Arvin hot water heaters.

[Jeffrey Black]

Hi, I am restoring a '34 Packard super 8 coupe with a rumble seat. The cab is fitted with a Arvin hot water heater, can anyone tell me what the outside finish of this heater should be, please? I guess it would be either a gloss black, or very possible it was a black wrinkle finish. Does anyone know? Thanks.

                                                                                                                       Regards, Jeff  Black.

[edinmass]

They came in several models and levels of finish........from rather drab black boxes to chromed doors and with air ducts. A photo would help. Most likely it’s a plain model, as the fancy ones seem to be quite scarce. With no definitive answer, I would look at a factory radio box finish. Black wrinkle finish is a decent possible solution. If I saw it with a semi gloss or flat wrinkle finish I would not question it. Glossy finish would get my attention. Another question.......is it year appropriate for the car? Most Arvin heaters I have seen are late 30’s from memory.........you definitely don’t want a late style heater in your 34, it will look out of place.

Edited November 11, 2020 by edinmass (see edit history)

[Jeffrey Black]

Hi edinmass, I don't know how to put a photo on this site,not very computer able, however, if you go to ebay the seller "sskstmz" has a heater the same as mine.           Regards, Jeff Black.

[Graham Man]

1931

 

 

1933-4

 

 

1935-6 added ability to blow hot air on the windshield, so you will see vent hose connections

 

 

There were not standards for color, most were crinkle black, but lots of possible colors.

 

I am sure Packard had approved accessory heaters available by 1934?

 

This one looks nice

 

 

[Ozstatman]

1 hour ago, Jeffrey Black said:

Hi edinmass, I don't know how to put a photo on this site,not very computer able, however, if you go to ebay the seller "sskstmz" has a heater the same as mine.           Regards, Jeff Black.

Is it this one?

[edinmass]

Your heater looks very early and appropriate to the era......maybe a bit earlier than the car. I have had factory heaters in my Cadillac........they offered them in 1931 for 37.50........quite a lot of money. Just like radios, they got cheap fast......and popular. Your car looks very nice. We have two 34 Packard 12’s in the collection....they are very refined automobiles.........while I am a bit of a heavy footed driver and like more power than what they have to offer........they are certainly the definition of an almost perfect road car.

[edinmass]

23 minutes ago, Ozstatman said:

Is it this one?

That looks like 32-33 to me, but just a guess. For some reason the rounded doors seem just a bit later, and the very early units tended to be square. Of course........there is no set rule on aftermarket parts and how long they hung around. Dealers would sell you anything they could during the depression. Cadillac had a spot in the firewalls for the hot water tubes that mounted the heater.........I'm not sure what Packard did. Pierce just had a flat spot in the wall in front of the passenger.....and there was plenty of room for a heater. The only heaters that worked well in my experience were the gas operated South Wind, and the unit in our 851 Auburn........which brand may be Arvin, but a I can’t remember.

[Graham Man]

This one?

 

 

https://www.ebay.com/i/114498143677?rt=nc&_trkparms=aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20160908110712%26meid%3D3a9868476ed7434b882a10e6515b9dcd%26pid%3D100677%26rk%3D8%26rkt%3D30%26mehot%3Dnone%26sd%3D233552748029%26itm%3D114498143677%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2386202%26algv%3DDefaultOrganic%26brand%3DCustom

 

[Frank DuVal]

Not a help to the heater finish question, but, just had to add that Arvin is STILL IN BUSINESS! 👍

Now they make exhaust system parts and those gas charged shocks that keep your liftgate/hoods open.

 

http://www.preservingarvin.com/arvin-products.html

 

Their first car heater was as the Indianapolis Air Pump Company in 1920.

 

In the 30s they started making car radios.

 

Sort of like Auto-Lite, in they made lots more auto products than you realize, as most of us only know auto electric products from Auto-Lite.

[ply33]

2 hours ago, Frank DuVal said:

. . . just had to add that Arvin is STILL IN BUSINESS! 👍 . . 

 

So is Tripp-Lite. They make battery backup and power conditioning systems for computers nowadays.

 

Back in the 1990s I was slightly involved with such things for a company I worked with and needed to call Tripp-Lite on some detail I have long since forgotten. When the lady screening calls asked where I’d heard of their company I said I had a pair of Tripp-Lites on my antique car. After a long pause, she asked what they were. I said they were auxiliary lights for the front of the car for better lighting useful for long trips on dark roads, “you know, trip lights” thus the name. She had no clue the company once made automotive lights.

[Jeffrey Black]

23 hours ago, Ozstatman said:

Is it this one?

Yes, that's it, it is being restored with the rest of the car.   Regards, Jeff Black

[Jeffrey Black]

On 11/10/2020 at 8:56 AM, Graham Man said:

1931

 

 

1933-4

 

 

1935-6 added ability to blow hot air on the windshield, so you will see vent hose connections

 

 

There were not standards for color, most were crinkle black, but lots of possible colors.

 

I am sure Packard had approved accessory heaters available by 1934?

 

This one looks nice

 

 

 

[Jeffrey Black]

Just now, Jeffrey Black said:

 

Thanks for your reply Graham, much information, it does look like wrinkle black will be the finish I will use.  Regards, Jeff Black.

[Jeffrey Black]

21 hours ago, Graham Man said:

This one?

