Look what I found / What is it?

Slim

Ran into this old coal fired boiler in a 200 year old basement. 20 years ago, the boiler was abandoned and all the piping removed, but they left the boiler rather than disturb the asbestos.



I'm a little embarrassed to admit, theres something in the equalizer piping that I cannot figure out what it is. Looks almost like an air vent to me, but with electric going to it? Primitive version of a Pressure-Trol maybe?



Any ideas?

Steamhead

I think you're right

the domed thing it's connected to might be a syphon, which now takes the form of a pigtail. Originally, the coal-fired damper regulator was probably installed there.



20 years ago, an idiot tore everything out.