Eddy Valve Co. - Waterford, NY
Part 1 - 1 pc. barrel models
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 B. Clow and Sons, purchased the company and began selling the hydrants as their own line. James B. Clow and Sons eventually became Clow Valve who currently sells fire hydrants.

The evolution of the Eddy hydrant is shown on this and the next two pages as follows:
Part 1 (1 pc. barrel) , Part 2 (2 pc. short barrel) , Part 3 (2 pc. tall barrel)
  • The earliest Eddy model already had the operating rod threaded below the groundline, near the mainvalve, to prevent flooding in case of standpipe breakage. All Eddy hydrants have mainvalves that close against water pressure.
  • The short fluted bonnet design of the next Eddy hydrant, the List 90, has remained very similar from the original model through the current Eddy model, made and sold today by Clow, and the Clow Medallion model.
  • The hydrants are NOT dated with year of manufacture until sometime after Clow ownership.
  • 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.
  • Five Eddy Valve Company patents have been found. Three are found on the 1 piece barrel hydrants with the early style barrel logo 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.

      Bailey Hydrant
    This is apparently the first model manufactured by Eddy Valve. The original Bailey patent on which this hydrant is based is from 1865, revised in 1870. The first Bootman patent, which covers Eddy List 90 models, was awarded two years after the Bailey patent expired. The Bootman patent was an improvement on the original Bailey idea in which the operating rod is threaded in the vicinity of the mainvalve; thus, a broken barrel will not allow water to escape past the mainvalve. Here is a drawing and description of the hydrant from the 1886 Eddy catalog. Here is the 1886 price list with sizes available.

  • This Eddy model has the decorative rope design around the perimeter of the bonnet flange.

  • 2039
    Catalog image from 1886

      List 90 model
    All of the Eddy Valve List 90 hydrants shown on this first page have one of two styles of 6 point snowflake logos with the script letters E V inside the circle. These logos are found either on the sides or front & back of the barrel between the O.D. ribs, if present.
  • The early style logo, shown at the left, has four circles between the snowflake points. Note that the snowflake points are rounded. Hydrants exist with two of the snowflake points oriented either vertically or horizontally. With most hydrants with this early style logo two patent dates can be found on the hydrant barrel; either directly above or below the snowflake. One is NOV.8,1892 and the other is SEPT.5,1893 on the opposite side.

    The more common later style logo, shown at the right, lack the circles of the early style. Note also the more intricate and pointed design of the 6 points of the snowflake.
      Hydrants with a 'Braided Rope' O.D. Rib
    All of the hydrants in this group have an attractive 'braided rope' O.D. rib just below the nozzle section. They can be found in both 1 and 2 piece barrel hydrants. The hydrants shown below are all of the 1 pc. barrel design unless otherwise specified with each photo.
  • 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 a second conventional rounded O.D. rib at ground line unless otherwise specified with each photo.

    This first group of hydrants have the early style logo as described above. It should also be noted that these hydrants have rather indistinct vertical fluting on the upper barrel between the bonnet and the braided rope O.D. rib. These are the only known Eddy Valve hydrants with this fluting present. We believe these are ~1915 vintage.
  • 1076
    Nozzles: 1x 4½"
    Size: ~4" V.O.
    Location: New York state
    Photo: © 2001, J. Kaminski
    1916
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: ~4" V.O.
    Location: Jeff K. collection
    Photo: © 2002, J. Kaminski
    1081
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 3"
    Size: ~4" V.O.
    Photo: © 2003, J. Anderson
    0420
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x ~4"
    Size: ~4" V.O.
    Note: no ground line O.D. rib.
    Location: Harrisburg, PA
    Photo: © 2000, T. Ingalsbe
    2150
    Nozzles: 3x 2½"
    Size: ~6" V.O.
    Note: unusual bonnet & ground line rib!
    Location: Massachusetts
    Photo: © 2004, J. Kaminski
    0873
    Nozzles: 4x 2½" externally gated
    Size: ~6" V.O.
    Location: Massachusetts
    Photo: © 2002, J. Kaminski

