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1

Antique Questions Forum / Re: Antique water heater

« on: March 16, 2010, 05:17:59 pm »

Hey D & B thanx for the advice, I appreciate it but I guess I failed to mention that I only want it for static display, only a fool would use something that old. Especially since these things had a reputation for blowing up if you forgot to shut off the gas and extinguish it after use. Any way, I'm on my way to the basement to disconect it and shut off the gas and take a picture or two of it so maybe we can identify this beast..ha ha.
 Thanks for the reply ppl.

2

Antique Questions Forum / Antique water heater

« on: March 16, 2010, 02:36:21 pm »

 Well I hope I can get some answers here, this one has me buffaloed!
I have had in my posession an antique water heater for about 3 years now and just recently decided to do a little research on it to see exactly how old it might be and so on, and I came up empty handed. Maybe someone here can tell me what I have?
 It is a stand alone gas fired water heater. it stands 20 inches tall from base to the top of the chimney. It was made by the Lawson Manufacturing Co. out of Pittsburgh PA. It has two copper water coils, ( one inside the other) and a gas burner plate at the bottom end. The closest I could come to a date without finding the actual manufacturers name is about 1913-1925. The biggest reason I wanted to find out the age of it is because I want to get it down to the bare metal and repaint it in it's original colours. It has the Lawson name in raised lettering on the door and a brass manufactures plate just above the door. it has the model number 520 and an output number of 20,000 btu's.
 This is all the information I can give, I would appreciate any answer I get back from some knowledgeable folks...THANX