General Auction of Many House-Clearance Items inc. Many Vintage Nautical Items, Blonde Ercol, Doulton, Jual Curve, White Goods, Victorian Furniture, Instruments and more.

General Auction of Many House-Clearance Items inc. Many Vintage Nautical Items, Blonde Ercol, Doulton, Jual Curve, White Goods, Victorian Furniture, Instruments and more.

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Lot 66: A Heavy Gauge Copper Header Tank / Fuel Reservoir

This auction ended on 17 October 2026.

Start price: £20

Estimated price: £20 - £22

Buyer's Premium: 20%

Sold for: £26

A heavy gauge copper header tank or fuel reservoir, suitable for vintage machinery or steam engine applications. The vessel is constructed with a horizontal cylindrical body featuring a prominent longitudinal seam with brazed joints. It is fitted with a large threaded brass filler cap to the side and a smaller threaded fitting located on the upper surface. The copper body displays a dark, naturally aged patina with areas of green verdigris. A small paper adhesive label is present on the side, hand-written with the characters 9 on the right and R 20 or R 23 on the left; these appear to be temporary process or inventory markings rather than manufacturer marks. No other stamps or maker’s names are legible on the metal surfaces.

Length: 45 cm
Diameter: 15 cm.


Condition report:

The tank is in a used and unrestored condition. The copper and brass surfaces show significant oxidation, heavy tarnishing, and widespread verdigris (photo 1). There are numerous surface scratches, scuffs, and small indentations consistent with industrial use (photo 2). Dark residue and dirt accumulation are visible around the brazed seams and the filler cap (photo 2). Adhesive residue remains from old labels on the cylindrical body (photo 1).