Cast Iron Steam Radiator Identification

dottysummerrs

Hello, I am trying to date / identify the pattern on my radiators. My house was built in 1908 (Chicago). I have not been able to find this ornamentation pattern in any of the trade catalogs or advertisements. Does anyone recognize it or have suggestions of where else to lo?

random12345

I'm stumped. Best guess is Detroit Ornamental Fluted Wide Top made by either the American Radiator Company or its predecessor the Detroit Radiator Company. See page 16:

https://heatinghelp.com/assets/documents/205.pdf

I could be completely wrong though...

Steamhead

I'm thinking they're either the Roman or Mercury 2-column radiators, made by the J.L. Mott Iron Works in the early 1900s. Listings start on page 17 of @DanHolohan 's book "E.D.R.".

random12345

I was totally wrong. Great catch @Steamhead. I don't have Dan's book. I had never heard of J.L. Mott. Looks like they were a major player in the industry turn of the century. Roman two column looks very close.

1912:
https://archive.org/details/SunrayBoilersRomanRadiatorsThreeColumnTwoColumnSingleColumn/page/n11/mode/2up

1901:
https://archive.org/details/RadiatorsAndHeatersForSteamOrWater_200/page/n9/mode/2up

I'm not seeing the Mercury in either of those catalogs though...In the picture of the Roman two column in the 1912 catalogue, the top looks a little different from what @dottysummerrs has.

mattmia2

j l mott made a lot of plumbing fixtures too

ChrisJ

mattmia2 said:

j l mott made a lot of plumbing fixtures too

And Apple sauce 

dottysummerrs

Thank you so much!!! This is fantastic!!

dottysummerrs

I quite literally screamed with delight when I clicked these links -- I have looked through archive.org catalogs for hours and not found it. THANK YOU AGAIN. The Motts Roman Two Column pictured in the 1912 catalog is exactly like mine minus the flower detail in the center top. @Steamhead and @random12345 you made my week!

dottysummerrs

...I found it! It's the Motts Roman Two Column that is pictured in the 1901 catalog. I was able to zoom in on the top center design detail on the corner version of the radiator and it's the same as mine. Now I can sleep soundly tonight.

https://archive.org/details/RadiatorsAndHeatersForSteamOrWater/page/n17/mode/2up

mattmia2

Those are steam only radiators that aren't connected at the top.

Steamhead

@dottysummerrs , if you don't have a good steam man, get in touch with @The Steam Whisperer . He's as good as it gets.

dottysummerrs

@Steamhead - so funny, I just called them last week! They are in Chicago. One of my radiators needs a repair.

dottysummerrs

@mattmia2 thanks!