history & hydrants firegeezer on 24 Jun 2007 02:11 pm
Who Was Birdsill Holly?
HERE’S A HINT: HE WAS SECOND ONLY to Thomas Edison in the number of patents he personally held.
Need another clue? Holly’s Fire Protection and Water System - an integrated system designed to deliver water under a steady pressure for public safety - brought him worldwide fame in 1863. The system was widely adapted throughout the United States and Canada, and established the standard upon which all current, water distribution systems as based.
Birdsill Holly
Getting close……Here’s where we rely on him: In 1869, Holly was issued a patent, number 94749, for an “improved fire hydrant”. He is the father of today’s modern fire hydrant.
Michael Daisy, freelance writer and history buff, wrote a good, concise article on Holly’s life and inventiveness. It is posted HERE on Inventorspot.com and makes for some fine Sunday reading.
Some Holly hydrants
Selvey, Anderson and Masminster collections
on 25 Jul 2008 at 1:15 pm 1.jim said …
I have a Birdsill Holly fire hydrant like the second picture on you site. It only has one outlet though. Do you know what this might be worth to a collector?
Thanks
Jim