Cast Iron Radiators Throughout The Decades

It wasn't, however, until around 1863 that the radiator that we see in many older homes came into being. The innovation with this particular radiator was the vertical nature of the unit, and that it was made with wrought iron tubing.

This tubing was then fastened or screwed into a base that was made of cast-iron. Within about a decade, an inventor named Nelson Bundy came up with what he called a 'Bundy Loop, ' which was a way to deliver heat to the entire radiator unit. Soon enough these radiators became more and more popular in homes and other buildings. The use of radiant heat had been understood for years, though.

Along the way, designs in the cast-iron radiator became increasingly ornate and finely detailed, especially during the Victorian age, when they were looked upon as being a part of the decoration of any expensive home. Our British cousins were a little slow adopt these radiators, though by the early part of the 20th century they had begun to place them into their homes.

The upside to something like a cast-iron radiator or one made of wrought iron and fastened into a cast-iron plate was that the metal could be shaped and detailed anyway the craftsman wanted. This meant that as styles and tastes evolved so could be radiator. Even though it was very good at reading heat outward, many homeowners still look at the bulky iron unit as being a bit intrusive in a room.

Additionally, most units also required a steam blow off valve just in case pressure within the pipes or the radiator that was handling the steam became too much. There a fair amount of whistling or other noise would ensue while the blow off valve adjusted itself and let the overpressure escape down to more manageable levels. Many people have memories of these valves as they were growing up.

Radiators also benefited from improvements in mass production technologies in manufacturing sectors in the United States and Britain. This meant that more radiators could be turned out than ever before, which meant that their prices became lower and the affordability of a radiant heating system in a home began to be such that most middle-class homeowners could afford the system.

The actual radiator itself was invented by an American named William Baldwin. Most American households in the first few decades of the 20th century were able to have these radiators installed due to the drop in prices mentioned above. It's a sure bet that Baldwin would look at the various ways and manners in which the radiator has been employed and find a large smile on his face.

Cast iron radiators throughout the decades have played an integral role in the effort to bring heating and cooling mechanisms into the home. Prior to their introduction, homes were enormously difficult to heat and many of the systems used to heat a room -- such as a pot bellied stove -- could be fairly dangerous, as they were somewhat of a fire hazard.