What IS this????

laldog30cs

This is located in the 3rd floor attic of my 1890's house.

It is heated by gas-fired steam radiators, but I see no evidence of radiators on the 3rd floor.

Is it related to my heating system, or is it a still??

Jamie Hall

It looks to me as though it might have been an expansion tank or pressure tank. Possibly for an old hot water heating system; possibly for an even older domestic water system. I can't think how it would fit into a steam system, though...

Gordy

Sour mash Still.....

EzzyT

That is a expansion tank used on a hot water gravity system

Gordy

He has steam heat. Maybe originally gravity hot water. Then yes x tank.

Mark Eatherton

Most heating system expansion tanks are steel, not brass. Also, on an open gravity system, there would have been an over flow pipe through the roof.

I'm guessing that this was a flush valve assist pressure tank. With out the oomph that the tank gives, old style flushometer toilets don't work too well.

Clean it up and use it as a planter.

ME

Paul48

It has a gauge glass on it. On an open system, there would be no pressure, so brass would be fine. It's construction immediately brings to mind 1800's locomotives. I still vote for an expansion tank. IMHO, it's a museum quality piece, don't cut it.

Paul48

I'll ask a stupid question(not my first).........Pre-electricity, how would one get make-up water into a steam boiler?

STEVEusaPA

Paul48 said:

I'll ask a stupid question(not my first).........Pre-electricity, how would one get make-up water into a steam boiler?

Same person that shoveled the coal...manually?

Paul48

Unless you had pressurized water from a tank in the attic?

Gordy

I think I would rather carry water to the basement than the attic.....

Gordy

Is that a pipe coming out of the top? And if it is a flush assist tank why is the bottom pipe not coming out of the bottom? It's exits near half way point.

Paul48

That's reasonable....Now put yourself in that timeframe. You have one of the servants pump the water up.

Gordy

The ports, site glass(is it glass?), and pressure type tank construction have me more curious about its purpose.

If it is a gravity fill tank for something. Why is it a high pressure designed tank in an unconditioned space at risk of freezing?
Again why does the bottom pipe not come out of the bottom so the full volume of the tank can be used.

Gordy

Does the op have dimensions of the tank? Photos can be deceiving. The tank probably weighs as much as the water it can hold.

Paul48

unconditioned? high pressure designed? They didn't have spray foam and how else would they build a tank?

Paul48

If you have a 19th century Victorian, and you want running water available, you'd have to put a tank in the attic. I can't see the very top or bottom of the tank. The sight glass may be there so the servants can make sure they don't let the water run out. Without the tank in the attic, the high tank of a pull-chain toilet won't refill. You can't run a tub. You can't form a bucket line with 1 or 2 servants.

Fred

Maybe an early version of a hot water tank? Steam was fed into it via that side pipe, maybe there was a vent on the top. Steam condensed and the warmed water was used in a wash basin in the bathroom (if there was/is a pipe tapping on the bottom so it could gravity feed) ?

Mark Eatherton

Another word of wisdom/caution. If in fact this is an expansion tank for a gravity circed heating system, AND there used to be a Honeywell #1 Heat Generator at the boiler, AND the expansion tank connection came off the HW #1, treat this tank with caution. It may contain mercury that was inadvertently blown up into the tank by someone attempting to "flush" the system. People have lost their business and homes due to this scenario...

Proceed with caution.

ME