Citrogarage

[lucajack2cv]

Hy garagefrinds, I'm late but happy to be here again with some news about our citrohouse and garage in Italy!

One year ago (!) I started describe our "new" central heating, a jump of several decades in the technical progress! The central heating heart is this old "Bongioanni" boiler:

This is a boiler called "Sarbina" composed of modular elements in cast iron and was forged by Bongioanni Foundries, probably around the thirties, in Cuneo "Bongioanni " factory. Cuneo is a town nears Alps, next to french border. But "Bongioanni" history started in Fossano, 30 km from Cuneo.. My hometown and the Citrogarage town!

"Bongioanni is among the oldest brands in the heating sector and rich history. We must therefore go back to 1907 to find the origins of the company that gave way to one of the most extraordinary entrepreneurial adventures of Piedmont and the province of Cuneo in particular. Bongioanni The name is due to its founder, tough and capable person who was able to successfully lead the company until after World War II.
From simple mechanical workshop, the company expanded and diversified production starting in 1916 the manufacture of the first cast-iron radiators and boilers.
Since then and throughout the century was an unstoppable growth that brought the brand Bongioanni across Europe and around the world, as popular mostly as a leading manufacturer of boilers, cast iron base of small and medium power.
Many models that throughout history have represented landmarks unmatched throughout the industry.
Since 2007, the centennial year, the business center Bongioanni (Milan after a parenthesis) returns in the province of Cuneo, S. Defendente di Cervasca, home where he had maintained in the meantime the production of cast iron boilers."
http://www.bongioannicaldaie.it/index.php?method=section&id=22

Bongioanni foundries, originally Manfredi-Bongioanni (MB) have actually a more complex history and have produced not only cast iron elements for boliers, but machinery for the manufacture of brick and wood processing: the story of these machines may interest our great expert Red Leader "Craftman" and many of us..

First "Bongioanni" factory, thanks to an urbanistical miracle, still survive in Fossano! Here's the 1900 building..

.. and here's the patron's "Cavalier Bongioanni" manor-house, in front of the factory:

The Fossano production in the Fifties moved in a new factory close to the railway station, cast iron production finally ended at the beginning of XXI century.

I don't know exactely when, I suppose during thirties or immediately after WWII, "Manfredi & Bongioanni" society divide: "Bongioanni" becomes the name of Fossano production (basically wood-working machines), "S.A.R.B." (Società Anonima Radiatori Bongioanni) the name of the Cuneo factory, producing cast iron boilers.

The boiler in question, called "SARBINA" is a female commercial name for "SARB" so came from Cuneo factory.

Back to the object in question, according to the Bongianni's slogan on this postcard, that will ensure domestic tranquility and warmth throughout the cold season..

.."GIAMMAI RIMPIANTI, CON QUESTI IMPIANTI - NEVER REGRETS, WITH THESE PLANTS!"

Post Scriptum: beware of imitations.. this is not true "Bongioanni" Foundrie but a "BongioVanni": http://www.fonderiabongiovanni.it/

 

[lucajack2cv]

Unfortunately I have no photos of the restoration that has focused mainly on a mega-brushing, and external and internal repair of some damaged parts in cast iron, luckily not the elements in which the water passes.

From the previous stove-challege I realized that the cast is almost impossible -for me- to weld with the welding wire I managed to repair the upper door hinge, smoke on the back of the conveyor and the Butterfly, which regulates the draft, you can see here the mound iron (in practice, the materials on both sides imprisons, and joins the rebels in a cast iron grip):

An overview of where you notice the flow of water tubone heated and the pressure gauge of yesteryear ..

These are the front doors open ..

At the top you can see the double-tube that collects the fumes before, as in an oven, and brings them back to the top of the heating pipes.At the bottom of the grid on which they can comburre whole trunks, not sticks ..

Two brass wing nuts on the back close a trap inspection and another inspection is visible at the bottom, the drain valve system and the attack on the back to radiators net:

Here's the flap for ventilation in the door at the bottom, also in solid cast iron ..

To seal the joints I used the same adhesive used for high temperatures above the stove (which limits use, meanwhile, rose from 1200 to 1600 ° C) while the matte black finish that is guaranteed paint pots to 600 ° C and produced somewhere in the suburbs of Turin minuscule factory, I will give the details..

