These could also be for a fuel oil stove/heater, although the one in the house (built in 1855) where my relatives lived came up through the floor.  The fuel oil stove replaced the old cast iron wood/coal stove that was in the same location.  I seem to recall that the house had at least two of the fuel oil stoves in different parts of the house and they would put a pot of water on top to keep some humidity inside.  After a forced air furnace was installed, they removed the stove and the steel pipe was also removed down to the floor and a simple cap put over it (albeit a tripping hazard to the unsuspecting).  As Lyle indicated, if this was the case at your house, you expect to indications of an exhaust or flu, though it may have since been covered up with remodeling.  A quick check in the attic might give you an indication of where the stove pipes went through the ceiling.  Some of the old houses had terra cotta/earthenware collars as insulators
 for stove pipes going through the ceiling and into a 2nd floor.  I found a nearly complete one at the 1855 house and parts of one was found at the Edison house in Port Huron - might also be something to be on the lookout for.  Are there any tanks outside or in the basement/cellar?  Tim

 

________________________________
 From: Lyle E. Browning <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] 
Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2012 5:58 PM
Subject: Re: Utility Connections?
  
If it's a one way system, ie, gas, wherein the material is piped in and then burned, there will be only one hole in the wall. If it's a circulating system, then there will be two, these being for hot water radiator, baseboard or steam heat in order of decreasing probability. But for combustable materials, there has to be a flue, or rather, there should be a flue. Perhaps the adjacent vent cover was the older venting system adapted for the current system? The gas light systems put carbon monoxide directly into the room, seldom with any kind of venting apart from around loose fitting doors and windows as it dispersed.

Lyle Browning


On Dec 11, 2012, at 3:42 PM, Stacy Kozakavich wrote:

> Hi all,
> 
> This is a bit tangential to archaeology as it deals with the old operating systems of an extant house, but I'm sure there will be many people on this list with the experience and expertise to answer this question:
> 
> I'm trying to figure out what a couple of old utility/service connections are in the second-floor bedrooms of a 1911 house in the San Francisco Bay area. 
> 
> Pictures here: https://picasaweb.google.com/105553509479038352556/Utilities?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCK6Nzfby4rTl0QE&feat=directlink
> 
> I know I *should*  know what these are, but am drawing a blank - they don't quite look like water/steam heat system pipes as they're narrow diameter and there aren't any other traces of past radiators on the walls or floor. They seem too close to the floor to be connections for gas lighting. 
> 
> Anyone recognize these?
> 
> Thanks in advance,
> Stacy Kozakavich
> Oakland, CA