Old plumbing (Dan H.)

Steamhead (in transit)

For those not familiar: The usual setup had a trap below the frost line, and the valve that let the water into the tank was actually below the frost line too. The standpipe from the valve was drained either into a French drain or into the trap from the toilet. Can you say "cross-connection"?

One of my Dead Men's Books says it should be a criminal offense to advertise this type of toilet, as it was not sanitary. The trap almost always contained some waste from at least one usage- it did not siphon out like today's toilets do. This type of "hopper" bowl was also used indoors with a trap in the floor. Maybe the owner had some experience with these and didn't want it in the house?

These units fell out of favor in the early 1900s, for obvious reasons.

I've seen the Vogel name, not sure where though. I'll look thru my collection when I get a chance.

Please tell us you found a Vapor system in that house......

"Steamhead"

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DanHolohan

I'm posting this for a friend.

Dave Yates has already identified the freeze-proof toilet, but my friend (who can't post) is asking about the comany:

"I hope you find this as interesting as I did.

"While working on a renovation project for an older home, I explored an old shed behind the main house. Turned out to be "the little house behind the house" if you know what I mean. The home is the Beckford Home in Princess Anne, Maryland (11700 Beckford Ave., 21853) and dates to the 1700's. Obviously this addition is much newer than that.

"We in the 21st Century are so smug with our new inventions, such as a pressurized toilet. Seems that idea is not so new after all. The valve body is a two way valve. Sitting on the seat raises the valve stem to allow water to enter the storage device. Because it is a closed device, it pressurizes the air in that tank as it enters. Rising from the seat closes the inlet side of the valve and allows that stored, pressurized, water to flush the vessel. There is no trap apparent on the vessel as it joins a piece of cast iron that goes straight "down." Whether or not there is a trap below ground, I am unable to see. It's dark "down there."

"I tried an Internet search for J.A. Vogel Company of Wilmington, Delaware, without any success. I'm sure, with your resources, you will be able to answer the obvious questions.

"Because of the history and age of the main house, everything connected with this property has always been the best available, for it's time. The foundation walls are all brick and just a little over two feet thick. It still overlooks a body of water, the Manokin River but where in olden times the view was of sailing ships and steamers coming into port, now it is only a tributary of the surrounding marsh."

So, does anyone have any additional info on the J.A. Vogel Company of Delaware?

DanHolohan

And if you'd like one of your own

Vogel

Thanks to Dave Pryer for finding that one.

DanHolohan

More

From our friend Jim Wall. From a Ford & Kendig Company catalog. The company was founded in 1871 in Philadelphia.

It's good to have friends.

DanHolohan

And another link from Dave.

She's a Vogel!

ScottMP

I have a photo

of a young plumber, who looks like me with more hair, sitting on one of those. I'll try and post a picture. Its still in the basement of my customer.

Scott

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Brw1120

Joseph Vogal

This is awesome . I recently moved into an old stone house with an orchard ans smoke house. Attached to the smoke house is a bathroom an to my surprise there is a complete

Vogel toilet with flush tank . I am currently restoring the toilet so if anyone has any

Information it would help

TonyS

quite popular

in Reading pa. Many still sit connected but not working in dilapidated parts of town.

Many of the Vogels had the 4 inch cast trap exposed in the basement and the traps were never removed as new indoor plumbing was added to the house. This double traps the new toilet and causes trouble. Also you will want one of the 4 inch brushes they used to clean the foul waste between the toilet and the trap, I still see those around.

We will be having a Masters Meeting soon. We have a handfull of plumbers who are pushing 90. There is a good chance they have parts in their shops for Vogels yet. I dont know what condition but I will ask if you are interested.

Also you could easily rectify the cross connection with an air gap or vac breaker. The foul waste is a deal breaker though, they stink.

Canoe

Great granddaughter

In doing some research on my family my husband and I found this info about the Vogel Flush,.  My maiden name is Carol Vogel.  I am the great great granddaughter of Joseph August Vogel who invented the Vogel Flush.  As a child I heard about this many times.  My mom wrote about it in her journal before she passed away 7 years. ago. I would appreciate some feedback on it.  My name is now Carol Erhardt.  I live in Baltimore where I was born in 1945.  I can give you more info if you would like.  My phone # is 410-583-1710 and my address is 8528 Drumwood Rd, Baltimoe, Md 21286.



Thanks so much,



Carol  

nicholas bonham-carter

Family matters

Steamhead, above is a great source of information, and is in Baltimer, and his contact info is below his name.--NBC

Steamhead

I think

Dan actually started this thread. It dates back to the previous version of The Wall, and when it was copied to this version some of it got scrambled.



Here is a more recent thread on the Vogel:



http://www.heatinghelp.com/forum-thread/146961/old-cast-iron-toilet-question

Boog

The REAL VOGEL

Joseph August Vogel? Never heard of him. My grandfather Joseph Ambrose Vogel of Wilmington Delaware invented this toilet and numerous other patented plumbing parts after returning from San Francisco, after the great fires, as a journeyman plumber. Born in Philadelphia, PA January 9, 1881. Married my grandmother Ruth Francis Wolf of Trenton, NJ in 1934. Delaware Public Archives and the University of Delaware have a lot of history on him and his many philanthropic endeavors.

Boog

The REAL VOGEL

Joseph August Vogel? Never heard of him. My grandfather Joseph Ambrose Vogel of Wilmington Delaware invented this toilet and numerous other patented plumbing parts after returning from San Francisco, after the great fires, as a journeyman plumber. Born in Philadelphia, PA January 9, 1881. Married my grandmother Ruth Francis Wolf of Trenton, NJ in 1934. Delaware Public Archives and the University of Delaware have a lot of history on him and his many philanthropic endeavors.

jumper

trapless toilet?

These were in summer homes in Canada. A door at bottom of bowl held water. Pushing the flush stick opened the door and turned on water to clean bowl. Water continued a little bit after door closed to provide some water to poop in. For winter water was turned off and actuating flush stick got rid of the water in bowl. It would probably evaporate before freezing anyhow. The important thing was to blow out all water from water lines before winter.