Kupferle Foundry - St. Louis, MO
John C. Kupferle Foundry Co. - St. Louis, MO
The Kupferle Foundry Company of St. Louis, Missouri, was started in 1857 by John C. Kupferle. The company no longer manufactures fire hydrants, but still makes yard hydrants and smaller flushing (post) hydrants. The Eclipse No. 2 flushing hydrant, patented in the 1880s, is the only model shown on this page which is currently manufactured. It is not considered to be a fire hydrant by the current company.
  Eclipse hydrants
Most older Eclipse hydrants do not bear the Kupferle name on them. But we at FH.O are reasonably certain that all were made by Kupferle Foundry since "Eclipse" was their registered trademark. A general description of Eclipse hydrants taken from 1930's company literature can be viewed here.
  • All Eclipse hydrants closed against pressure.
  • The Eclipse 2A model only has a 2 bolt bonnet; all other sizes have a 4 bolt bonnet.
  • All Eclipse hydrants, except the newer No. 2 model, have the familar fluted barrel and bonnet.

    •   Eclipse No. 2A model
    This early No. 2A company literature shows that this was a 1½" V.O. hydrant and was offered in two single outlet sizes; 1¼" and 1½".
    No. 2A
    Barrel markings    		 1382
    Nozzles: 1x 1½"
    Location: Jack S. collection
    Photo: © 2001, J. Anderson    		 0597
    Nozzles: 1x 2½"
    Location: Steve P. collection
    Photo: © 2001, J. Anderson

      Eclipse No. 2 model
    This early No. 2 company literature shows that this was a 2 3/16" V.O. hydrant and was offered in variety of nozzle options. The current Kupferle No. 2 hydrant is still has this same valve opening size.
  • Both 1 piece and 2 piece barrel versions are documented below; with the 2 piece being the newest style. The 2 piece version consists of an upper barrel with female threads screwed onto a threaded pipe.
  • The different barrel markings documented below have been assigned arbitrary Style #s for reference.
    • No. 2 - "Style 2.1" No. 2 - "Style 2.2" No. 2 - "Style 2.3" No. 2 - "Style 2.4"
    No. 2 - "Style 2.5"

    First, the older fluted barrel & bonnet No. 2 Eclipses ...
    2078 "Style 2.1"
    Nozzles: 1x 1¼"
    screwed-in
    Barrel: 1 piece
    Location: Jeff K. collection
    Photo: © 2003, J. Kaminski    		 1397 "Style 2.1"
    Nozzles: 1x 1½" internally gated
    Barrel: 1 piece
    Location: Steve P. collection
    Photo: © 2001, J. Anderson    		 1722 "Style 2.3"
    Nozzles: 1x 2"
    screwed-in
    Barrel: 2 piece
    Location: Platteville, WI
    Photo: © 2002, J. Anderson    		 1530 "Style 2.2"
    Nozzles: 1x 2½" screwed-in
    Barrel: 1 piece
    Location: John A. collection
    Photo: © 2001, J. Anderson
    0699 "Style ?"
    Nozzles: 1x 2½" screwed-in
    Barrel: 1 piece
    Location: Viola, WI
    Photo: © 2000, J. Quist    		 2256 "Style 2.5"
    Nozzles: 1x 2½" screwed-in
    Barrel: 1 piece
    Location: Jeff K. collection
    Photo: © 2004, J. Kaminski    		 1332 "Style 2.1"
    Nozzles: 2x 2½" screwed-in
    Barrel: 1 piece
    Location: John A. collection
    Photo: © 2001, J. Anderson

    These are newer, smooth barrel, styles of the No. 2 model with #0733 being the current style.
    1930 "Style 2.4"
    Nozzle: 1x 1½" screwed-in
    Barrel: 2 piece
    Location: private collection
    Photo: © 2003, C. Wasnueiski    		 0684 "Style 2.4"
    Nozzles: 2x 1½" screwed-in
    Barrel: 2 piece
    Location: Robert F. collection
    Photo: © 2001, R. Frye    		 0550 "Style 2.4"
    Nozzles: 2x 2½" screwed-in
    Barrel: 2 piece
    Location: Maquoketa, IA
    Photo: © 2000, J. Anderson    		 0733 "Style 2.4"
    Nozzles: 1x 2½" screwed-in
    Barrel: 2 piece
    Location: Albany, IL
    Photo: © 2000, J. Anderson

