Eddy Valve

Eddy Valve Co. - Waterford, NY

Eddy Valve was established in 1847 in Waterford, NY. Eddy Valve manufactured fire hydrants until the 1940s when the company that had previously been distributing their fire hydrants, James Clow and Sons, purchased the company and began selling the hydrants as their own line. James Clow and Sons eventually became Clow Valve who currently sells fire hydrants.

The evolution of the Eddy hydrant is shown below.

The short fluted bonnet design of the Eddy hydrant has remained very similar from the original model through today with the models made by Clow Valve shown in Part 2.

The hydrants are NOT dated with year of manufacture.

Early models were of 1 piece barrel design; later they were of 2 piece design.

Two large Eddy Valve logos are cast on opposite sides of the barrel. This logo underwent several changes which is one way to determine relative vintage of an Eddy hydrant.

Four Eddy Valve Company patents have been found. One is found on the 1 piece barrel hydrants shown below. Another is associated with the multiple valve hydrants shown on the bottom of this page. The other two patents appear to be associated with internal improvements to the hydrants: NOV 8 1892 and MAY 2 1911.

Original 1 piece barrel model

The following are characteristics of these 1 pc. barrel hydrants (referred to as List 90s)

Bonnet details: The bonnet has a smooth 'step' between the fluted dome and the fluted upper portion of the bonnet. A NOV. 5 1889 patent date is found on the bonnet in one of two places: either on the rim between bolt heads or on the 'step' top surface.

Barrel details: They have an attractive 'braided rope' O.D. rib just below the nozzle section; found only on 1 pc. barrel hydrants. They have a second conventional rounded O.D. rib at ground line. Possible exceptions noted below. (Logos as in the photo at left; found either on the sides or front & back)



0051 Nozzles: 1x 2.5" Size: ~3" V.O. Location: Hot Springs, WV Photo: © Ethan Kennedy		1075 Nozzles: 1x 2.5" Size: ~4" V.O. Location: New York state Photo: © 2001, Jeff Kaminski	1076 Nozzles: 1x 4.5" Size: ~4" V.O. Location: New York state Photo: © 2001, Jeff Kaminski



1077 Nozzles: 2x 2.5" @ 90º Size: ~4" V.O. Location: John A. collection Photo: © 2001, John Anderson	1078 Nozzles: 2x 2.5" @ 105º Size: ~4" V.O. Location: John A. collection Photo: © 2001, John Anderson	1079 Nozzles: 2x 2.5" @ 180º Size: ~4" V.O. Location: New York state Photo: © 2001, Jeff Kaminski	1080 Nozzles: 1x 2.5", 1x 3.5" Size: ~4" V.O. Note: no ground line O.D. rib? Location: New York state Photo: © 2001, Jeff Kaminski



1081 Nozzles: 2x 2.5", 1x 3" Size: ~4" V.O. Location: John A. collection Photo: © 2001, John Anderson	0420 Nozzles: 2x 2.5", 1x ~4" Size: ~4" V.O. Note: no ground line O.D. rib? Location: Harrisburg, PA Photo: © 2000, Thomas Ingalsbe		0873 Nozzles: 4x 2.5" externally gated Size: ~6" V.O. Location: Massachusetts Photo: © 2001, Jeff Kaminski

2 piece barrel (short upper; lower w/O.D. rib)

These first 2 piece barrel models have the following characteristics:

Bonnet details: Most hydrants found have bonnets with the same smooth 'step' found on the early 1 pc. barrel hydrants. Some however have the later bonnet with the step eliminated. The patent date is dropped with the 2 pc. barrel design.

Barrel details: 2 styles of nozzle chain attachment to barrel have been found; a cast on eyelet as found on the earlier 1 pc. barrel hydrants and the later bolt on bracket. The rounded ground line O.D. rib is continued from the 1 pc. barrel hydrants. (Logos as in the photo at left; note 2 points of the snowflake have been eliminated)



1084 Nozzles: 2x 2.5" Size: ~4" V.O. Chain eyelet: bolt on Location: John A. collection Photo: © 2001, John Anderson	1083 Nozzles: 2x 2.5", 1x 4" Size: ~4" V.O. Chain eyelet: bolt on Location: John A. collection Photo: © 2001, John Anderson	1082 Nozzles: 2x 2.5", 1x 4.5" Size: ~4" V.O. Chain eyelet: cast on Location: John A. collection Photo: © 2001, John Anderson



1259 Nozzles: 4x 2.5" Size: ~6" V.O. Chain eyelet: bolt on? Location: Massachusetts Photo: © 2001, Jeff Kaminski	0874 Nozzles: 3x 2.5", 1x 5" Size: ~6" V.O. Chain eyelet: cast on Location: Massachusetts Photo: © 2001, Jeff Kaminski

2 piece barrel (short upper; lower w/o O.D. rib)

These later 2 piece barrel models have the following characteristics:

Bonnet details: All hydrants have the later bonnet with the step eliminated.

Barrel details: Nozzle chain attachment is via the later bolt on bracket. The ground line O.D. rib has been eliminated. (2 styles of logos exist as in the photos at left: one with V.O. size only, the other also has bury depth)



0060 Nozzles: 2x 2.5" Size: 4-4½" V.O. Logo: size only Location: East Dubuque, IL Photo: © 1999, John Anderson	1086 Nozzles: 2x 2.5" Size: 4" V.O. Logo: size & bury depth Location: John A. collection Photo: © 2001, John Anderson	0159 Nozzles: 2x 2.5" Size: 4" V.O. Logo: ? Location: Lansing, IA Photo: © 2001, Jim Quist	1087 Nozzles: 2x 2.5", 1x 3.5" Size: 5" V.O. Logo: size & bury depth Location: New York state Photo: © 2001, Jeff Kaminski

Later 1 piece barrel model (no O.D. ribs)

This version, apparently of later manufacture, has no O.D. ribs and has the later style bonnet with no step. However the barrel logo appears to be the original style.



0419 Nozzles: 2x 2.5", 1x ~4.5" Size: ~4" V.O. Location: Albany, NY Photo: © 2000, Thomas Ingalsbe

Multiple Valve hydrants

This patent, MAY 2 1911, describes the multiple valve design (referred to as List 91½). The barrel logos are of the original style.



1085 Nozzles: 4x 2.5" gated Size: ~6" V.O. Location: Massachusetts Photo: © 2001, Jeff Kaminski	0058 Nozzles: 5x 2.5" gated, 1x 4" (not gated) Size: ~6" V.O. Top View Location: Beaumont, TX fire museum Photo: © 1999, David R. White

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