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These valves are amazing! Just what makes them tick?

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AndythePlumber
AndythePlumber Member Posts: 111
in Strictly Steam

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!

THINK

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  • AndythePlumber
    AndythePlumber Member Posts: 111
    IMG_5195.jpeg IMG_5194.jpeg IMG_5198.jpeg IMG_5196.jpeg There was an error displaying this embed.

    THINK

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 18,525

    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.

    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    Mad Dog_2
  • AndythePlumber
    AndythePlumber Member Posts: 111

    omg, we have a museum?!

    THINK

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 18,525

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

    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    pumpcontrolguy
  • AndythePlumber
    AndythePlumber Member Posts: 111

    dang this community keeps filling my cup…😁😎

    THINK

    HeatingHelp.com
  • Long Beach Ed
    Long Beach Ed Member Posts: 1,843

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

    Incredible results.

    AndythePlumber
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 16,890

    warren webster and hoffman are still in business…

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 16,890

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

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 18,525

    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.

    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting

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