Ashton Valve Co. 1871

[Rick A]

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

[Rick A]

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.

[Rick A]

A typical safety valve from Ashton Valve and some catalog pages from 1896

[Rick A]

Drawings and a patent from the original safety valve.

[Rick A]

More catalog pages.

[RNoe]

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!
RussN

[Rick A]

Thanks RNoe. What is the actual size of the mini-gauges? They look really nice.

[Rick A]

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.

[Rick A]

More gauge images.

[Rick A]

More gauge info.