Ashton Valve company

[Ashton]

most of the items the company produced could be repaired. Instruction Book #17 contained breakdowns and repair parts for most of them

 

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349049&d=1573767958

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349050&d=1573767958

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349051&d=1573767958

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349052&d=1573767958

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349054&d=1573767983

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349055&d=1573768060

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349056&d=1573768060

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349057&d=1573768060

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349058&d=1573768060

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349059&d=1573768116

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349060&d=1573768116

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349061&d=1573768199

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349062&d=1573768199

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349063&d=1573768199

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349064&d=1573768199

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349066&d=1573768227

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349067&d=1573768343

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349068&d=1573768343

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349069&d=1573768343

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349070&d=1573768343

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349071&d=1573768357

 

 

[Ashton]

A few items from my collection.

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=348958&d=1573616896

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=348959&d=1573616896

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=348960&d=1573616896

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=348962&d=1573616953

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=348961&d=1573616896

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=348963&d=1573616953

 

[Ashton]

In the past when steam trains let off excess steam at a station the noise could be extremely loud. The city of Boston looked into this problem as the complaints mounted up. Ashton Valve came up with a solution that proved very popular with the Train companies. A muffler! Same idea as on automobiles. And the blow back valves actually saved steam that used to be wasted.

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349421&d=1574050581

 

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349422&d=1574050581

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349423&d=1574050581

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349424&d=1574050581

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349426&d=1574050685

 

[Ashton]

The state of Massachusetts looked into the noise problem of steam locomotives and here's a copy of a report.

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349430&d=1574050885

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349431&d=1574050885

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349432&d=1574050885

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349433&d=1574050894

 

[Ashton]

Ashton patent steam gage.
Ashton Valve bought out the Boston Steam Gauge company in 1892 and entered the gauge market.
They immediately offered their own Ashton patent steam gage. The 1896 catalog page says the item was patented in 1891, a year before they even purchased the Boston Steam Gauge company, who they purchased for a particular patent BSG owned. I wonder if it's the same patent?

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349708&d=1574357636

 

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=349709&d=1574357636

[Ashton]

The ideal alarm gauge was another practical item that could come in handy if the boiler room mechanic happened to fall asleep! When the pressure went too high, a loud alarm would go off.

https://www.yardlimits.com/filedata/fetch?id=655917&d=1575387060

https://www.yardlimits.com/filedata/fetch?id=655918&d=1575387093

https://www.yardlimits.com/filedata/fetch?id=655919&d=1575387124

https://www.yardlimits.com/filedata/fetch?id=655920&d=1575387158

https://www.yardlimits.com/filedata/fetch?id=655921&d=1575387176

https://www.yardlimits.com/filedata/fetch?id=655923&d=1575387272

https://www.yardlimits.com/filedata/fetch?id=655924&d=1575387331

https://www.yardlimits.com/filedata/fetch?id=655925&d=1575387365

https://www.yardlimits.com/filedata/fetch?id=655926&d=1575387460

 

 

[Ashton]

Pictures for the  Ideal alarm gauge:

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=342968&d=1567538889

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=342969&d=1567538889

 

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=342970&d=1567538881

 

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=342971&d=1567538881

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=342972&d=1567538982

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=342973&d=1567538982

 

 

 

[Ashton]

Although it wasn't among the most important product they produced(they rarely advertised whistles), Ashton Valve offered a number of them. Here are some catalog pages and some drawings.

