posted 07-06-2002 11:09 AM              

Received an item from my grandparents estate but it was in the attic so I never had a chance to talk to them about it.

If anyone can help me or point me in the right direction I would be most appreciative. I've already hit most of the English hallmark sites on the web, no help.

Bella

posted 07-06-2002 05:01 PM              

I appreciate anything that you can find on the item. It's a "Napierian" vacuum coffee brewer. Designed by Robert Napier. You can see an example of one here: Old Coffee Roasters

Of course the item that I have is all silver and apparently not quite as old. Here is a newer version:

Thanks again for your help, I hope you can find your "additional" information.

Jimbo

posted 07-13-2002 07:33 PM            

We had seen a few rare examples of the Napier coffee maker and were almost brought to tears when we saw one in an antique shop some years ago turned into the base of a lamp. The next one we saw that was relatively intact, we brought home with us for safekeeping. Here is our baby. We date it to pre-1890 since it does not have the addition of a service tap.

posted 07-24-2002 12:34 AM              

I've attached a picture of the Napier that I have. If you can tell me any thing else about William Padley & Son or anything else about the Napier that I have I would be very greatful.

By the way, I REALLY like the Napier that you have, and yes, I can tell by looking at it that it's much older than mine.

Thanks again.

Jimbo

posted 07-25-2002 01:31 AM              

Jimbo

P.S.

posted 07-25-2002 08:50 AM            

Today "true" coffee afficionados' will swear that using the Vacuum or Syphon method is the only way to get the perfect cup of coffee/tea. But a vacuum/syphon coffee maker, which resembles laboratory glassware, is cumbersome, fragile and requires painstaking attention and careful storage.

It was not flavor but convenience and a need for a quick fix of caffeine that seems to have been the driving force in the evolution of the coffee maker. Such that the percolator, filter and "Mr. Coffee" methods are the norm today. Then there are the super designer coffees which deliver higher concentrations of caffeine in shorter brewing times. For example; espresso, cappuccino, French press, etc.

Ask anyone who has compared the slow brewing Vacuum/Syphon method to the more speedy, convenient, high caffeine methods what they think? You will hear that the Vacuum/Syphon method is the only way to get a full-flavored cup of "Joe" that tastes just like it smells.

Vacuum/Syphon coffee makers are still made. They can be expensive. But some would say "what does price matter if it results in the perfect cup."

Vacuum Pots are the least expensive and look like:

1. The ground coffee is placed in the upper globe and held in place by a filter.
   
2. Cold water is poured into the lower globe to the half-way mark. This leaves air in the other half of the lower globe.
   
3. Heating the sealed lower globe causes the air to expand and consequently the pressure forces the water up the tube into the upper globe.
   
4. When the heat is taken away, the pressure decreases and the now infused coffee filters down into the lower globe.

Napier style brewers are still made:

These add a feature, an automatic burner shut off, that is not found on JimboJava or on our antique Napier coffee maker. The left one uses a counter balance so as the water side empties it raises. Once high enough the burner flame cover is released extinguishing the flame. This automatically starts the Vacuum/Syphon process. The other Napier style maker uses springs, such that as the water side gets lighter it raises and does the same. I believe these are chrome plated.

When dining was an art, I am sure these Vacuum/Syphon makers had an honored place at table.

posted 07-25-2002 07:04 PM              

***************************************

There are a few variances that you missed that mark the differences between Vacpot, Syphon and Balance brewers.

----------------

1. Vacpots rely on a tube that extends into the "serving" pot so that when the water is brought to a boil it is forced by pressure into the vessel containing the coffee grounds. Remove the heat and the liquid is drawn back into the "serving" vessel by a vacuum.
   ----------------
   
2. Syphon (the Napier is a true siphon brewer) pots were originally designed this way: You would put your grounds in the "brewing vessel" and pour you boiling water over the grounds. You would then light the burner under the "serving" vessel which would cause the air inside to expand (only a small amount of water was in the serving vessel primarily to prevent breakage of the earlier glass models), remove the heat and the resulting vacuum would syphon the brewed coffee back into the serving vessel. Napier syphons differed from vacpots in that they DO NOT have a tube running into the serving vessel, it terminates just at the rim.
   ----------------
   
3. Balance brewers work in the same manner as the syphon brewers in that the tube extends into the serving vessel. You would start with cold (or hot) water in the serving vessel which was forced into the brewing vessel, the flame was then extinguished by the counter-balance and then the brewed coffee was drawn back.
   ----------------
   

posted 07-25-2002 07:08 PM              

Sorry...

posted 07-30-2002 07:39 PM              

Have you ever tried to use your Napier? I would like to try mine but the gasket is severly compressed and dried and I don't think that it will form a vacuum.

I use a Cory or Silex vacpot almost every day and love the coffee they make, much better than a autodrip. I'm interested to see what a Napier would make.

Hmm...

posted 07-30-2002 08:25 PM              

quote:

---

Originally posted by wev:
snip... That and a good cleaning with vinegar should bring it back to life.

---

As for the vinegar... no amount of "miracle cures" will work with a gasket that is over 100 years old.

posted 07-30-2002 09:49 PM            

We have not actually tried to made coffee with our Napier, but I must say, this thread has gotten us inspired to give it a go. I'll keep you posted.

posted 08-18-2002 09:43 PM              

I bought a small, thin sheet of "food grade" silicone and cut out a gasket for my Napier and then proceeded to make a pot of coffee. Let me tell you, I was quite impressed with how well it worked! I even used the original alcohol burner. The coffee was as good or better than my vacpots that I use! Now that I feel more comfortable with using it and less afraid of "ruining" it I'm likely to use it a little more often, most likely during dinner parties and when good friends are over.

If you haven't given your Napier a try, do so... Also, I have a couple of friends that are interested in the Napiers now, if you ever find anymore and don't want them yourself, please let me know. Also, if you ever want to part with yours, let me know!

posted 01-22-2014 11:36 AM            

Here is a video of a Balance brewer in action

posted 07-11-2017 10:17 AM            

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