Hoyt Water Heater Age Decoder


Hoyt water heater data tag indicates heater age

Examples of Hoyt Water Heater Age Decoding

Age of Old Hoyt Water Heater Serial No. 7913

What year is a Hoyt with the serial number 7913 from?

Thanks, Johnathan - On 2019-03-21

Reply by (mod) - when the Hoyt serial number is just 4 digits = YYWW

Typically when the Hoyt serial number is just 4 digits either the first two or last two are the year of manufacture.

For many Hoyt water heaters, the first two digits of the serial give the year and the second the week of manufacture.

79 - 1979

13 - week 13

Hoyt Hy Test Age Decoding for SN A87RNH1373190

The Serial is SN A87RNH1373190, model A40HM - Nov 5, 2012) Alexandra

Reply (mod): best guess 1987

Most likely the year is following that "A" and denotes 1987.

The Hoyt Water Heater company "... have been engaged in the business of manufacturing, selling, repairing and servicing water heaters in Los Angeles since 1911 under the trade name of Hoyt Heater Company and Hoyt Automatic Water Heater Company." - Hoyt Heater Co. v. Hoyt 68 Cal. App. 2d 523

Hoyt was subsequently purchased by American Water Heaters or the American Water Heater Group. Details are

at HOYT WATER HEATER HISTORY

From Carson Dunlop Associates Associates Technical Reference Guide, the most complete HVAC and water heater age decoding guide available, for many Hoyt water heaters, the first two digits of the serial give the year and the second the week of manufacture.

Adding to what my mom calls "a lot of 'who struck john'" confusion,

1. A.O. Smith owns GSW
2. GSW in turn owns American Water Heater Company (AWHC)
3. AHWC in turn owns Polaris.
4. American Water Heater Group, 500 Princeton Rd., Johnson City TN 37601 Tel: 800-999-9591 Website: www.americanwaterheater.com

Hoyt Water Heater Age Decoding for SN 24337

Would like to know how old my Hoyt water heater is. It's a Model 30 serial # 24337 and how long it might last.

- (Jan 22, 2018) hmgrn1

Moderator reply

I don't know, HM but a guess could be based on spotting a credible year in the serial number. Tell us when your home was constructed as that sets a floor under possible water heater age.

Above and below: Hoyt Copper Heart water heaters used a corrosion-resistant copper tank described by the company as

High Strength Everdur Tanks Can't Rust. Years and years of constant, sparkling hot water service are yours when you get a Hoyt Water Heater with a "full-floating" tank constructed of strong, tough, RUST-PROOF Everdur® (96% Copper). The Hoyt "Copper Heart" Water Heater assures you plenty of steaming hot water - year-in and year-out.

Hoyt Water Heater Age Decoding for SN I86RN01281083.

Can anyone tell how old, or where to find how old my HOYT Energy Master water heater is?

The Model Number is: 100 HMEV, the Model Name is: HOYT SUPER, and the

Serial Number is: I86RN01281083. I cannot seem to find anything online. - (Aug 29, 2016) Scott

(mod) said:

Scott the age is usually encoded in the serial number. From other examples I think you unit is from 1986 (taking the 2nd 2 digits of the serial number).

Age is also sometimes encoded in the other end of the serial: Oct 1983.

Hoyt Water Heater Age Decoding for SN 544872

I am trying to find the age of my hot water heater. it is a hoyt and has the serial number: 544872. - (Nov 11, 2015) Chris said:

Reply:

I'm guessing from several reader serial numbers provided that in the 1980's Hoyt Hi-Test water heater age was encoded in positions 4&5 of the serial number: in your case 1987

Hoyt Water Heater Age Decoding for SN 16372 

Trying to find out age and value of Hoyt automatic water heater; size 3 serial number 16372 patent July 15th 1919.

Feel free to contact me at dndstack@live.com for pictures if necessary

This question was posted originally

at AGE of WATER HEATERS - 2016/06/05 David Stackhouse

Reply:

This heater has a short serial number - send me a photo of its labels and I'll try to research it further; If I had to guess from just what's given it'd be 1972.

