�encouraging.Every plumber, electrician and carpenter starts out his assessment with the same comment, "What kind of jerk put this crap in?", or words to that effect. This plumber was no different. After this introduction, he proceeded to pull the knob off, pulled out the valve, and frowned. This did not bode well."Boy is this OLD!"The valve is made of plastic! How old could it be? But, based upon the expression on his face, and the "tsk, tsk" sounds he was making, you'd think it was ancient. Like it had been installed in the days of horseless carriages and lead plumbing.Of course he did not have a replacement part on hand. Why would he clutter his inventory with such an arcane piece of equipment? He would have to go to the hardware store and hope that they still carried that model part.I can picture the scene in the hardware store. The plumber is showing the part to the older sales clerk. He calls out to a younger man. "Charlie, look at this! I ain't seen one of these since . . . well, I don't know when. Take a good look at it Charlie, you may never see one of these again!"The guys at the hardware store go into the back-backroom. In this room are cobwebs, hand pumps, crescent moon doors for outhouses, layers and layers of dust of the ages! They dust off box after box. Digging deeper and deeper through the strata of plumbing history. Down through the age of iron pipes, to copper pipes, lead pipes . . . and then there it was. The diverter valve model 108/G!"I was thinking of donating this here valve to the Smithsonian Museum. I know a collector who'd pay top dollar for one of these, but if you need it I can give it to you for a good price."The plumber came back with the precious part. He was covered in dust and cobwebs. But the unit didn't fit! We need a model 108/D. The grandfather of the one he'd gotten from the hardware store.A Lead Pipe Cinch
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