boilers seem to have brought out the poets in the good folk of Shropshire. Sadly, it's past mid summer and I still have mine switched on. If not for a puppy I would be off to Spain.

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Diane Hipfield

Thanks Dan, though I think your critique of Richards work is both harsh and a little uncalled for. Personally I do not like bad language in my poetry but taste is a wide spectrum.

An ode to critics:

I am a mountain and you are a mouse,

Look at you there, hiding in your glass house,

Throw your stones at me now,

Each one hits me with a pow,

They cannot hurt me,

My words are my shield.

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Dan Hatfield

Another corker Diane, I was just wondering if you're published at all or is poetry just a hobby?

I'm having a retirement do soon and would love some bespoke poetry written for it, do you think you'd be interested?

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Diane Hipfield

Thanks again Dan, not published and am not looking to be. I like to keep my art pure, its for everybody and not just the money.

I hope you enjoy your special night, I'm sure you've earned it!

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Dan Hatfield

Good to see there are still people out there who keep to their principals Diane. Keep up the good work anyway.

I'm sure I'll have a great time, I've been at the same place for 40 years so hopefully it'll be full of friends both old and new.

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grumpy old man

Mine was put in around the mid seventies too and despite the odd water leak which seems to cure itself, it has only cost me about £150 in parts over those years 9plus servicing of course).

You won't get that service out of a modern boiler and as for British Gas...what a joke!!!!

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towbar

Replaced our 25 year old one 12 months ago.

Gas use since then ??? 38% LESS !!! Nuff Said

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R Suppards

The oldest boiler in my world is my mother-in law.

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Lanoonoo

You are and old boiler

You're hot but your Old

You've raised up my temperature

And kept me from Cold

When I were feeling chilly

You were filling my tank

You have serviced me well

With gratitude Ill thank

I will return the favour

And replace you with a model

That is younger and cheaper

And with slightly less waddle

And you shall reside

In a field - but with pride

As you carried my flame

For a much further ride

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Roger

The boiler is probably a cast iron model. Properly maintained they will last for ever but only at about 70%, maximum, efficiency.

Modern boilers are pressed steel fully condensing with efficiencies of 80% plus but will not last beyond 15 years. So if you have old boiler and don’t mind losing 10% of your fuel bill up the chimney hang on to it. The economics of ownership are more or less balanced at cost of £100 per year on £1K gas bill and replacement cost of £1.5K.

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Jose Stalin

You can see from the photo thats its pressed steel man. I'm not sure about those wiring arrangements though?.

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mistydreamer

The case may be steel but he's on about the heat exchanger being cast iron. The wiring's fine......

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