 

[Dave Outside Omaha]

Luca,

This is my first ever post to Garage Journal. I've been reading for a few months, planning my own garage for this summer.

Man, I admire you so much! You are one hard worker!! I'm sure your life has difficulties, too, but judged by this thread it seems perfect. And Italy looks gorgeous.

Incidentally, my garage, when it's done, will hold a 1966 6-cylinder Mustang which was my grandmother's. It's done. Not perfect, but a nice driver. And a 1978 Fiat X1/9. I've got a long way to go on the Fiat. It's a really nice change from what is common in the States.

Thanks for writing this!

Dave

 

[machine_punk]

You are living the life!

I love citroens

I love old stone buildings

I love cast iron

I love making vintage things work like new again.

BRAVO! Great job.

 

[lucajack2cv]

Thanks everybody, and thanks Dave.. Sure my life is perfect: I'm not a millionaire and life in Italy turns every day in deeper difficulties becouse of encreasing unemployement: yesterday, as almost every day, I found one of my best friends in real difficulties with his work. I'm very lucky first of all to have a family full of love, second to have a small but sure salary that allows me to keep my family and third that this old farm, bought as a ruin 10 years ago, is now almost perfectly habitable. Three enormous fortunes.

To this situation I can add some choices that I consider beneficial: a vegetable garden maintained by my father, ANY modern car but 2 every-day-cars wich are 2 Citroen 2CV (less gasoline, low assurance, minimum taxation, maximum possibility to mantain, repair and, if necessary, complete re-build by myself in my garage) and (I hope) also this choice of wood-central heating, that allows to burn almost everything in case of need..

Back to my stoves, here's the previous bolier, the "SARBINA" will replace: I trust much less in it, being a model in enamelled sheet, where the flame directly heats a metal-lung whose conditions are very uncertain. Besides the "mouth" is so small that only insignificant woods could enter.. maybe coal was used.

Unfortunately adapt the pipes leading to the new boiler will cause unspeakable blasphemies by the plumber, for the rest of the changes are not great: here there is a part of the plant and vintage radiators ..

..other radiators, damaged by frost and neglect, lying useless at the moment:

But fortunately, my great friend (and great metallurgical) 2CVist "Giga" has long given me beautiful and packed other radiators that I had prayed to sandblast!!

Finally, on this example we can find -of course- the trademark of the prestigious foundries "Manfredi and Bongioanni": at their 100-years-experience I commend the comfort of my family for years to come..

In fact, the system will combines the ancient elements as described with the twenty-first century tecnology, in particular four solar panels that help heat the water and a big insulated tank (1500 liter) to store the surplus energy generated during periods of full capacity of the boiler, to release it when needed..

 

[lucajack2cv]

Time to put hands to the fireplace: behind the enameled boiler we find the original kitchen fireplace..

Kitchen fireplace is located (in the tradition of Piedmont XVIII and XIX century farmhouses) on the wall opposite the door which connects with the stables. The back of the fireplace and his chemeny heats the central stair. A steel chimney had already slipped from top to bottom during the restoration:

After a day of demolition and debris removal (two truckloads .. seems incredible!) Needed to heal this very wet ravine (and digging up the large stones of the foundation-walls was finally possible to check on what supports the current floor of the room:

From the stratigraphy found as follows, from top:

-Concrete tiles, laid on cement bed; (Fifthies?)
-Sheet-tar (an attempt to sealing)
-Terracotta-tiled; (original floor)
-"Maciafèr"-layer, a sort of furnace-slag that the well-known "Bongioanni" foundry dispensed for free used with the function of rehabilitation;
-Pebbles; (for drainage and sanitation)
-Virgin land.

Detritus in the foundry is to be found an artifact: it is a fragment of a ceramic insulator of an old electrical lamp, which suggests that the floor tiles date back to the earliest of the early decades of the twentieth century, probably when the house was raised and built in its present form.

Probably the first floor was even lower, as the surrounding area and, since the water table could not be higher than now, dui moisture problems that the ancient builders and inhabitants had to be faced in the past very serious.

