Vintage Williamsport Co Radiator with Pictures

Sweet_Lou

I am the fortunate owner of several vintage cast iron radiators manufactured by the Williamsport Radiator Co originally located in Williamsport PA with offices in Philadelphia on 108 S 18th Street and in NYC at 99 Beckman Street.  All the radiators say "NORKA" on the bottom and I have attached pictures.

If any one comes across these type of radiators in their travels I would be interested in purchasing some more to add to my collection.  I have 12 radiators in my home and 7 are vintage like the pictures attached below.   

Sweet_Lou

Vintage Williamsport Co Radiator with Pictures

Has anybody ever seen these Rads before?

Sweet_Lou

Vintage Williamsport Co Radiator with Pictures

rich11coop

I have a house full

I live 30 miles south of Williamsport

Steve_175

Links

Try these contacts



http://www.heatinghelp.com/article/9/Virtual-Trade-Show/236/Searching-for-Old-Radiators

Steamhead

Quite a few made their way to Baltimore

especially to Charles Village-area rowhouses.



Did the Williamsport Co use any other names? I've seen radiators with the name "Koran" and wondered who made them.......

nicholas bonham-carter

More pictures please

What beauties! They appear to be on a 1-pipe system, but I don't see a vent on the end.

Pictures of my Verona steam only rads included--NBC

I wonder why they have been rotated. They are upright on my iPad????

ALIGA

here is a pic of my norka

refinished in a burnt copper color.

Steamhead

The plot thickens

Williamsport Radiator was making both the Norka (2-column only AFAIK) and Koran (3-column version) in 1915:



http://books.google.com/books?id=VR80AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA267&lpg=PA267&dq=williamsport+radiator&source=bl&ots=oHeWQSQjpW&sig=KqHxN20X7JhVaNLLMffK3GiMBIU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=jinTUpqCOsnRsATrpIHgCw&ved=0CCgQ6AEwADgo#v=onepage&q=williamsport%20radiator&f=false



But as of 1922, they were being made by Standard Heater Co of Williamsport. This company also made the Spencer magazine-feed boilers at that time:



 http://books.google.com/books?id=Oz08AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA322&lpg=PA322&dq=radiator+koran&source=bl&ots=SVOHHimaIL&sig=YMl_dMuiEjjS8WVIHW6w1bhlkvc&hl=en&sa=X&ei=RirTUt7tFeLjsASS_IKADA&ved=0CF0Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=radiator%20koran&f=false



However, in 1915, Williamsport Radiator was making New Craig and WIRCO boilers, while Spencer Heater Co was making Dandy and Lackawanna boilers, as well as the Spencer magazine-feed boilers that would make that company famous, in Scranton, PA. :



http://books.google.com/books?id=VR80AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA267&lpg=PA267&dq=williamsport+radiator&source=bl&ots=oHeWQSQjpW&sig=KqHxN20X7JhVaNLLMffK3GiMBIU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=jinTUpqCOsnRsATrpIHgCw&ved=0CCgQ6AEwADgo#v=onepage&q=spencer%20heater&f=false



Interesting twists and turns here. BTW, the only boiler I saw in these e-books still being made is- the Smith Mills.

Scot B

nice paint !

beautiful!

Scot B

I have several.

I enjoy the beauty and the heat from these works of art!

ttekushan_3

wow.

Stunning detail.

Sweet_Lou

Vintage Williamsport Co Radiator with Pictures

I obtained this website from an earlier post.  It's a radiator manufacturer in England which attempts to reproduce vintage American pieces of art.

http://www.paladinradiators.com/

They must be very expensive to have them shipped to the states but from their website they give a little history lesson as well as display some beautiful vintage rads.   

PS: ALIGA love your vintage rad picture!  Do you know when your rad was manufactured?

ALIGA

not sure on the year

i have two of them the similar size.



i got one sandblasted, and powdercoated which is the one i took a pic off. It took 4-5 guys to take it down and bring it up my stairs.



i painted one myself, it looks pretty good as well.



i would like to gold leaf the highlights somehow. if anyone has any ideas on how to do that, please let me know.

Steve_175

Gold leaf

Apply the sizing (gold leaf glue) with a hard rubber roller. That way the size only gets applied to the raised details.

However you should talk to a gold leaf expert to make sure the gold leaf can handle the heat. Otherwise you will have to use oil based gold paint. Which BTW I would also paint on the radiator with a rubber roller.

ALIGA

thanks Steve

you hit it on the head, a hard stiff roller is needed so it wont penetrate into the grooves.

ChicagoCooperator

Towel Bars with steam

I wonder if you could use their towel radiators for steam - I suspect they might have parts which can't handle the heat.