Kupferle Foundry - St. Louis, MO John C. Kupferle Foundry Co. - St. Louis, MO The Kupferle Foundry Company of St. Louis, Missouri, was started in 1857 by John C. Kupferle. The company no longer manufactures fire hydrants, but still makes yard hydrants and smaller flushing (post) hydrants. The Eclipse No. 2 flushing hydrant, patented in the 1880s, is the only model shown on this page which is currently manufactured. It is not considered to be a fire hydrant by the current company. |
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Most older Eclipse hydrants do not bear the Kupferle name on them. But
we at FH.O are reasonably certain that all were made by Kupferle Foundry since
"Eclipse" was their registered trademark.
A general description of Eclipse hydrants taken from 1930's company literature
can be viewed here.
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This early No. 2A company literature shows that this was a 1½" V.O. hydrant and was offered in two single outlet sizes; 1¼" and 1½". |
No. 2A Barrel markings |
1382 Nozzles: 1x 1½" Location: Jack S. collection Photo: © 2001, J. Anderson |
0597 Nozzles: 1x 2½" Location: Steve P. collection Photo: © 2001, J. Anderson |
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This early No. 2 company literature shows that this was a
2 3/16" V.O. hydrant and was offered in variety of nozzle options. The current Kupferle No. 2
hydrant is still has this same valve opening size.
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No. 2 - "Style 2.1" | No. 2 - "Style 2.2" | No. 2 - "Style 2.3" | No. 2 - "Style 2.4" |
No. 2 - "Style 2.5" |
First, the older fluted barrel & bonnet No. 2 Eclipses ... |
2078 "Style 2.1" Nozzles: 1x 1¼" screwed-in Barrel: 1 piece Location: Jeff K. collection Photo: © 2003, J. Kaminski |
1397 "Style 2.1" Nozzles: 1x 1½" internally gated Barrel: 1 piece Location: Steve P. collection Photo: © 2001, J. Anderson |
1722 "Style 2.3" Nozzles: 1x 2" screwed-in Barrel: 2 piece Location: Platteville, WI Photo: © 2002, J. Anderson |
1530 "Style 2.2" Nozzles: 1x 2½" screwed-in Barrel: 1 piece Location: John A. collection Photo: © 2001, J. Anderson |
0699 "Style ?" Nozzles: 1x 2½" screwed-in Barrel: 1 piece Location: Viola, WI Photo: © 2000, J. Quist |
2256 "Style 2.5" Nozzles: 1x 2½" screwed-in Barrel: 1 piece Location: Jeff K. collection Photo: © 2004, J. Kaminski |
1332 "Style 2.1" Nozzles: 2x 2½" screwed-in Barrel: 1 piece Location: John A. collection Photo: © 2001, J. Anderson |
These are newer, smooth barrel, styles of the No. 2 model with #0733 being the current style. |
1930 "Style 2.4" Nozzle: 1x 1½" screwed-in Barrel: 2 piece Location: private collection Photo: © 2003, C. Wasnueiski |
0684 "Style 2.4" Nozzles: 2x 1½" screwed-in Barrel: 2 piece Location: Robert F. collection Photo: © 2001, R. Frye |
0550 "Style 2.4" Nozzles: 2x 2½" screwed-in Barrel: 2 piece Location: Maquoketa, IA Photo: © 2000, J. Anderson |
0733 "Style 2.4" Nozzles: 1x 2½" screwed-in Barrel: 2 piece Location: Albany, IL Photo: © 2000, J. Anderson |
2353 "Style 2.3" Nozzle: 2x 1½" screwed-in Barrel: 2 piece Location: Private Collection Photo: © 2006, Jeff Kaminski |
2360 "Style 2.4" Nozzle: 1x 1½" screwed-in Barrel: 2 piece, flanged Location: Private Collection Photo: © 2006, Jeff Kaminski |
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This early No. 3 company literature shows that this was a
4" V.O. hydrant and was offered in variety of nozzle options including a steamer nozzle.
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No. 3 - "Style 3.1" | No. 3 - "Style 3.2" | No. 3 - "Style 3.3" | No. 3 - "Style 3.4" |
No. 3 - "Style 3.5" | No. 3 - "Style 3.6" |
2277 "Style 3.5" Nozzle: 1x 2½" leaded-in Location: John A. collection Photo: © 2004, J. Anderson |
1334 "Style 3.1" Nozzles: 2x 2½" leaded-in Location: John A. collection Photo: © 2001, J. Anderson |
1333 "Style 3.2" Nozzles: 2x 2½" leaded-in Location: John A. collection Photo: © 2001, J. Anderson |
1096 "Style 3.3" Nozzles: 2x 2½" leaded-in Location: John A. collection Photo: © 2001, J. Anderson |
1528 "Style 3.4" Nozzles: 2x 2½" leaded-in Location: John A. collection Photo: © 2001, J. Anderson |
1529 "Style 3.5" Nozzles: 2x 2½" leaded-in Location: John A. collection Photo: © 2001, J. Anderson |
2091 "Style 3.5" Nozzles: 2x 2½" leaded-in Location: Jeff K. collection Photo: © 2003, J. Kaminski |
1858 "Style 3.6" Nozzles: 2x 2½" leaded-in Location: Jeff K. collection Photo: © 2003, J. Kaminski |
2249 Nozzles:1x2½" leaded-in Note smooth area on barrel at nozzle level. Location: Tonopah, NV Photo credit: Brian Norden |
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We have no photo documentation of any of these models. What we do have is a half page explanation of each of these models from 1930's company literature: No. 4 (2 1/16" V.O.), No. 6 (4¾" V.O.), and No. 10 (5¼" V.O.). |
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These models are of a more modern appearance and closed with pressure. Originally at least some of these models
were made in a 1-piece barrel design. Later they were made in a 2-piece design.
According to 1930's company literature the
sizes for these models are as follows: No. 65 (4¼" VO), No. 70 (4½" VO), No. 75 (5" VO),
No. 100 (5½" VO), and No. 125 (6" VO).
Two styles of logos have been documented. What we believe is the earliest has wording in a circle. |
1336 No. 65
Nozzles: 2x 2½" Barrel: 2 piece Location: John A. collection Photo: © 2001, J. Anderson |
1337 No. 70
Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 3½" Barrel: 2 piece Location: John A. collection Photo: © 1999, J. Anderson |
0477 No. 75
Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4½" Barrel: 2 piece Location: ? Photo: © 2000, R. Porterfield |
And these hydrants have a later semi-circular logo and are dated ... |
0186 No. 75
Nozzles: 2x 2½" Barrel: 2 piece Dated: 1955 Location: John A. collection Photo: © 1999, J. Anderson |
2380 No. 125
Nozzles: 3x 2½" Barrel: 2 piece Dated: ? Location: Steven Groves collection Photo: © 2006, S. Groves |
CONTACT INFORMATION | |
813 Hempstead St St. Louis, MO 63102 | www.hydrants.com |
FHO Catalog Library: | |
New Flushing Hydrant Eclipse #2A Post Hydrant Eclipse #85 Blow Off Hydrant Operation and Maintenance Eclipse #1 Hydrant |
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