Plueger & Henger Mfg. Co. - St. Louis, MO
Ripley & Detrick Supply Co.
Ripley & Bronson - St. Louis, MO
American Foundry and Mfg. Co - St. Louis, MO
Charles G. Ette was an inventor and founder of Ette & Henger Mfg. Co, based in St. Louis. Mr. Ette held U.S. patent #394,478 for the Empire/National hydrant. The company became Plueger & Henger Mfg. Co in 1888, and was renamed again in 1909 to the current name of American Foundry and Mfg Co.

Beyond this FireHydrant.org knows very little about these manufacturers.

  EMPIRE model
This is only known model of fire hydrant made by Plueger & Henger Mfg. Co. (P & H Mfg. Co.) in the time frame that they existed (1888 - 1909). Insofar as model designation, either "61" or "E.&H. TYPE 61" appears on the bonnet and "EMPIRE" is embossed on the pot belly of the barrel.
2167 P&H Mfg. Co.
Nozzles: 2x 2½"
Size: 5.7" barrel I.D.
Other views: embossing
Location: John A. collection
Photo: 2004, J. Anderson

EMPIRE hydrants can also be found in which a bolt-on brass nameplate was used to list the private label distributer that sold them. These particular hydrants could have made by either or both P & H Mfg. Co. and the later American Foundry & Mfg. Co.
Hydrants without any embossing cast onto the potbelly of the barrel are likely "EMPIRE" hydrants missing the bolt-on brass nameplate.
Left: Ripley & Detrick Supply Co.
Right: Ripley & Bronson

1790 (missing nameplate)
Nozzles: 1x 2.5"
Size: 5.7" barrel I.D.
Location: Illinois
Photo: 2002, J. Anderson		 1921 Ripley&Detrick
Nozzles: 2x 2.5"
Size: 5.7" barrel I.D.
Location: Jeff K. collection
Photo: 2002, J. Kaminski

  NATIONAL model
This is earliest known model of fire hydrant made by American Foundry and it is simply the P & H Mfg. Co. EMPIRE hydrant with embossing reflecting the new company name (changed in 1909) and model name. Insofar as model designation, either "61" or "E.&H. TYPE 61" appears on the bonnet and "NATIONAL" appears on the pot belly of the barrel.
  • Two frame sizes are documented below.
  • The very similar looking # 0202 and # 1331 below differ in subtle barrel and bonnet casting detail as well as chain loop design.
  • A brass nameplate version has been found, with Fairbanks Morse & Co. embossed below the name "NATIONAL". See image #2510 below.
    • 0796
    Nozzles: 1x 1¾"
    Size: 3" barrel I.D.
    Other views: Top , Embossing
    Location: Chris I. collection
    Photo: 2001, C. Ingram    		 1331
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: 5.7" barrel I.D.
    Other views: Top
    Location: Private collection
    Photo: J. Kaminski    		 0202
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: 5.7" barrel I.D.
    Other views: Top , Embossing
    Location: John A. collection
    Photo: 2001, J. Anderson    		 2510
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: 5.7" barrel I.D.
    (See bonnet and
    nameplate images)
    Location: Private collection
    Photo: Chief Larry Meyer    		 1943
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4.5"
    Size: 5.7" barrel I.D.
    (See back side)
    Location: Private collection
    Photo: 2006, J. Kaminski

    The following American Foundry hydrants are well marked with the manufacturer name, location, year of manufacture, and valve opening size.

      "Old Style" model
    Company literature refers to this model as the "Old Style" (referring to the style of bonnet); which can be found in a 1 piece barrel with ground line O.D. rib, a full height 2 piece barrel with a conventional bolted flange, and also a "swivel head stand pipe" as shown in this company advertisement.
  • The Old Style model was made prior to Feb. 18, 1954 in 3 V.O. sizes; 4¼" (4"), 4½", and 5¼" (5"). The 6¼" V.O. size was always made with the weather proof bonnet associated with the New Style.
  • One "quick" visual difference between the Old Style and the New Style is the large number of bolts holding the bonnet down on the Old Style.
    • 2128 Two-Piece
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4½"
    Size: 4" V.O.
    Date: 1947
    Location: Jason C. collection
    Photo: J. Cherry    		 0726 One-Piece
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: 4½" V.O.
    Date: 1950, Back View
    Location: Edwardsville, IL
    Photo: J. Anderson    		 1896 Two-Piece
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4"
    Size: 4½" V.O.
    Date: 1950
    Location: John A. collection
    Photo: J. Anderson    		 0276 Two-Piece
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: 5" V.O.
    Date: 1946, Back View
    Location: Byrd collection
    Photo: 2000, M. Byrd
    1448 ?-Piece
    Nozzles: 2x 5"
    Size: 5" V.O.
    Date: 1950
    Location: Edwardsville, IL
    Photo: 2001, J. Anderson    		 1917 One-Piece
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4½"
    Size: 5" V.O.
    Date: 1942
    Location: John A. collection
    Photo: 2002, J. Anderson

