CPB wrote: ↑28 Jul 2021, 23:34
To clarify, the radiator in this photo – to my mind – was moved here
during the destruction rather than being originally situated inside the bookcase.
Whilst it's the case that that is entirely possible, it seems unlikely to me for two reasons:
1. These are not like the electric oil-filled radiators on wheels that people (like me) have at home. These are permanently plumbed-in radiators that circulate very hot water pumped from a boiler (usually in the basement) around the room/house, from radiator to radiator. It's not something that can be just picked up and moved without cutting/breaking pipes. [For the technically minded, sometimes these systems super-heated water to above 100 degrees C (212 degrees F), ie. above boiling point, but were prevented from boiling to steam by pressurisation. This is more efficient and heats more quickly. I'm not saying that method was used here, I have no idea, it's just a cool technical footnote. Actually, not cool, a
super-heated technical footnote.]
2. The radiator in the photo is too nicely and squarely placed to have been cut away from its previous (permanent) position and placed where we see it. If is had indeed been placed there I doubt it would be upright, straight, and perfectly parallel to the stairway. With all the destruction surely it would be lying on its side. Why would someone stand it up and place it perfectly straight and aligned? Without its supporting pipes it would likely fall over anyway. Nope, it's too neat. I think it's still plumbed in to its pipes in its original position. Happy to be proven wrong if anyone has contrary evidence.
Helly Angel wrote: ↑28 Jul 2021, 23:26
I do not intend to deny or affirm anything, but there were books, not the radiator.
It's possible and indeed entirely likely that the radiator was enclosed in a recess that was open only to one side, ie. the side facing the stairs, not the side facing the piano. If this was the case then in the photo you're referring to, you would indeed only see books, confirmed by the first pic below (which has been posted here before). The single side exposing the radiator would have been covered by a wooden grille similar to the ones in the second pic below. As far as I'm aware all of the radiators in the great hall were covered by grilles.
Helly Angel wrote: ↑28 Jul 2021, 23:26
By the way, someone knows who is the lady?
Yes. Geoff does.
