Welcome to The Sturtevant Guestbook!

I am trying to reach the webmaster for this site. I am interested in the Sturtevant history and I am glad to have found this website.

I'm one of the people who care for the pipe organs at Yale University. The largest of these is in Woolsey Hall, the University's 2,700-seat auditorium. Built in the early years of the 20th century, Woolsey Hall was furnished with Sturtevant air-handling equipment which is still in place, and more importantly, still in regular use!

This is a large installation with three paddle-fans in the basement and two more in the attic, driven by enormous DC motors.

I was wondering if this site has anyone who might want to see this equipment first-hand? Also, it might be possible to take some video of the fans and motor still in operation, more than 115 years after they were made. You might wish to post this video on your website?

Please confirm receipt of this message, so I know that it reached the right party.

Many thanks,Joe Dzeda

Sturtevant Engineering Co. Ltd. (UK)
Start: March, 1971 Finish: February, 1973
Reasons for finish: More salary
Task/Job/: Stationery clerk, worked with Transport Manager, litho printer, brochure designer and so on. Produced work for London Motor Show, various UK exhibitions, the Poznan Fair and other foreign exhibitions was published in Glass Magazine, Financial Times, and the London Standard.

I was 27 years old when I worked for Sturtevant. I went there as a stationery clerk under the Transport Manager (Albert Coe). My other job was to look after the fleet of cars to make sure they were washed and dressed and later I was asked to pick up or drive new vehicles for the Directors (another story!) Within a couple of days, he asked me if I was interested in learning how to use a new table-top Rotaprint offset-litho machine, which I was happy to learn.

The object of the machine was to cut costs in the printing of brochures and so forth. I was sent on a course at Rotaprint itself and so began my work with this machine. I have always had artistic and design skills and was soon redsigning some of the simpler works and printing them. This later developed substantially and I worked with other standard printers to produce these items. Eventually, the work became a dedicated print room and I had a lady helper. We had purchased a plate-maker I I made all the plates.

I visited the Manchester works many times, and also the foundry in Nottingham. I designed a number of advertisements and all the artwork for a number of projects. In the course of this I produced a 3 x 4 display for a central vacuum plant which was on show at a London Motor Show just after Sturtevant acquire Welbeck. Although now damaged in a flood at my house, I still have it. I also worked heavily with Letraset in my design work and produced a three-language colur display for a conference (I believe) in Holland.Since Sturtevant was alsoinvolved in plastics, along with a carpenter, Produced a large display for the Poznan Fair (I can't remember the year).

I have had adverts (my artwork) published in Glass Magazine, the London Financial Times, The London Standard newspaper.I also designed a brochure for a Cashew-nut Plant and even created a half-tone photograph (using Latratone) from an engineering drawing.

The one thing I do have (as I keep records, as far as possible) of all my work, have a complete bound book of all the brochures I have printed and designed with original artwork. This book has survived my second subsequent emigration to Australia and the return to the U.K. I now live in France in my retirement. Should you be interested further (if interested at all!). I would be happy to supply any further information.

My very best regards,
Peter K. Sharpen

I really enjoyed visiting your web site. My father was general manager of the division (Westinghouse) for a time in the late 50's. I remember driving out to Hyde Park on Saturday mornings when my father had work to do and he'd walk us through the work sheds. I was awestruck at the size of fan shafts I saw being milled. I often think of the great ribbons of razor sharp steel coming of the lathes and gathering in piles at the feet of the operator.

I live in New York City now, and have for the last 30 years, but on my next trip to Boston I plan to drive by the site and catch some more memories. Thank you.

My name is John Chunis. I was born in Hyde Park in 1951 and grew up in a three decker across the way on Winter Street right by the bridge over the railroad tracks. I remember, as a young child, looking from the bridge (shown in the picture on your page north of the plant) at the vast factory and water tower.
My mother, Lee (Bielecki) Chunis worked at Sturtevants during WW2. I thought she said she operated a drill press in the manufacture of artillery shell casings, and perhaps the company had a contract with the US military and tooled up, like many other manufacturers during that time, to supply the war effort.

We also had a border who lived with us who worked at the plant before and after the war when Westinghouse took over. His name was Enoch Belcko but went by Ignatz. He was of Ukrainian decent and did not speak English all that well.

I appreciate your efforts in keeping this site up and the important and interesting history of the company alive.

Hi Vincent,

I was a young Engineer at Sturtevant from 1975-1980. I was the project leader for the first variable pitch axial fans they built and the only person from the division to ever win the Lamme scholarship. My mentor was Frank Cosentino. Are any of the engineers from that time still in contact (or Truman Netherton) ? Thanks.

Bill Rousseau

Great site. Does anyone know if there is a way to add/subtract information from the genealogy page?

Kip Foss

I worked for the B F Strudevant Div. of Westinghouse from June 1947 thru April 1950 as a sales engineer. Was hired fresh out of college and attended a six month training program at the Hyde Park factory. In January 1948 was assigned to the Chicago sales office as a sales engineer.

Eugene Foss was the manager of the Chicago office at that time. I still have a copy of their product catalogue which I'd like to donate to some historical organization for posterity. Let me know if someone is interested.

I found a monogram style#4 blower at my wife's uncle's saw mill in NJ. It is in good shape as it is not being used. Having learned about fans thru photo's on your site and the history of the company. I'm interested in the date this fan was manufactured.I have photos

Grew up on Readville Street,remember the whistles and our neighbors going to work each day.

We have a BF Sturtevant Speed Heater,Design 10, Size 55, Number 356657. Where can we get a replacement?

Great Site! My landlord has a B.F. Sturtevant Monogram Fan Number 3 in a circle. W19332 Size 3 Sign 2. We need to know the year of this item, the manual still available? Please let me know either way, so I can let my landlord know as well. Thank you.

We have a Westinghouse Electric Fan Serial EC 8 Style 768767. 100/120 volts, 60 cycles, Amps 1.25. At the bottom of the information plate it has many different patent number, the last numbers being 444. 923. Under all the patent numbers, it states: Westinghouse Elec. & MFG. Co., Spfld, Works, Springfield, Mass. U.S.A. We would like to know what the name of the fan is, what year it was manufactured, cost of item at the time is was made, and if we could obtain parts if needed and where to purchase parts. It is in very good condition and we would like to restore it and display.

I have contacted Westinghouse, but they refered me to contact you for information. Any information that you can supply to me would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Diane

Hi,
I'm trying to find air flow specs on a Sturevant Multivane Fan Design 3. This fan is currently in use exhausting a parking garage in San Francisco. I would like to keep it in use. Also does anyone know if rebuilt or new bearings are available.
Thanks

I work at the the Galt Ontario location that was formerly Sturevant fan. We use the buildings as warehouse space and refer to them as "Westinghouse" Check Google maps for 52 Middleton Street Cambridge Ontario, the peaked roof buildings in the northwest corner are the former Sturtevant buildings.

I was interested to visit your site. I have one about cash carriers and have references to Sturtevant pneumatic tube systems.