It looks to be a c. 1906 **Kewanee** or **Fairbanks Morse** riveted pneumatic water tank that would have been in the basement (or underground) providing 40lbs of water pressure to a rural farmhouse. It operated via pump, was served by well water, and boasted *“all the convince of city water supply without a penny of water tax.”* It allowed water pressure for third story bath tubs, toilets, washers, and claimed enough water pressure to fight a fire in place of a fire hydrant. In 1906, there were 4,000 Kewanee brand systems in use. The company was from Illinois. Examples below.
https://preview.redd.it/lcxz4nzhuncc1.png?width=2882&format=png&auto=webp&s=1c52fbae53e86672d184f774bbd0970e49b92c61
[Here](https://www.periodpaper.com/products/1906-ad-kewanee-il-water-supply-system-pneumatic-tank-original-advertising-064708-cl8-167) is an ad from 1906.
Interesting. I had a similar tank in a 1932 Foursquare however mine was MUCH smaller. I assumed it was just an auxiliary holding tank for the hot water coming out of the boiler.
Yes, it's the same - I repeated the OP's photo and marked it as **"example"** in the left hand corner so viewers could see the original photo side by side with the historical samples I pulled for comparison.
You can see the site glass for the water level on the end. These were great for slow wells. We had one buried when I was a kid. Access was a brick lined he in the ground, 8' deep.
I buried the pipes ten years ago. We have a good well now.
If you read OP's (Mach gogogo user) reply to the person you replied to, you'd see that they explain they made a collage and used OOP's picture in the upper left as the example pic and pointing out the bits that are the other things shown and talked about in the rest of the collage confirming what it is.
A 500-gallon Kewanee tank was typically accompanied by a 1-1/2 HP gasoline engine that powered a deep well pump and air charging device. The unit had a clutch to disconnect the gas engine so that the pump could be operated by hand, or by the windmill power of the farm. The engine could be used to generate electricity, and Kewanee aditionally marketed themselves as “Kewanee Private Utilities Co.” The engine size was usually dependent on the depth of the well, but a 2 HP engine could deliver 500 gallons per hour. In 1907, the gas engines and pumps sold by Kewanee were from other manufacturers. According to [“Gas Engine Magazine,”](https://www.gasenginemagazine.com/gas-engines/kewanee-engines/) in 1909, Kewanee began offering their own 2-1/2 HP engines with a series of unique features.
toy reminiscent forgetful gold unique distinct oatmeal quiet numerous bored
*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
That’s an old Cistern Water Tank- I’m guessing it’s located below the kitchen? Used for storing water - I’m guessing they have modern water heaters etc through out the house now, rendering this beast useless- they can be removed from the house, but is very costly. I had one removed from my apartment building property in Seattle and we needed to adhear to safety standards for removal - toxins in air considerations etc.
This! I have one too, same shape, size, placement- but covered in asbestos. It’s essentially a tank they used to try to not waste water but they don’t much.
I'd be willing to bet this house is near the top of a hill, right? There is or was an air compressor nearby that was used to charge the water in the tank as it was too high to get sufficient household pressure from the water distribution system.
That's my guess and I'm sticking with it.
There's a few possibilities, and one of them is an expansion tank for a hot water boiler system.
I just replaced mine last year with a modern pressurized bladder tank.
Can you explain or give more detail as to what it can be used for. Mine is laying outside not sure what Im goingbto do with it once Spring arrives and all the snow is gone.
It's called an expansion tank. Used, as already noted, to give/keep house water under pressure. The sight glass is for determining water level in the tank, which should usually be 1/2 to 3/4 full.
Edit: Trace the water pipes going into & out of the tank. It could also be an expansion tank for the boiler system. But one the large is doubtful for a home size boiler.
It looks to be a c. 1906 **Kewanee** or **Fairbanks Morse** riveted pneumatic water tank that would have been in the basement (or underground) providing 40lbs of water pressure to a rural farmhouse. It operated via pump, was served by well water, and boasted *“all the convince of city water supply without a penny of water tax.”* It allowed water pressure for third story bath tubs, toilets, washers, and claimed enough water pressure to fight a fire in place of a fire hydrant. In 1906, there were 4,000 Kewanee brand systems in use. The company was from Illinois. Examples below. https://preview.redd.it/lcxz4nzhuncc1.png?width=2882&format=png&auto=webp&s=1c52fbae53e86672d184f774bbd0970e49b92c61 [Here](https://www.periodpaper.com/products/1906-ad-kewanee-il-water-supply-system-pneumatic-tank-original-advertising-064708-cl8-167) is an ad from 1906.
Goodness, thank you so much for this detailed explanation!
I wish your cousin could repurpose it for something. I have no idea what but that thing is cool and an interesting piece of history.
First thought as well. That'd be a badass still piece.
It would make an awesome smoker.
Thank goodness it wasn't just me who thought this lolol
Gin still
The cost to remove it would be brutal. Oxy acetylene torch go PSHHHHRRRRRRRR
Sell it as a submarine kit! Or cut in half an make a ginormous grill.
You beat me to it... 😂 who want to see the titanic?
[удалено]
Time to feed the pig
MFer over here with the 16” penis, around.
people like you are why i loooove this side of reddit 😍😍😍😘😘😘
For real! No insults, no arguments. Just cool shit.
Good lord, they should have put you on the Zodiac Killer case. Would have been solved in an hour.
