1940’s American Steam Boiler

NoviceMike

Can anyone provide a descriptive name for the ceramic disk plates inside the boiler? One better - where can I get a replacement?

EBEBRATT-Ed

Might have to change the burner. Maybe Lynn Products but I doubt it.

Can you post a few more pictures standing back from the boiler?

mattmia2

(you will need a professional that understands combustion analysis to set up whatever you replace this with).

STEVEusaPA

20's? Might be asbestos.

NoviceMike

NoviceMike

Would you know what the technical ‘name’ of that disk?

mattmia2

It is part of that conversion burner, not the boiler, you would have to pursue that. or just replace the burner with a gas power burner. BTW, i think that boiler is 30's or 40's, it is relatively modern.

jerryb46

looks like a American Stand severn boiler,that thing your talking about is a hanging ceramic baffle , once quite popular in the 40s,50s.Getting a new one might be hard but with the internet some supply house somewhere i bet has one in a dark corner.You might be able to patch that one by drilling holes and piece of angle iron on the back side, should last a few more years, why not upgrade the boiler?

EBEBRATT-Ed

I think @mattmia2

is right. Not 20s. 40s is my guess

Install a combustion chamber and a new gas burner. Your not finding parts for that

NoviceMike

@Jerryb46 - brilliant advice on the angle iron across the break.  The two halves ceramic baffles are mostly fine except broken in half.   What to use to drill?  Masonry bit?  Don’t want to break it further. SS bolts fine or other suggestion?  Just might work!

Steamhead

@NoviceMike , I think it's the Severn model as @jerryb46 says. If the flue passages don't have proper baffles, you're wasting a lot of heat up the chimney.

That ceramic piece looks like a flame spreader, but this burner setup hasn't been made in decades. You might get lucky fixing that one or finding a replacement, but what if it breaks again? In the middle of January?

At the very least, I'd put in a modern burner and firebox, and baffle the flue passages. The better course of action is to completely replace the boiler. This will give the best possible efficiency, and parts will be readily available.

Also, I see some sort of tank in the piping to the left of the boiler. Can we get a shot of that? Also a couple radiators.

Where are you located?

NoviceMike

@Steamhead - located in Chicago land area.  I have a secondary HVAC in the home and only use it’s heat in the transitional season (Oct/Nov & April/May).  I love the seam heat and use it as primary during deep winter. 

Steamhead

That's an unusual system. The piping hookup to the radiator is one I haven't seen before. Same with the tank. It's definitely two-pipe, maybe a local variation. More pics please!

The radiator is a Rococo, made by American Radiator Co. What a beauty!

Fortunately, you have one of the best Steam Men that's ever been, right there in Chicagoland: Dave Bunnell, known as @The Steam Whisperer . Here's his info:

https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/the-steam-whisperer-boiler-professionals-inc

burnskp5

Anyone knows where I can find a firebox for an American Radiator steam boiler I am guessing is was built in 1941?

mattmia2

You will have to assemble it from refractory or find a generic refractory that fits or some combination thereof.

EBEBRATT-Ed

Lynn products.

But your not going to find a specific part or part # for that old boiler. You going to have to find something you can use