Just for fun

MikeL_2

That's a vacuum hose, PC. I'm dead set against toxins.......

reggi

@Larry Weingarten 
That was a awesome gesture... I'll bet you never thought with that first piece (s) tucked in your luggage that it would become a passion and how you'd want to share it with the world..  for the present and generations forward.. kudos ! 

Larry Weingarten said:
Hi @reggi , That was a special occasion. 

Erin Holohan Haskell

STEVEusaPA said:

Erin? Are you paying attention here? LOL

I sure am! And I can't wait for my next visit.

And here are some photos of the @Larry Weingarten Water Heater Collection at The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen (taken at our 2019 gathering there). Beautiful craftsmanship! And thank you for collecting and sharing these with us and future generations, Larry.

DanHolohan

That was a great day! Thanks, Erin.

Larry Weingarten

Hi @reggi , I forgot I ever told the story of how the first water heater came home with me as carry on luggage. I would not let it out of my sight. You're a very good researcher! One can never know the interesting places where life is gonna take you.

Yours, Larry
ps. I finally saw the link Dan posted telling the story. Things make better sense now.

Larry Weingarten

@Erin Holohan Haskell and @DanHolohan , I hope we get to do it again! That was a wonderful day! I got to put faces to many of the names here and spend time with my tribe. A fantabulous day!

Yours, Larry

DanHolohan

If you'd like to visit the museum, here's the info:
https://generalsociety.org/?p=4662

DanHolohan

It sure was a great day. So good to see everyone in person. Thanks.

JUGHNE

This was taken at a hotel somewhere on the way down to Mississippi.

Apparently some code/fire regs require a wrench immediately available to shut down the gas meter.

Although the ball valve on the hi pressure coming out of the ground would take care of the shut down.
I don't think the adjustable wrench would work on that 1/4 turn valve.

DanHolohan

Good one! Thanks. 

mattmia2

@Larry Weingarten which water heater was the first?

Are there writeups about each? I'm sure you know more about them than anyone else does.

That sign about selling hot water made me think about how my grandfather sad their first house which they bought around wwii and was probably built in the 30's had a coal fired water heater and how people didn't expect running hot water until mid century or so.

realliveplumber

JUGHNE said:

This was taken at a hotel somewhere on the way down to Mississippi.

Apparently some code/fire regs require a wrench immediately available to shut down the gas meter.

Although the ball valve on the hi pressure coming out of the ground would take care of the shut down.
I don't think the adjustable wrench would work on that 1/4 turn valve.

Is that bypass piping behind the meter?

mattmia2

Commercial meter that only measures part of the flow and gets multiplied by a correction factor.

PC7060

realliveplumber said:

Is that bypass piping behind the meter?

I’ve seen the bypass piping a few times on commercial gas hookups  in Virginia with bypass valve closed with gas co seal on it.  I assume it’s purpose is to allow maintenance of meter by utility company without taking down the service. 

Larry Weingarten

Hi @mattmia2 , The first heater was this one: I still teach about hot water locally, so use this one as a demonstration piece. When I can't do that any more, It'll go to the General Society. It actually runs. I imagine that it's roughly 90% efficient, and is a condensing heater, made in 1895. Flames and water touch! I wrote up stories for all of the heaters the GSMT has, telling about what is interesting or different about each particular heater.
The water heater industry had to work hard to get people used to the idea of and want running hot water. These days, it's an emergency if we don't have it.

Yours, Larry

JUGHNE

That gas meter bypass if fairly common on larger installations.
They can change out the meter without shut down, which should mean doing a survey of appliances and possibly lighting pilots.
RTU's would be a pain to check out.

This way they never have to enter the building.
Less liability for gas co.

Have seen this done for large water meters also.

Some electric meters have a by-pass switch to keep the power on when meter is removed. The by pass lever would then stick out of the front of the mtr socket.
This would prevent the cover being put back on.

Larry Weingarten

So, just to get things back on track and respond to Dan's original question... Here's what I did with a 1.5" floor flange. When the spring return mechanism on my little log splitter broke, the floor flange was the perfect fix.

Yours, Larry

DanHolohan

Brilliant! Thanks, Larry.

EBEBRATT-Ed

@mattmia2

If you look close I think there is another gas cock partially hidden by the meter. Some codes require that gas valves have a handle attached to the valve. Gas has to go through either the meter or the bypass not both at the same time

hot_rod

A few of my projects. Radiant Ray the RPA mascot actually would flow water via one of the B&G foot circulators. Recognize the fella on the tank?

How many plumbing parts can you spot on the copper mini?

Rocket ship rain barrel.

DanHolohan

Thanks, HR. I've been waiting for you. ;-)

EdTheHeaterMan

My favorite from HR


Here is my contribution: Wanted to post last week but took this long to find the photos:
In the last 2 years of working I replaced a boiler and included new thermostats for each of the 4 zones. I could not find the thermostat that controlled the living/dining/kitchen zone. The 70+year old homeowner showed me this contraption his father built in the 1960s

I can't imagine why I didn't missed this obvious thermostat cover. LOL
I opened the front door to find this conglomeration of clock, servo, spring, cam switches, dial adaptor and T87F thermostat.

A close look finds a timer that operates the thermostat by design. This must have been some kit from an add in Popular Science or Popular Mechanics magazine. the clock is a "Thermotimer" that operates a servo motor with a spring affixed to the motor shaft. (see orang arrow) This spring acts as a worm gear to rotate the gear that then moves the thermostat setting dial via the black attachment affixed to the dial.


What we will invent to get the job done, even though Honeywell already had a cost effective Chronotherm on the market for years.

DanHolohan

Ed! Gosh.

mattmia2

Because switching between 2 thermostats with the timer contacts would have been too simple?

hot_rod

DanHolohan said:

Thanks, HR. I've been waiting for you. ;-)

A few more.

I built the Taco trike for one of Siggys grandkids. Couldn't pass the NY state emissions, however

Larry Weingarten

That spark plug circulator must use “the force”! Nice

Yours, Larry

mattmia2

Are spark plugs pipe thread?

realliveplumber

mattmia2 said:

Are spark plugs pipe thread?

Typically 14mm x 1.25

Pumpguy

hot_rod said:

DanHolohan said:

Thanks, HR. I've been waiting for you. ;-)

A few more.

I built the Taco trike for one of Siggys grandkids. Couldn't pass the NY state emissions, however

Of course not, no carburetor. EFI maybe?

ScottSecor

@hot_rod I've heard stories about your "artwork" for many years, nice to finally get to see them. You really are a talented person. I can only imagine what your current laboratory (shop) looks like these days.

JUGHNE

These are my gloves laying on top of a rather frosted up 7/8" OD suction line.
The line when clear would fit inside the thumb of the glove.
This is inside of an old walk in freezer with wrapped meat in locker storage running at about -5 degrees.

The door leaks so much air into the box that this is a common issue.
This line had not been cleared in a few years.

Several days of quick visits were needed to defrost 2 evap coils and piping and still keep the box frozen.

4 hours at a visit makes you understand radiant cooling.