[quote name='WAGONMAN' date='30 August 2010 - 03:57 PM' timestamp='1283197040' post='400058']
Mewshaw (sp) valve.
[/quote]
Thomas H. Meushaw was the Baltimore FD Superintendant of Machinary at the turn of the 20th century and is credited with inventing the Meushaw valve and produced them under his own name. At some point, I am guessing around 1930, it became known as the "Anderson Meushaw" as the F. L. Anderson Company in Baltimore became the sole manufacturer. They were sold up thru the late 1970's. Hurley told me that he was at the the Anderson Company one day talking with Fred Anderson and Fred showed him a stack of unfilled orders for Meushaw valves. The backlog at the time was over 6 months due to the laborious process in making the valve (Each valve was hand made from rough aluminum and brass castings and fitted together without gaskets or seals. They leaked whenever those metal to metal surfaces wore down.). Hurley said that it that many FD's needed valves, he knew there would be a market for his. The Anderson Company also produced a "Meushaw-Dietz" valve, basically a gate valve for the steamer side with an attached gated wye. I do not know if that predated the Meushaw valve or vice-versa. I will post some vintage Meushaw advertising in the next post. I can dig out both styles of valves for photos if anyone is interested. Also, anyone familiar with the Akron 628 hydrant valve can see that the basic principle of operation was "borrowed" from the design of the Meushaw valve.
Sorry-I guess you can't attach images in this forum.
Mewshaw (sp) valve.
[/quote]
Thomas H. Meushaw was the Baltimore FD Superintendant of Machinary at the turn of the 20th century and is credited with inventing the Meushaw valve and produced them under his own name. At some point, I am guessing around 1930, it became known as the "Anderson Meushaw" as the F. L. Anderson Company in Baltimore became the sole manufacturer. They were sold up thru the late 1970's. Hurley told me that he was at the the Anderson Company one day talking with Fred Anderson and Fred showed him a stack of unfilled orders for Meushaw valves. The backlog at the time was over 6 months due to the laborious process in making the valve (Each valve was hand made from rough aluminum and brass castings and fitted together without gaskets or seals. They leaked whenever those metal to metal surfaces wore down.). Hurley said that it that many FD's needed valves, he knew there would be a market for his. The Anderson Company also produced a "Meushaw-Dietz" valve, basically a gate valve for the steamer side with an attached gated wye. I do not know if that predated the Meushaw valve or vice-versa. I will post some vintage Meushaw advertising in the next post. I can dig out both styles of valves for photos if anyone is interested. Also, anyone familiar with the Akron 628 hydrant valve can see that the basic principle of operation was "borrowed" from the design of the Meushaw valve.
Sorry-I guess you can't attach images in this forum.
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