Out of the Archives: Hydrant Sprinklers, Circa 1930

1934

Summer is not yet over and, as the heat turns up, people will be looking for relief. Most seek a pool or lake, but there is also an unconventional way to escape the heat.

Introducing the Bradley Fire Hydrant Sprinkler. This is a discontinued product for Bradley but Hydrant Sprinklers are actually still relevant today. Commonly thought to be illegal to open, there is a way to go about opening a fire hydrant and enjoying its cool water in a legal manner.

When opened illegally, a fire hydrant can release 1,000 gallons of water a minute. That waste of water can decrease water pressure drastically throughout a neighborhood and can also make it hard for firefighters to pump water out of other hydrants. Every city is different, but in New York City (where fire hydrant “sprinklers” are iconic) they have created a set of guidelines so citizens can use the fire hydrants legally and safely.

The first step is to call your local firehouse. In most cases they will then come down and open the hydrant for you and install a sprinkler cap. This sprinkler cap (much like the one Bradley use to offer) saves on water and keeps the water pressure in a neighborhood at a normal level. In New York City, the general rule is one fire hydrant per block may be opened.

Hope you enjoyed this peek into Bradley’s past. Stay tuned for more from the Archives!

1933

Source: Fertig, B. (2013, August 2). It’s OK to Open that Fire Hydrant… But Just a Little Bit. Retrieved August 12, 2014, from http://www.wnyc.org/story/309912-making-open-fire-hydrants-legal-and-safer/

 

Flashback Friday

Happy Friday! This weekend marks the first weekend of Summerfest here in Milwaukee and I am sure many of you are anxious to start the weekend with music and food down by the lake shore. However, before you take off for the weekend we want to show you a little bit of Bradley history. Like Summerfest, Bradley has been a part of Milwaukee tradition for decades. Pictured below you can see an old advertisement illustrating the versatility of Bradley products between different commercial settings.  From corporate buildings, factories, schools, hotels and even Summerfest, Bradley products can be found hard at work.

“What do all of them have in common?” – old Bradley advertisement

 

Washrooms at Summerfest featuring Bradley Corp. products

 

Bradley’s Flashback Friday

Each Friday, a little piece of Bradley Corporation’s history will be showcased on our blog. Most of these flashback features will be fun, historic advertisements and catalog covers of Bradley products. Stay tuned each week for something different!

Bradley at the Port of Los Angeles

The Bradvan was spotted outside the Port of Los Angeles, the largest and most lucrative port in the United States. Bradley’s Verge lavatory system, washroom accessories, and partitions will be installed at the port. Very exciting! Six Bradley Bradvans are scattered across the country. If you spot one, be sure to upload a picture and tell us about it!

ISH 2013

ISH 2013 is going great!  People are enjoying the products and displays here at Booth K46. Specifically, the Advocate is a big hit.  Lots of people love the sleek design and functional touchless features. A faucet, soap, and hand dryer ALL-IN-ONE. It’s the sink that makes sense. What are some of your favorite Bradley displays at ISH?

For more photos and updates add us on facebook at facebook.com/BradleyCorporation.