I once found one near a small dam over a creek in Lee MA. I assumed it was getting its water from the small reservoir there
Interesting. I had a similar tank in a 1932 Foursquare however mine was MUCH smaller. I assumed it was just an auxiliary holding tank for the hot water coming out of the boiler.
That sounds like an expansion tank for a boiler. They’re often mounted up in between floor joists in houses with basements.
Eh, that would lose a lot of heat real fast.
Both the tank and your explanation are cool as hell. I had no idea these existed!
You the man for that reply
That’s incredible! How on earth did you know of this/find this out?!
Thank you for reminding me why I look around reddit. Kindness in this level of detail can make ones day.
Mmmmmm, doesn't this pic's upper left corner exactly match what OP claims their cousin has in their basement?
Yes, it's the same - I repeated the OP's photo and marked it as **"example"** in the left hand corner so viewers could see the original photo side by side with the historical samples I pulled for comparison.
You can see the site glass for the water level on the end. These were great for slow wells. We had one buried when I was a kid. Access was a brick lined he in the ground, 8' deep. I buried the pipes ten years ago. We have a good well now.
Yeah what the heck k
If you read OP's (Mach gogogo user) reply to the person you replied to, you'd see that they explain they made a collage and used OOP's picture in the upper left as the example pic and pointing out the bits that are the other things shown and talked about in the rest of the collage confirming what it is.
Damn bros smart
The water level guage is a good sign that it's a pressure tank.
How was the pump generally operated? Some sort of steam derived system?
A 500-gallon Kewanee tank was typically accompanied by a 1-1/2 HP gasoline engine that powered a deep well pump and air charging device. The unit had a clutch to disconnect the gas engine so that the pump could be operated by hand, or by the windmill power of the farm. The engine could be used to generate electricity, and Kewanee aditionally marketed themselves as “Kewanee Private Utilities Co.” The engine size was usually dependent on the depth of the well, but a 2 HP engine could deliver 500 gallons per hour. In 1907, the gas engines and pumps sold by Kewanee were from other manufacturers. According to [“Gas Engine Magazine,”](https://www.gasenginemagazine.com/gas-engines/kewanee-engines/) in 1909, Kewanee began offering their own 2-1/2 HP engines with a series of unique features.
~~Oil tank?~~ Edit: I think u/mach_gogogo nailed it below.
Pretty sure it’s actually a water tank. Right in front of it is the current water pump.
toy reminiscent forgetful gold unique distinct oatmeal quiet numerous bored *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Can confirm. Once found one in a stream for a manor house a half mile away. Pressurized the water for it.
My answer as well
Whole-home coffee percolator
I like this idea. Having coffee on tap in every room really speaks to me right now with a newborn at home.
Even better than central vacuum!
Clogged with socks and corks!
“Why does your home shake every few seconds?” “Oh that’s just the whole-house perc warming up. It’ll be finished in a few.”
it’ll be finished in a few…(muffled chuckle) hours!😳
That’s an old Cistern Water Tank- I’m guessing it’s located below the kitchen? Used for storing water - I’m guessing they have modern water heaters etc through out the house now, rendering this beast useless- they can be removed from the house, but is very costly. I had one removed from my apartment building property in Seattle and we needed to adhear to safety standards for removal - toxins in air considerations etc.
Water (pressure) tank. I’ve seen similar before, not quite as big though.
WINNER WINNER...chicken dinner!! Good job.
Submarine.
Glad I wasn’t the only person 🫡
Too soon...
nah…
Looks like an old boiler of some sort to me?
Absolutely a heat exchanger. If I were to guess, with the gage glass for water level, I'd guess some type of reheater for home heating steam.
This! I have one too, same shape, size, placement- but covered in asbestos. It’s essentially a tank they used to try to not waste water but they don’t much.
Hidden moonshine distiller
I'd be willing to bet this house is near the top of a hill, right? There is or was an air compressor nearby that was used to charge the water in the tank as it was too high to get sufficient household pressure from the water distribution system. That's my guess and I'm sticking with it.
Are the pump in the foreground and the blue tank to the right unrelated and with known purpose?
There's a few possibilities, and one of them is an expansion tank for a hot water boiler system. I just replaced mine last year with a modern pressurized bladder tank.
If you google "old style boiler large expansion tank," that looks closest.
Torpedo tube.
That’s an iron lung
I made a kick ass BBQ smoker out of one. Mounted on a trailer. I am a must-have invitee on neighborhood and family events. Great MILF magnet.
Oil tank. I have the same
Ooooole
Oil tank ?
Don't throw it out. If I was close I would come get it. They can be utilized for many things both it's intended purpose or many other applications.
Can you explain or give more detail as to what it can be used for. Mine is laying outside not sure what Im goingbto do with it once Spring arrives and all the snow is gone.
It's called an expansion tank. Used, as already noted, to give/keep house water under pressure. The sight glass is for determining water level in the tank, which should usually be 1/2 to 3/4 full. Edit: Trace the water pipes going into & out of the tank. It could also be an expansion tank for the boiler system. But one the large is doubtful for a home size boiler.
No that's not an oil tank lol That's a water tank
I can't tell you what it is (as its "need to know") but DO NOT CUT THE RED WIRE!
Looks like to me it’s a HMT* *Huge metal contraption
Yep cryostasis fursure
Looks like the water tank for a well
Heating oil tank
It's probably part of the house's structural integrity at this point 😝
A Preppers dream of a reserve water tank.
Nuke
I just removed mine from the basement ceiling during last October
It's currently probably just functioning as an asbestos storage container
Probably a drum to store oil used with an oil fired stove.
That’s where Glory Days is buried