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Old Fangled Water Heater

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[#1] Posted: 09/19/2009 - 6:13:51 PM
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This was in the attic of the house I looked at today. I'm pretty sure it is a really old water heater, one of those point of use things from way, way, way back. Couldn't find a name on it anywhere. Looks like one of the holes in the top was a flu or at least a place for the exhaust to come out and there is a hole in the bottom of the casting that looks like a burner of some sort used to come through.

Gonna have to look through Mr. Weingarten's DVD now and see if he has a working model.

Seeing stuff like this is what I love about this job.



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Kyle Kubs
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Old Fangled Water Heater
[#2] Posted: 09/19/2009 - 6:30:00 PM
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I've seen pictures of them in OHJ but I've never seen one up close. Is the outer jacket made from sheet steel or cast iron?

- Jim Katen, Oregon

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Old Fangled Water Heater
[#3] Posted: 09/19/2009 - 6:31:21 PM
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I could be wrong but, I think that's an early Binford model.
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Old Fangled Water Heater
[#4] Posted: 09/19/2009 - 6:37:06 PM
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Yep,

It's an old sidearm water heater. Don't know if that was what they were called in the day but I nearly bought one for the schoolbus I converted to a camper back in the '70's. The junk dealer I was going to buy it from screwed up though; he warned me that folks used to blow themselves up with those things. That was enough for me to suddenly change my mind and consider other options for heating the water.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

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Old Fangled Water Heater
[#5] Posted: 09/19/2009 - 9:33:50 PM
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Quote: Originally posted by Jim Katen

I've seen pictures of them in OHJ but I've never seen one up close. Is the outer jacket made from sheet steel or cast iron?

- Jim Katen, Oregon


It's cast. Pretty heavy too.

Kyle Kubs
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Old Fangled Water Heater
[#6] Posted: 09/19/2009 - 10:59:42 PM
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That's from the Hotstream Heater Co., probably manufactured between 1915 & 1920. I have some info that I'll look for in the morning.
Bill Kibbel, Historic & Commercial Building Inspections - Old House Resources
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Old Fangled Water Heater
[#7] Posted: 09/20/2009 - 05:40:29 AM
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Awesome find! I've only found them broken up, never an entire unit.


Kurt in Chicago

"If I smell it, it goes in the report".............Phillip Smith...2012


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Old Fangled Water Heater
[#8] Posted: 09/20/2009 - 06:36:26 AM
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Quote: Originally posted by inspecthistoric

That's from the Hotstream Heater Co., probably manufactured between 1915 & 1920. I have some info that I'll look for in the morning.


Bill, as usual you are correct. Using that name I did a search and off course came up with Larry Weingarten's web site where he has one displayed from his personal collection, complete with the burner this one is missing.

http://www.waterheaterrescue.c...ank.html

Kyle Kubs
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Old Fangled Water Heater
[#9] Posted: 09/20/2009 - 06:44:34 AM
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http://www.waterheaterrescue.c...ome.html
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[#10] Posted: 09/20/2009 - 07:06:51 AM
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Here's the missing tag.
Click to View

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Bill Kibbel, Historic & Commercial Building Inspections - Old House Resources
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Old Fangled Water Heater
[#11] Posted: 09/20/2009 - 07:13:47 AM
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"Originally rain baths were only proper for sick people. Bathing in general was frowned upon as being effeminate and unhealthy. It was only after 1863, when a bathtub was installed in the White House that bathing began to lose its bad image."

Think about that for a minute.


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Old Fangled Water Heater
[#12] Posted: 09/20/2009 - 2:33:56 PM
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If u run it in reverse
would it make a good Still for distilling shine?

Great find

Love to have one of those for myself


Joe Laurieri
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