Mueller Canada
Canada Valve Ltd.
Canada Valve and Hydrant Co. Ltd.
Dominion Steel Products Company - Brantford, Ontario, Canada

The Darling Pump and Mfg Co. was founded in 1888 at Williamsport Pennsylvania as a producer of oil well pumps and other related products. In 1902 they started producing a line of fire hydrants.

It was around 1920 that the Dominion Steel Products Company of Brantford, Ontario, entered into an agreement with Darling to produce Darling fire hydrants and valves for the Canadian market. However, in 1923, Dominion went out of business. In that same year, Henri Jordan, a former employee, founded The Canada Valve and Hydrant Company Ltd, acquiring the manufacturing rights to the Darling hydrant and valve line.

It was around at this time that the Philip Gies Foundry, a producer of cast iron furnaces and boilers, started to supply iron castings to the newly formed Canada Valve and Hydrant Company Ltd.. Until the 1950s, this was the only relationship between the two companies, supplier and customer. In 1949, Henri Jordan died, and his estate put Canada Valve and Hydrant up for sale. Not wanting an important customer to fall into the hands of a competitor, the Philip Gies Foundry purchased and became the parent of Canada Valve and Hydrant in May of 1950. At this point in time, Canada Valve and Hydrant was quite small, with some 20 employees, and were producing a mere 6 hydrants a day on average. Business was confined mainly to Ontario. An effort to expand production was initiated, quadrupling hydrant production.

In 1956, Darling Valve and Mfg acquired both companies as parent. Many new products were added to the Canadian product line, including the B-50-B hydrant, described as the first ball bearing type hydrant. In 1966 a new plant was constructed, and the Brantford operations were moved to Kitchener, Ontario in January of 1967. Also at this time, Philip Gies Foundry Limited and The Canada Valve and Hydrant Company were merged into one entity, Canada Valve Limited.

In 1978, the decision was made to purchase iron castings, and the Canada Valve foundry in Kitchener was closed. In late 1980 the company name was changed to Canada Valve Inc. The company had 3 locations, with the head office in Milton, Ontario, and plants in Milton and, once again, Brantford, Ontario. The company maintained distribution centers and warehouses throughout Canada.

Today, Canada Valve hydrants are manufactured by Mueller Canada. On this page can be seen some photos from the Mueller Canada factory in Milton, Ontario. The original Darling design hydrants are still produced, as well as the Century model. Mueller Canada also sells the Modern Centurion hydrant, designed by the Mueller Company in the USA. Canada Valve hydrants are the product of a long history of cooperation between the companies of 2 nations.

Biographical information courtesy of Mueller Canada.
For information about Mueller Canada hydrants, visit the Mueller Canada home page.

Mueller Canada literature lists 10 models of Canada Valve hydrants as having been produced over the years. The models are listed on this page in roughly the order of introduction

Other than the Century and the B-50-B-M, the above ground models all look very much alike. As with the Darling hydrants made in the USA, there is a squared off bonnet variation to be found on some hydrants. Hydrants are made with either a 5¼" or 6" mainvalve opening size. The 6" models are designed for higher operating pressures, and the stock configuration is with 4 hose nozzles and 1 pumper.



  "DA-300" & "S-300" (1920? - ?)
Characteristics: The very similar DA-300 & S-300 models have a one piece barrel design, with a 6 bolt drain ring flange at the shoe.
  • They are not model marked; and some are not dated.
  • Both models have a skirt-like feature cast on the barrel just above the ground line marker.

    What we believe to be the DA-300 model has a squared-off bonnet shape.
  • 1634
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: ~4" V.O.
    Dated: 1940
    Location: Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada.
    Notes: Looks like an adapter or extension on the nozzles.
    © 2002, Stuart Niven
    1608
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: ~4" V.O.
    Dated:
    Location: Perth, Ontario area
    © 2002, Stuart Niven
    2081
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4"
    Size: ~4" V.O.
    Dated: (none)
    Location: John A. collection
    © 2003, J. Anderson
    2126
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4"
    Size: ~4" V.O.
    Dated: ?
    Location: Ed M. collection
    © 2003, E. Masminster

    2383
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: ~5" V.O.
    Dated: 1941
    Location: Private collection
    © 2006, J. Kaminski

    What we believe to be the S-300 model has the familiar rounded bonnet shape. These are externally identical to the later B-50-B model below, except they lack the model marking on the barrel and have the skirt cast above the ground line marker.
    1409
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: ~4" V.O.
    Date: 1956
    Location: John A. collection
    © 2001, J. Anderson
    2122
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4½"
    Size: ~4" V.O.
    Date: 1954
    (See back view )
    Location: Ed M. collection
    © 2003, E. Masminster


      "TP 52" (1952? - ?)
    Characteristics: The TP 52 is a two piece barrel design. The groundline flange has 8 bolts: there is a 6 bolt drain ring flange at the shoe.
  • Cast on barrel: "Darling"   "The Canada Valve & Hydrant Co Ltd"   "Brantford Ont"
  • "TP 52" model designation also cast on back of barrel.
  • 1601
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: ~4" V.O.
    Dated: 1955
    Location: Stuart Niven's private collection
    © 2002, Stuart Niven
    1610
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4"
    Size: ~4" V.O.
    Dated: 1957
    Location: Havelock, Ontario
    © 2002, Stuart Niven


      "SFH-38" (1938? - ?)
    Characteristics: The SFH-38 is a two piece barrel design. The groundline flange has 6 bolts: there is a 6 bolt drain ring flange at the shoe. No Photos are Available at This Time.


