Capitol Winchester Boiler

werall1mind

Just curious about history of this Capitol Winchester Boiler.  I've attached pics.  

Big Ed_4

Pancake boiler , It first burnt coal . The clinker door was used to break up and clean the rack . The bottom ash cleanout door was removed to instal the gas burner .. Your system is a gravity hot water system . The most complex piping heating system . That strap on aquastat set it to 150-160 . Old burner , too simple for todays safety standards.

EdTheHeaterMan

In its history, it was probably painted a different color.

seriously, It can be as old as 1890s. I believe it is manufactured as late as 1930s
Further research:
According to the Beacon Boiler reference guide, U.S. Radiator company manufactured the Capitol Winchester boiler from 1912 to 1928. It has a 500 sq ft steam rating.

The Gas burner is very old. Pre WWII vintage. The gas pilot valve is most likely manual. No safety shut off. Back then if the pilot was extinguished the pilot gas would continue to flow into the fire box. The lighting instructions would state that you needed to shut off the pilot gas and open the fire door to ventilate the gas for 10 minutes before trying to re-light the pilot.

The pilot had a thermocouple connected to a pilot safety switch (Manufactured by PENN controls), sometimes called a BASO switch, that would not allow the main gas valve to open if there was no pilot flame.


Since coal fired boilers did not have limit switches, the common way to add a limit switch for automatic firing, was to strap it on the the supply riser pipe. The L409A limit control you have is from the 1950 or later. The original looked like this

werall1mind

Thx for info.   Works well but definitely uses a lot of gas.  Bill can be high even when I set it to 65 degrees. House also has 2 heat pumps and a wood pellet stove. So I don't light Boiler until it gets stupid cold.

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

There are only a few of them out West here. This one's steam.

werall1mind

Very interesting!  This Capitol  Winchester is located in Kansas. 

Big Ed_4

Nice system if nobody messed with it .. Large mass system ..Slow but sure system . Only on the coldest days of winter would it build up to limit ..

Steamhead

Unfortunately, these "snowman" boilers were not efficient at all on oil or gas. One of my Dead Men's Books says they run about 40%. I'd replace it if it were mine.

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

Unfortunately, these "snowman" boilers were not efficient at all on oil or gas. One of my Dead Men's Books says they run about 40%. I'd replace it if it were mine.

And put it in your museum? How is that museum coming along these days?