The rehabilitation of the substrate of the room with contemporary techniques'll do then, for now proceed with the final arrangement of the fireplace:

Walking in the yard I made an archaeological discovery of what probably was the old threshold of the door of the barn or the slab of the bridge that crossed the channel at the entrance of the property. And 'right that is reincarnated into something?

Here is the room wellcleaned...

.. and here is the first slab laid and tapped on a semi-dry sand and cement topping:

followed by the second .. laid mosaic:

Similar (especially the thickness), but unfortunately completely into pieces was the stone placed vertically on the bottom of the chimney, whose function was to protect the wall from the flame alive and reflect heat. Even here we have "reincarnated" two stone slabs, less thick, of which one covered an old chimney on the roof while the other, chiselled in the center to form a perfect circle, I think was a WC antelitteram:

The practical hole helps us to channel a little 'heat, conveyed through the pipe in PCV orange, can heat a micro-rest-room next to fireplace. A round cast element, cleaned and painted, hide the ugly plastic pipe:

Meanwhile, the boiler comes in..

 

[lucajack2cv]

This boiler is such a monster.. I trust seriously in it and already I imagine the warmth of the home..

I could just call him "The General" as the locomotive of Buster Keaton ;-)

 

[lucajack2cv]

En passant, here's one of the four majestic lanterns that adorn the main street of my town..

Who made it? ;-)

Mhmmm.. and who made these great gates in front of the royal palace in Turin?

http://www.comune.torino.it/scatTO/archivio/2005/novembre05/20051122.shtml

Ahhh...
"In 1834 Carlo Alberto instructs Pelagius Palagi to implement the project for the new Canceled; in 1835 John Colla and Chiaffredo Odetti get paid 145,500 pounds for "training and placement of a large iron gate time working out the real Grand Palace" and "give oil paint in two coats to both sides." The original concept was for three openings: the central one between the two equestrian statues that remained, while the two halves of the side sections have been closed with elements designed to be open. 1842: Giovanni Battista Manfredini and Luigi Viscardi realize the bronze casting of Castor and Pollux on horseback, by Abbondio Sangiorgio the plaster molds were made ​​by Diego Marielloni. The Palagi completed the gate with eight cast-iron chandeliers, gas powered, then very innovative technology. In 1895, the court architect Emilio Stramucci required maintenance: the conservation status of the gate was precarious because the original cast was divided into many parts, resulting in numerous water leaks. In 1932 the Royal Family decided to fully replace the fence with another new cast, recasting was entrusted to the firm Manfredi & Bongioanni Fossano. The restoration was conducted in full compliance with the instructions palagiane: after cleaning and consolidation, has been stretched a green bronzed, in line with that of the equestrian statues, action on these was very influenced by the previous speakers who had removed their valuable historical patina."
http://www.consultaditorino.it/progetti-completati/cancellata-palazzo-reale.aspx

Back to human mortal works, here's the fireplace stones at their place and the reinforced shoulders (the wall is kind of "bag" that is, incoherent jumble of stones, pieces of brick, lime etc.):

While here my trustworthy builder Alessandro proceeds with great skill to cover the walls with tiles, 40x20x3.5 new but old-looking, thanks to a few years to rot outside in the cluster of building materials that littered the yard ..

And finally, here "the General" is finally in position, the giver of heat iron (frightened by my description, the plumber on the phone asked me if I'm the monster did not exceed the 30,000 kcal in this case because the law provides a special room and compartmentalized for .. Fortunately, the technical characteristics of the building have been lost in the folds of the story)

Confident in the technical progress of central heating, we are preparing to give a final farewell to the good old "Warm Morning" stove that with the adoption of the double-diffuser had reached its full potential.. however, never went beyond the heating of one single room.

On the cover is ready the historic brass plaque which will seal the cheminy hole ;-)

In conclusion, a "historic pose" of the General:

 

[lucajack2cv]

Here again. The engineering works are continuing with the repair of pipes and radiators historical MB (Manfredi & Bongioanni):

A sturdy "brushed to death" treatement, first with the hard radial brush and then with a soft one for "polishing" restores luster to the old armory..

Ahhhh...

Same "punishment" for his temper and walled pipes exposed.. On this occasion, painting the walls in soft colors ..

