I found an old tank in my attic and I'm trying to figure out what to
do with it. The house is about 100 years old, and I'm assuming the
tank is rather old as well. There is some writing on the side of the
tank that's a little hard to make out, but it says "Man'f'd For
Cunningham Co Boston, Mass" and also "Manufactured by Riverside
Boilerworks Cambridgeport, Mass". The tank seems to be cast iron with
riveted construction, and a glass tube on the side, presumably to
indicate water level. I'd like to know a) what exactly this thing was
for (I assume some very old component of the heating system). b) if
any remnant of Riverside Boilerworks still exists that might have a
rough manufactured date for it. c) does anybody collect these things?
A picture of the tank can be found at
http://www.infomend.com/images/tank.jpg.

Hi,
If the tank is fairly small, it could have been an expansion vessel
for a radiator heating systen.  If it is larger, it may have been part
of the water system for the house, but I would agree with your a)
choice, having something similar in my attic (Germany, 1950s).

Hi, again. It just occurred to me that the tank could have been a hot water tank.
Do you know how it was originally installed?
In a house about that age, I know there was a tank in the attic,
insulated with sawdust and shavings for this purpose.  Don't know how
it was supplied with hot water, but it was obviously for this purpose.
Is that any help?  NOt much for a petential resale value, I am afraid.