General Information

Serial #

71331

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

VITREOUS ENAMEL FINISH ON EXTERIOR; GALVANIZED STEEL TANK; COPPER AND BRASS FITTINGS; CAST IRON LEGS

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

65.0 cm

Width

60.0 cm

Height

184.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Domestic Technology

Category

Plumbing

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

RUUD

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

City

Toronto

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

Period

THIS TYPE OF HEATER WAS USED C. 1935+

Canada

IN 1933 ONTHYDRO OFFERED A FREE WATER HEATER ELEMENT TO QUALIFYING CUSTOMERS, AS AN INDUCEMENT TO USE ELECTRIC POWER. HOT TOP WAS DEVELOPED BY RUUD MFG CO. & CONSUMERS' GAS IN RESPONSE TO THIS OFFER: GUARANTEED AGAINST LEAKAGE FOR 8 YEARS, IT PROVIDED AMPLE HOT WATER FOR THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD AT A VERY LOW COST. THE HOT TOP COULD BE PURCHASED FOR $1.50 DOWN, THE BALANCE TO BE PAID OVER FIVE YEARS. SIMPLE, SAFE AND RELIABLE, IT WAS EXTREMELY POPULAR AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE RAPID ADOPTION OF GAS WATER HEATERS IN THE HOME. (REF.4)

Function

TO HEAT WATER TO BE SUPPLIED, AS REQUIRED, TO MULTIPLE OUTLETS WITHIN A BUILDING.

Technical

'HOT TOP' WATER HEATERS CIRCULATED WATER FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK, HEATED IT, & PASSED IT THROUGH A COPPER TUBE BURIED IN THE INSULATION. WATER ROSE TO THE TOP OF THE TANK THROUGH THE COPPER TUBE, READY FOR USE. THE FLOW OF GAS SUPPLIED TO THE HEATER WAS INCREASED ONLY WHEN NECESSARY TO REPLENISH THE SUPPLY OF HOT WATER

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

Plate fixed to front of tank reads "RUUD/ HOT TOP/ AUTOMATIC WATER HEATER". Plate on heater compartment includes lengthy instructions on operation [reproduced in full in Supp. Info.] and text "...MADE BY/ RUUD MANUFACTURING COMPANY/ TORONTO, CANADA/ SIZE 30-35/ SERIAL 71331/ TYPE HT/ TEST 300 LBS/ PRESSURE 125 LBS WORKING/ HEATING [blank]/ RATE 5000 B.T.U. GAS/ TANK 35 CAPACITY W.M.". "Inscribed on lower edge of plate: "SOLD BY CONSUMERS' GAS CO."

Missing

APPEARS COMPLETE.

Finish

SMOOTH WHITE ENAMEL FINISH ON TANK. CIRCULAR RED-BROWN BAND FRAMES TANK TOP & BOTTOM; 3 HEAT INDICATING STUDS ON TANK AND TANK AND HEATER COMPARTMENT TOPS HAVE SAME FINISH. BLACK (?) CAST IRON LEGS.

Decoration

N/A