Nicely made, but as a steam producer, I would expect its performance to be poor, only the central flue for heat transfer, unless there are cross tubes in the firebox. I can't see a steam off-take either.  What's it made of?

I've no real idea, but might it be some type of "novelty" hot -water urn for making tea in the workshop, heated by coal or, less smokey, charcoal?

This thought was prompted by the generously sized tap by the foundation ring.

Might be of interest to a collector of mechanical bits and bobs.

Edited By Clive Brown 1 on 14/08/2019 18:18:58

Edited By Clive Brown 1 on 14/08/2019 18:21:59

Bill,

Reason for saying there aren't tubes is I can't see any sign of a smokebox tubeplate. Neither is there any access for cleaning assuming its solid fuel The safety-valve passageway would also have to pass through the smokebox, but this could be the case I suppose

Boiler could be filled via the safety-valve.

I think that is one of those ones you have to give a good kicking because someone dropped a screwdriver in the safety valve.

Could be built along the lines of a Merryweather boiler where you would not see the tubeplate as it is a smaller diameter than the boiler shell. Plenty of cross tube boilers about where you only have a ring of rivits top and bottom sucjh as this

Edited By JasonB on 14/08/2019 19:52:10

It is not actually 1" think, from the bottom you can see a tell tale line of the inner tube, same around the firehole. If it were solid there would be no need for rivits around the bottom or fire hole. Hattie, this shows a section through a typical boiler, you can see how there are "spacers" between the inner and outer walls creating a space for the water.

It is certainly missing some form of base as you would have needed room for air to get in under the grate. The lack of other holes is odd, the two brass "test cocks" part way up would have been used to gauge the level of the water between the two skins of the boiler, safety valve is obvious. The larger of the two bottom fittings looks like it may have been used to draw off hot water as the handle suggests more frequent use than a blowdown valve that is just used at the end of the day to clean out the boiler.

Edited By JasonB on 16/08/2019 08:57:38

I think it is likely a North American continent item. Doesn’t appear to be on epay uk.

[This posting has been removed]

Thanks, missed that.

Though under the thread title it says "I have an antique boiler…….."??

Could be an old listing and hattie can't take or upload new photos.

Edited By JasonB on 16/08/2019 08:56:52

Yes deffinately hollow.

The big plate at the top known as a "manhole" would give access for cleaning and inspection the structure. The smaller one at the bottom under the fire door is known as a "mudhole" and would have been used when cleaning to wash out any sediment (mud)

What is strange about your boiler is there is no apparent way to fill it as water or steam are drawn off, steam would usually have been taken from near the top so another threaded hole for a steam fitting would be usual.

Also the fact that most of the heat from the fire burning on the grate would go straight up the chimney, usually there are several more tubes containing water that would increase the heating area, as it is you just rely on the radiant heat from the fire. Alternatively there would be a lot of vertical tubes for the hot gasses to pass through surrounded by water acting a bit like the elements in a kettle.

Edited By JasonB on 16/08/2019 13:27:53