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Look What I Found

RayWohlfarth
RayWohlfarth Member Posts: 1,656
in THE MAIN WALL
I found this in the closet of an old apartment building we service here in Pittsburgh. It looks like something they used to bring Frankenstein back to life.




Ray Wohlfarth
Boiler Lessons
Erin Holohan HaskellTinmanSolid_Fuel_ManSWEIrick in AlaskaFlyingScotsman

Comments

  • Henry
    Henry Member Posts: 998
    It is a Dunham-Bush Vacuum system with a motorised valve. This panel is in great shape. Many had setting indications masking taped on the board for what types of adjustements based by outdoor temerature.
  • Tinman
    Tinman Member Posts: 2,808
    This is right on my desk. From the same type of system??
    Steve Minnich
  • Dave in QCA
    Dave in QCA Member Posts: 1,788
    Fantastic! A GREAT piece of Dunham history.
    Dave in Quad Cities, America
    Weil-McLain 680 with Riello 2-stage burner, December 2012. Firing rate=375MBH Low, 690MBH Hi.
    System = Early Dunham 2-pipe Vacuo-Vapor (inlet and outlet both at bottom of radiators) Traps are Dunham #2 rebuilt w. Barnes-Jones Cage Units, Dunham-Bush 1E, Mepco 1E, and Armstrong TS-2. All valves haveTunstall orifices sized at 8 oz.
    Current connected load EDR= 1,259 sq ft, Original system EDR = 2,100 sq ft Vaporstat, 13 oz cutout, 4 oz cutin - Temp. control Tekmar 279.
    http://grandviewdavenport.com
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,387
    Ray, that should be the same system that was later known as the Vari-Vac. The boiler ran up to a certain pressure and a motorized modulating valve varied the amount of steam entering the system. A vacuum pump produced vacuum up to a certain point depending on how cold it was outside. It was essentially outdoor reset for steam.

    We have plenty of info on these systems, on the site and elsewhere. Have you poked around to see how much of the system is still there?
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    Dave in QCA
  • RayWohlfarth
    RayWohlfarth Member Posts: 1,656
    Thanks Guys. There is nothing left of the original system It has been butchered by several companies. I was looking for steam traps and found this. I would love to go back in time to see this working originally
    Ray Wohlfarth
    Boiler Lessons
  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 7,519
    Neato.. Ray. Nice find A god number of those in The Gold Coast of Ling Islands North Shore. Mad Dog
    Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.
  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 7,519
    Sorry for misspellings..hands are gettin cold out here...ha ha. Mad Dog
    Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.
    Dave in QCA

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