The cast iron radiator was an invention of the Americans, the first patents dating back to 1841. Mr Joseph Nason who established the Nason Manufacturing Company at that time began developing and mass producing cast iron radiators for the American home.
Nason travelled to England in the 1840’s and worked with Mr A M Perkins, the inventor of the Perkins hot water system of heating. Together with Nason, Perkins directed foundries in London to manufacture cast iron radiators for the British market.
They were joined by Robert Briggs who patented a steam cast iron radiator in 1862. Soon after this Nelson H Bundy in 1872 invented the Bundy Loop, a cast iron radiator design which played an important role in the evolution of the cast iron shape and style as we know it today.
Between 1841 and 1892 various American manufacturers sprung up due to the growing popularity and demand for cast iron radiators, producing a variety of beautiful designs. In 1892 three principle manufacturers merged to form the American Radiator Company who also manufactured in Hull England in the 1900’s.
A visit to a reclamation yard today will reveal the brand name “Ideal” on many old radiators which appeared on the British made cast iron radiators as the leading British brand at that time.
Cast iron radiator designs became more and more decorative in detail to compliment the magnificent homes built at that time. An interesting passage from The American Radiator Company’s sales catalogue of 1897 states:
Soon after the two great wars, the 1950’s saw the trend turn modern within our homes in both England and America, the cast iron radiator waned in popularity and the thin less bulky steel radiator took over bringing with it the “paint it and hide it” culture.
The cast iron radiator became a dinosaur of the and sadly many of the original beautifully detailed cast iron radiators have been destroyed forever and this part of our heritage so nearly extinguished.
Nason travelled to England in the 1840’s and worked with Mr A M Perkins, the inventor of the Perkins hot water system of heating. Together with Nason, Perkins directed foundries in London to manufacture cast iron radiators for the British market.
They were joined by Robert Briggs who patented a steam cast iron radiator in 1862. Soon after this Nelson H Bundy in 1872 invented the Bundy Loop, a cast iron radiator design which played an important role in the evolution of the cast iron shape and style as we know it today.
Between 1841 and 1892 various American manufacturers sprung up due to the growing popularity and demand for cast iron radiators, producing a variety of beautiful designs. In 1892 three principle manufacturers merged to form the American Radiator Company who also manufactured in Hull England in the 1900’s.
A visit to a reclamation yard today will reveal the brand name “Ideal” on many old radiators which appeared on the British made cast iron radiators as the leading British brand at that time.
Cast iron radiator designs became more and more decorative in detail to compliment the magnificent homes built at that time. An interesting passage from The American Radiator Company’s sales catalogue of 1897 states:
Soon after the two great wars, the 1950’s saw the trend turn modern within our homes in both England and America, the cast iron radiator waned in popularity and the thin less bulky steel radiator took over bringing with it the “paint it and hide it” culture.
The cast iron radiator became a dinosaur of the and sadly many of the original beautifully detailed cast iron radiators have been destroyed forever and this part of our heritage so nearly extinguished.
However over the past ten years Paladin Radiators have lead the way forward and faithfully reproduced these magnificent radiators from remaining originals.
The St. Paul style radiator is a wonderful copy of the original American Radiator Company and in this companies sales catalogue of 1897 it is described as “a work of art in iron”.
These pieces of functional art marketed today have brought back to life the cast iron radiator once more to adorn buildings both private and public, establishing once more both the grandeur and comforting heat these radiators provide.
Paladin Radiators is a family run business and have become the UK’s leading specialists in cast iron radiators. We take great pride in offering a wonderful range of traditional radiators, at affordable prices along with a great old fashioned service. Paladin has an extensive range of beautifully detailed or plain styled cast iron radiators and accessories for both period and new build projects along with experienced technical support and customer care that can be relied upon.
This is an article from ProjectBook which provides a wide range of information for the conservation, restoration, care and repair of period and listed buildings. Paladin Radiators are members of the Products Directory which provides a showcase for specialist products, suitable for use on traditional properties. Updated daily with new content, the website features the heritage register, a products directory, informative articles, current news, events and more. For more information, visit www.projectbook.co.uk.
