Little did we know at the beginning of the contest that a water heater with a vintage year of 1946 would still be working.  Then as a bigger surprise, there were two! Seeing we were unable to pinpoint any further down than 1946, we decided to declare a tie. Both contestants will receive a new Bradford White water heater installed, free of any charges.

How did we come to our conclusion?  This took numerous research hours. Determining the vintage year of water heater was a bigger challenge than what we expected.  We would like to share with you our findings which were the basis of our final decision.

·        Not until 1970’s did the model/serial number have any type of meaning.  Serial numbers were randomly assigned.

·        Since the early seventies, manufactures began including the month and year within the serial number. (This is what we originally expected as a winner, replacing a 30+ year water heater.)

·        Through the internet, we were able to connect with an antique water heater collector whom we found as a valuable resource. Through our descriptions and his expertise, he confirmed the water heaters are within that time period and could possibly be older.

·        Tanks then were made of copper and monel (copper/nickel mix) which are no longer economical to purchase.  Because of metal shortages at the end of WW2 tanks made of monel were rare. You can determine monel because it is not magnetic.  Both water heaters being replaced indicate monel. We can confirm this once taken apart.

Ruth Joseph moved into her home in1946 but there was no water heater in the house. That same year, Ruth and her husband purchased a Rex electric water heater from Lizton Chicken Hatchery (no longer existing). The hatchery also sold plumbing supplies. Rex water heaters were manufactured by the Cleveland Heater Company located in Cleveland, Ohio.  

James and Betty Robinson’s home was built in 1946 and still has the original electric Westinghouse water heater. The characteristics of the water heater very much match Ruth’s. We did learn the “R” in the Westinghouse serial number indicates round as they made square ones also.  Today, Westinghouse no longer produces water heaters.

We would like to thank all that participated in our contest.