Et voila, His Majesty the radiator:

Lastly, two valuable products, PROMET and ZUM, both produced by the firm of Volvera ITALA (TO) (just to demonstrate that italian industry is not dead yet!) useful also in the context of automobile-restoration, the first to protect chrome, brass, iron properly after they are glazed, the other to finish matte black pots, stoves, boilers and several cauldrons. Note the cans from their d'antàn look, Zum especially designed by the son of Mr. ITALA in elementary school.. ;-D

 

[lucajack2cv]

Beauty of heaters finishing is due brushed-to-death, nitro-cleaning and a veil of magic "PROMET". As for details:

Ahhh...

 

[lucajack2cv]

Another heater has to be restored for the upper floor: the original one, cracked-by-frost, was unrecoverable.. As I tried!

Fortunately, among the good ones and there is one already blasted the right height and conveniently sized. I just have to refine it, keeping the other for future developments:

In these pictures, two "MB" trademarks, which is the oldest? Mah!

Identical pre-treatment, then a primer coat of epoxy primer. Finally sprinkle of our "house color", a Seventies Peugeot color called "Vert Tillieul":

Et voilà, just need the plumber to connect it all .. But before remain how to get the beast up here on the first floor.. I hope into the the mason and his big hook!

Finally also this second radiating elementis connected to the pipes. The radiation experiments will involve only these two radiators (and these two rooms)

Back to the ground floor and to the General pipe-connections:

My plumber Danilo at work..

.. equipped with a new / old pressure gauge (the first had an absurd scale) and a contact thermometer on the outlet tube, "The General" is now ready for operation:

A simple cerimony..

 

[lucajack2cv]

As you can see, the top compartment is not yet defined. We had the problem of how to make the most of the heat of the flue which is lower than that of a common stove for the absorption of the water that circulates around the stove.

Part of the heat is already USED to heat the stairwell on the other side of the wall through two holes, low draws airi n and the other spits air out at higher temperature.

Part at the time he goes up the old portion of the chimney is not capped, the idea is to cap and at the same time using the space immediately above the boiler to obtain a practical warming-chafing dishes.

Following the preparation of the branches of the chafing dishes, made from a piece of walnut from a middle-age window..

The rest of the casing is made from oak beams from the old roof, rustic stuck with precision to form a frame that will also hold the top of the curtain-wall.

For the hinges I had some forged from the type used in the area between seven and eight hundred century, I think until they were made commercially available in sheet folded hinges still in production. These one, older, brushed to death and finished with a layer of transparent, seems to be straight out of a Spanish galleon ..

And finally the knobs in place of I branches (two ceramic insulators) and hooks to stop them:

 

[lucajack2cv]

As you'll notice is already placed the small track-type rail that supports the sloping tiles, suitably drilled for the steel chimney and ready to be topped by a reinforced concrete slab which constitute the plan of the warming compartment.

Here we can see other structural elements: the frame elements (no less than fifteenth-century terracotta recovered long ago at an insane even partial demolition in a historic building in the area) and two shelves also cast recovered (them supported a big washdiches in a soup-kitchen for a community) for the final crowning of the contruction:

Alessandro's splendid work with the terracotta elements frame..

Here the brackets and old cast-iron plates placed (Ash? Chestnut?) that will be used to assemble the shelf..

A new morning on a new wellfare! And first charge of beech wood (it needs to dry a little..)

No more hardship and suffering in the future .. No more children who depart in the morning the blanket riddled and break the veil of ice water in the basin to wash their face .. The welfare will arrive in our house as promised by the advertisement ..

NEVER REGRETS WITH THESE PLANTS! ;-D

 

[lucajack2cv]

At first proof, we continued supercharged water reached 70 ° centigrades, usually the limit for a boiler of this type, over you invente the steam engine.. Logically, without an adequate fuel supply the award-winning foundry Bongioanni will not be able to heat enough, so I continue in parallel to look for timber.

From a local carpenter I had some heads of beams and oak-compact waste of significant size, although not enough seasoned for this winter.

The HY Citroen Van, with its 1.300 kg payload, once again proved to be risolutive.. ahem.. even burdened with a little overload:

Of course, a small bench saw can not attaks blocks of this size. Being wastes they are also damned gnarly! A gentle neighbour has provided me the right weapon:

And slowly stocks get stronger and with them the hopes of having a comfortable winters..

