Norwood Engineering - Florence, MA


Norwood Engineering Company was based in Florence, Massachusetts. The company bought out Holyoke Hydrant & Iron Works which was based in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Norwood manufactured fire hydrants from 1896 until 1946. A more complete history of Norwood Engineering Company and it's predecessors can be found on the Pattee companies page.

All photos © 2000-02, Jeff Kaminski and the hydrants a part of his collection; unless otherwise credited.
  Original Model
Presented below are three sizes of the same hydrant model from the early 1900's. The bonnet is cast integral with the upper barrel. The hydrants in this group have an 1891 date on the operating nut enclosure. Variations of several hydrant features are described in detail below.
This first group, perhaps the oldest of the Norwoods, has "NORWOOD ENGINEERING CO. FLORENCE, MASS" cast on the top as shown at the left. The lack of "THE HOLYOKE" on top may indicate that these were made prior to the company's purchase of Holyoke Iron Works.
  • Note that the top of the hydrant is much flatter than the top of the larger second group below.
  • 1799
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: 5.25" V.O.
    Location: private collection
    0052
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 5"
    Size: 6.25"V.O.
    Location: Hartford, CT
    © 2000, E. Kennedy


    With this second group the top of the fire hydrant has "THE HOLYOKE" cast onto it in large letters on one side and "NORWOOD ENGINEERING CO. FLORENCE, MASS" on the other side as shown in the photo at left. Most Norwood hydrants have "THE HOLYOKE" oriented to the same side of the hydrants as the nozzles (as in the photo at the left), but a small percentage have the opposite orientation and are so noted with each photo description.
  • Nozzles are leaded in unless otherwise indicated.
  • Some hydrants have a 4 bolt flange while others have 8 bolts; when known this is listed.
  • Some hydrants have a gusseted flange while others have no gussets; those known to have gussets are indicated.
  • 0807
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: 4.25" V.O.
    Flange: 4 bolt
    1771
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", screw-in
    Size: 4.25" V.O.
    Flange: 4 bolt
    1355
    Nozzles: 2x 2½" screw-in
    Size: 4.25" V.O.
    Flange: 4 bolt
    "NORWOOD.." on frt
    1360
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4"
    Size: 4.25" V.O.
    Flange: 4 bolt w/gussets
    Location: Massachusetts
    0806
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4" screw-in
    Size: 4.25" V.O.
    Flange: 4 bolt
    0566
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4"
    Size: 4.25" V.O.
    Location: Massachusetts
    0916
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 5"
    Size: 4.25" V.O.
    Location: Massachusetts
    2369
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4"
    Size: 4.25" V.O.
    Flange: 4 bolt
    0567
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: 4.75" V.O.
    Flange: 4 bolt
    0809
    Nozzles: 3x 2½" screw-in
    Size: 4.75" V.O.
    Flange: 8 bolt
    0808
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4"
    Size: 4.75" V.O.
    Flange: 4 bolt
    1354
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4" screw-in
    Size: 4.75" V.O.
    Flange: 8 bolt
    "NORWOOD.." on frt
    2284
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4" screw-in
    Size: 4.75" V.O.
    Flange: 8 bolt
    1353
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 5"
    Size: 4.75" V.O.
    Flange: 4 bolt
    0095
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: 5.25" V.O.
    Location: Holyoke, MA
    © 2000, Ethan Kennedy
    2374
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: 5.25" V.O.
    Flange: 8 bolt
    Note: Extra long barrel bosses
    0914
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: 5.25" V.O.
    Location: Massachusetts
    0810
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4"
    Size: 5.25" V.O.
    Flange: 8 bolt
    1356
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 5"
    Size: 5.25" V.O.
    Flange: 8 bolt
    0811
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 5"
    Size: 5.25" V.O.
    Flange: 8 bolt w/gussets
    1444
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 5" screw-in
    Size: 5.25" V.O.
    "NORWOOD.." on frt
    Location: Massachusetts
    0875
    Nozzles: 4x 2½" screw-in
    Size: 5.25" V.O.
    Flange: 8 bolt
    0568
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4"
    Size: 6.25" V.O.
    NO wording on bonnet
    Location: Massachusetts

      Holyoke Mill Yard Hydrant
    While this group of hydrants have the 1891 date like the first group shown and "NORWOOD ENGINEERING CO. FLORENCE, MASS" on the nozzle side of the barrel; that is where the similarity stops. This group of hydrants differ significantly from any others on this page as follows:
  • Note the lack of a barrel rib above the nozzles
  • Note the conventional bolted flange at the lower end of the upper barrel. Also note the lack of the larger barrel diameter above this flange where the frost jacket "rides" on the other models.
  • 1763
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: 5.25" V.O.
    Flange: 8 bolt
    0915
    Nozzles: 2x 2½" externally gated
    Size: 5.25" V.O.
    Location: Massachusetts
    1005
    Nozzles: 3x 2½" externally gated
    Size: 5.25" V.O.
    Location: Massachusetts
    2375
    Nozzles: 3x 2½" externally gated
    Size: 6.25" V.O.
    1445
    Nozzles: 4x 2½" externally gated
    Size: 6.25" V.O.
    Location: Massachusetts

      Transitional Model?
    These hydrants have characteristics indicative of a model made after the "original model" above and before the "later model" in the next group which follows.
  • Note the change to a bolted on bonnet, an example shown at the left, but of similar appearance to the original model.
  • The 1891 patent date present on the original model is absent from these indicating perhaps a a 1910 or later vintage.
  • All hydrants have screw-in nozzles.
  • 1701
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 5"
    Size: 4.75" V.O.
    Location: New Hampshire
    1361
    Nozzles: 3x 2½" internally gated
    Size: 6.25" V.O.
    Flange: 8 bolt
    0812
    Nozzles: 4x 2½" internally gated
    Size: 6.25" V.O.
    Flange: 8 bolt

      Walker Patent Model
    This was a slide gate model based on the Walker patent of February 28, 1899.
  • The wording "THE HOLYOKE" was eliminated with this model.
  • The name "WALKER" may be embossed on the bonnet of this model.
  • The name Coffin has been found on the barrel of one example.
  • Note the change in the style of bolted on bonnet from those shown above.
  • 2476
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 3" screw-in
    Size: 5.25" ? V.O.
    Location: Concord, Massachusetts
    Photo courtesy Ken Patton
    © 2007 Ken Patton
    0569
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 5" screw-in
    Size: 5.25" V.O.
    Location: Massachusetts


    Part 1 (Pattee companies) , Part 2 (Holyoke Iron) , Part 3 (Norwood)
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