Ashton Valve Co. 1871

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Rick A
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Ashton Valve Co. 1871

Post by Rick A » Thu Feb 27, 2020 1:11 am

Way back in 1871, my great great grandfather Henry Ashton invented a pop safety valve that was the first in the "age of steam" to actually work well. I would like to think his invention saved many lives and the popularity of his invention proved it's importance in the effort to make boilers of all kinds safer to work with. I am going to tell the history of the company and how it related to steam ships, locomotive, and boiler rooms. There is a good chance one of the readers might have an Ashton gauge, safety valve, or whistle on your boat now. check out the story of the company. I hope you find it interesting.

Here's a copy of a talk I gave at the Charles River Museum of industry and innovation.
https://gracesguide.co.uk/Ashton_Valve_Co
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Re: Ashton Valve Co. 1871

Post by Rick A » Fri Feb 28, 2020 3:19 am

The Ashton Valve company first became well known after Henry G Ashton introduced his pop safety valve in 1872. Attached are adverts and other information about the pop safety valve.
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Re: Ashton Valve Co. 1871

Post by Rick A » Fri Feb 28, 2020 3:27 am

A typical safety valve from Ashton Valve and some catalog pages from 1896
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From the 1896 catalog
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Re: Ashton Valve Co. 1871

Post by Rick A » Fri Feb 28, 2020 3:30 am

Drawings and a patent from the original safety valve.
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Rick A
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Re: Ashton Valve Co. 1871

Post by Rick A » Fri Feb 28, 2020 3:43 am

More catalog pages.
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Re: Ashton Valve Co. 1871

Post by RNoe » Fri Feb 28, 2020 4:44 pm

I am enjoying the History of the Ashton line of steam products. Thank you for your efforts.

Several months ago a US Live Steamer began offering (for sale) working model Ashton pressure gauges for use on several scales of locomotives or other steamers.
https://www.modelgauge.com

I just received one of the 200 psi gauges for my 1/8th scale Mikado and it is really excellent.
I might decide to put a larger one on my steam launch!
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Re: Ashton Valve Co. 1871

Post by Rick A » Fri Feb 28, 2020 6:39 pm

Thanks RNoe. What is the actual size of the mini-gauges? They look really nice.
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Re: Ashton Valve Co. 1871

Post by Rick A » Fri Feb 28, 2020 6:45 pm

In 1892 Ashton bought out the Boston Steam Gauge company and entered the steam gauge market. The Ashton Valve company is more known today for the gauges than the safety valves that made the company initially famous.
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Last edited by Rick A on Fri Feb 28, 2020 6:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Ashton Valve Co. 1871

Post by Rick A » Fri Feb 28, 2020 6:48 pm

More gauge images.
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Re: Ashton Valve Co. 1871

Post by Rick A » Fri Feb 28, 2020 6:51 pm

More gauge info.
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