 

[i8tokyo]

very cool, makes me wanna take a trip and check it out myself.

 

[Dave Outside Omaha]

Luca,

Of course we have heard about Italy's financial troubles. I assumed that you would be at least touched by those difficulties. I'm saddened to hear about the work problems experienced by your friend. But your stories and pictures are so lovely that those difficulties appear only in the background.

Do they house swap in Italy? Where two people or familes in different areas trade homes for a period? A cheap vacation. Well, I bet there's dozens of Americans (or Britons) who would gladly hand over the keys to a home in San Francisco or Denver or Boston (or London) for a chance to experience what you've got.

Thanks for not saying anything about my Fiat. I have heard the the repution of X1/9 in Italy is poor. It's pleasantly different here.

Best,

Dave

 

[tinbender 66]

I just read this whole thread. Absolutely fantastic!!!

 

[widerberg]

Great to see you back, Luca! And wonderful write-ups. They make me want to find an old radiator now!

 

[tpond]

Absolutely spectacular!

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Holy 'chit, check out that tractor PTO driven band saw!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Luca, you are the absolute handyman, able to take a piece of what most of us would consider "junk" and re-purpose it into something nice and useful. Re using the very old pieces you have salvaged and picked up is wonderful. It may take your entire lifetime, but you and your wife, and child, will restore the farm and buildings to their previous splendor and glory.

Charles

 

[993James993]

This thread is fantastic!

 

[fatboy99]

Absolute work of art !! Luca your very resourceful man. Your plumbing to the boiler is amazing !!!
Thank You so much for sharing your projects with us.

 

[Grizz1963]

Awesome , just Awesome.

I love the whole system you have managed to construct.

Would love some of the wood on my lathe to make stuff with

 

[jktruck150]

I love what you have done with the place! Glad you got the heaters/broilers in!

 

[JSBriggs]

I cant believe that I've missed this thread until now! Luca what an amazing place you have there. I love the old world craftsmanship, and how you have maintained that with all of your labor. There are so many treasures hidden in the background of all of your pics. Its worth looking over them again and a again to take it all in.

-Jeff

 

[Wingnut65]

Awesome update, Luca. Those pictures show where you have been spending your time lately. I can just imagine the warmth that heater gives your home. Congrats!

 

[lucajack2cv]

Wintertime in all Italy. Winternight at Citrogarage..

Enchanted nights and muffled sounds encourage cetaceans mechanical hibernation ..

Mechanical cetaceans hibernated, always cetaceans hibernated, anywhere cetaceans hibernated, since in the most unexpected ..

... cetaceans ibernated!

 

[barnale]

This is an awesome thread indeed. I love this old european look which your garage has. Thanks for sharing all these pictures with us. I'm slightly impressed and I like also that you've so much space! I really envy you for that. Mine is quite small unfortunately, but there's no way that I can do anything against it, or move out of my place

 

[lucajack2cv]

:-( Wood needs grow..

I take this opportunity to document my attempts to enrich the variety of pollutants emitted by the "General" became aware that a local inventory of materials for manufacture retained a fair supply of coal "coke", a sort of "fine" of coal, as he said, imported from somewhere in Germany...

I do not know if the import began in the drafting of the treaties of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951, is the fact that the pile was covered with grey dust. The request of this kind ok coal must be declined dramatically (do not use it even for the blacksmiths forge since they sell a very fine charcoal), the price seemed interesting and I decided to buy it and try, attracted by its high calorific value (30 Mj / kg, twice the dry wood), confident in the ability of the General "digest" and finally spurred by continued frost (the other morning the thermometer against the house marked -13 °, -20 ° have been in open countryside) which obliges us to keep the boiler on 24h/24.

I did not have in my collection a fifthies Citro-truck U23, perhaps with practice tipping bucket made by "Carrosserie Geneve " ,I proceeded with delivering a 8-9 q.li, hand-dercharged easily from the truck to a container quickly prepared ..

The practical and specific coal-bucket was already in my disposal , although it was used as umbrella-container..

Clearly this stuff doesn't take fire directly, is a species of food-supplement for wood. Poured on the flame alive, almost extinguish it. Situation is still worse when, following the recommendations of the supplier, I spray a bit of water on in order to promotes the initiation crackling..

