Original Hoffman vs Fake Hoffman Radiator Air Valves (for heat)

heatgrrl

Do you know if there is a difference between the ITT Hoffman specialty valve 41 connector vs the Hoffman Specialty Bell and Gossett (a xylem brand) valve. I usually buy the original hoffman valves by Bell and Gossett. It comes in a bright red box and says Bell & Gossett, a xylem brand.

But my repair man showed up with a Hoffman valve that said Ventor on the valve. It came in a red box that said HOFFMAN. At the side it said Hoffman ITT.
But the valve itself was much more lighter than the Hoffman valves I have bought in the past. Is this a knock off valve or is it an original before. It said Made in Taiwan as well. I am curious if anyone has encountered this.

Would love to hear any explanation

Steamhead

They were making them in Taiwan for a while- must have been old stock.

heatgrrl

It’s also much lighter. Does it mean it’s not as good as opposed to how they make them now? It does seem to work, I’m just wondering if it’s not going to last that long.

Steamhead

I wouldn't dump it just for that- but you'll want to have a couple spares around in case it fails early.

heatgrrl

My repair man said he can return it and get the hoffman bell and gossett. Is it worth doing all that as a preemptive effort. I mean the valve works now. Have you noticed the itt hoffman 41 to be much lighter than the bell gossett hoffman? I’ve had bell gossett hoffman fail in the past after a few years too.

Steamhead

You never know. For now I'd just make sure I had spares.

RTW

Maybe the company referenced - by way of a representative - can weigh in on the topic on this site and put the issue to bed? Sadly, I doubt the company will admit to foreign production of the product while at the same time claiming to be "Made in America". My comment to the company representative that monitors this site: "Hello, please respond to this thread"

Regards,
RTW

dko

ITT spun-off it's water solution business into Xylem in 2011. Hoffman and B&G came together under Xylem. After a few years of transition and getting existing stock out, we started to see them labeled under B&G.

If the vent still had "VENTOR" on the valve itself, it's an old valve. New old stock you would call it. Maybe saved money and bought a bunch on ebay from someone who had a bunch laying around. If they weren't used and kept in the box with no signs of rust, I don't see a problem.

Both are genuine. Just manufactured a decade apart..

heatgrrl

The vent has “ventor” and “made in Taiwan” on it. The box says Hoffman, made in Taiwan as well.

This ventor valve is much lighter than the b&g hoffman valves. Made me think the material is flimsy. Has anyone ever encountered both valves and noticed this?

And has anyone ever held the made in usa, hoffman 41 valve to know if the original was lighter?

Long Beach Ed

The USA made ones are heavier. Of course I prefer them. I don't use Taiwan or Chinese equipment on my work when I have a choice.

heatgrrl

the current bell and gossett hoffman are heavier than the ventor, made in Taiwan valve. I wonder where the b g hoffman is made.