Age of Hoyt Energy Master L85 Serial 0001090554

Can anyone help me determine the age of my Hoyt Water heater? Its an Energy Master L85, Model #: 50HMEV.

Serial number is 0001090554. I see a note that its ANSI Z21 10 1 1983 Water Heaters, so at most since 1983.

Its still running well and I don't any rust. My initial guess was possibly 1990. Can anyone help? - Dec 15, 2016) Lee

Reply by (mod)

Good going: the date of 1983 on that ANSI standard sets an age floor under what we might guess. Note that there's no similar year or pair of year digits in the serial number for that water heater.

Hoyt water heater age based on 50th Anniversary of Unitrol 400 Thermostat?

My Hoyt water heater has a Unitrol 400 thermostat on it, and a 50th anniversary sticker. 1961? It still works. - (Dec 20, 2016) Josh

Reply by (mod)

Great guess, Josh since Hoyt began making heaters ca 1911.

Life Expectancy of Older Hoyt Water Heaters

Label on this Hoyt water heater says it's nearly 100 years old!

We just replaced our water heater, which was in our home when we bought it 35 years ago.

I got curious about how old it was, and after reviewing this site it seems like it may be one of the oldest every made, dating to the construction of our house in 1927. Serial number is 631.

That would mean that it worked faithfully for 95 years. It never leaked I would be very interested in your input.

On 2022-10-08 by Paul Nelson

Reply by InspectApedia-911 (mod) - long lived Hoyt water heater Serial Number 631

@Paul Nelson,

Thanks for the comment and the photo of that marvelous and long lived Hoyt water heater. We'll be sure to keep it with this page

Question: What is the life expectancy of a Hoyt Hi-Test water heater?

Regarding life expectancy: I purchased a 50-gallon Hoyt Hi-Test water heater on 28 Aug 1986 from Orchard Supply Hardware for $169.88. Serial #1148036. I replaced this unit today, having received nearly 28 years of excellent service from it.

A few days ago, it began leaking. The reason for the longevity of service is probably because it has been used with soft water. Coincidentally, my plumber chose a new unit manufactured by American Water Heater Company, the same company that bought Hoyt. - (Mar 5, 2014) SA

Reply:

Thanks SA for this posting, having real reports of heater life are very helpful to everyone. I agree that water chemistry is a significant factor in heater life. Tell us - did you ever in 28 years drain and flush the water heater as manufacturers recommend or were you able to get away with skipping that task (as does almost everyone)?

Troubling is that it's not easy to find a "1986" in your water heater's serial number. I suspect it was made on day 114 of 1980 and had been in stock even when you purchased it, but that's just a guess.

We see from various reader comments and questions that Hoyt Hi-Test water heater age encoding in serial numbers is a bit variable.

Reader follow-up:

(Mar 9, 2014) SA said:

You're welcome, Count me in with "almost everyone," it was not even on my radar. The Hoyt water heater was never once drained and flushed during its 28-year life. But, most likely due to our water softener system, when the Hoyt was drained for the first time a few days ago, no sediment came out of the hose.

I will be paying closer attention to our new water heater. But somehow, I don't expect to get the same kind of longevity from the new unit.

Reply:

I agree that too often newer equipment, even by the same manufacturer, may have a shorter life; thinner steel, push to reduce production costs &c;

If you have not tossed out the old heater it would be instructive to pull the sacrificial anode to take a look at its condition; photos of the heater and its data tag and of the anode would be valuable to our readers if they're within your scope and not too much work. The CONTACT link on our pages works for sending pix if you like.

Can I buy an new Hoyt Water Heater?

I bought a house new in 1987, contractor installed a Hoyt gas 50 gallon water heater. It is now 2017 and it is still working. I know you're supposed to drain them once in awhile and never did that once.

Only thing I can tell is it takes a little longer for the water to get to the kitchen and the upstairs like 30 seconds before I have scalding hot water. Would like to buy another one like this and install. They don't make them like they used to.

Sounds to me like Hoyt had been bought by another company that owns a couple other companies. Question can you still buy a Hoyt 50 gallon gas water heater? - (Aug 17, 2017) John said:

(mod) reply: nope

No, John, Hoyt water heaters are no longer sold under that brand.