    2353 "Style 2.3"
    Nozzle: 2x 1½" screwed-in
    Barrel: 2 piece
    Location: Private Collection
    Photo: © 2006, Jeff Kaminski    		 2360 "Style 2.4"
    Nozzle: 1x 1½" screwed-in
    Barrel: 2 piece, flanged
    Location: Private Collection
    Photo: © 2006, Jeff Kaminski
      Eclipse No. 3 model
    This early No. 3 company literature shows that this was a 4" V.O. hydrant and was offered in variety of nozzle options including a steamer nozzle.
  • The different barrel markings documented below have been assigned arbitrary Style #s for reference. Note that Style 3.1 has a JULY 20, 1886 patent date. Also note that Style 3.3 is marked National Co. which was likely made private label for them by Kupferle Foundry as it is absolutely identical to Style 3.2 except for the "National Co" markings.
    • No. 3 - "Style 3.1" No. 3 - "Style 3.2" No. 3 - "Style 3.3" No. 3 - "Style 3.4"
    No. 3 - "Style 3.5" No. 3 - "Style 3.6"

    2277 "Style 3.5"
    Nozzle: 1x 2½" leaded-in
    Location: John A. collection
    Photo: © 2004, J. Anderson    		 1334 "Style 3.1"
    Nozzles: 2x 2½" leaded-in
    Location: John A. collection
    Photo: © 2001, J. Anderson    		 1333 "Style 3.2"
    Nozzles: 2x 2½" leaded-in
    Location: John A. collection
    Photo: © 2001, J. Anderson    		 1096 "Style 3.3"
    Nozzles: 2x 2½" leaded-in
    Location: John A. collection
    Photo: © 2001, J. Anderson
    1528 "Style 3.4"
    Nozzles: 2x 2½" leaded-in
    Location: John A. collection
    Photo: © 2001, J. Anderson    		 1529 "Style 3.5"
    Nozzles: 2x 2½" leaded-in
    Location: John A. collection
    Photo: © 2001, J. Anderson    		 2091 "Style 3.5"
    Nozzles: 2x 2½" leaded-in
    Location: Jeff K. collection
    Photo: © 2003, J. Kaminski    		 1858 "Style 3.6"
    Nozzles: 2x 2½" leaded-in
    Location: Jeff K. collection
    Photo: © 2003, J. Kaminski
    2249
    Nozzles:1x2½" leaded-in
    Note smooth area on barrel at nozzle level.
    Location: Tonopah, NV
    Photo credit: Brian Norden

      Eclipse No. 4, 6, & 10 models
    We have no photo documentation of any of these models. What we do have is a half page explanation of each of these models from 1930's company literature: No. 4 (2 1/16" V.O.), No. 6 (4¾" V.O.), and No. 10 (5¼" V.O.).

      No. 65, 70, 75, 100, and 125 models
    These models are of a more modern appearance and closed with pressure. Originally at least some of these models were made in a 1-piece barrel design. Later they were made in a 2-piece design. According to 1930's company literature the sizes for these models are as follows: No. 65 (4¼" VO), No. 70 (4½" VO), No. 75 (5" VO), No. 100 (5½" VO), and No. 125 (6" VO).
  • None of the hydrants shown below have this valve opening size cast onto the hydrant.
  • The Nos. 65, 70, & 75 documented below all have the same barrel O.D. of 8.0".

    Two styles of logos have been documented. What we believe is the earliest has wording in a circle.
    • 1336 No. 65
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Barrel: 2 piece
    Location: John A. collection
    Photo: © 2001, J. Anderson    		 1337 No. 70
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 3½"
    Barrel: 2 piece
    Location: John A. collection
    Photo: © 1999, J. Anderson    		 0477 No. 75
    Nozzles: 2x 2½", 1x 4½"
    Barrel: 2 piece
    Location: ?
    Photo: © 2000, R. Porterfield

    And these hydrants have a later semi-circular logo and are dated ...
    0186 No. 75
    Nozzles: 2x 2½"
    Barrel: 2 piece
    Dated: 1955
    Location: John A. collection
    Photo: © 1999, J. Anderson    		 2380 No. 125
    Nozzles: 3x 2½"
    Barrel: 2 piece
    Dated: ?
    Location: Steven Groves collection
    Photo: © 2006, S. Groves

    CONTACT INFORMATION
    813 Hempstead St
    St. Louis, MO 63102
    		 www.hydrants.com
    FHO Catalog Library:
    New Flushing Hydrant
    Eclipse #2A Post Hydrant
    Eclipse #85 Blow Off Hydrant
    Operation and Maintenance Eclipse #1 Hydrant

    Back to Hydrant Pictures

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