These valves are amazing! Just what makes them tick?

AndythePlumber

They’re beautiful. Artwork even. The big block Chevy was decades out. Before we split the atom. Hitler walked unknown to most.

I hold them and feel the heft, they’re substantial…don’t make em like they used to. That’s for damn sure.

what are these? What do they do? Webster and Hoffman are household names to our trade. Please and thank you!

AndythePlumber

Steamhead

The Hoffman valves are #7. Not sure about the Websters but you should be able to find them in the site's Heating Museum.

They both have adjustable shutters that were set when they were installed. That helped balance the system. Also, they did not use regular packing but, at least on the Webster, a bellows. That prevented vacuum leaks.

AndythePlumber

omg, we have a museum?!

Steamhead

https://www.heatinghelp.com/systems-help-center/category/heating-museum/

AndythePlumber

dang this community keeps filling my cup…😁😎

Long Beach Ed

Think they are beautiful now? Try replating the nickel and polishing the bronze. We did several homes like that.

Incredible results.

mattmia2

warren webster and hoffman are still in business…

mattmia2

oh, the valves that say sylphon are webster packless valves with a bellows instead of packing, not a brand name, i see….

Steamhead

Webster actually owned the Sylphon company for a while. I don't remember why they unloaded it, but it might have been from an antitrust action. They actually enforced antitrust laws back then- see: Standard Oil.

Webster went out of business in 1969 or so, and Dunham-Bush bought what was left of that company. Today, it's known as Marshalltown Engineered Products Co., or MEPCO, after its location in Marshalltown, IA.