Below: A Hoyt Energy Master water heater logo identifies the brand and model of this water heater. This water heater used an internally-coated tank to give long life. It was a successor to the Hoyt Copper Heart Everdur® water heater.

Long-lasting Hoyt water heater report

Our house has a Hoyt water heater. It is the original one. It is 30 years old. We have lived here for 15 years.

We have never had anything done to it. I don't think any of the former owners did either. It is still going strong.

We don't know whether to have it replaced or hold out. That is fantastic that they last this long. I know another brand will not last that long. - (Oct 31, 2016) Sonja said:

(mod) reply

Sonja,

While your Hoyt water heater has lasted longer than many water heaters do, I would not replace it simply because it's old.

As long as the heater is not leaking and is working to heat your hot water, I'd give it a reprieve: let it keep going.

But I would inspect for evidence of leaks, both small or pending. Look for rust stains around the heater body, especially around the heater base.

Look for water drip stains on the floor around the heater. If it's a gas or oil fired heater, look inside the combustion chamber for signs of rust - a heater may have a small leak that evaporates before it leaves water on the floor.

If leaks are found in the water heater body (as opposed to at a plumbing connection or relief valve) t's time for a new heater.

Replacement Parts for Older Hoyt Water Heaters

Hoyt Water Heater Electric Element Replacement

Reader question: 2018/03/04 carynbouche said:

I have a Hoyt Electric Water Heater...Serial No. E 2260. Model No. .42ER 240V / 4500W / 42 Gals.

I have to change the elements.

I have tried to find the 4 bolt flanged mounted , with porcelain isolated contacts ,electric heating element on line .. I have no idea of what it looks like inside, as for I would like to replace the elements at the same time when I find the replacement parts.

there's only one element out now, and I still need my hot water.

If you can provide a cross reference or any information as to another element type i could use and where I can get two of them, It would be Greatly appreciated.

Also Im on a set income , so anything in a reduced price would also be very helpful.

Mod reply: four-bolt electric water heater replacement elements

Caryn: there are many generic and standard four-bolt replacement water heater elements available at your local plumber supplier, at Home Depot & Lowes stores, and online from large suppliers such as grainger.com.

Typical electric water heater replacement elements cost less than $20. U.S.

Watch out: working on any water heater, particularly an old one, risks discovering corrosion, leak damage, or other conditions that may make repair impossible.

Also take care to KEEP ELECTRICAL POWER OFF until the heater has been completely re-filled. Turning on an empty or partly empty electric water heater for even a moment will burn up and destroy its heating elements.

See ELECTRIC WATER HEATER ELEMENT REPLACEMENT for details. Match the element length and mounting plate to those on your water heater.

Hoyt water heater, serial number 93355 control mechanism needed

Hoyt water heater, serial number 93355, 75 gallon copper storage tank, has quit working. the thermocupler (sic?) was not the issue according to our plumber.

The control mechanism itself may need to be repaired or rebuilt in order to fix the problem.

Can I find this original piece, or can it be rebuilt? - 2016/09/07 Bob DeGroot said:

Reply:

Bob

I'm not sure just what "control mechanism" we're looking for here. ( I suspect you mean the water heater thermostatic control. )

Hoyt water heaters went out of production in about 1989 or 1990. Many water heater parts are, however, generic and can be replaced by a generic control. Hoyt - at least the Hoyt water heater brand, was purchased by American Water Heaters. So you might also find a suitable part from that company.

Contact information for American water heaters is

at WATER HEATER AGE & MANUALS - home

Your question was originally posted

at DIAGNOSE & FIX HEATING PROBLEMS-BOILER a home heating boiler article - perhaps because Google's search found "hot water heating boiler" or some such.

Do old Hoyt copper gas water heaters have a sacrificial anode?

Do old Hoyt copper gas water heaters have a sacrificial anode? I can´t see one on the top, and the sides are not visible because it is wrapped in an insulation blanket and strapped to the wall for seisimic safety.

Decades old and still going strong! I added a temperature and pressure relief valve years ago. Is it from 1948?

