United Brass

United Brass Works, Inc. makes bronze, ductile iron and carbon steel valves and cast machined components. Its home office and its machining and assembly plant are in Randleman, North Carolina. Its sight glass sets and blowdown valves go on steam boilers. The sight glass shows the water level, and the blowdown valve clears sediment from the boiler or the water column.

BoilerSupplies.com carries three United Brass lines. Water column sight glass sets are made to fit McDonnell Miller water columns. The Series 800 is a bronze reflex liquid level sight glass valve set, and the 897 and 899 sets cover reflex and flat glass. Blowdown valves come in quick opening and slow opening types. A sight glass set is chosen by the column it fits, the glass style (tubular, reflex or flat) and the glass length. A blowdown valve is chosen by size and pressure class. Then the question is whether the line takes a quick opening valve, a slow opening valve, or both in series.

Key facts

• United Brass Works, Inc. makes bronze, ductile iron and carbon steel valves in Randleman, North Carolina.

• BoilerSupplies.com lists United Brass water column sight glass sets sized for McDonnell Miller water columns.

• The United Brass Series 800 is a bronze reflex sight glass valve set; the 897 and 899 sets cover reflex and flat glass.

• United Brass blowdown valves are listed in quick opening and slow opening types.

• A sight glass set is ordered by column model, glass style and glass length; a blowdown valve by size and pressure class.

What do you call the glass on a boiler water column: sight glass, gauge glass or water glass?

Sight glass, gauge glass, water glass, water gauge and gauge glass set all name the same part. That is the glass between two valves on the water column that shows the boiler water level. Reflex and flat glass are the heavier styles for higher pressure; tubular glass is the round type on most low pressure steam boilers. BoilerSupplies.com lists the United Brass sets by column model and glass style.

Will a United Brass sight glass set fit my McDonnell Miller water column?

The United Brass water column sight glass sets on BoilerSupplies.com are made to fit McDonnell Miller water columns. Match the set to the column model on the column's nameplate. Then match the glass length, measured center to center between the gauge valves, and the connection size. Send those three details, or a photo of the column, if the model is not readable.

Does the boiler take a quick opening or a slow opening blowdown valve?

Many bottom blowdown lines carry both United Brass types in series. The boiler's instructions and the inspector say which is required. The slow opening valve is the one worked open and closed under pressure. The quick opening valve is either fully open or fully closed and takes no throttling. Match the size and pressure class of the valve being replaced, and order the same type.

What details get me the right United Brass part?

For a sight glass set: the water column make and model, the glass style (tubular, reflex or flat), the glass length center to center, and the connection size. For a blowdown valve: the size, the pressure class, quick opening or slow opening, and the boiler's operating pressure. A picture of the nameplate or of the old valve answers most of it.

What are the United Brass 897 and 899 sight glass sets?

The 897 and 899 are the United Brass set numbers for the reflex and flat glass sight glass sets on BoilerSupplies.com. The Series 800 is the bronze reflex liquid level sight glass valve set. Order by the number on the old set where it is readable. Otherwise send the glass style and the glass length center to center, and BoilerSupplies.com matches the set.

BoilerSupplies.com quotes a sight glass set from the column model, glass style and glass length, and a blowdown valve from size and pressure class. Send those, or call 1-770-957-9599 or toll free 1-800-780-3776.