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The coolest things to salvage

dobro23
dobro23 Member Posts: 71
edited August 2021 in THE MAIN WALL
I seem to have an issue throwing things way.  Constantly salvaging cool stuff on boiler replacement jobs.  I have a collection of different radiator vents, coin vents, cool fittings etc.  Some have been reused in Edison style/steampunk lamps that Ive built but mostly everything just lays around in milk crates.  But the COOLEST THING IVE EVER FOUND AND WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE THE HOLY GRAIL OF STUFF YOU CAN COME ACROSS IS THIS!   IN NEAR MINT CONDITION!! 
STEVEusaPA

Comments

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 16,477
    edited August 2021
    Still made the last I knew but I could be wrong.

    Yeah, I just checked. Mercoid is now owned by Dryer instruments. Those controls are still made and are quite pricey, maybe $700. Looks like they still make them with mercury switches or snap switches, at least that's what the catalog shows
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,380
    IIRC Dwyer owns Mercoid now.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    dobro23
  • Larry Weingarten
    Larry Weingarten Member Posts: 3,593
    Hi, That's a fun switch. I had to use one in making a triangle call bell for a group of energy nerds.

    Yours, Larry
    ps, hopefully the dissimilar metals are okay here.
    dobro23
  • Pumpguy
    Pumpguy Member Posts: 698
    Last I checked Dwyer Instruments still sells these Mercoid vacuum switches. A similar operating pressure switch is shown.

    Given the choice, I'll take a Mercoid vacuum switch over a Square D diaphragm type. Nothing ever goes wrong with a Mercoid switch.

    I see 50 year YO Mercoid switches working perfectly all the time. A Square D diaphragm type seems to need re-adjusting every year.
    Dennis Pataki. Former Service Manager and Heating Pump Product Manager for Nash Engineering Company. Phone: 1-888 853 9963
    Website: www.nashjenningspumps.com

    The first step in solving any problem is TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM.
    dobro23
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 16,477
    Mercoids are good.

    In the past we saw them occasionally on boilers for pressure controls some engineers used to spec them. They lasted forever I don't think i ever replaced a bad one.

    You get what you pay for they were $$$$
  • Alan (California Radiant) Forbes
    Alan (California Radiant) Forbes Member Posts: 4,214
    Fantastic find! I have one buried in my basement............somewhere. Becoming very rare.
    8.33 lbs./gal. x 60 min./hr. x 20°ΔT = 10,000 BTU's/hour

    Two btu per sq ft for degree difference for a slab

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