mjr6550 Posted May 29, 2014 Report Share Posted May 29, 2014 I saw this today in a detached garage. Garage was probably built after 1907 and no later than 1920s. The water pipe coming up from the slab comes from the house. At the top left a pipe would have been connected with a union. Edit: I realized that I posted one photo twice. I added a different photo. Still looking for an answer. Click to Enlarge 43.36 KB Click to Enlarge 35.36 KB Click to Enlarge 52.52 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kogel Posted May 29, 2014 Report Share Posted May 29, 2014 That looks like a gas burner. A bunch of rusted junk attached to the wall. [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjr6550 Posted May 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2014 Although the valves look like gas valves, I think it is water related. It appears that the center shaft rotates (there is a grease fitting at the left end). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjr6550 Posted June 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2014 158 views and nobody knows what this is? And you call yourselves home inspectors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erby Posted June 6, 2014 Report Share Posted June 6, 2014 Hmm, it's a doozy all right! I can tell it's some kind of Mechanical Device. Perhaps you should ask someone who calls themselves a Professional Mechanical & Structural Engineer!! [:-monkeyd[:-monkeyd[:-monkeyd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Kibbel Posted June 6, 2014 Report Share Posted June 6, 2014 In the 1930s, there were systems available that used water pressure to open and close bi-swing garage doors. I suspect that the pictured device is part of that type of opener system. I've never seen one, but read about them in publications from the period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjr6550 Posted June 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2014 In the 1930s, there were systems available that used water pressure to open and close bi-swing garage doors. I suspect that the pictured device is part of that type of opener system. I've never seen one, but read about them in publications from the period. Bill, Based upon how it looked this this thing would work, I think you are correct. I will try to research that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted June 8, 2014 Report Share Posted June 8, 2014 In the 1930s, there were systems available that used water pressure to open and close bi-swing garage doors. I suspect that the pictured device is part of that type of opener system. I've never seen one, but read about them in publications from the period. Bill, Based upon how it looked this this thing would work, I think you are correct. I will try to research that. If you find any more information about it, please post it here. The discs on that spindle resemble a fluid clutch system that I used to work with years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjr6550 Posted June 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2014 In the 1930s, there were systems available that used water pressure to open and close bi-swing garage doors. I suspect that the pictured device is part of that type of opener system. I've never seen one, but read about them in publications from the period. Bill, Based upon how it looked this this thing would work, I think you are correct. I will try to research that. If you find any more information about it, please post it here. The discs on that spindle resemble a fluid clutch system that I used to work with years ago. I spend over an hour searching today and found nothing. I did not look back to see if I posted the photo below. It has a company name on it, but no luck with that either. Click to Enlarge 50.08 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjr6550 Posted June 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2014 Hmm, it's a doozy all right! I can tell it's some kind of Mechanical Device. Perhaps you should ask someone who calls themselves a Professional Mechanical & Structural Engineer!! [:-monkeyd[:-monkeyd[:-monkeyd I'm asking here because that moron had no idea what it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kogel Posted June 9, 2014 Report Share Posted June 9, 2014 I did find one water-powered door opener, but that one is a bucket on a rope. [] I suggest studying the US patent records for the 1920's and 30's, sort of a winter project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Amaral Posted June 9, 2014 Report Share Posted June 9, 2014 Looks like a knurled-knob at the far-right end with a spring under it... like you'd see on a kerosene container for an old in-kitchen kerosene stove.. maybe those discs are part of a multi-stage filter?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kogel Posted June 10, 2014 Report Share Posted June 10, 2014 Looks like a knurled-knob at the far-right end with a spring under it... like you'd see on a kerosene container for an old in-kitchen kerosene stove.. maybe those discs are part of a multi-stage filter?? Bill says it is a water-powered winch, a door opener. Are you suggesting he could be wrong? [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Amaral Posted June 10, 2014 Report Share Posted June 10, 2014 Hah! Bill's probably right! Boy, that is some weird thing though... ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhis Posted November 5, 2015 Report Share Posted November 5, 2015 It is something which you cant encounter in your daily routine. It's probably built in 20's for water supply. But the thing is what is use of it now. If you really need to carry out with this, then it would be better if you replace it with new one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausdok Posted November 5, 2015 Report Share Posted November 5, 2015 Auto-actuator for a hot water loop. Not sure what the purpose would be - perhaps to keep hot water in a line to avoid long waits. When it cools down it allows a valve to cycle hot water into a loop. As that hot water moves into the loop, the bellows heat up and expand and force the valve shut again. When the bellows cool down again they contract and open the valve again to allow hot water to cycle into the loop, and so on....... ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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