The previous owners lived in our house for 42 years. Bud had a routine where every May 1 he installed the screens on the front porch and I'm sure he had a designated day in fall to remove the screens. Everything in the house was meticulously maintained when we bought the house and I think Bud found puttering around the house fulfilling. They were the second owners of the house, built in the late 1920's and I assume the first owners also carefully maintained the place.
We still find evidence of the previous owner's care. There is the pegboard with the skeleton keys for the whole house down in the basement, the little baby food jar lids on the ceiling where various small hardware was likely kept and of course, the manual for the original furnace. The original coal furnace converted at some point to oil. We replaced the furnace four years ago when parts of it rusted out and the smell of fuel oil permeated the air.
Here's the cover of the manual. 
No phone numbers, no fax, no address even...just a reference to having offices in all principal cities. I'm guessing that Burlington wasn't a principal city though.
No phone numbers, no fax, no address even...just a reference to having offices in all principal cities. I'm guessing that Burlington wasn't a principal city though.And look! A message to Mr Steamfitter. Definitely not Ms or Mrs or Miss Steamfitter. Does the title Steamfitter still exist? Also, this includes the "Erecting Directions" although I think the current meaning is used to describe prescribing directions for Viagra.
Mr Steamfitter 
is quite nattily dressed. The hat is a nice touch but I'm also very happy to see that visible butt crack wasn't as common in those days.
is quite nattily dressed. The hat is a nice touch but I'm also very happy to see that visible butt crack wasn't as common in those days.
The fine print instructs us to use asbestos putty to seal things annually. My how things have changed!
And look! The company was small enough that model numbers and such are hand stamped on the book and if the stamp wasn't clear, it was clarified by hand!
2 comments:
That is SO COOL! Thanks for the photos!
Unfortunately, I know exactly where our new furnace manual is, as the new furnace shuts off a lot and the incomprehensible error codes need to be deciphered on a regular basis.
Just a quick answer, Steamfitters do still exist. We are a very proud trade that dades back over 100 years and we continue to thrive. Around 800 strong in Omaha, NE and counting!
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