Kenning Dry Mounting Press

[Paul.]

Hi all, Help needed in sourcing spares for an old Kenning dry mounting press. This machine was made in London by the Kenning engineering Co.

The problem is that one of the elements has failed and the thermostat is tempremental in opperation. As I have it in bits I am trying to find replacement elements of around 200W 240V x4 that will clamp to the base plate. Any clampable element will do as I am prepaired to re engineer mountings if nessesary. A new thermostat would be desirable if I can get the elements as this would compleat the rebiuld.

I have tried a google search for these bits with no success to date.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, I am UK based but mail order is available world wide so that any source could be used.

Regards Paul.

 

[Monophoto]

Paul -

I have a Bogen/Tecnal drymount press. Last year, I found that it was not heating on one side. I could have simply scrapped it and bought a new press, but that was not economically attractive.

Instead, I took it apart to see if I could find the problem. I'm an electrical engineer by profession (now retired), and I also enjoy tinkering with things.

The heating element was a length of nickel-chrome wire embedded between layers of a paper-like material that I strongly suspect is asbestos. I used my multitester to check continuity of the heating element, and found that it was open on one side. Using a sewing pin as an extension to the probe on my multitester, I traced the coil continuity, starting at one terminal and working my way toward the other. Not surprisingly, I found that the break was at the point where the nickel-chrome wire had been attached to the terminal with a rivet. (Nickel-chrome wire is brittle and can easily break if it is mechanically stressed.)

I was able to dig away enough of the asbestos to free up a short length of the heating wire. Using crimp connectors, I repaired the break using a short length of copper wire to bridge the gap at the break.

While I had it open, I blew air through the thermostat to remove as much of the 50-year accumulation of dust and crud (that's a technical term) as possible.

Today, the press works just like new.

 

[Paul.]

Hi Louie,

Thanks for the advise, I have done something similar as a temperary measure but realy wanted to rebiuld the old girl for another 50 years of service. I cannot even think what a new one would cost. If it comes to it as my elements are wound on a silica core and are silica plate insulated I will get some Nickle Chrome wire and re wind the elements myself, all I will need is a length that gives me 230 Ohm impedance, the problem being that the silica is very brittle and has to be handled with extreme care.

Regards Paul.

 

[hal9000]

Paul -
I was able to dig away enough of the asbestos ...
While I had it open, I blew air through the thermostat to remove as much of the 50-year accumulation of dust and crud (that's a technical term) as possible.

Wow, that doesn't sound like a very healthy thing to do.

 

[tim rudman]

Hi all, Help needed in sourcing spares for an old Kenning dry mounting press. This machine was made in London by the Kenning engineering Co.

Regards Paul.

You don't mean Kennett do you?
If so, no longer in business but the manufacturer (the man, not the organisation) now produces uniloc tripods (I believe) and might help on the phone, but no longer in business for presses.
tim

 

[Roger Hicks]

You don't mean Kennett do you?
If so, no longer in business but the manufacturer (the man, not the organisation) now produces uniloc tripods (I believe) and might help on the phone, but no longer in business for presses.
tim

If it is Kennett it's Ken Brett.

He and his father lost badly in one of the Paterson collapses of the 1990s. A very nice guy.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Paul.]

Thanks Tim , yes it was Kennett not kenning. Can see how they went out of biusness, the biuld quality of this thing shows real engineering that has longivity stamped all over it.

As original parts not available will look for something I can make fit.

Again thanks to all.
Regards Paul.