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/threads/ashton-valve-steam-whistles.189640/#lg=post-1602279&slide=0

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/threads/ashton-valve-steam-whistles.189640/#lg=post-1602279&slide=1

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/threads/ashton-valve-steam-whistles.189640/#lg=post-1602279&slide=2

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/threads/ashton-valve-steam-whistles.189640/#lg=post-1602279&slide=3

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/threads/ashton-valve-steam-whistles.189640/#lg=post-1602279&slide=4

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/threads/ashton-valve-steam-whistles.189640/#lg=post-1602279&slide=5

Here are the drawings:

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/threads/ashton-valve-steam-whistles.189640/#lg=post-1602280&slide=0

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/threads/ashton-valve-steam-whistles.189640/#lg=post-1602280&slide=1

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/threads/ashton-valve-steam-whistles.189640/#lg=post-1602280&slide=2

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/threads/ashton-valve-steam-whistles.189640/#lg=post-1602280&slide=3

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/threads/ashton-valve-steam-whistles.189640/#lg=post-1602280&slide=4

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/threads/ashton-valve-steam-whistles.189640/#lg=post-1602280&slide=5

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/threads/ashton-valve-steam-whistles.189640/#lg=post-1616921&slide=0

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/threads/ashton-valve-steam-whistles.189640/#lg=post-1616921&slide=1

 

 

 

[Ashton]

The wheel press recording gaueg was another useful Ashton product.

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3196&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3197&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3198&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3199&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3200&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3201&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3202&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3203&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3204&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3205&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3207&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3208&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3209&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3210&mode=view

[Ashton]

What better way to make a gauge easier to read in a dark boiler room than to illuminate it? I found one from around 1900 where the bulb was fixed behind the gauge, not always practical. Here's what Ashton Valve came up with.

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3272&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3271&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3270&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3275&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3273&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3278&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3277&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3276&mode=view

 

 

[Ashton]

In 1900 The US was negotiating trade treaties with other countries, including France, to reduce the tariffs and sell more US goods overseas. Many US firms contacted the President, McKinley, to express their support for a new treaty. Ashton Valve was one of them.

 

http://www.railroadforums.com/forum/index.php?threads/ashton-valve-company.14362/page-4#lg=attachment91541&slide=0

http://www.railroadforums.com/forum/index.php?threads/ashton-valve-company.14362/page-4#lg=attachment91542&slide=0

http://www.railroadforums.com/forum/index.php?threads/ashton-valve-company.14362/page-4#lg=attachment91543&slide=0

 

[Ashton]

A few more old advets from the Trade journals.

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3301&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3300&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3299&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3304&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3303&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3302&mode=view

 

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3307&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3306&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3305&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3310&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3309&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3308&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3313&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3312&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3311&mode=view

 

 

[Ashton]

The 1920 catalog included a few pages explaining the reasons that the Ashton pop safety valve was superior to it's competition.

 

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3290&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3291&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3292&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3294&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3295&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3293&mode=view

 

 

[Ashton]

A few vintage articles about safety valves.

 

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3335&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3334&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3333&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3338&mode=view

 

 

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3337&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3336&mode=view

 

 

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3341&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3340&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3339&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3344&mode=view

 

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3343&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3342&mode=view

 

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=2842&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=2850&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=2849&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3021&mode=view

[Ashton]

Ashton Valve sanitary bubbler
At the beginning of the 20th century people refreshed themselves at public fountains and all drank from the same COMMON CUP, as it was called. Well, sickness and death soon followed and Ashton Valve soon had their line of sanitary bubblers on the market.

https://safedrinkingwaterdotcom.wordpress.com/2012/10/29/100-years-of-outlawing-the-common-cup/

https://jdbengineering.com/weird-mep-history-common-cup/

 

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3149&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3148&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3147&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3152&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3151&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3150&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3155&mode=view

This leads into the Ashton sanitary bubbler information.

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3154&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3153&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3157&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3156&mode=view

 

 

 

[Ashton]

Ashton ammonia diffuser
In the early days of refrigeration, ammonia gas was given off and people living close to the plants were getting sick and dying from the fumes. Ashton Valve came up with a gauge, diffuser, and relief valve that helped to make the air around these plants safer.

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3182&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3181&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3180&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3185&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3184&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3183&mode=view

 

And the Mass laws pertaining to ammonia and it's dangers

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3188&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3187&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3186&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3191&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3190&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3189&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3194&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3193&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3192&mode=view

 

[Ashton]

Information from the 1922 book, Engines and Boilers.

