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Wrench Forum => Wrench Forum => Topic started by: Bus on June 17, 2014, 03:50:30 PM

Title: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: Bus on June 17, 2014, 03:50:30 PM: All the postings about fire sprinkler wrenches motivated be to round up mine. Here are the wrenches that I could find that I think are sprinkler wrenches, they measure from 8" to 10" long

Left side (bottom to top)
1. IHW 32
2. "AUTOMATIC" SPRINKLER / 38-0708
3. SMALL FRAME SPKR.- F799 SPKR WRENCH K-2 - FITTING SIDE (with a "G" in as triangle logo) / LARGE FRAME SPKR - F799 SPKR WRENCH - FITTING SIDE (with logo)
4. GLOBE / P-119
5. GLOBE

Right side (bottom to top)
1. VIKING
2. "AUTOMATIC" SPRINKLER CORPORATION OF AMERICA YOUNGSTON, OHIO 3B-711A / 38-600 SPRAY SPRINKLER 38-700
3. QUARTZOID - SPRINKLER SIDE (with a "G" in a triangle logo) / DURASPEED - FITTING SIDE (with same logo)
4. AUTOMATIC 38-114
5. STAR SPRINKLER CORPORATION / PHILADELPHIA PA (with a star logo on each side)

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd3/buswrench/sprinker-wrenches.jpg)
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: rusty on June 17, 2014, 04:36:27 PM: What a nice assortment :)

The G in a triangle is Grinnell's mark, partly company mark, and perhaps also casting mark, as they had their own sand foundry for making pipe fittings, and I have heard persistent rumors they were making other things there as well. (About the time I had access to what was left of the local foundry here, someone took all the mahogany sand patterns home and burned them in the wood stove :(
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: turnnut on June 17, 2014, 08:56:31 PM: that would make a nice display with a few mounted sprinklers.

nice collection you have there.
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: Chillylulu on June 18, 2014, 02:49:04 AM: Quote from: rusty on June 17, 2014, 04:36:27 PM
What a nice assortment :)

The G in a triangle is Grinnell's mark, partly company mark, and perhaps also casting mark, as they had their own sand foundry for making pipe fittings, and I have heard persistent rumors they were making other things there as well. (About the time I had access to what was left of the local foundry here, someone took all the mahogany sand patterns home and burned them in the wood stove :(

They made Grinnell fittings, gem valves, grinnell hangers, etc. The G is for "Gem" (Grinnell's sprinkler manufacturung company.)

Gem us part of Tyco, Grinnell fittings is now Anvil.

Star was bought out by Central, which was in turn bought by Tyco. Globe Sprinkler is still alive and kicking. Automatic sprinkler isn't around, but their owner Chemetron is.

I have a lot of old sprinklers, if you want I can see if I have any that went with those. I also have a lot of old, and many new head wrenches.

Sprinkler systems are supposed to have a spare stock of sprinkler heads and wrenches in a spare head box, located near the main feed riser in a building.

By the way, unlike in the movies, sprinklers are each operated by heat - usually only a few operate. There is no way to turn them all on. Sprinkler systems are not even designed to extinguish fires, except for some recent types for certain warehouses.

Chilly
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: Plyerman on June 18, 2014, 07:32:31 AM: A neat wrench category. I didn't realize there were so many.
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: Lewill2 on June 18, 2014, 09:33:52 AM: Chilly, it would be interesting to see pictures of the different style sprinkler heads if you have the time to photograph and post them.
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: Chillylulu on June 18, 2014, 11:31:14 AM: Quartzoid is the Gem (Grinnell) name for their first glass bulb head. They were an upgrade to solder type linkages. Most sprinklers today operate off of a glass bulb that breaks at a given temperature. The bulb color indicates the temperature. Most common is red for 155º.

A lot of people dont realize that fire sprinklers were some of the earliest trades on construction, pre-dating electricity and hvac. They were installed in mills and other higher hazard type occupancies. Some of the earliest systems had perforated pipes connected to a water tank. If there was a fire they would open the valve and flood the place.

Chilly
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: jabberwoki on June 19, 2014, 09:40:26 PM: Oh no I could so start collecting those.
Very nice.
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: Bus on June 19, 2014, 11:28:25 PM: Quote from: jabberwoki on June 19, 2014, 09:40:26 PM
Oh no I could so start collecting those.
Very nice.

They are interesting wrenches and cheap. They usually sell for only a few dollars at the wrench auctions.
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: Chillylulu on June 20, 2014, 12:51:30 AM: Quote from: Bus on June 19, 2014, 11:28:25 PM
Quote from: jabberwoki on June 19, 2014, 09:40:26 PM
Oh no I could so start collecting those.
Very nice.

