Chapman Manufacturing Co.,Boston, MA. ~1854 to 1874
Chapman Valve Mfg. Co.,Springfield, MA. 1874 to 1959

Chapman Valve started out as Chapman Manufacturing Co. and was located at 77 Kilby St, Boston, MA. According to an ornamental chapman valve clock, they started in 1854 and produced firehydrants with babitt metal seats. This location was where we believe they produced the first style of hydrant below, #1703. Very little is known about this style hydrant and the Boston MA location.

In 1874, a new, large factory complex was built in Indian Orchard, MA and the Co name was changed to Chapman Valve Mfg. Co. It was also here at this time that Chapman introduced their list 82 slidegate hydrant that made them famous. Chapman produced many thousands of these hydrants from 1874 to about 1930. All but the very last of these list 82 hydrants have Boston or Boston USA embossed on their upper barrels so its unclear when the Boston facility was no longer used. It can be assumed that location became the main office for quite awhile after 1874. The evolution of this hydrant and known variations are noted in the dozens of photographs below.

For some mysterious reason around 1930, Chapman adopted the list 88 design which was basicly a Darling hydrant with fluting. It was a compression hydrant with many parts compatible with Darling parts. Around World War II era, Chapman adopted the list 90 design which was very much a Darling clone. It has been said Darling Valve took Chapman to court over this leading up to Chapman's demise in 1959. It was that year, Crane Co. of Chicago I'll bought out Chapman Valve and continued to produce the list 90 hydrant under the Chapman name until 1965. From 1966 to at least 1971, Acme Valve & Hydrant produced their own style of fire hydrant in the old Chapman factory. The old Chapman Valve mill complex was razed in 2000.

  Earliest Model? (Prior to 1874)
This early hydrant has no manufacturer name. However, an ornamental Chapman Valve clock based on what appears to be a reproduction of an early Chapman Valve advertisement shows a hydrant very similar to this model. We now believe that this is the hydrant Chapman Valve made prior to 1874.
1703
Nozzles: 1x 2½"
Size: 4" V.O.


  List 82
The List 82, was made in two distinct styles that differed in barrel and bonnet proportions. We call the first style the "small barrel, small bonnet"; where the upper barrel tapers smaller from the ground to the bonnet. And we call the later style the "large barrel, large bonnet"; where the upper barrel diameter remains essentially the same.


Within each of the two styles the List 82 also underwent a number of evolutionary changes to the bonnet, the logo on the barrel's pot belly, and means of nozzle attachment. These changes are grouped below and on the next two pages by time periods. Within each group the hydrants are shown in increasing V.O. (valve opening) size and with various nozzle configurations. All known List 82 hydrants are of a 2 pc. 8-bolt flange barrel design; with TWO exceptions ... "0406" shown on the next page has a 1 pc. barrel and "1264" shown at the bottom of this page has a 6-bolt flange.

A word of caution concerning the two bonnet styles ("lacework" and "fluted"); these bolted-on bonnets may have been switched during the hydrant's many years of service. The correct hydrant vintage can only reliably be determined by barrel details; i.e. logo style and means of nozzle retention (leaded-in versus screw-in).
  List 82 (1874 to ~1885)
These first List 82s are all the "small barrel, small bonnet" style.
  • Bonnet: "lacework" on the underside, only the word "Open" cast on the top
  • Logo: flat letters "C" and "V" on top of each other with "M'FG. CO. " in the very middle as shown at the left
  • Nozzles: leaded-in
    • 0821
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: 4" V.O.     		0822
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 5"
    Size: 4" V.O.
    0823
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: 5" V.O.     		0942
    Nozzles: 2x 5"
    Size: 5" V.O.
    Location: Massachusetts         		0841
    Nozzles: 3x 2½"
    Size: 5" V.O.
    		0941
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 5"
    Size: 5" V.O.
    Location: Massachusetts

      List 82 (~1885 to ~1888)
    These next List 82s are also all the "small barrel, small bonnet" style.
  • Bonnet: "lacework" on the underside, only the word "Open" cast on the top
  • Logo: addition of the wording "CHAPMAN VALVE" above and "BOSTON" below the flat letters "C" and "V" on top of each other with "M'FG. CO. " in the very middle as shown at the left.
  • Nozzles: leaded-in
    • 0842
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Size: 5" V.O.
    		0940
    Nozzles: 3x 2½"
    Size: 5" V.O.
    		0998
    Nozzles: 3x 2½"
    Size: 6" V.O.
    Location: Massachusetts

      List 82 (~1888 to ~1890)
    These List 82s are also of the "small barrel, small bonnet" style.
  • Bonnet: "lacework" on the underside, only the word "Open" cast on the top
  • Logo: updated with an 8-point "snowflake" surrounding the flat letters "C" and "V" on top of each other with "M'FG. CO. " in the very middle. On the circle in the "snowflake" is the wording "CHAPMAN VALVE M'FG. CO. BOSTON" as shown at the left.
  • Nozzles: leaded-in
    • 1264
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 5"
    Size: 4½" barrel I.D., 4½"? V.O. (odd size)
    Note: 6 bolt flange

    List 82s - Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 | Multiple Valve | List 88s & List 90s

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