M. Greenburg's
Sons
- San Francisco, CA Part 2 Morris Greenberg was the inventor of the "California" wet barrel fire hydrant. Learn more about Greenberg fire hydrants by visiting the following link : http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist8/greenberg.html Except as noted, restored hydrants are from the Willis Lamm Collection. Locations indicated are where the hydrants were originally in service. |
| Click pictures for closeups |
The valves and nozzles on the original hydrants were seated in lead. The hydrants were
provided with flanged bonnets to permit access inside the hydrant
to service valves and replace seals. This idea worked well so long as the
repairman didn't drop parts or tools down the hydrant body. Eventually designers
came up with iron alloys that threads could be cut into reliable. This
improvement meant that the nozzles could be threaded on and removed with a
wrench to access valve faces for repairs.
Breakaway stems were a new option. A clapper valve section could be part of the riser which was held open by a rod attached inside the hydrant. If the hydrant was knocked off, the clapper could swing shut preventing water damage. |
FHO# 0535 Model: EBMUD 71 Date: 1948 Location: Orinda, CA Photo: © 2000, Willis Lamm
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FHO# 0590 Model: 71 Date: 1957 Location: Willits, CA Photo: © 2000, Willis Lamm
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FHO# 0646 Model: SF 74 Date: 1938 Location: Treasure Island, CA Photo: © 2000, Willis Lamm
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FHO# 0588 Model: EBMUD 74 Date: 1945 Location: Orinda, CA Photo: © 2000, Willis Lamm
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FHO# 0126 Model: 74 Date: 1950s Location: Sunnyvale, CA Photo: © 1999, Jeff Dinkins
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FHO# 0604 Model: 75 Date: 1930s Location: Oakland Army Dpt Photo: © 2000, Willis Lamm
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FHO# 0620 View: 75 Date: 1956 Location: Pacheco, CA Photo: © 2000, Willis Lamm
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FHO# 0513 Model: 76 Date: 1948 Location: Pittsburg, CA Photo: © 2000, Willis Lamm
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FHO# 0155 Model: 76 w/breakaway stem Date: 1952 Location: Phoenix, AZ Photo: © 2000, Terence Kennedy
(Hall of Flame Museum) |
FHO# 2235 Model: 78 w/breakaway stem Date: 1965 Location: Watsonville, CA Nozzles: 2x 4 1/2" Photo: © 2005, Steve Parmley
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