      "B-50-B" (1950 - ?)
    Characteristics: The B-50-B is a one piece barrel design. There is an 8 bolt drain ring flange at the shoe.
  • Cast on barrel: "Darling"   "The Canada Valve & Hydrant Co Ltd"   "Brantford Ont"
  • "B-50-B" model designation also cast on back of barrel; otherwise identical in appearance to S-300 model above except it lacks the skirt cast on the barrel above the ground line marker.
  • 2202
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: ~4" VO
    Date:
    Note:
    © 2004, Stuart Niven
    1895
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4½"
    Size: ~4" VO
    Date: 1962
    Note: PAT'D 1954
    (See back view)
    Location: John A. collection
    © 2003, J. Anderson


      "B-50-B-18" (1950? - present)
    Characteristics: The B-50-B-18 is a two piece barrel design. The groundline flange has 8 bolts. There is an 8 bolt drain ring flange at the shoe.
    1939
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Date: (none)
    Location: Mike V. collection
    © 2003, Mike Vacanti
    0049
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1 x 4"
    Date: ?
    Location: Windsor, Ontario
    © 2002, Ethan Kennedy
    1635
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x4½"
    Dated: ?
    Markings:DARLING, B-50-B-18, PAT''D, CANADA, VALVE
    © 2002, Stuart Niven
    2067
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x4½"
    Date: (none)
    Note: CV logo (See also back side )
    Location: Mike V. collection
    © 2003, Mike Vacanti


      "B-50-B-24" (1950? - present)
    Characteristics: The B-50-B-24 is a two piece barrel design. The groundline flange has 8 bolts. There is an 8 bolt drain ring flange at the shoe. It has been noted that the barrel is 24 inches long with this model.
    2151
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Date: 1974
    Note: Am. Darling logo
    Location: Mike V. collection
    © 2004, M. Vacanti
    1604
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Date:1967
    Location: Stuart Niven's private Collection
    © 2002, Stuart Niven
    2022
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x4"
    Date: 1970
    Location: Private collection
    © 2003, Stuart Niven


      "B-50-B-M" (1950? - present)
    Characteristics: The B-50-B-M is a two piece barrel design. The groundline flange has 8 bolts. There is an 8 bolt drain ring flange at the shoe. This model has an integrally cast monitor flange on the upper barrel.
    1613
    Nozzles: 3x 2½", 1x3" monitor flange
    © 2002, Mueller Canada


      "B-50-B" Internally Gated Industrial Model
    Characteristics: This Canada Valve & Hydrant era model is a two piece barrel design. The groundline flange has 12 bolts.
    2365
    Nozzles: 4x 2½", internally gated
    Date: 1964
    © 2006, Stuart Niven
    Bonnet view


    © 2006, Stuart Niven


      "Century" (197? - present)
    Characteristics: The Century is a two piece barrel design. The groundline flange has 8 bolts. There is an 8 bolt drain ring flange at the shoe. Essentially, all internal parts are interchangeable with the Darling B-50-B series hydrants, but this hydrant has an aesthetically "modern look" upper barrel.
    1936
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Dated: 1970
    Location: Private collection
    Markings: Canada Valve logo is on both sides, 1970 is cast on one side
    © 2003, Stuart Niven
    1607
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x4"
    Dated:1990
    Location: Perth, Ontario, Canada
    © 2002, Stuart Niven
    2019
    Nozzles: 2x 2½" 1x 100mm Storz
    Dated: 1988
    Location: Private collection
    Markings: Canada Valve logo is on both sides, on back side is ULC logo, 1988: On Bonnet: 4-5", 150 PSI
    © 2003, Stuart Niven


      "Flush-Type Hydrant" ( )
    The flush type hydrant is typical of the breed with nozzles and operating nut positioned under a flush with the ground cover. No Photos are Available at This Time.
    1614
    © 2002, Mueller Canada


      Century Tropical Hydrant
    Characteristics: The Century Tropical hydrant is a two piece barrel design. The groundline flange has 8 bolts. This model retains the Century upper barrel, and comes in two forms: one has a compression mainvalve at the groundline flange level, without a drain, and looks the same as the freeze-proof models: the other "Tropical" hydrant is entirely without a mainvalve, or an operating nut or bonnet. Both are designed for non-freezing climates. The latter "valveless" design can be used in cold climates, and water flow is instead controlled by a gate valve installed inline: the hydrant must be pumped dry after each use.
    1606
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x4"
    Dated: ?
    Location: Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
    © 2002, Stuart Niven


      Modern Centurion
    The Modern Centurion is a US made hydrant, produced by the Mueller Company. The hydrant is and has been made only in a 5¼" V.O. size; in 2-way, and 3-way configurations.
    0125
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1 x 4½"
    Date: 1970
    Location: Portage, Wisconsin
    © 2002, Jim Quist


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