Willis Lamm's Hydrant Collection, P.4

Willis Lamm's Hydrant Collection

Part 4

"MUSHROOM HEAD" HYDRANTS

After World War I, using technology learned from wartime manufacturing, hydrant manufacturers learned how to bore and thread hydrant bodies and actually screw the nozzles and stem guides onto the hydrants. No longer was it necessary to open the tops of the hydrants to service valves and replace ballata valve seals (and accidentally drop tools and hydrant parts down the riser!) The nozzle could be taken off using a "slug wrench" and the valve slid out the nozzle opening for repair or servicing. As a result of this improvement, removable "flange head" bonnets were no longer necessary. Many of the early manufacturers still retained some of the traditional look of the flange head hydrants in order to dress off the appearance of the hydrant, and in doing so created what we often refer to in California as the "mushroom heads."

SHAND AND JURS
Click pictures for closeups

It appears that Shand and Jurs originated the "mushroom head" shape. They produced at least 5 models of mushroom head hydrants from the 1920s into the 40s.

SINGLE OUTLET HYDRANTS

Model 100
This version was S&J's shortest hydrant (19�" tall). It has a conventional "under the nozzle" chain attachment versus the wing gussets which appeared in the mid 1930s.
We believe this hydrant to date back to 1929.

0638

Model 100
This hydrant came from a residential neighborhood in Oakland where it was installed around 1934 and remained in service until 2000.
The nozzle collar reduces the hydrant from its original 3" size to the current 2�" standard.

0606

0619

Model 112
As far as we can determine, this was the original 3-outlet wet barrel hydrant. The reason it is so tall is to facilitate clearance between the hose outlet and pumper outlet. (Later manufacturers set the hose outlets at 45 degree angles to the pumper outlet to provide spanner clearances in a lower body profile.)
This is a military issue hydrant, cast around 1939.

UNITED IRON WORKS
Click pictures for closeups

United Iron Works quickly came out with their own mushroom head design. Apart from the heads being a little flatter than the S&J hydrants, they were virtually the same hydrant.

Here is a typical single outlet United mushroom head, a model 641-1, cast around 1927.
It came from Oakland and was taken out of service in 2000.

0616

Here is a sample of United's mushroom head dual hose hydrant, a model 641-2.
This hydrant was made around 1935 and served until 2000.

0615

Here is a sample of United's mushroom head pumper hydrant, a model 639.
This hydrant was made around 1934 and served until 2000.

0637

Other "Willis" Collection Pages

"California" Hydrants

More "California" Hydrants

Dry Barrels

Major Wet Barrel Makers

Smaller Wet Barrel Makers

Modern Wet Barrels

The Frenchman & the Shipwreck

Back to Hydrant Collectors Page

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Model 100 This version was S&J's shortest hydrant (19�" tall). It has a conventional "under the nozzle" chain attachment versus the wing gussets which appeared in the mid 1930s. We believe this hydrant to date back to 1929.	0638	Model 100 This hydrant came from a residential neighborhood in Oakland where it was installed around 1934 and remained in service until 2000. The nozzle collar reduces the hydrant from its original 3" size to the current 2�" standard.	0606

	0619	Model 112 As far as we can determine, this was the original 3-outlet wet barrel hydrant. The reason it is so tall is to facilitate clearance between the hose outlet and pumper outlet. (Later manufacturers set the hose outlets at 45 degree angles to the pumper outlet to provide spanner clearances in a lower body profile.) This is a military issue hydrant, cast around 1939.

Other "Willis" Collection Pages
"California" Hydrants	More "California" Hydrants
Dry Barrels	Major Wet Barrel Makers
Smaller Wet Barrel Makers	Modern Wet Barrels
The Frenchman & the Shipwreck
Back to Hydrant Collectors Page

Willis Lamm's Hydrant Collection

Part 4

Model 100 This version was S&J's shortest hydrant (19�" tall). It has a conventional "under the nozzle" chain attachment versus the wing gussets which appeared in the mid 1930s. We believe this hydrant to date back to 1929.

0638

Model 100 This hydrant came from a residential neighborhood in Oakland where it was installed around 1934 and remained in service until 2000. The nozzle collar reduces the hydrant from its original 3" size to the current 2�" standard.

0606

0619

Here is a typical single outlet United mushroom head, a model 641-1, cast around 1927. It came from Oakland and was taken out of service in 2000.

0616

Here is a sample of United's mushroom head dual hose hydrant, a model 641-2. This hydrant was made around 1935 and served until 2000.

0615

Here is a sample of United's mushroom head pumper hydrant, a model 639. This hydrant was made around 1934 and served until 2000.

0637

Other "Willis" Collection Pages

Model 100
This version was S&J's shortest hydrant (19�" tall). It has a conventional "under the nozzle" chain attachment versus the wing gussets which appeared in the mid 1930s.
We believe this hydrant to date back to 1929.

Model 100
This hydrant came from a residential neighborhood in Oakland where it was installed around 1934 and remained in service until 2000.
The nozzle collar reduces the hydrant from its original 3" size to the current 2�" standard.

Here is a typical single outlet United mushroom head, a model 641-1, cast around 1927.
It came from Oakland and was taken out of service in 2000.

Here is a sample of United's mushroom head dual hose hydrant, a model 641-2.
This hydrant was made around 1935 and served until 2000.

Here is a sample of United's mushroom head pumper hydrant, a model 639.
This hydrant was made around 1934 and served until 2000.