They are interesting wrenches and cheap. They usually sell for only a few dollars at the wrench auctions.

For me (being in fire protection, mostly fire sprinklers, 32 yrs in August) they are very common. Are they at all rare? Also they are mostly cast iron, not so great to begin with. The better ones are the ones that are sockets and go on a 1/2"ratchet, imho.

Chilly
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: Bus on June 20, 2014, 02:19:43 PM: I also have a Grinnell Quartzoid box with two wrenches, one Quartzoid sprinkler head (top row), two star heads (middle and bottom row) and one unidentified head (bottom row, right).

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd3/buswrench/message-board/quartzoid-sprinkler-box-1.jpg)

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd3/buswrench/message-board/quartzoid-sprinkler-box-2.jpg)

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd3/buswrench/message-board/quartzoid-sprinkler-box-3.jpg)
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: Plyerman on June 20, 2014, 02:29:44 PM: Neat! How old would that be Bus?
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: Chillylulu on June 20, 2014, 09:41:18 PM: Quote from: Bus on June 20, 2014, 02:19:43 PM
I also have a Grinnell Quartzoid box with two wrenches, one Quartzoid sprinkler head (top row), two star heads (middle and bottom row) and one unidentified head (bottom row, right).

May I offer a couple of corrections? The box is a Gem head box. The top head is a Gem Duraspeed pendent head, 165º, 1/2" thread, brass. The yesr of manufacture is stamped on the rim of the cup, open side. A Quartzoid hesd is shown in the picture posted inside the head box. It is the one on the left, with the glass bulb.

The same headwrench often fit many different models or types of sprinklers. Yours fit noth the Duraspeed and Quartzoid models it seems.

The head with the blue liquid in the bulb is a high temperature (280º) upright, I'm not sure but it kind of looks like it has 3/4" threads which would make it an 8.0k sprinkler. I think it may be a Viking sprinkler, but it may be Central (CSC) or Reliable (RASCO) sprinkler. Date is probably 2 number, stamped in the weench boss.

Notice how the sprinklers in the picture have curved over, smallish deflectors? They are called "old style" and could be installed pendent or upright.

Chilly
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: Lostmind on June 21, 2014, 08:00:21 AM: You guys are amazing with your knowledge. This is the best forum on the Net.
Never any BS , just info and help.
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: Bus on June 21, 2014, 03:01:23 PM: I took the heads out to check the markings. the top one is marked "Grinnell Duraspeed - C- Spray Pendant SSP-1" (can't find a date marking). The wrenches with the box fit the Duraspeed head.

Then two Star heads are marked "Star - D - Upright Spray Sprinkler SSU".

The small one is marked "1987" and "Upright 589A - 286º F. / 141º C. 589A" (with "FM" in a diamond logo). All are 1/2" male pipe threads.
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: Chillylulu on June 21, 2014, 03:33:21 PM: On sprinklers:

SSU = sprinkler spray upright
SSP = sprinkler spray pendent
SSH = sprinkler spray horizontal sidewall
SSV = sprinkler spray vertical sidewall

It has to do with their orientation.

When they have paint on their arms or have a glass bulb:

No paint or red bulb = standard temperature range, specifically the solder link are 165º and the red glass bulb are 155º.

White paint or green bulb = intermediate temperature range, specifically the solder link are 212º and the green glass bulb are 200º.

Blue paint or blue bulb = high temperature range, specifically the solder link are 286º and the blue glass bulb are 286º

Those are 95% of the sprinklers out there, there are a few special higher and lower temps, but they are rarely used.

Head boxes are found on old jobs, when we retrofit buildings sometimes I swap out the boxes for new. They need to fit the new heads.

Im currently retrofitting several old buildings for schools. One of them was former AT&T. Basement had a preaction system that had a 1 hp General Air Compressor in it. I was walking it with my project manager, less than a year out if engineering school. I asked him if he had a good air compressor yet. He said "No, I have just started to get tools. My dad and uncle let me use theirs." I really liked his answer and offered him the compressor. Johnny, my foreman on the job, took it out 2 weeeks ago and we loaded it on his truck.

Good equipment on sprinkler systems. That compressor will last his life if he checks the oil and drains the condensate.

Chilly
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: Bus on June 24, 2014, 12:39:23 PM: Chilly,
Do you know you made the small one with the "FM" in a diamond logo?
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: Chillylulu on June 25, 2014, 05:12:21 PM: FM = Factory Mutual, almost all sprinklers say that. It is like UL.
Almost all specs say that our products shall be UL listed and FM approved.

What else does it say on the deflector?

