Traverse City Iron Works (TCIW)- Traverse City, MI
Traverse City Iron Works was founded in 1871. In a letterhead from 1890 the company described itself as a manufacturer of Steam Engines and Sawmill Machinery: Gang Edgers, Lumber Trimmers, Saw Guides. The company manufactured fire hydrants from around 1925 until 1978 when they were purchased by the Waterous Co.
If anyone has any information on this company and/or their hydrant model designations please contact us.

Four models of TCIW hydrants are known to FH.O.
  • Each model has "TCIW TRAVERSE CITY MICH" cast onto the bonnet dome.
  • Each model has an integral bonnet/nozzle section which make up a very short upper barrel.
  • Each model has a lower barrel with a ground line O.D. rib. If a hydrant is fitted with a short riser section then the lower barrel O.D. rib will not likely be visible.
  • Each model, except the early fluted barrel model, has V.O. size and year of manufacture cast on the back side of the upper barrel.

      "Early Fluted Barrel" model
    This model we believe to be the earliest model made by TCIW. It is very similar to the "later fluted model" shown below but lacks the lip on the bonnet dome.
  • These are unmarked insofar as valve opening size and year of manufacture.
    • 2059
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: ~4" V.O.
    (See top view)
    Location: Michigan
    Photo: © 2003,     Doug Johnson

      "Later Fluted Barrel" model
    Known year of manufacture dates for this second known model of TCIW hydrants range from 1926 to 1971.
  • During the long production run of this model the shape of the bonnet dome changed from compound curve to a hemi-spherical shape. This difference can be noted in the photos below, particularly in the 4" size.
  • The location of the bonnet dome wording "TCIW TRAVERSE CITY MICH" is relatively low on the bonnet dome of early production and was moved higher with the later production; perhaps concurrently with the dome shape change.
  • TCIW literature (published sometime after March 1953) lists the 4 sizes of TCIW AWWA hydrants shown in the table below. In addition, TCIW UL/FM hydrants were produced in the 5" and 6" sizes.
    • Size of Hydrant Valve Opening Dia. Barrel I.D. Barrel Flange O.D.

    4"

    4¼"

    6.50"

    10"

    4½"

    4¾"

    7.38"

    11½"

    5"

    5¼"

    8.50"

    12¼"

    6"

    6¼"

    10.00"

    15"


  • Early hydrants of this model have a NOV. 10 1925 patent date is on the back of the upper barrel as shown at the left. This embossing was dropped with later production. The presence or absence of this patent date embossing is noted below with each photo.

    • 1125
    Nozzles: 1x 2½"
    Size: 4"
    Dated: 1953
    Patent Date: yes
    Location: John A. collection
    Photo: © 2001 John Anderson         		0797
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: 4"
    Dated: 1926
    Patent Date: yes
    Location: private collection
    Photo: © 2001 Jim Quist         		1210
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: 4"
    Dated: 1971
    Patent Date: no
    Location: Gays Mills, WI
    Photo: © 2001, Jikm Quist         		0221
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x ~4"
    Size: 4"
    Dated: 1961
    Patent Date: no
    Location: Gays Mills, WI
    Photo: © 2001, Jikm Quist
    1097
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: 5¼" V.O.
    Dated: 1969
    Patent Date: no
    Location: Ed M. collection
    Photo: © 2001, Ed Masminster         		0798
    Nozzles: 2x 2½" ext. gated
    Size: ~5¼" V.O.
    Dated: 19??
    Patent Date: ?
    Location: private industrial facility on Commack, Long Island, NY
    Photo: © 2001 Greg Gottlieb         		1851
    Nozzles: 2x 4½"
    Size: 5¼" V.O.
    Dated: 1966
    Patent Date: no
    Location: Jason C. collection
    Photo: © 2004, J. Cherry         		1852
    Nozzles: 3x 3½"
    Size: ~5¼" V.O.
    Dated: ?
    Patent Date: ?
    Source: TCIW catalog #17
    1098
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4½"
    Size: 5¼" V.O.
    Dated: 1960
    Patent Date: yes
    Location: Ed M. collection
    Photo: © 2001, Ed Masminster         		2135
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4½"
    Size: 5¼" V.O.
    Dated: 1978
    Patent Date: ?
    Location: Indiana
    Photo: © 2004, S. Gustafson         		1853
    Nozzles: 2x 2½" ext. gated, 1x ~4½"
    Size: ~5¼" V.O.
    Dated: ?
    Patent Date: ?
    Source: TCIW catalog #17
    2175
    Nozzles: 2x 4"
    Size: 6¼" V.O.
    Dated: ?
    Patent Date: yes
    Location: Jeff K. collection
    Photo: © 2004, J. Kaminski         		1854
    Nozzles: 1x 2½", 2x ~4½"
    Size: ~6¼" V.O.
    Dated: ?
    Patent Date: ?
    Source: TCIW catalog #17

      "Smooth Barrel" model
    These smooth barrel models look like the fluted model above but without the fluting. Perhaps this is not a separate model but simply an appearance update to the fluted model.
  • Known year of manufacture dates range from 1970 to 1977.
    • 1099
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: 5¼" V.O.
    Dated: 1974
    Location: Ed M. collection
    Photo: © 2001, Ed Masminster         		0218
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: ~5¼" V.O.
    Dated: 1974
    Location: Charlottesville, VA
    Photo: © Ethan Kennedy         		0220
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x ~5"
    Size: ~5¼" V.O.
    Dated: 1972
    Location: Canton, OH
    Photo: © 1999, Derek McPherson         		2164
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4½"
    Size: 5¼" V.O.
    Dated: 19??
    Location: Indiana
    Photo: © 2004, L. Lund

      "Final" model
    This final model shows some design influence from the Waterous Pacer model with it's squared off and tapered integral bonnet/nozzle section.
  • Known year of manufacture dates range from 1975 to 1994.
    • 0219
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4"
    Size: 5¼" V.O.
    Dated: 1978
    Location: Platteville, WI
    Photo: © 2001, Jim Quist


    FH.O Catalog Library:
    Traverse City Manual Fire Hydrants, Valves - WaterWorks Specials Catalog No. 15
    Traverse City Manual Fire Hydrants, Valves - WaterWorks Specials Catalog No. 16
    Traverse City Manual Fire Hydrants, Valves - WaterWorks Specials Catalog No. 17

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