      "New Style" model
    Company literature refers to this model as the "New Style" (referring to the style of bonnet). The New Style can be found in a 1 piece barrel with ground line O.D. rib and a 2 piece barrel in 3 different styles: conventional bolted flange, shear bolt type, and breakable flange type.
  • One "quick" visual difference between the Old Style and the New Style is that only two bolts are holding the bonnet down on the New Style.
    • 2129 One-Piece
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: 4" V.O.
    Date: 1957, Back View
    Location: John A. collection
    Photo: J. Anderson    		 1449 Two-Piece
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x~4½"
    Size: 4¼" V.O.
    Date: 1963
    Location: Mt. Olive, IL
    Photo: 2001, J. Anderson    		 1450 Two-Piece
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 5"
    Size: 4½" V.O.
    Date: 1956
    Location: Edwardsville, IL
    Photo: J. Anderson    		 1285 Two-Piece
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: 5" V.O., 8.9" O.D.
    Date: 1954
    Location: Ed M. collection
    Photo: 2001, E. Masminster
    0688 Two-Piece
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x ~4½"
    Size: 5" V.O.
    Date: 1955
    Location: Lincoln, NE
    Photo: 2000, E. Kennedy    		 0724 Two-Piece
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x ~4½"
    Size: 6¼" V.O.
    Date: 1972
    Location: Memphis, TN
    Photo: E. Kennedy    		 0785 Two-Piece
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 2x ~5"
    Size: 6¼" V.O.
    Date: 19??
    Location: Fermilab National Accelerator Laboratory Batavia, IL
    Photo: 2001, Larry Meyer

      "Dry Top" model
    The Dry Top model is made in 3 styles: conventional bolted flange, shear bolt type, and breakable flange type. This model looks similar to the New Style model but has a much taller bonnet; also held on with two bolts.
    0725
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x ~4"
    Size: 5" V.O.
    Date: 1956
    Location: Omaha, NE
    Photo: E. Kennedy    		 1439
    Nozzle: 2x 2½", 1x ~4"
    Size: 5¼" V.O.
    Date: 1972, Back View
    Note: traffic model
    Location: Cincinnati, OH
    Photo: 2001, E. Masminster

      other models
    Grouped here are other models also made by American Foundry & Mfg.
  • American Foundry is one of many manufacturers of the A.P. Smith 'Series S' hydrant which is the specification in a number of US cities.
  • The hydrant in photo #2141 is very similar to this 2 piece barrel A.P. Smith H100 model hydrant.
    • 0045
    Model: "Series S"
    Nozzles: 2?x 2½", 1x ~5"
    Date: 1947
    Location: Arlington, VA
    Photo: E. Kennedy    		 2009
    Model: Series S
    Nozzle: 1x 4½"
    Size: 5¼ V.O.
    Date: 1962
    Location: St. Louis MO
    2003, Steve Parmley         		2141
    Model: "H100"
    Nozzle: 1x 4½"
    Size: ~5 V.O., 1991
    (See back side logo)
    Location: Jason C. collection
    2004 J. Cherry

      #71 National Type "A" Compression Hydrant
  • The Am. Fdry. catalog lists 3 sizes of "yard" (i.e. flushing) hydrants (#71 National Type "A" compression hydrant); 1¼", 1½" and 2" V.O. made with nozzles of the same three sizes.
    • 2371
    Model: flushing hyd.
    Nozzle: 1x ~1½"
    Size: ~2¼" V.O.
    Location: Private collection
    Photo: 2006, J. Kaminski    		 1451
    Model: flushing hyd.
    Nozzle: 1x ~1½"
    Size: ~1½" V.O.
    Location: E. Alton, IL
    Photo: 2001, J. Anderson    		 1782
    Model: flushing hyd.
    Nozzle: 1x 1½"
    Size: ~1½" V.O.
    Location: Jeff K. collection
    Photo: 2002, J. Kaminski    		 2560
    Top view:2560b
    Model: flushing hyd.
    Nozzle: 2x 1½"
    Size:
    Location: W. Johnson collection
    Photo: 2018, W. Johnson
    Contact Information
    920 Palm St
    St. Louis, MO 63147
    Phone: 314-231-6114
    Fax: 314-231-6117
    FH.O Catalog Library:
    The Original AMERICAN FIRE HYDRANTS
    Product Information on hydrants manufactured from the early 1900s to current.

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