Pressure Pot Gloat

[JD Combs Sr]

Although it is nothing near Mesquiteman's Pressure Pot Gloat of The Century, I believe it is still an excellent acquisition.

I have an old American Made WR Brown 2.5gal pressure pot that I use for casting. I was browsing CL and eBay the other day and ran across an old Montgomery Wards pressure pot on eBay for $80 "buy it now". Based on the photo it looked a lot like the one I had so I pulled out the debit card made it mine.

Turns out it is also a WR Brown with a Wards brand label. The container and tie downs are identical to mine. There are some minor differences in the lid, mine is cast aluminum, the Wards is cast iron. I estimate that it is about 1960s vintage. My original is late 1970s. Both are very beefy US made. No welds on the tie downs. Both have "do not to exceed 50psi" embossed on the lids but with the lids being cast, and non-welded tie-downs, and five of them I would not be afraid to take them to 80psi. Both are a far-cry from HF versions. My original as a mater of fact has already been to 90psi clearing out some spilled and cured resin. However, I normally cast at 50psi so don't start flaming:biggrin:.

Here are some pics. The blue one is my original(I purchased it new in the late 70s). I am going to build a casting station modeled after Curtis's dual tank station. Hope you don't mind the copying Curtis.

Side by side


Comparison of the tie-down clamps - Note mounting method w/o welding


No rust to speak of although I did wipe it down briskly with a oil soaked 3M pad. The seal is in great shape. Note the cast fingers that accept the tie-downs. I believe it to be a better design then the HF version.


These pics show the WR Brown name.

 

[MesquiteMan]

The lids look just like a couple of different brand pots both made by DeVilbiss I have/had. One was a Sears and Robuck (shows how old it is!) and the other was a DeVilbiss branded pot. Both were DeVilbiss, which is owned by the same company that owns Binks, at least now days. Mine were rated to 80 psi and cast iron like the Wards.

Looking good and a helluvalot better than a HF ANY DAY!

BTW, if you copy my design on the cart, you need to send me a royalty payment of $1,000! Just kidding, of course. Copy away and show us the results!

 

[Tim K]

Curtis,
Sent you a PM and left you a VM. Call me when you get a chance.

Thanks,
Tim

 

[PenMan1]

JD:
I have a WR Brown "Sir Speedy" pot just like yours, except the cast lid on mine is red. It is my favorite pot. I cast mostly PR and rarely have need to go above 50 PSI. I can fill the pot, forget about it, come back 3 days later and it STILL has 50 PSI. according to the little tag, it was Mfg. by WR Brown Tool Company in Chicago. BUT, it looks almost identical to a DilVilbus pot I used to have. I think WR Brown is gone away, I wonder if they became DilVilbis?

According to the bill of sale that came with mine, Western Auto, sold it in 1968. I can read the amount, but it looks like $29.99. I dread when the seal finally goes on this pot! I give it a coat of Vaseline each time I use it and it's still holding up.

 

[PenMan1]

I heard that WR Brown was bought by Federal Equipment Company and still makes spray and pressure paint products in Illinois.

I found Federal's paint website but I can't find any pressure pots.

 

[JD Combs Sr]

The lids look just like a couple of different brand pots both made by DeVilbiss I have/had. One was a Sears and Robuck (shows how old it is!) and the other was a DeVilbiss branded pot. Both were DeVilbiss, which is owned by the same company that owns Binks, at least now days. Mine were rated to 80 psi and cast iron like the Wards. Looking good and a helluvalot better than a HF ANY DAY!
BTW, if you copy my design on the cart, you need to send me a royalty payment of $1,000! Just kidding, of course. Copy away and show us the results!

Thanks for the comparison info Curtis. I had an older one but loaned it to the maintenance dept of a small start-up company I went to work for in the 70's. It got so paint covered and messed up in the project that the company just bought me a new one(the blue one) when the project was finished. Don't remember what brand the first one was. BTW the $1000 will be in the mail Monday be sure and WAIT for it.:biggrin: Not sure what you will do with $1000 in monopoly money but...:wink:

JD:
I have a WR Brown "Sir Speedy" pot just like yours, except the cast lid on mine is red. It is my favorite pot. I cast mostly PR and rarely have need to go above 50 PSI. I can fill the pot, forget about it, come back 3 days later and it STILL has 50 PSI. according to the little tag, it was Mfg. by WR Brown Tool Company in Chicago. BUT, it looks almost identical to a DilVilbus pot I used to have. I think WR Brown is gone away, I wonder if they became DilVilbis?
According to the bill of sale that came with mine, Western Auto, sold it in 1968. I can read the amount, but it looks like $29.99. I dread when the seal finally goes on this pot! I give it a coat of Vaseline each time I use it and it's still holding up.

I heard that WR Brown was bought by Federal Equipment Company and still makes spray and pressure paint products in Illinois.
I found Federal's paint website but I can't find any pressure pots.

Yeah, I did some research myself on WR Brown and found pretty much the same thing. Too bad, looks like they have gone the way of a lot of good American companies. Shame too, the stuff you get from off shore these days in most instances doesn't even begin to compare USA made stuff.

BTW I appreciate your post, it reminded me that I need to treat the seals on both pots. Haven't done that in a while on my original and no telling how long its been on the new one though it looks to be in good shape.