Douglas Hansen Posted October 16, 2010 Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 In our discussion group here in the Bay Area, we are scratching our heads over this photo taken in a 100-year old house. I'm guessing it is a tempering tank. Anyone familiar with these? Douglas Hansen Click to Enlarge 86.38 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted October 16, 2010 Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 If that were in the Portland area, and if it were in the attic, I'd say it's just a hot water storage tank. Probably fed from water coils in the cookstove. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Kibbel Posted October 17, 2010 Report Share Posted October 17, 2010 Jim is quite likely correct. If it's a tall cylinder tank and appears to be 20 gallon capacity or more, it's a range boiler. All of the range boiler tanks I've seen are supported on the bottom by a cast iron trivet stand. It stored hot water from the "water back" of a coal or wood-fired cooking range. The water back was a cast iron box installed in place of the rear fire-box lining in the range. Many of these exploded causing injuries and death. I have a diagram somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Kibbel Posted October 17, 2010 Report Share Posted October 17, 2010 Click to Enlarge 17.88 KB From Mechanics Of The Household by E. S. Keene 1918 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Douglas Hansen Posted October 17, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2010 Thanks guys. One of the San Francisco inspectors said the same thing too. Douglas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted October 17, 2010 Report Share Posted October 17, 2010 They seem to have been used with gas cookstoves as well. Click to Enlarge 130.6 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inspectorjoe Posted October 21, 2010 Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 http://www.vintagekitchens.com/Cozy-hearth-3.htm Gee, doesn't the sweat-fitted copper tubing add just the right touch of historical authenticity? [:-yuck] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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