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"Not in the EDR book": Richmond Radiator Company EDR specs

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BroadwichCT
BroadwichCT Member Posts: 22
in THE MAIN WALL
*Already checked in the EDR book*
*Checked internetarchive.org resources*

Does anyone have access to Richmond Radiator Company documentation for a 5 tube radiator?


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  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 7,834
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    Do you have a model number and year built? or a picture?
    Edward F Young. Retired HVAC ContractorSpecialized in Residential Oil Burner and Hydronics
  • BroadwichCT
    BroadwichCT Member Posts: 22
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    Thank you for asking; I took a picture and forgot to post it.

    Additional measurements....
    From bottom of legs to top of radiator is 20 inches
    Approximately 2.5 inches from mid section to mid section
    Circumference of each tube is 4 1/8 inch

    The closest I can find is an Aero radiator from the National Radiator Company: 5 tube, 20' height, and the sq ft per section would be 3.
  • random12345
    random12345 Member Posts: 469
    edited October 2022
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    https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112047386849&view=1up&seq=205&skin=2021

    This has an entry for 22 in tall 5 tube, but not 20 in. Published 1934.

    Simplified Practice Recommendation by US Dept of Commerce published in 1940 puts the EDR/section at 2 2/3 sq ft. for 20 in height.

    https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112109610573&view=1up&seq=7

    When was the house built?

    You may also want to submit a research request to the Smithsonian at NMAHLibrary@si.edu and reference this collection:

    https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/SILNMAHTL_11756

    If you can narrow down the date range, and specify that you are only looking for radiator ratings, they should be able to get back to you relatively quickly. If you have any other radiators you're not sure about, let us know first so we can take a crack at it before you ask them. The people scanning documents at the Smithsonian are volunteers.

    Just based on this, I'd go with 2 2/3 per section, so 21.33. Hard to say for sure though.


    BroadwichCTErin Holohan Haskell
  • BroadwichCT
    BroadwichCT Member Posts: 22
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    @random12345

    Thank you for these resources!
  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 7,834
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    Yea, Looks pretty standard. Just use the numbers for generic radiators that look the same. This is no rocket surgery! You need to be close... Not EXACT!
    Edward F Young. Retired HVAC ContractorSpecialized in Residential Oil Burner and Hydronics
    BroadwichCT
  • random12345
    random12345 Member Posts: 469
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    I know, but I like nailing it down and the history is interesting. These old trade catalogs are all in the Smithsonian but due to copyright restrictions, it would require significant resources for them to digitize everything. The only way those catalogs see the light of day is if people submit a request. Plus in my very limited experience, in my own house I started out with an EDR of 345 using the generic EDR values. After I went the extra mile to look for the old catalogs, that dropped to 264. I was able to go down a size on my boiler with total confidence.
    EdTheHeaterManErin Holohan HaskellBroadwichCT

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