    And this group has the later style logo as described above.
    1075
    Nozzles: 1x 2½"
    Size: ~4" V.O.
    Location: New York state
    Photo: © 2001, J. Kaminski
    1077
    Nozzles: 2x 2½" @ 90º
    Size: ~4" V.O.
    Location: John A. collection
    Photo: © 2001, J. Anderson
    2186
    Nozzles: 2x 2½" @ 90º
    Size: ~4" V.O.
    Note: smooth OD rib under nozzles
    Location: Jack S. collection
    Photo: © J. Selvey
    1078
    Nozzles: 2x 2½" @ 105º
    Size: ~4" V.O.
    Location: John A. collection
    Photo: © 2001, J. Anderson
    1502
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: ~4" V.O.
    Note: 2 pc. barrel
    Location: Massachusetts
    Photo: © 2001, J. Kaminski
    1079
    Nozzles: 2x 2½" @ 180º
    Size: ~4" V.O.
    Note: ? pc. barrel
    Location: New York state
    Photo: © 2001, J. Kaminski
    1080
    Nozzles: 1x 2½", 1x 3½"
    Size: ~4" V.O.
    Note: no ground line O.D. rib
    Location: New York state
    Photo: © 2001, J. Kaminski
    2096
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 3"
    Size: ~4" V.O.
    Location: John A. collection
    Photo: © 2003, J. Anderson
    1500
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4"
    Size: ~4" V.O.
    Note: ? pc. barrel
    Location: Rhode Island
    Photo: © 2001, J. Kaminski
    1501
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 5"
    Size: ~4" V.O.
    Location: Massachusetts
    Photo: © 2001, J. Kaminski
    2404
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x monitor flange
    Size: ~?" V.O.
    Location: Coshocton, Ohio
    Vintage photo

      Miscellaneous hydrants
    These hydrants have various barrel characteristics as noted below. While they (all except #0051) have the later style 6 point snowflake logo they are all lacking the 'braided rope' O.D. rib below the nozzles.
    0051
    Nozzles: 1x 2½"
    Size: ~3" VO, 4.25" ID
    Note: no barrel logo, same bonnet as 4" VO
    (See back view)
    Location: John A. collection
    Photo: © J. Anderson
    2187
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x ~4½"
    Size: ~4" V.O.
    Barrel: w/o grd. line O.D. rib
    Location: Jack S. collection
    Photo: © J. Selvey
    0419
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x ~4½"
    Size: ~4" V.O.
    Barrel: w/o grd. line O.D. rib
    Location: Albany, NY
    Photo: © 2000, T. Ingalsbe
    1705
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: ~5" V.O.
    Barrel: w/grd. line O.D. rib
    Location: Massachusetts
    Photo: © 2002, J. Kaminski
    1506
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4½"
    Size: ~5" V.O.
    Barrel: w/grd. line O.D. rib
    Location: Morrison, IL
    Photo: © 2001, J. Anderson

      List 91½ Multiple Valve hydrants
    This patent, MAY 2 1911, describes the multiple valve design (referred to as List 91½). They have been found with both styles of the 6 point snowflake logo as indicated below.
    2100 see (Side View)
    Nozzles: 2x 2½" gated, 1x 4½" (not gated)
    Size: ~6" V.O.
    Logo: later style
    Location: Illinois
    Photo: © 2003, J. Anderson
    1507
    Nozzles: 3x 2½" gated
    Size: ~6" V.O.
    Logo: later style
    Location: Rhode Island
    Photo: © 2001, J. Kaminski
    1085
    Nozzles: 4x 2½" gated
    Size: ~6" V.O.
    Logo: early style
    Location: Massachusetts
    Photo: © 2001, J. Kaminski
    0058 see (Top View)
    Nozzles: 5x 2½" gated, 1x 4" (not gated)
    Size: ~6" V.O.
    Logo: early style
    Location: Beaumont, TX fire museum
    Photo: © 1999, D.R. White
    2244
    Nozzles: 2x 2½" gated, 1x 4½" gated.
    Size: ~6" V.O.
    Logo: later style
    Location: Honolulu
    Photo: Courtesy of Earle Kealoha
    Captain, Engine 6/Third Platoon,
    Honolulu Fire Department
    2248
    Nozzles: 2x 2½" gated.
    Size: ~6" V.O.
    Logo: later style
    Location: Goldfield, NV
    Photo credit: Brian Norden


    Part 1 (1 pc. barrel) , Part 2 (2 pc. short barrel) , Part 3 (2 pc. tall barrel)

    Back to Hydrant Pictures
    Questions? / Comments?
    Unless otherwise noted, all contents of these WWW pages © FireHydrant.org