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Looking to date this

I do metal detecting and dug this up at a late 1880s Inn site that had burnt to the ground in the early 1900s. I've tried to search the internet for information but have come up empty. Any help is great appreciated.

Comments

  • ScottSecor
    ScottSecor Member Posts: 897

    My wild guess is around 1920's or 1930's. Others will know better than me,.

  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 5,282

    that 3rd picture shows some writing.

    mattmia2
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 10,845

    Didn't ARCO brand some of its vents ideal?

  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 9,312

    That may be an original steam radiator vent from that 1880’s hotel heating system. Since it is no longer connected to the radiator, it may have been sitting on a shelf in the boiler room. Ideal no longer makes steam vents. I believe that company went out of business or was absorbed into another company. The all brass exterior with no indication of chrome plating tells me that is over 110 years old. Most steam vents for radiators like that are chrome plated today. That started in the 1920’s I believe. There are some that were polished brass to match the brass valve that connects the system to the radiator.

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

    PC7060
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,364

    @EdTheHeaterMan , you're right- it is an Ideal "Airid" radiator vent, made by American Radiator Co. I have several catalogs from that company, so I can say it was available as early as 1922 and as late as 1947, though it may have been in production longer than that.

    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
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    mattmia2PC7060
  • PRR
    PRR Member Posts: 226

    The all brass exterior with no indication of chrome plating tells me that is over 110 years old. Most steam vents for radiators like that are chrome plated today. That started in the 1920’s I believe.

    Wide use of Chrome plating comes just about 1924. Before that chrome was very expensive, Nickel was used for car radiators and toaster shells. (Before that, Brass of course; these are the divisions at the local car museum brass Nickel Chrome. They got most of the gauche Chrome out and are losing the Nickel unless very significant; the museum founder was a brasshead.)

    I might expect heating parts to lag a bit behind cars.

  • HomerJSmith
    HomerJSmith Member Posts: 2,635
    edited September 18

    @Relic_Digger, what kind of detector do you use? I use White's.

    ethicalpaul
  • HeatingHelp.com
    HeatingHelp.com Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 65

    You can find the patent for the In-Air-Rid vent here, as well as more information here.

    Forum Moderator

  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 6,568

    I used to do people's yards with a Garret in 1986 era. My best find (not my oldest of course) was a 1942 walking liberty half dollar next to a sidewalk. That kid was sad that day — $10 in today's money.

    Those photos made my eyes hurt 😅

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
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  • jkempmtl
    jkempmtl Member Posts: 2

    I'm a little late to the conversation, but maybe this will help. Attached are pages from the 1925 Ideal Fitter.