United Casting Co. was a Los Angeles foundry of long standing. Its first experience with hydrants appears to have been as one of the firms, which turned out items for Keystone Iron and Steel Works, circa 1926-7. That company's plant had shut down in a period of high demand, with orders in hand or in prospect. UCCO eventually acquired Keystone's 6" flange product lines from its Receivers. Of paticular interest was the "home court" advantage on transportation costs, on bids for the city of L.A., where the KISW 1x21/2 and 2x41/2 hydrants were mainstays./// There were two known orders, begun under KISW and completed under UCCO. These involved M. Greenberg's Sons,(Culver City FD) and Pacific Cast Iron Pipe and Foundry Co.(LAFD) The result was items lettered for those companies plus KISW or United Casting Co. UCCO's own production carried lettering "Patent Applied For", which probably marked a minor revision of KISW's 3/21/10 patent./// The Van Deventer Hydrant patent was applied for in 11/26, but not granted until 2/31. When the possibility of cheaper to maintain hydrant valves captured the interest LAFD, the future of flanged/ bolted bonnet hydrants became moot. United Casting, to hold its market, paid the royalties and began turning out the new one piece body hydrants, marked "Patent Applied For". This placed UCCO squarely up against Rich Steel Products,(later called Rich Manufacturing Co.), a stronger L.A. company, also willing to pay royalties, but not willing to limit its sales efforts to LAFD country./// There are UCCO Van Deventer hydrants having the 1931+ marking, "Patented number 1792945". However, these are scarce enough to suggest that, United Casting's hydrant venture ran out of momentum in the depression. -- Text by Ken Patton.

If you have further information about this company or their hydrants please Contact Us.