“Gas” reads the center of this manhole cover, found near Avenue U in Brooklyn. And then, in smaller type, “Pitz Foundry Inc., Baier Patent, Brooklyn, New York” follows.
Pitz Foundry, established in 1910, was located on Scholes Street between Williamsburg and Bushwick. Walter Grutchfield has some cool info on the foundry and the Baier Patent.
I like this understated manhole design with the stars on each side, in place on lower Fifth Avenue. The Petroleum Heat & Power Co. dates to at least 1920.
There still is a company called Petroleum Heat & Power Co. Could it be the same one? It’s in Queens now, not at 511 Fifth Avenue—as the cover states.
Tags: 511 Fifth Avenue, gas and power comapnies in NYC, manhole cover designs, manholes in NYC, Petroleum Heat and Power Company NYC, Pitz Foundry Brooklyn, Scholes Street
November 17, 2010 at 3:58 am |
thanks for the pics and description. what source do you use for the manholes- the Princeton U book ? i take many pics and could use a reference. thanks. phil
November 17, 2010 at 4:05 am |
Glad you like ‘em. What’s the Princeton U book? I just take a photo when I spot an interesting cover and research whatever it says.
November 17, 2010 at 4:09 am |
sorry , MIT PRESS
http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item/default.asp?ttype=2&tid=5993