Bill Kibbel Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 Can anyone guess what this is? Hints: - I've only seen 4; 3 at very rural 19th C farms and one at a remote late 19th C train station. - 2 were in-ground models. - After I describe what they are, folks always ask if it would be possible to restore them to working condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian G Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 Maybe it's my regional heritage, but I'm tempted to guess that it's for making alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, moonshine?). Why one would be in a train station I don't know, but that's my WAG. The little drawer pulled out at the bottom is very interesting looking. Brian G. Acme's 1817 Model Thingy-Bobber [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 A kimchee crock? - Jim Katen, Oregon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terence McCann Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 The in ground models have to be a different configuration right (no drawers that pull out)? The top looks like it opens. The liquid that makes it to the top goes into the drip funnel and follows the two pipes to the two draws at the bottom. Some type of a septic system? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgbinspect Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 Maybe some form of kerosene or oil fired space heater, (I'm guessing that the little hopper and tubes is a gravity fed metering and delivery system to regulate pressure) although, I see no exhaust. Otherwise, I'm stumped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 incinerator? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 Some kind of perpetual motion generator. I also came up w/some humorous & disgusting dirty suggestions about what our ancestors did w/it, but I'll spare the audience.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Hockstein Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 Gourmet coffee maker. Product soon to be available at Starbucks for $25/cup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgbinspect Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 And, people will happily pay the $25.00! I've often said, "It's amazing that we are willing to stand in line and pay 2 - 3 times what we should for coffee (roughly $13.00 a gallon?.. ) and cry over $2.50 a gallon gasoline... Now, that's marketing at its best! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausdok Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 Platform heater OT - OF!!! M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Fabry Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 I don't see any storage devices, but I'm guessing it used carbolic acid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 carbide heater? OK I am only giving you 48hrs to come up with at least a bogus answer!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 Urinal and toe warmer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 I'm pretty sure it's some sort of heater; the drip pan & pipes look like they're delivering a combustible to the "drawers", or the bottom of a heater. Or, the drawers are the cleanouts for the heater. But, where's the "chimney" vent? Chad's pretty tight on the mechanical stuff; somehow I think he's getting close. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inspectorjoe Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 Carbide gas generator? I guess Chad's on the same track. If that's what it is, I've seen one, an in ground unit. It was much bigger than that one, constructed of galvanized steel, and still had the original stenciled labeling on the interior. I'll look for the pictures, but I'm not too optimistic I'll find them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgbinspect Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 Yeah, Kurt, to amend my previous post, I'm wondering if the drawers didn't have some form of wick and screen similar to the old naptha hand /pocket warmer you can STILL get from Resoration Hardware. I got four of them a few winters ago and enjoy them on really cold days. If so, the little trough and delivery tubes with an air gap above would meter the flow and limit the pressure on the fuel. Now watch it be a popcorn popper or something... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baird Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 Water heater Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausdok Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 Yeah, Water heater was my first guess but then I couldn't figure out why a water heater would need those guide rods extending up from the unit. Then I thought maybe it was some kind of fruit or apple/fruit press/cooker but I couldn't reconcile what look like ash trays in the bottom or what looks like drip lines. Come-on Bill, you're killin' us! OT - OF!!! M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Fabry Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 I'm pretty sure it's an acetylene generator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 chad, i think we are right, except it would have to use the carbide in dry form and add water. the acid route would screw things up. likely was used to power platform lights (gas). it would be really cool if they stored the gas in sawdust and pressurized it. i am really just guessing, but at least i am in good company - Chad! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emalernee Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 They use to have Edison DC battery systems before AC power lines. Could this be one? Ezra Malernee Canton, Ohio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Simon Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 Clothes washer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 Simon, you moron. This is serious.... Come on Kibbel; the suspense is killin' me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgbinspect Posted March 25, 2006 Report Share Posted March 25, 2006 Bill's having a blast... Heck, I'm having a blast... Now, the only way I can see anything going up those tubes from the drawers is via pressure which would require tight sealing doors in front of the drawers (and there are flanges to either side of the drawer slots that may hold the missing doors...) but even then, the trough atop the tubes doesn't have a lid. It seems undeniable that whatever travels the tubes goes down to the trays. And the only reason I can see for the air gap between the twin tubes over the trough is to meter the flow and alleviate pressure from the reservoir above (assuming that there was one.) Gee, Bill, when you give us the answer to this one, you must do another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausdok Posted March 25, 2006 Report Share Posted March 25, 2006 You know, it 'sort' of reminds me of the drip heaters we had in the army. You fueled 'em up with gasoline and then let the gas drip down into a little combustion chamber where it would burn one drop at a time. We'd huddle around the darned things in the cold. A railroad platform heater? A heater for farm hands in the fields? A smudge pot to prevent frost in orchards? ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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