- Re-posted by Mod who clumsily accidentally deleted this question and photo. - On 2022-09-07 by BerkPlumb

Reply by InspectApedia-911 (mod) - no fittings for a sacrificial anode on your water heater?

@BerkPlumb,

Thank you for the old Hoyt water heater data tag photo and question.

I don't know for a fact, but if at the water heater tank top you see only two fittings - cold in and hot out - then the cold inlet dip tube that sends incoming cold water to the bottom of the water heater may also have served as the sacrificial anode. That was a common design.

Or as we've learned, some copper tank water heaters didn't use a sacrificial anode, based on the theory that the tank would resist corrosion better than steel for most water conditions.

About the water heater's age, with a Hoyt water heater serial number of 4879 I think this water heater was made in week #48 of the year 1979.

PLEASE re-post a sharp photo of your heater's data tag - I accidentally lost your original image.

Thanks.

Daniel

Followup by BerkPlumb

Thanks for the info Daniel. Tech support at a major hot water tank company told me that since it is an all copper tank that there is no need for a sacrificial anode. It does not appear that there is a way to unscrew and remove a dip tube. It looks like the connections are permanent.

I am inclined to leave it alone as I have had no issues other than with the thermocouple for the last 20 years.

On 2022-09-11 by InspectApedia-911 (mod) - Tech support says an all copper tank has no need for a sacrificial anode?

@BerkPlumb,

Thank you for that feedback, that's very interesting and it's a claim that I have not encountered before.

We'll do some further research to see what we can add here about the requirement for or absence of requirement for a sacrificial anode in a copper tank water heater.

...

We have not been able to find any authoritative source nor any water heater manufacturer who states that a copper water heater tank does not need a sacrificial anode.

The ONLY water heater tank types that we've found excused from the sacrificial anode requirement were those made of stainless steel.

Please take a look at and post a photo of the TOP of your Hoyt copper water heater tank - let's see if there is a tapping provided for a sacrificial anode.

Followup by BerkPlumb

This is the cold line in. Does not look to me like the dip tube can be replaced.

No issues with hot water. The tank must be at least 43 years old. We replaced the original galvinized 1924 pipes at least 15 years ago. Added T &P. Never changed an anode or added magnesium or aluminum etc..

Top of tank. Previous pic was the hot water outlet

It does not look to me like there is way to unscrew any part of the top of the tank itself. None of 4+ the professional plumbers that have inspected it in the 20 years I have used it ever mentioned replacing an anode.

Reply by InspectApedia-911 (mod) - water chemistry may have helped with heater longevity

@BerkPlumb,

Certainly agree with your conclusions and appreciate the photos. It would be helpful to know the location of this building where the water heater is stalled.

Perhaps it's also the case that the water chemistry where you live is a factor in the long life of the water heater.

Followup by BerkPllumb

Our water is from EBMUD.

It is good water when you can get it.

Lots of bursting ancient water lines from the 1800´s.

Attached photo is an ancient broken gate valve they dug up at 4 am at the corner a few days ago while repairing a broken service line.

Moderator reply:

I think EMBUD is East Bay Municipal Utility District in Oakland, CA 94607 USA - if not then

do give us the country and city of location - links won't post (we deleted yours and found it was not valid anyway.)

Hoyt water heater bending at pilot?

Does it supposed to bent at the pilot - (July 16, 2017) Hoyt said:

(mod) said:

We'd need to see a photo of your heater and pilot; some pilot sensors may be held at an angle with respect to the flame.

If you're asking if bends in a gas water heater thermocouple tube are normal, yes.

History of the Hoyt Water Heater Company

Hoyt or "Hoytt" produced water heaters in the Los Angeles California area from 1911 until 1989 when the company was purchased

by AMERICAN WATER HEATER [web article]

Hoyt & its predecessors in name manufactured, sold, repaired & serviced in Los Angeles and other areas of California beginning 1911 under the trade name of Hoyt Heater Company. Hoyt water heaters were produced and sold under these trade names:

Hoyt C.H. Co., Hoyt C.H. Automatic Water Heater Repair Service and Supply Co., Hoyt Automatic Water Heater Company, A.A. Automatic Hoyt A-1 Water Heating Co., Automatic Hoyt Hot Water Heater Repair Service Co.

