1895 Vintage Cast Iron Fire Hydrant

Full-size cast iron fire hydrant with heavy weathering. Features side outlet port with cap chain still attached. Solid decorative or display piece. The Exact Model: It is the List 90, identifiable by the dome-shaped bonnet with "THE COREY" lettering and the distinctly off-center operating nut at the top. The off-center nut is a signature characteristic of William W. Corey's patented "toggle action" inner main valve design. The Manufacturer: Explicitly cast as the Rensselaer Mfg. Co. Troy, N.Y. The Specific Patent Dates: The casting reads "PAT. MAR. 12 / PAT. DEC. 3 / 1895". The March 12, 1895 date corresponds to U.S. Patent #535,614, which William W. Corey filed for this exact inner mechanical design. The Size Identifier: The "2" inside the diamond shape on the barrel signifies that this is a 2-way nozzle hydrant (it features two side hose nozzles and no large front pumper nozzle). Because it proudly displays the 1895 patent year directly on the barrel, this particular hydrant was cast in the late 1890s or the earliest years of the 1900s, making it a highly collectible, authentic turn-of-the-century antique. Asking $425 obo.