Chilly
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: rusty on June 25, 2014, 05:51:29 PM: Dangerous, slippery slope Bus....

http://firesafelife.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=19
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: Chillylulu on June 25, 2014, 09:57:23 PM: Quote from: Bus on June 24, 2014, 12:39:23 PM
Chilly,
Do you know you made the small one with the "FM" in a diamond logo?
Bus,
I think if you look on the wrench boss one side will say "M 87" and the other side could say "VIKING"
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: Bus on June 25, 2014, 11:56:47 PM: Quote from: rusty on June 25, 2014, 05:51:29 PM
Dangerous, slippery slope Bus....

http://firesafelife.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=19

I guess it is. Quote from your link:

"You guys would probably pass out if you saw the collection my buddy over in the Netherlands has. He's been collecting for about 15 years and he has over 1,500 sprinkler heads! That makes my 560 look puney" :shocked:
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: Chillylulu on June 26, 2014, 12:20:54 AM: Quote from: Bus on June 25, 2014, 11:56:47 PM
Quote from: rusty on June 25, 2014, 05:51:29 PM
Dangerous, slippery slope Bus....

http://firesafelife.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=19

I guess it is. Quote from your link:

"You guys would probably pass out if you saw the collection my buddy over in the Netherlands has. He's been collecting for about 15 years and he has over 1,500 sprinkler heads! That makes my 560 look puney" :shocked:

I started collecting in 1983 in the 90's I determined it wasn't what I wanted to focus on. I have some of the most unique examples on a shelf at my work.
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: Nolatoolguy on June 26, 2014, 07:12:35 PM: My buddy sells those antique/vintage fire sprinkler wrench boxes, time to time. They come from cleanouts he does of old buildings. He said he has got anywere from 30 to 175 bucks for the boxes an depending if there complete.
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: Chillylulu on June 26, 2014, 08:32:13 PM: Quote from: Nolatoolguy on June 26, 2014, 07:12:35 PM
My buddy sells those antique/vintage fire sprinkler wrench boxes, time to time. They come from cleanouts he does of old buildings. He said he has got anywere from 30 to 175 bucks for the boxes an depending if there complete.

Man! I've just tossed them. Now I better take care of them.

Chilly
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: Lewill2 on July 06, 2014, 06:50:46 PM: This sprinkler box is on Etsy.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/151063848/antique-sprinkler-head-metal-cabinet?ref=sr_gallery_27&ga_search_query=wrench&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_order=date_desc&ga_page=2&ga_search_type=vintage
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: RedVise on July 06, 2014, 08:42:45 PM: Quote from: Bus on June 20, 2014, 02:19:43 PM
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd3/buswrench/message-board/quartzoid-sprinkler-box-1.jpg)

Whoa, that would be coming home with me !! (if I ever see one)

Brian
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: stanley62 on July 07, 2014, 08:11:27 PM: And down the slope I go...Wheeeeeeee!!!!!

Jim
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: rusty on July 07, 2014, 08:58:37 PM: lololol!

A Very nice Star sprinkler wrench to start :)
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: jimwrench on July 09, 2014, 08:42:48 PM: Jim,
click on the etsy link lewill put up;it has your star wrench and another wrench.
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: Chillylulu on July 10, 2014, 12:22:22 AM: Quote from: Lewill2 on June 18, 2014, 09:33:52 AM
Chilly, it would be interesting to see pictures of the different style sprinkler heads if you have the time to photograph and post them.

I'll dig up a bunch. Then either I will document and photograph them or write it up and send them who likes them to photograph and share. Funny thing is -I really like tools, but sprinkler wrenches ...... they're like work.

Chilly
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: Aunt Phil on July 12, 2014, 02:46:35 PM: Quit screwing around with the light stuff Chili. Find me some decent water motor bells that haven't busted from freezing and ship em to me. Every one I started to borrow for the last 20 years was split.

Most of the old sprinkler towers in Rochester have been knocked down, seems when they started to collapse people got nervous. They were primarily connected to the Holly System which was steam pumped until the 1980s. Good job for an Operating Engineer, 8 hours paid sleep as long as he woke up fast when the flow bell rang & started pumping like hell to compensate for the tower dumping. Today all sprinklers are on the "potable" water system, and the Holly only serves downtown hydrants. It is fun watching young firemen trying to understand a duplicate hydrant system.
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: rusty on July 12, 2014, 07:08:46 PM: My hose won't fit on this hydrant?

You don't want your hose connected to >that< hydrant.

why?

