I've had my eye on this for awhile and finally managed to get to it a few months ago! In a church which doesn't open very often (except for worships) which I'd found online, and thankfully it is all present and correct even though the picture online was a few years old!
We have a gorgeous 1940's Shanks 'Nisa' earthenware pan, paired with a 1975 Twyfords bow-fronted cistern. I couldn't see any evidence of a HL so it was likely originally paired to a Shanks 'Parva' cistern. This also must be one of the last bow fronted cisterns made by Twyfords, as it was c1975 that they changed to the flat fronted design which was used throughout the 80's, it also has its original syphon, the first plastic one that Twyfords made, which just like the bow-front design, was updated in 1975 to the more common plastic syphon which was used into the early 90's, making this likely one of the last ones of its type too.
The pan does have some crazing sadly, which is typical of earthenware of this age, however I've seen much worse. The flush is pretty good but dies down towards the end, due to the sealing washer on the piston in the syphon being worn, a common problem these older Twyfords plastic syphons suffered as they age, however the diaphragm is still in good nick and starts effortlessly. (And I've just realised the cistern is 4 days shy of its 47th birthday, as of the date of this upload!)
