Every month Mechanical Hub and the Plumbing Museum will be collaborating to bring you a piece of plumbing history. The American Sanitary Plumbing Museum is dedicated to promoting the contributions of the plumbing industry and its talented craftsmen across the United States. This month’s installment is the Automatic Storage Water Heater by Ruud.
This Ruud “Automatic Storage Water Heater” (pictured left at the Plumbing Museum) was introduced by Edwin Ruud in 1889. Hot running water on demand was a luxury unknown to even the most affluent Americans. Other breakthroughs, large and small, followed over the years, as Ruud became a leading pioneer in water heating products for the home as well as for commercial and industrial applications. By the time Ruud departed the scene, his breakthrough innovation had changed the daily hygienic habits of every living American.
Located in a renovated ice house in Watertown, Mass., the American Sanitary Plumbing Museum is dedicated to promoting the contributions of the plumbing industry and its talented craftsmen across the United States. Through its unique mix of industrial history and modern art, it showcases artifacts and exhibits that range from 19th century tubs to modern toilets and a functioning rainwater reclamation system. The museum welcomes nearly a thousand visitors each year for tours and private events, and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal. For more information, visit: www.theplumbingmuseum.org.
