Date this Crane furnace

[Marc 83]

First time I ever see this brand here.  I think the house dates to the 50's or earlier.

 

[Bill Kibbel 77]

My notes state that Crane ceased manufacturing HVAC products in 1968.

[Marc 83]

Thanks Bill.  That's enough to leave it to an HVAC professional.  I didn't want to fire up something that old.

[Jim Katen 138]

I'd say it's from 1963 or earlier based on the abbreviation of Illinois. Pre-63 was Ill, Post-63 was IL. 

Don't try to decode the serial number. They tended to just be sequential in those days, without any specific encoding of dates. 

 

 

[Jim Katen 138]

And now that I think about it, it's probably older. The plate has a check box for manufactured gas. In my area, manufactured gas was gone by the mid 50s. 

[Marc 83]

All good information for my report.  'Mid-50's or earlier' fits the K&T remnants (still energized) and oversized structural members that I saw on this house.

Thanks.

[Tom Raymond 27]

In my experience midcentury FAUs are big. Like 3 to 4 times the size of a modern unit. 

Size, color, and aesthetic all help narrow your guess.

[Chad Fabry 54]

The label and AGA logo look very similar to my 1959 Richmond (RIP) Winter Air Conditioner. The heat exchanger was a barrel inside a box.

[mjr6550 5]

My best guess is mid 1950's to early 1960's. 

[Les 79]

likely 1950's.  no zip code on tag.