Cause you will look funny flying around the street when 1000 gallons per minute come out at 180 psi ;P

Oh...
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: Aunt Phil on July 12, 2014, 11:45:59 PM: Quote from: rusty on July 12, 2014, 07:08:46 PM
My hose won't fit on this hydrant?

You don't want your hose connected to >that< hydrant.

why?

Cause you will look funny flying around the street when 1000 gallons per minute come out at 180 psi ;P

Oh...

You were the guy with the camera and clipboard, weren't you Rusty.

I loved your lecture on why more gallons will go through a 5 than twin 2 1/2s.
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: Chillylulu on July 13, 2014, 01:27:16 AM: Quote from: Aunt Phil on July 12, 2014, 11:45:59 PM

You were the guy with the camera and clipboard, weren't you Rusty.

I loved your lecture on why more gallons will go through a 5 than twin 2 1/2s.

Why was there s question? Do people think that there are as many board feet of lumber in 2 pcs of 2×2 as there is in one piece of 4×4, all equal lengths?

I had a hard time explaining how a 2" exhauster was equal to 26 sprinklers at 1/2" each.

Common sense isn't so common anymore, even on the kinda trick question ones.

Chilly
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: Chillylulu on July 13, 2014, 01:38:23 AM: Quote from: Aunt Phil on July 12, 2014, 02:46:35 PM
Quit screwing around with the light stuff Chili. Find me some decent water motor bells that haven't busted from freezing and ship em to me. Every one I started to borrow for the last 20 years was split.

Most of the old sprinkler towers in Rochester have been knocked down, seems when they started to collapse people got nervous. They were primarily connected to the Holly System which was steam pumped until the 1980s. Good job for an Operating Engineer, 8 hours paid sleep as long as he woke up fast when the flow bell rang & started pumping like hell to compensate for the tower dumping. Today all sprinklers are on the "potable" water system, and the Holly only serves downtown hydrants. It is fun watching young firemen trying to understand a duplicate hydrant system.

Water motor gongs are nothing for big - I have fire pumps I pulled out. We keep one in the shop for training. We have fully functioning training centers at many of our branches. Here in Denver we have fire pumps, jockey pumos, res pumps, about 25 or 30 fully functional valve assemblies, many donated by manufacturers. A couple of years ago we became accredited with different groups, building engineers, fire deoartments, etc. People can come in and train on whatever they need to.

We never had many water moyor gongs in Denver. I have only had two or three on my jobs in 32 yrs. Many more back east.

I am sending sprinkler wrenches, sprinkler heads that match, and other related paraphenelia to a member here, maybe they will show their it after awhile...

Chilly
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: Chillylulu on July 13, 2014, 01:49:54 AM: Sprinklers aren't the only fire sprinkler products that use special wrenches. The Viking dry valve comes with a special resetting tool - a steel bar, about 3/4" × 16" or so long. They are never there. Somebody goes into the valve room, sees the steel bar and doesn't know why it is there and tosses it.

Now they have a "special wrench" an ell shaped bar with a 15/16" socket on the end. The socket loosens the cover bolts and the plain end resets the latch.

See them in action here:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIziP9Gh5bg

All our tamper and flow switches have tamper resistant screws. Now they are pretty standardized, but in the day they had all kinds. I have a box with my collection.
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: Chillylulu on July 13, 2014, 01:53:17 AM: Quote from: rusty on July 12, 2014, 07:08:46 PM
My hose won't fit on this hydrant?

You don't want your hose connected to >that< hydrant.

why?

Cause you will look funny flying around the street when 1000 gallons per minute come out at 180 psi ;P

Oh...

Here in Denver we don't use pressure reducing valves until the pressure exceeds 175 PSI. Denver firemen are tough hombres. Many of them are very good golfers, also.

Chilly
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: rusty on July 13, 2014, 01:53:32 PM: There are still high pressure hydrants scattered around here. Most went in after the great boston fire, when the city discovered that connecting all your pumpers to hydrants at the same time in the same place had a rather annoying little side effect..

Some of them will bite you, they are connected to standby boosters that only start up after you let some of the water out...

Have been to Denver, really nice city.
Title: Re: Fire Sprinkler Wrenches
Post by: Chillylulu on July 15, 2014, 06:01:38 PM: Quote from: rusty on July 13, 2014, 01:53:32 PM
There are still high pressure hydrants scattered around here. Most went in after the great boston fire, when the city discovered that connecting all your pumpers to hydrants at the same time in the same place had a rather annoying little side effect..

Some of them will bite you, they are connected to standby boosters that only start up after you let some of the water out...

Have been to Denver, really nice city.

Really scary pressure on mains in the mountains. In Vail we put a 175 psi pressure reducing valve on every line into a building just in case. Quick elevation changes do that.