Vintage Rudd "Instant" Water Heater

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Grandma's was a variation. Still a coil of pipe over a fire, but roughly the size of a large fire extinguisher. It had a small storage tank alongside it.

Grandma's boiler was originally coal but converted to gas by the time I saw it. This was Pittsburgh and you really don't want your boiler running out of fuel in the middle of the night if you can help it.
 
I still have my Art Deco gas 1936 RUUD 30 gal. with a Monel tank in use for the bathrooms. My plumber told me the only reason most people get rid of them is when the safety valve (like the one on old stoves) would go bad - plumbers don't have the repair parts and don't want the liability, so they won't fix them (I suspect they don't want to bother with them and would rather sell you a nice new water heater that only lasts 10 years). If mine goes out, I'll send the safety to a place that rebuilds stove safeties, I can temporarily re-route water from the 50 gal. electric that supplies the kitchen and laundry.
 
David,
So cool that you have a 1936 RUUD Hot Water Tank! I grew up in a house that had two. I think they were 50 gal. I loved the sounds they would make as they would heat the water. Also how the tank actually got hot and warmed the area.

Have you ever seen the inside of one? I have old ads if you have not. Does yours still have the original gas valve?

Take a few pictures if you get a chance.

Brent
 
Very Cool David! Amazing! 74 years old and still working away!

Thanks for the picture!
Brent
 
Tankless water heater were always much more economical than tanked systems.

I know that because I have a modern unit in my apartment, only to fill my washers.

it uses more gas than a tank burner, but it turns on only when you open the tap and heats only what you need.

You'll also never run out of hot water.

My heater costed around $200 and the installation was so simple that I did it myself.

Of course, there are bigger models, costing up to 900 dollars.

Simple, reliable, economical, very small (saves lots of space as I have it on the wall, above the laundry sink), cheap and fully manteinance free...

I simply love them!
 

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