 

 

https://www.ebay.com/i/114498143677?rt=nc&_trkparms=aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20160908110712%26meid%3D3a9868476ed7434b882a10e6515b9dcd%26pid%3D100677%26rk%3D8%26rkt%3D30%26mehot%3Dnone%26sd%3D233552748029%26itm%3D114498143677%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2386202%26algv%3DDefaultOrganic%26brand%3DCustom

 

Yes Graham the photo you submitted is my unit, thanks.  Jeff Black.

[Jeffrey Black]

23 hours ago, edinmass said:

That looks like 32-33 to me, but just a guess. For some reason the rounded doors seem just a bit later, and the very early units tended to be square. Of course........there is no set rule on aftermarket parts and how long they hung around. Dealers would sell you anything they could during the depression. Cadillac had a spot in the firewalls for the hot water tubes that mounted the heater.........I'm not sure what Packard did. Pierce just had a flat spot in the wall in front of the passenger.....and there was plenty of room for a heater. The only heaters that worked well in my experience were the gas operated South Wind, and the unit in our 851 Auburn........which brand may be Arvin, but a I can’t remember.

Yes sir, I think the heater was fitted to the new car, if it is a '33, for instance, the unit could still be new on the store's shelf in '34. I am not seeing anything on this site that makes me think it is incorrect for a '34 car.    Regards, Jeff Black.

[Jeffrey Black]

18 hours ago, Frank DuVal said:

Not a help to the heater finish question, but, just had to add that Arvin is STILL IN BUSINESS! 👍

Now they make exhaust system parts and those gas charged shocks that keep your liftgate/hoods open.

 

http://www.preservingarvin.com/arvin-products.html

 

Their first car heater was as the Indianapolis Air Pump Company in 1920.

 

In the 30s they started making car radios.

 

Sort of like Auto-Lite, in they made lots more auto products than you realize, as most of us only know auto electric products from Auto-Lite.

Yes Frank, I was surprised to see that they are still in business, must be very successful business.   Regards, Jeff Black.

[Jeffrey Black]

16 hours ago, ply33 said:

 

So is Tripp-Lite. They make battery backup and power conditioning systems for computers nowadays.

 

Back in the 1990s I was slightly involved with such things for a company I worked with and needed to call Tripp-Lite on some detail I have long since forgotten. When the lady screening calls asked where I’d heard of their company I said I had a pair of Tripp-Lites on my antique car. After a long pause, she asked what they were. I said they were auxiliary lights for the front of the car for better lighting useful for long trips on dark roads, “you know, trip lights” thus the name. She had no clue the company once made automotive lights.

It is amazing what gems of information do come to light sometimes, I do have a set of Tripp-Lites for my Packard.  Regards, Jeff Black.

[edinmass]

35 minutes ago, Jeffrey Black said:

Yes sir, I think the heater was fitted to the new car, if it is a '33, for instance, the unit could still be new on the store's shelf in '34. I am not seeing anything on this site that makes me think it is incorrect for a '34 car.    Regards, Jeff Black.

I think your unit looks more appropriate to my eye for the year of your car than the chrome door units......if I was judging it, I wouldn’t even ask a question.......looks correct and period. 👍

[Graham Man]

Ed,

   Interesting line of thought, with such a beautiful dash, do you want the heater to distract form the dash?  black might be the least conspicuous.

 

I use my heater a lot on cold fall days, it is awesome, and I get a few extra weeks of driving... If I lived down south I would toss it in the "not used pile" they are not pretty and the water lines under the hood clutter the engine compartment.  Make sure you install a valve to shut off the water in the summer, they get really hot!

 

 

They salted my roads last week, so my driving season is over...

[Mark Wetherbee]

I have this “Perfection” unit Under the dash of my 31 Pierce, but I don’t plan on getting it hooked up. I agree that the hoses would be unsightly under the hood. I wish it hadn’t been added back in the day but unless I go to much trouble it’s just going to stay put. The back side of it looks like a black crinkle finish which is visible on the mounting support on the firewall. It is hardly visible Inside the car for how hidden it is under the dash

.

Edited November 11, 2020 by Mark Wetherbee (see edit history)

[Frank DuVal]

Pick up two black pipe rubber/plastic caps to put on the copper stubs. Not crutch tips, they flare out. 

[Jeffrey Black]

On 11/11/2020 at 11:04 AM, Graham Man said:

Ed,

   Interesting line of thought, with such a beautiful dash, do you want the heater to distract form the dash?  black might be the least conspicuous.

 

I use my heater a lot on cold fall days, it is awesome, and I get a few extra weeks of driving... If I lived down south I would toss it in the "not used pile" they are not pretty and the water lines under the hood clutter the engine compartment.  Make sure you install a valve to shut off the water in the summer, they get really hot!

 

 

They salted my roads last week, so my driving season is over...

Well Graham, I must say it did not occur to me to not refit the unit, & I know to put a valve in the line, very hot otherwise!     Jeff Black.

[Jeffrey Black]

On 11/11/2020 at 9:27 PM, Mark Wetherbee said:

I have this “Perfection” unit Under the dash of my 31 Pierce, but I don’t plan on getting it hooked up. I agree that the hoses would be unsightly under the hood. I wish it hadn’t been added back in the day but unless I go to much trouble it’s just going to stay put. The back side of it looks like a black crinkle finish which is visible on the mounting support on the firewall. It is hardly visible Inside the car for how hidden it is under the dash

.

Mark, it looks as though the safe finish will be crinkle black.   Jeff  Black.