After half an hour, finally, the pieces of coke turn into red-hot stones that give off a small blue flame. Sincerely in large combustion chamber that sounds a little 'get lost, even if the internal temperature is actually being very high I do not know how much heat is transmitted to the water that circulates in the modular, practically no flame.

Yesterday I continued to fuel-burning, since coal takes 2-3 wood-charges before burning out completely. The advantage seems to be particularly at night, because with these temperatures do not talk about it to let off the system: the mass burning keeps a good temperatureand just charge a couple of times in the night because the circulating water always remains between 40 and 60 degrees..

Lj

 

[lucajack2cv]

In the days before the meeting for the 20 years of our italian 2CV club (an event "ecumenical" addressed to all lovers of popular cars of Fifthies, sixties and Seventies with hope to share the "citroen 2CV lifestyle" with other clubs: http: / / www.2cvclubitalia.com/public/smf/index.php?topic=7093.msg203626 # msg203626 ) the camping area was provided, inter alia, to allocate a large concrete skating ring for use of small riders pedal cars. I have gained conviction to complete an old project: build a model car with pedals that recalls the forms and materials of a vehicle coming from "the dawn of the automobile age"

;-)

I took the frame and steering system from a modern beby-car with "dysneian" design, found in the garbage with the plastic parts ruined but with a metal frame in perfect condition. About the wheels, I looked for an ancient stroller with spoked wheels, solid rubber coated..

How do you say I was holding the two ends of the rope, would solve the problem was only a matter of time: A few seconds were needed to verify that the wheel well were applied to the frame, fortunately, not only the diameter of the pin was perfect but the spring clip is adapted marvelously well as the rose window that transmits motion from the metal bar driven by the pedals of a wheels:

Only modification required, to move the front axle to the top of the sides of the frame to obtain an arrangement of the wheels more similar to those of the cars of the early twentieth century..

And here is the finished frame. What do you say, Carl Benz he would take me into his little factory? ;-)

 

[lucajack2cv]

For the body I was inspired by the films of Blake Edwads "The Great Race" and by the favorite cartoon of my childhood, "the Wachy Race". There is no reason why a child of the twenty-first century does not appreciate them too..

Among the trash-treasures at my disposal, the choice falls on a finned crankcase of an old air conditioner or refrigerator... the fireball takes its form..

In the interlocking wooden plank a hygrometer arising in that home weather stations that are usually hung in the dining room of the houses of the grandmothers and a few other like-throttle brass, the original steering angle has changed and has been extended with a slash threaded rod and a tube stuck in the greased wooden tube that acts. The steering wheel will be the only piece to be manufactured from scratch, starting from a smooth rod recovery..

 

[lucajack2cv]

Finally have to provide a comfortable seat, sturdy and with the correct distance from the pedals to allow the rider to develop the power needed to excel in sports competitions. In At the bottom I placed the only surviving piece of my first bicycle, Brand "Plinia", which function as a spare wheel ..

After working most of the night to complete it, arrived on the site of the club meeting of such number were commitments that I even remembered to test it on the ice rink on the part of some of the children present!


Pssst.. Well, actually one of the children present has tested.. ;-D

 

[babaluba]

Love it! Really good work, especially from a recycling point of view!

 

[lucajack2cv]

The fireball finally has a true pilot ..

..... the classical "Sunday driver"

 

[mancavesanctuary]

Wow! I truly enjoyed the transformation of all of those projects. You are truly a Jack of all trades.


Congrats,

Ken

 

[-Brent-]

Incredible. This is my absolute favorite thread on the Garage Journal. Lucajack, you're an old soul. I admire that, very much.

Keep up the stellar work!

 

[Grizz1963]

Awesome Build there.

Little guy seems to be just the right size for growing into it.

Love the re-use.

Snow pictures are lovely too.

 

[dare23]

Che bella macchina!
Keep warm!!

 

[marcello7x]

Wow unbelievable thread. Great job on everything luca. Maybe one day i'll come see the citrongarage when im back in italy. I was just in Avenlino last summer to visit family. I landed in Milan and drove down.

 

[Dennis Cavallino]

Hi Luca,

What a great little car!!