A look inside boiler explosions from the Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection & Insurance Co. There are a lot of these magazines on www.archive.org . Fascinating. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hartfo...urance_Company https://www.munichre.com/hsb/en/abou...p/history.html https://scripophily.net/harstreamboi.html http://ep.yimg.com/ay/scripophily/ha...ch-re-ag-4.g https://archive.org/details/locomotive11hart/page/n5?q=the+locomotive+1890
Amazingly, the Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Co. is still in business and doing well. They inspected and certified the huge watertube boilers where I worked and continue to do so today.
It's a wonder they made any money back then with all the boiler explosions happening. I wonder how much boiler insurance cost back then.
While attention to safety was comparatively lax, (for example, one of the most common violations cited at the turn of the century was the absence of a functioning low water alarm) the rate of explosions was not as bad as it looks. When you consider that steam power was practically universal across all industries, there were not as many explosions per capita as one might think. Also, I believe that The Hartford did much, including publishing of The Locomotive, to promote safer use of steam power.
I believe you're right. I think a lot of the attention is due to the fact that they are so spectacular. in a bad way.
Rick, thanks for posting the very old and historic information you have been sharing with us. Times have certainly changed and many do not know any of the history you are providing. They should.
I agree with Tom. Boilers were in almost every apartment house in every city, almost every factory, and every locomotive, of which there were thousands upon thousands. Boiler explosions were rare, so when one exploded it was headline news.
Thanks Fitz. I'm glad you enjoy steeping back in time! Most of this is new to me and although I do find myself around boilers a bit with my job (plumbing parts sales), I love seeing the similarities and differences of the way things are done now. In researching my ancestors company that played a role in boiler safety, I have developed an interest in the "age of steam" including Railroads and their part in America's industrial age. It's nice to see these forums keeping some of that history alive.
