Iowa Valve Co.

Iowa Valve Co. Eddy Iowa - Oskaloosa, IA Iowa Valve Company produced the "IOWA" fire hydrant from the very early 1900s through the late 1960s; at some point, by the mid-1950s, they were purchased by Clow Valve. The Oskaloosa, IA plant of Clow Valve continued producing the same Iowa hydrant under the manufacturer's name of Eddy Iowa into the late 1970s at which time the production of venerable Iowa hydrant ceased. One notable feature of all Iowa Valve fire hydrants was that they used a toggle action main valve; which is the reason for the off-center operating nut. The Iowa design was based on the patents of William W. Corey of St. Louis, MO, and were sold under the name Iowa-"Corey" type as seen in this advertisement from 1932. An Iowa Valve advertisement from 1955 documents that the company was already at this time a subsidiary of James B. Clow & Sons. All photos © John Anderson and a part of his collection unless otherwise credited.
All Iowa Valve Co. hydrants have "THE IOWA" or "IOWA" cast plainly on top of the bonnet. Most early hydrants had one piece barrels and generally have "28" cast onto them which is likely the manufacturer's model number. This model "28" is covered on this first page. When all production was switched to the more modern two piece barrel the model number was changed to "50". Part 2 on the next page covers the model "50" and is where the later "Eddy Iowa" brand hydrants will be found. All vintages have screw-in nozzles. All vintages have an approx. 1.5" wide oval with a number on it indicating bury depth in feet. This oval is cast just above the O.D. rib on early 1 pc. hydrants, and is cast onto a plate that is riveted just above the bolted flange joint on 2 pc. hydrants. Documented below and on the next page is the evolution of the Iowa hydrant from the earliest to the latest.

early Model "28" - "THE IOWA"

Only version with "THE IOWA" cast onto the top of the bonnet; all later vintage hydrants have "IOWA". The wording on the barrel is centered relative to the nozzles except as noted below.

Only version with "IOWA VALVE CO." and "OSKALOOSA" wording each in an arc; all later hydrants have all wording horizontal.

One piece barrel with ground line O.D. rib; most have "28" cast below the bonnet

This first subgroup of hydrants have MAY 22 '06 and FEB 7 '11 patent dates. Note the OPEN nutpockets similar to those found on Rensselear Corey hydrants.



1720 Nozzles: 2x 2½" Size: 7" barrel OD Note: 4 nutpockets, wording under left nozzle	1923 Nozzles: 2x 2½" Size: 7" barrel OD Note: 4 nutpockets, wording centered	1924 Nozzles: 2x 2½" Size: 8¼" barrel OD Note: 6 nutpockets Location: Wisconsin	2097 Nozzles: 2x 2½" gated, 1x 4½" Size: 8¼" barrel OD Note: 6 nutpockets Location: Illinois

This second subgroup are later examples that have three patent dates: MAY 22 '06 and FEB 7 '11 as above with the addition of DEC 2 19. Note that they have a different look with the (closed) nutpockets than the above group.



1509 Nozzles: 2x 2½" Size: 6½" barrel OD Note: 4 nutpockets		0118 Nozzles: 2x 2½" Size: 7" barrel OD Note: 4 nutpockets	0986 Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4" Size: 7" barrel OD Note: 4 nutpockets



0900 Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4" Size: 8¼" barrel OD Note: 6 nutpockets	0321 Nozzles: 2x 2½" gated, 1x ~4½" Size: ~8¼" barrel OD Note: 6 nutpockets Location: Tacoma, WA Photo: © 2000, T. Ingalbe		0319 Nozzles: 3x 2½" gated, 1x ~4" Size: ~9¼" barrel OD Note: 8 nutpockets Location: Seattle, WA Photo: © 2000, T. Ingalbe

later Model "28" - "IOWA"

This group has patent dates of MAY 22 06 and FEB 14 28.

All wording is horizontal.

They can be found with the model "28" embossing cast on the barrel either above or below the nozzles; and are so indicated below (when known)

This first subgroup has a 1 piece barrel with ground line O.D. rib.



1510 ["28" above nozs] Nozzles: 2x 2½" Size: 6½" barrel OD Note: 4 nutpockets	2276 ["28" above nozs] Nozzles: 2x 2½" Size: 7" barrel OD Note: 4 nutpockets	0901 ["28" below nozs] Nozzles: 2x 2½" Size: 7" barrel OD Note: 4 nutpockets	1511 ["28" above nozs] Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4½" Size: 7" barrel OD Note: 4 nutpockets



1772 ["28" above nozs] Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4" Size: 7" barrel OD Note: 4 nutpockets	1773 ["28" above nozs] Nozzles: 2x 2½" Size: 8¼" barrel OD Note: 8 nutpockets	0909 ["28" above nozs] Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4½" Size: 8¼" barrel OD Note: 8 nutpockets	2281 ["28" above nozs] Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4½" Size: 8¼" barrel OD Note: 8 nutpockets



1985 ["28" below nozs] Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4½" Size: 8¼" barrel OD Note: 8 nutpockets Location: Jason C. collection Photo: © 2003, J. Cherry	2198 ["28" above nozs] Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4½" Size: 9¼" barrel OD Note: 8 nutpockets Location: Iowa Photo: © 2004, J. Anderson	1719 Nozzles: 3x 2½", 1x ~4" Size: ~9¼" barrel OD Note: 8 nutpockets Location: Seattle, WA Photo: © 2002, A. McMillan

And this subgroup has a 2 piece barrel.



2087 ["28" above nozs] Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4½" Size: 8¼" barrel OD Note: 8 nutpockets Location: Jason C. collection Photo: © 2003, J. Cherry	1721 ["28" below nozs] Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4½" Size: 8¼" barrel OD Note: 8 nutpockets		2098 ["28" below nozs] Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4½" Size: ~9½" barrel OD Note: 8 nutpockets Location: Illinois

Part 1 , Part 2 Back to Hydrant Pictures