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Old natural gas burners

bob_50
bob_50 Member Posts: 306
when the boiler lasted longer than the mortage.

Comments

  • Adam_13
    Adam_13 Member Posts: 49
    Old natural gas burners

    Hello, I'm in a 100 year old house. Down in the basement is the original Arco Ideal (American Radiator Co.) Steam boiler from 1904. It is a thing of beaty. As expected though, it needs help. It also has a late 40's or early 50's natural gas conversion burner that must of been one of the first ever made(I think its the reason the old boiler is still there. It went right from coal to natural gas and so never plugged up with oil soot from neglect). Anyway, it is a Republic Gyroscopic Balance Gas Conversion Burner model R maufactured by the Autogas Company. Is there anyone out there that knows anthing about these burners or has any information about them? It is very much "Rube Goldbergesque!" I would like to know how it works so I can trouble shoot it. A schematic would be great. Also, out of curiosity, is there anyone out there that has any info on the boiler as to boiler ratings? I know this is a stretch but maybe someone out there knows. Thank you for your time-Adam
  • tim smith
    tim smith Member Posts: 2,807
    old conversion burner

    Please send a digital pic, love to see it. I thought that maybe i had seed one of the oldest from the 50s but would love to compare. PS we work on pretty much all conversions but I have never heard of this make. Thanks, Tim. E mail tim@reedwrightheating.com
  • Adam give me a call or e-mail

    me I have all the information on the Republic Gyroscopic Conversion Burner. Do you get domestic hot water from the boiler? If not it is usually fires at around 130,000 BTU's.

    Those burners by the way are very touchy. Also you do not want to damage the ceramic "beehive" as those are not avilable anywhere. Is your unit still set up to go from low fire to high fire? Most of them many years ago were adjusted to fire at full inut at all times.

    You can reach me on Monday at 401-437-0557 or e-mail me at gastc@cox.net. I will make a copy of the instructions and send them to you but unless you are a professional gas technician trained on these units I do not recommend touching them.
  • jeff_51
    jeff_51 Member Posts: 545
    isn't it interesting?

    that the same guys who bemoan how ineficient we are in out heating and cooling thinking, are the same guys who salavate over keeping this be-utiful old ineficient stuff going? I love the old quality stuff too, but it's like driving that old Ford model A you have in the garage to work everyday. I'm not picking on anyone, it's just the nature of guys who love the buisness.
  • Robert O'Connor_12
    Robert O'Connor_12 Member Posts: 728
    Tim

    Seen any of these ol' Glasby conversions? These were made in good ol' Belleville, New Jersey (not far from Chas. Connolly Dist.). This is a before shot of an old Richardson gravity conversion job. Notice the overflow from the expansion tank in the attic shooting out the side of the house

    Robert O'Connor/NJ
  • Ken D.
    Ken D. Member Posts: 836
    Burner

    I For one, like to see how the Dead Men built things. The equipment was good for the day, and probobly state of the art. They should all be replaced, but beauty is forever. Some were art deco, some streamlined, some like locomotives, but all were works of art by some of the best artisans the likes of which we will probably not see again. These are from an era when men were men. Sorry to gush.
  • Adam_13
    Adam_13 Member Posts: 49
    gas burner

    Hello Mr. Smith, I do not have a digital camera yet, but I will see if I can't borrow my friend's and get some pictures out this week

    Hello Mr. McElwain, thank you very much for responding. I'll give you a call Monday afternoon, as I would be very interested in any information and advice you might have.Thanks again-Adam
  • JORGEEEEEE
    JORGEEEEEE Member Posts: 3
    GAS BOILER 1956

    OKAY I HAVE BOILER 1952 MAYBE



    MAY BOILER  HAVE LOTS OFF OLD THINKS LIKE  GIROSCOPE BALANCE GAS CONVERSION   I HAVE GAS VALVE  TYPE V80C3DJ5X2 24 V 65 A   60CY I NEED US UNIVERSAL  GAS VALVE FOR MY BOILER



    THIS MOMEMT I DO NOT AFFORD NEW



    PLEASE IF YOU NO  THE PLACE SALE OLD PARTS FOR THIS BOILER I IPRECIATE

    JORGE
  • JORGEEEEEE
    JORGEEEEEE Member Posts: 3
    PICS FROM MY BOILER

    PLEASE SEE IF US SALER PARTS FOR THIS BOILER
  • JORGEEEEEE
    JORGEEEEEE Member Posts: 3
    ONLY FOR YOU W MY RESPECTS

    AMIGO NO MONEY YOU GETTER  SO PEOPLE NEED  REPAIR



    VERY HONEST I DO NOT LIKE ANTIQUES ONLY PICASSOS I DO NOT AFFORD



    THIS WAY I NEED  REPAIRS MAYBE YOU ARE RICH OR EVER I AM NOT



    PEOPLE NEED  LUCKING FOR SHIP PARTS

     SATISFACTION
  • Tim McElwain
    Tim McElwain Member Posts: 4,637
    Jorgeeee you need to hire

    a professional to do a retrofit on your boiler or think about getting a new boiler. The procedure for converting a Republic Gyroscopic Conversion over is very complicated and requires a change also of the pilot system. There are gas valves that can do this but a professional should be doing the retrofit.



    That Honeywell V80 C valve by the way is very dangerous and needed to be removed a long time ago.
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,290
    And that old round boiler

    according to one of my old books, was only about 40% efficient on oil, so it's likely just as bad on gas. Replacing it won't be cheap, especially since it has asbestos on it, but you will definitely use less fuel with a new boiler.



    Is this a steam or hot-water system? Where are you located?
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
This discussion has been closed.