One hole cover

 

 

This old utility cover is a scene in the street beneath our feet.  Its original usage is now now known.  It may have been a gas shutoff, or a water shutoff, or maybe a fill for a below ground heating oil tank?  

 

 

Ideal gas shut off

IDEAL GAS SHUTOFF 

The directions on the cover of this gas shut off valve use a mix of sans serif and serif fonts along with some odd kerning to make all the text fit on the cover.  Although heavily painted over, they can still be read:

IDEAL

GAS

SHUT OFF

TO SHUT OFF GAS

OPEN DOOR

PULL HANDLE HARD

D.G.C.TRAP & VALVE CO.

NEW YORK

The door requires a key to open it.

The company started out in 1894 as the Albert Cryer & Co. and was then located at 96 Centre Street in New York City.  By 1915, it was renamed the D. G. C. Trap & Valve Co. and remained, at different office locations, in Manhattan until about 1953; shortly thereafter it became part of the Encor Corporation of Belleville, New Jersey.

For a a more detailed history of the company, and a different cover, visit this Ideal web page.

Piping and Valves

Piping with control valves

The materials used for this piping control remain shiny and bright despite being exposed to the open air.

Yellow hydrant

Blue, red, and yellow identifiers

The water shutoff, snow pole, and hydrant each have their own color.