History of
California
Fire
Hydrants
© 2001 Capt. Willis Lamm, Water Supply Officer, Moraga-Orinda (CA) Fire District |
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During the war, Greenburg was a heavy producer of war materials,
particularly bronze fittings for war ships and minesweepers. As the war
drew to a close, Greenburg produced a "signature design" hydrant that
was the foundation for California fire hydrant design for nearly 20 years.
M. Greenburg's Sons, Inc. produced tens of thousands of fire hydrants and
most of the other northern California foundries stopped producing them.
The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), a consolidated water agency serving most of the major cities on the east side of San Francisco Bay, established a uniform specification for fire hydrants in 1945 and Greenburg was the perennial supplier for these hydrants. Even today if you were to mention the name Greenburg to anyone involved with EBMUD, there is no question as to what you were talking about. |
Greenburg
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In 1964 EBMUD engineers designed what still today is considered the premier
wet barrel hydrant. It had an improved hydraulic design, was more resistive
to vehicle damage and used o-ring seals for the valve stems which resulted in
reduced seepage and maintenance. While Greenburg produced a number of these
hydrants, the foundry was going out of business. Other manufacturers such as
Rich, Clow, Mueller and Long Beach Iron Works successfully bid to produce the EBMUD
Model 64 (named after the year that it was designed). While M. Greenburg's Sons,
Inc. was no longer producing quality fire hydrants, the firm had made a substantial
and lasting impact on the California fire service and west coast fire hydrant design.
Greenburg hydrants dating back to World War II are still being refurbished and returned to active service. Some of these hydrants will likely be in service for over 100 years. There are still circumstances where quality still speaks for itself. |
EBMUD Model 64
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Return to Part 1
| OTHER HYDRANT LINKS |
A House Founded Upon Its Brass
FHO's Greenberg Photo Collection
FHO's Indexes to Manufacturers
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