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=36818&start=100

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3359&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3358&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3362&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3361&mode=view

 

 

[Ashton]

Mullens Paper Tester
Ever wonder how the strength of paper or textile material is figured? In 1877 B.F. Perkins invented the Mullens Paper Tester. The gauge,(many of which were produced by Ashton Valve) would read the pressure at which the paper burst. These machines are still produced today.

https://www.mullentesters.com/testers.html

https://www.thehenryford.org/collections-and-research/digital-collections/artifact/172160/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7BZ3kB4p8Y

 

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3144&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3143&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3142&mode=view

[Ashton]

Ashton recording gauge circular #73

http://www.railroadforums.com/forum/index.php?threads/ashton-valve-company.14362/page-4#lg=attachment91582&slide=0

http://www.railroadforums.com/forum/index.php?attachments/img_20200206_103256-jpg.91581/

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3365&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3366&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3367&mode=view

[Ashton]

n old advert from an 1894 periodical "Around the Lakes". It was put out by the Detroit Drydock Company , a ship building company from around the turn of the century. Here is some information about the company.Henry Ford worked there when he was 17.

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3371&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3370&mode=view

http://www.detroiturbex.com/content/industry/globe/index.html

http://oldshipbuilder.com/SMMC.html

https://detroithistorical.org/learn/encyclopedia-of-detroit/detroit-dry-dock-company

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_Dock_Complex_(Detroit,_Michigan

http://detroit-ish.com/photos/detroit-dry-dockglobe-trading-company/

[Ashton]

Ashton Valve only used Jessop Steel, a UK steel manufacturer from Sheffield England for their valve springs. Here is some information about the company. Catalog page from the 1896 catalog.

https://www.westyorkssteel.com/blog/thomas-jessop-man-steel-veins/

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3391&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3392&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3393&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3395&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3394&mode=view

[Ashton]

A few restored gauges.

 

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3398&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3397&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3396&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3399&mode=view

[Ashton]

Ashton marble or slate tablets.
An attractive way to display multiple gages on the wall of a boiler room. One of these was on ebay a few years ago. It weighed almost 500 pounds, being a large slab of 1" thick slate, and you had to pick it up.
Here's a description from the 1914 catalog. " These tablets, like those on the following pages, are some of the most attractive designs for gages, both as to neatness of appearance and economy of space. They can be furnished in any style of marble or slate desired, and the prices include the necessary acorn nuts and gage screws. Name plates and wall bolts are always extra."

 

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3423&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3424&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3425&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3426&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3427&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3428&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3429&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3430&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3431&mode=view

[Ashton]

Hinkley Locomotive Works was a Boston based locomotive manufacturing enterprise that goes back to 1831. Here's an interesting file about the company. Henry Ashton, the founder of Ashton Valve, found his first job there in 1869.

 

https://railroadforums.com/forum/index.php?attachments/hinkley-locomotive-works-pdf.92019/

[Ashton]

In 1892 Ashton Valve purchased the Boston Steam Gauge company and entered the gauge production market. Here's a bit of information about the gauges Boston Steam Gauge produced.

 

https://railroadforums.com/forum/index.php?attachments/boston-steam-gauge-pdf.92021/

[Ashton]

Interesting gauge and testing equipment article from the 1908 Handbook for the care and operation of Naval Machinery

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3464&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3463&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3462&mode=view

http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=3465&mode=view

https://railroadforums.com/forum/index.php?threads/ashton-valve-company.14362/page-5#lg=attachment92500&slide=0

https://railroadforums.com/forum/index.php?threads/ashton-valve-company.14362/page-5#lg=attachment92501&slide=0

https://railroadforums.com/forum/index.php?threads/ashton-valve-company.14362/page-5#lg=attachment92502&slide=0

[Ashton]

A number of the Ashton Valve catalogs have recently been scanned and can be viewed on archive.org.

https://archive.org/details/ashtonvalvetradecatalogs