[MassHistPres] What are they?

[Kristi Chase]

I concur with the idea that these are parts for a heating system. The stone
surrounds for our forced hot air floor vents in our circa 1874 house appear
to be made of soapstone. Most are 13x15. The returns are 20x30.

Kristi Chase
Preservation Planner (retired)
Somerville

On Tue, Jul 25, 2023, 1:16 PM Russel Feldman via MassHistPres <
masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> wrote:

> 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>
> 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 <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> 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> 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”
>
>
>
>
>
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