[MassHistPres] What are they?

[Russel Feldman]

Often, forced hot air systems required a single very large return duct.  Residential systems could require 36” x 48” registers.  I’ve also seen school buildings with returns large enough to stand in.  The design theory of the time was to have very large ducts with fans inducing relatively slow air movement, resulting in much quieter systems than we have now.
Russ Feldman

Russel Feldman, AIA, NCARB | Principal Emeritus | TBA Architects, Inc.

From: MassHistPres <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> On Behalf Of Dennis De Witt via MassHistPres
Sent: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 12:08 PM
To: Jeffrey Gonyeau <jeffrey.gonyeau at gmail.com>; MHC MHC listserve <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] What are they?

Thanks all — that sounds like a near consensus.  But even the very big ones?

Dennis De Witt


On Jul 25, 2023, at 9:43 AM, Jeffrey Gonyeau <jeffrey.gonyeau at gmail.com<mailto:jeffrey.gonyeau at gmail.com>> wrote:

Yes--that is what they are. They are set into the wood floor and then a cast iron grill/louver assembly rests in a rabbet on the interior edge of the frame.

J.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
Jeffrey Gonyeau Preservation Services
86 Ocean Street
Dorchester, MA 02124
jeffrey.gonyeau at gmail.com<mailto:jgonyeau at hotmail.com>
Mobile 617-512-0851


On Tue, Jul 25, 2023 at 9:19 AM George Shaw via MassHistPres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu<mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>> wrote:
Most likely to support grates for heating ducts when the go through a wall or floor.
George Shaw
Harmony Woodworking (retired)

On Tue, Jul 25, 2023, 8:34 AM Dennis De Witt via MassHistPres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu<mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>> wrote:
Below are photos of unidentified stone “frames” —  for lack of a better term.  (Possibly soapstone?)  They are in a N.H. barn that was owned 100+ years ago by a man who did slate roofing and sheet metal work.

We are hoping someone can identify their purpose.

BTW there is also some roofing slate of that era.

The barn is being cleaned out

Dennis De Witt
Brookline

Very heavy many different sizes.  The closeup is the smallest size- maybe 8x10 or 10x12”




_______________________________________________
MassHistPres mailing list
MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu<mailto:MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu>
https://mailman.cs.umb.edu/listinfo/masshistpres
_______________________________________________
MassHistPres mailing list
MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu<mailto:MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu>
https://mailman.cs.umb.edu/listinfo/masshistpres

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/pipermail/masshistpres/attachments/20230725/e74968f5/attachment-0001.html>