T. C. Joy Radiators
“Though much has been done by ingenious men in the art of distributing heat for household uses; it must be confessed, that in one or two instances only have they been able to make a permanent impression or bring their contrivances into that general use as to constitute them ‘machines of society.’” –from Walter Bernan’s History of Heating (1945)
To understand T. C.’s burgeoning company and his inventions, it’s necessary to understand the evolving period following the Civil War--a time in which steam heat flourished. As this type of heating gained in popularity and the architecture of the day became bigger and more complex, the need for improvements was necessitated. The first radiators—closest in look to what we’re familiar with today—took center stage with a patent issued in 1863 by Joseph Nason and Robert Briggs. Their design featured “vertical wrought iron tubes screwed into a cast iron radiator” (Nagengast, 2001). By the 1880s their cast iron invention had become quite popular, thereby opening the door to a competitive market for radiators. And T. C. Joy would prove to be, not just a pioneer but, a serious contender in this new space. One of the primary heating complaints of the time had to do with the uneven distribution of steam and condensate. T. C. knew that this could be improved and created several important patents designed to distribute heat more evenly. These radiators were not just efficient, utilitarian heating tools but also works of art, with ornate detail to attract the eye and enhance the aesthetics of any room. One of his most beautiful products, which would be showcased in many upmarket dining rooms, would be the highly detailed Crescent radiator, thus named for its curved construction. Up until this point, radiators of the day were usually square in design.
One of his more famous inventions was the Joy Vertical Flue Radiator, seen in Figure 4, a breakthrough design that would catapult T. C. to the top of his industry. In 1893, the trade journal Metal, described T. C.’s innovation in the following way: “The joy vertical flue…had extended surfaces on each section so arranged that adjacent sections, by means of the ribs forming the extended surfaces, made flue spaces extending from the bottom to the top of the radiator. The hot air flues were therefore composed of extended surface with the exception of the spaces at the extreme sides taken from the faces of the section.” To put it simply, Joy claimed that his vertical flue was constructed in such a way, with its ribs strategically placed and curved, that the heat would move more quickly and evenly. One can easily digest the design with the patent illustration seen in figure 5.
Indeed, many agreed, and his product was considered superior. It could be found in preeminent buildings and residences throughout the world, such as the Marlborough House (home to Edward VII, Prince of Wales), John Jacob Astor’s private residence in Rhinecliff, NY, as well as the Waldorf Hotel, the Bank of New York, and the Drexel Institute, among many others. Figure 6 below lists many places one could find a Joy radiator at that time. With this invention, as well as the artfully curved construction of the popular Crescent Radiator, T. C. would once again attain fortune and fame.