I was trying to turn on an old wall heater but could not find a pilot light or the ususal knob one pushes in to light the pilot.
This is a very old wall heater. It has a burner that looks like the ones on a gaz cooker, with a shaft that has an air intake. I can turn the gaz valve on and light the burner with a match. There is a knob to control the flow of gaz, and when turned completely to the left, it turns the flame off, but no pilot light stays on.
One thing that cought my attention is a little wire and a sceal to prevent tampering with the unit. I am wondering if thie unit was condemned at some point, or if there is another purpose for this sceal. Hany ideas?

The house I grew up in in the 40's and 50's had a couple of free standing stoves that worked like that. I think my wife's grandparents still had such in the 70's. They had a gas well on the property and free gas.

With no safety controls, there were several modes of fatal accidents. Likely your heater was condemned. I can remember as a kid being taken to gawk at a house that blew up.