Unique Steam Radiators

Dan Foley

I snapped these photos during a recent trip to St. Augustine.  I saw these during a tour of the Ponce de Leon Hotel, now Flagler college. 



- DF

Dan Foley

Ponce de Leon Hotel

Here is a photo of the hotel, built by Henry Flagler in 1888. 

gerry gill

now those

are just simply gorgeous! They need heat down there?

Dan Foley

Alcazar Hotel

And the Alcazar Hotel (now Lightner Museum) directly across the street from the Ponce de Leon Hotel.  This was also built by Henry Flagler in 1887. 



I had never visited St. Augustine before but I absolutely loved the architecture of the old buildings in the historic district. 



- DF

Steamhead

Those are either

Nason, Reed or Bundy radiators. Did you see any name on them? 

nicholas bonham-carter

Steam in Florida

Yes they do need heat. If the citrus groves can get frozen, then so can the guests.

When I was in Boca Grande Fla, I saw one pipe steam radiators in the Gasparilla inn, and I hope that the system was working properly.

Naturally, it is even more important to have good main (not rad) venting, with a low back-pressure, in a heating system like that where a quick response is needed. (at night).

It was not cold enough when we were there to see how well the system was working.

There must have been, or still are some competent steam men in Florida!--NBC

ttekushan_3

Beautiful.

I would never have guessed that you would find them in FL.  But NBC has a point.  That architecture and craftsmanship is virtually unreproducible today.  A true treasure!



There were various refinements to this style wrought iron pipe radiator.  But they all have about the same ratings, about 1 square foot EDR per pipe.  I can see why they fell out of favor from a manufacturing standpoint:  every size required a different base casting.



I've had the pleasure of standing near one of these on a cold bitter winter's day.  Their ability to throw radiant heat is remarkable. 



I've just come across another 1880's church in my neck of the woods, Cleveland, with the Cleveland version.  I've seen them here with both Cleveland and Akron manufactured castings.  These, in particular were made by Worswick Mfg, Cleveland, O., and John Robb Mfg, Akron, O.



http://www.google.com/patents/US161085?printsec=abstract&dq=161085#v=onepage&q=161085&f=false



Edit:  Looking more closely at your radiators, the pipes actually appear to be shaped and not round, squared off at the top and not arced.  Interesting casting.

Jean-David Beyer

Book protection?

Keeping books on top of a radiator is bad for the books. It would be even worse for paperback books. Is there some insulation in the top of those radiators to protect the books (I doubt it), or do not the owners of the books care what happens to them?

ttekushan_3

The books were

protected by a malfunctioning system at the time this photo was taken.  These radiators were turned off to force steam to literally hammer its way to a cold part of the building.  These problems were all rectified and the books are kept from the radiator tops.  They get quite warm now!