Agent Turn-ons

I've seen a lot of houses, seen most of the best over this-a-way. Noted the secret compartments, wall safes, and octagonal rooms. All of it, a major real estate agent turn-on, as is this.

That's right, a hot water heater.

Not just any hot water heater, a Hoyt copper tank heater, possibly from the early 1960's. In normal water these tanks, of copper, bronze, or monel (a copper-nickel mix) can last a lifetime--anode need not apply. I once observed a Whitehead Monel tank from the late 1940's, still in use. (From time to time, I also encounter early steel galvanized tanks, usually disconnected in attics, frequently with date stamps.)

Oftentimes the copper-monel tanks had external flues, as opposed to today's center flues, whereby gases flowed between the wall of the tank and the exterior shell, a greater surface area for heat exchange. Some featured a drain valve, to remove sediment, and extend the tank's life.

Sadly, predictably, frustratingly, tanks like this are no longer made. Plumbing obsolescence....don't get me started!

This property also possessed some drains of copper, quite unusual.