Requests

The Salvage Store is a treasure trove for aficionados of Barbican Estate interiors. It contains innumerable doors (hinged, folding, sliding, glass, steel and wood), drawers, cooker knobs, tiles, switches and towel rails. However, some items are very rare. ‘Flying saucer’ cupboard door handles, glass domed bathroom lights and electrical sockets and switches come in rarely, original taps are in short supply and large bathroom sinks are rarely removed without damage.

The best way to approach the store is with a list that has all the necessary measurements. Measure up accurately, noting which side handles or hinges are on and any distinguishing features. Perhaps take pictures if it is something unusual. You can email us via the Contact page to make enquiries but we are happy for you to visit when the store is open, currently about once a month. (See Barbican Estatewide news bulletin for opening dates) – do bring your measurements and a tape with you!

Please also read the following information on a few of the issues we have helped with over the years.

TAP LEAK. Most of the time taps leak because their rubber washers have aged and can’t seal the pipe.  Replacing the leaking tap with a salvaged one can be counterproductive, as taps that have been in place for half a century will have their threads  clogged up with lime-scale and there is a strong possibility of cracking the porcelain  whilst tring to unscrew the tap, so you should always try having the washer replaced first.  New rubber washers are available at any hardware shop and take only a few minutes to replace.

HOB RINGS  Creda stopped making the original hob units a few years ago. They comprised hob ring, spill ring and electrics underneath. We have managed to locate new hob rings that fit the original electrics if the spill ring is removed and modified before being reassembled. The result is a good match, but the spill ring will look slightly different once modified. The original installations are likely to contain asbestos which may need removing by a licenced contractor as a separate job before an electrician can replace the hob. This work must be carried out by a qualified electrician and we suggest you contact either  Roger Thomas or Jason Glover, who are electricians who are on the Estate office list, and ask for a quote. If there is asbestos to remove this will be a separate job and will be expensive. Please note that hob replacement is not a Salvage Store service, and we cannot take responsibility for the actions of third parties.

GLASS DOME LIGHTS  The beautiful domed lights that are a highlight of the original bathrooms and toilets are very breakable and it can take years for a good one to come into the store. The best replacements we have seen are made by Limberg and are available in the lighting section of the German website Manufactum. www.manufactum.co.uk/limburg-ceiling-light.

DOOR HANDLES The most common door handles across the estate are still in production, so finding replacement handles and matching door furniture is relatively easy. The handle is called Assa Classic Lever 640 in satin chrome finish. The Assa Abloy website has a full door furniture list with all of the details and codes, available in the downloads section. However, a good place to start is on the following page: www.assa.co.uk. In the past we have successfully ordered replacements locally through Poole and Waite on the corner of Goswell Road and Clerkenwell Road. It is vital to ensure that you retain or replace the special connecting screws that hold the two parts of the handle together.

OVEN  We have been given the following information about oven parts over the years, but are not sure if it is still current. We should add that ovens may also contain asbestos and professional guidance should be sought before replacing parts. The original ovens model was Creda Plan Vista Oven 43911.

We have recently (March 2023) been told that elements are available from elementreplacement.co.uk using the product code: ELECR23 and that repairs to original ovens will be carried out by Capital Repairs in Harrow.