Can this beautiful old rad work in one pipe?

bruce_21

My client bought this beautiful old radiator and wants it installed in her one pipe system. It has three tappings: 3/4" on left end and 1" on right and an 1/8" on left about 2/3rds the way up. I had a problem getting the new 1" valve nipple in it when my spud wrench hit something inside that prevented it from sticking all the way in. I'm wondering how this this is made internally and thus how the steam will flow and even more importantly where the condensate will drain, will this rad work for one pipe or will I have to make some sort of hybrid 2 pipe thing for this rad if the condensate can only come out the left side. If you look at the photo expanded you will see : "A.A. Griffing Iron Co. NY Pat Sep 22 1876" Does anyone know how this rad is constructed internally? Thanks for any help!

Steamhead

That's a Bundy. And it was made for steam. But that 1" tapping might be an issue. We need to know the square feet rating to know for sure.

Ratings are here:

https://heatinghelp.com/heating-museum/bundy-radiators-for-steam-and-hot-water-also-heating-specialties-c-1894/

and here:

https://heatinghelp.com/heating-museum/ratings-for-gold-nason-bundy-and-reed-radiators/

Let us know what you come up with.

ratio

You could customize the spud wrench with a grinder/bandsaw. I'd do it in a minute for something like that!

bruce_21

I got the valve nipple in using the handle of a small adjustable wrench and a larger one to turn it. I'm wondering how the steam flows inside the rad, whether the condensate will flow out of the 1" tapping or only the 3/4" hole

Jamie Hall

Whichever one is lower... Usually a one pipe radiator is tipped slightly towards the inlet (the 1 inch) and the condensate flows back out the same pipe the steam came in -- which means that there can't be any high spots or dams (such as might be the wrong valve...) on that pipe. There isn't that much of it (remember that thousand to one ratio of steam to water!) but you want to minimize accumulation.

Vent goes on that 1/8" tapping, of course.