Solar water heaters in California, 1891--1930

Journal Article · · The Coevolution Quarterly; (United States)

OSTI ID:6772173

Butti, K; Perlin, J

In Pasadena, California by 1897, 30% of the homes had solar water heaters. One manufacturer sold over 10,000 solar water heaters by the late 1920's. In 1891, Clarence M. Kemp patented the Climax solar water heater. By 1900, over 1600 of these systems were installed. Frank Walker, in 1898 improved the Climax design. Charles Hashell, by 1905 owned the rights of the Climax and Walker heaters. William J. Bailey refined the Improved Climax by making it into two separate units-solar heat collector and hot water storage tank. He called the system the Day and Night Solar Heating System. By the end of World War I, over 4,000 had been sold. In 1923 Bailey sold the rights on the heater. By 1941, at least 60,000 solar heaters were installed. When the war came, the government froze the use of copper bringing the solar industry to an abrupt halt.

• OSTI ID: 6772173
• Journal Information: The Coevolution Quarterly; (United States), Journal Name: The Coevolution Quarterly; (United States)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140907* -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Water Heating
APPLIANCES
CALIFORNIA
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELECTRIC APPLIANCES
FLORIDA
GAS APPLIANCES
HEATERS
HEATING
INDUSTRY
NORTH AMERICA
REVIEWS
SOLAR HEATING
SOLAR INDUSTRY
SOLAR WATER HEATERS
SOLAR WATER HEATING
SOUTHEAST REGION
USA
WATER HEATERS
WESTERN REGION