Of course, prior to writing this post, I could have called Michael Thornton in Nashville, Tennessee , or Charles Buell in Seattle, Washington, or Russel Ray in San Diego as we all know their expertise is simply without bounds...but I didn't and so tried to research something on my own....
When we bought our house in 1992, we were informed by our engineer, that we had a 1950s era hot water heater... but of good quality. Since we are from the school that if it works, why change it... we left it to run its life course. It has now been 19+ years, and our hot water heater still works beautifully. How come? It happens to be a Trageser hot water heater, and I researched its origins...
John Trageser, 1822-1888, was the Founder of Trageser Copper Works in New York City, was born in Alzenau, Bavaria. From seeking out old news articles, the company made hot water heaters, amongst other things, and I discovered some old posts on the internet such as the following:
"We just moved into a 1905 Brooklyn house and we will have to replace the good condition hot water heater - w/ the Trageser name in copper on it. Between the quality and family name, I thought maybe someone might actually want it, or part of it? Of course, it would be free; I just didn't want to throw it away w/out checking with someone first. We'll be replacing it soon." This post was written in 2005.... I sincerely hope that the gentleman didn't ‘give it away' especially if it was still working ...I found this other post also:
"Hello, I came to your site because we're restoring an old (original) 1895 Victorian house. One item we're looking for is the large copper hot water storage tank. This tank was close to and connected by pipe to the wood burning cookstove in the kitchen. It seems the heat from the stove would heat the water in the copper storage tank for many household uses. No gas or electricity was ever used. Help!" This post was also written in 2005.
I am so thankful that I had an excellent engineer who told us to keep our Trageser Heater until it breaks...I have had plumbers' eyes light up when they see it.... saying they would take it away for free to help us out.... when in fact they would sell the copper for a profit. I have never called those plumbers again.
I found this old ad (to the left) from the 60s with the notation "no down payment - $5 per month..." those were the days!
I also found on a sadder note that after the company was founded in 1850, formed into a family coporation in 1888, and upon the death of the husband, Mrs. Trageser became the President. She deeded the property on W. 26th street to the company, and divided her estate equally amongst the children (3 sisters and 2 brothers) in 1907 - the year of her death. The three daughters held fewer shares, 94 each, and the two brothers 193 and 194 each, and the court held that it wasn't in the President's power to set aside the deed of a family property to a corporation, and the three sisters lost the suit. Not an attorney, I cannot make an argument on this ruling, but I will mention that women first obtained the right to vote in 1920... and perhaps their rights beforehand were somewhat limited too!
All this history from one hot water heater! It doesn't have a date on it, but the company in the 1950s was located in Jamaica, New York... and that is where my searching has ended! I should note that my husband begged me not to write this post as he doesn't want a hex on the heater!
SO, the moral of this story is to research the mechanicals in your home before getting rid of them. As a Realtor, I have represented both buyers and sellers alike who have either demanded a new hot water heater or who have refused to replace one...based on the age and its working order. I think it all goes back to the condition of that hot water heater, and when it was made... Nowadays hot water heaters last anywhere from 10-15 years... and so buyers start negotiating on the older heaters...when they can be working beautifully. Perhaps as agents, this is where we can offer home warranties to the owners in the event a hot water heater breaks down either while on the market or in that first year after the house has been sold, which both covers the seller and the buyer at a fraction of the cost. Prices also vary greatly on new hot water heaters so research well if you are buying one.
Additionally, if you purchase well, you can be entitled to a Federal Tax Credit for Consumer Energy Efficiency products such as a hot water heater.
Houlihan Lawrence works with a Home Warranty company that offers such a service.
Whether you are buying or selling, I am here for all of your real estate needs!
NEW ROCHELLE is GREAT!
Posted by: 
Gay E. Rosen
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