Robert C. Hoyt, whose name appears on most of the Hoyt water heater and heater related patents in this series, lived in Oakland California, in Alameda County. The earliest patent we found by him was for a gas heater patented in 1925 and cited below.

Avoid these inventor points of confusion: Don't confuse Robert C. Hoyt with another American inventor, Roy C. Hoyt who was from Duluth, Minnesota and who patented brake mechanisms in the 1940s. We also found some US Patent files mislabeled, such as Adrian H. Herr's 1912 Patent 1,946,465 for an electric shunt connection that has been digitized and misnamed as patented by A. H. Hoyt.

The last corporate filing we found for the Hoyt Heater Company was a Statement & Designation By Foreign Corporation in the State of California. Hoyt Water Heater company has not been active since April 14, 1981 as recorded in documents filed with California Secretary of State.

Following its operations in Los Angeles California, the last known address for Hoyt was 50 W. Liberty St., Reno NV 89501. Do not attempt to contact the company at that address as it is no longer current.

Stead Company who absorbed Hoyt filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy ca 18 August 1988 according to The Reno Gazette-Journal cited below.

HOYT HEATER COMPANY was incorporated on 14 Apr 1981 as Foreign Stock company type registered at 50 W LIBERTY ST, RENO, NV 89505.

The jurisdiction for this foreign stock company is NEVADA. The agent name of this company is: C T CORPORATION SYSTEM ,and company's status is listed as SOS/FTB Forfeited.

Interesting note: Kevin Wheeler, currently the chairman and CEO of A.O. Smith water heaters, first worked in the water heater industry as an employee of the Hoyt water heater company in 1984.

Hoyt Water Heater History, Research & Patents

• Hoyt, Robert C. GAS HEATER [PDF] U.S. Patent 1,524,864, issued February 3, 1925. [Illustrated above, this is the earliest Hoyt water heater patent that we have found - Ed.]
  
  Excerpt:
  My invention relates in general to gas heaters of the radiator type, and has for its primary object to provide a heater of this character embodying several distinctive features with resultant improvements in effectiveness, such as, greater simplicity in construction, economy of fuel, ease in lighting, pre warming the entering air to the radiator, radiating the heat chiefly from the front columns of the radiator by retarding the heat units there through, and providing for a comparatively cool floor surface directly under the radiator.

• Hoyt, R.C., AUTOMATIC WATER HEATER VALVE [PDF] U.S. Patent 1,595,400, August 10, 1926 [Illustrated above]
  Excerpt:
  
  My invention relates to automatic water heaters, and it has special reference to such heaters in which a valve mechanism, controlled by the differential of water pressure caused by the turning on and off of service faucets, is provided for actuating the gas valve mechanism of the heater.

• Hoyt, Robert C. WATER HEATER JACKET [PDF] U.S. Patent 1,607,127, issued November 16, 1926.
  
  Excerpts:
  
  An important object of my invention is to construct a heater jacket in such a manner that, when back drafts occur in the vent to the heater, the increased air pressure is diverted from the burner and the pilot light so that neither of them can be extinguished thereby.
  
  A further object. of the invention is to provide for air to pass between the walls of the jacket and which air tends to cool the outer wall so that no insulating material is required between the walls, thus making the jacket inexpensive, lighter and easier to handle as well as easier to assemble.

• Hoyt, Robert C. WATER HEATER COIL [PDF] U.S. Patent 1,614,242, issued January 11, 1927.

• Hoyt, Robert C. WATER HEATER BASE [PDF] U.S. Patent 1,666,093, issued April 17, 1928. [shown above]

• Hoyt, Robert C. WATER HEATER GAS BURNER [PDF] U.S. Patent 1,666,094, issued April 17, 1928. [shown above]

• Hoyt, Robert C. ELECTRIC LIQUID HEATER [PDF] U.S. Patent 1,727,881, issued September 10, 1929. [shown above]
  Excerpts:
  
  It is an object of my invention to provide a generally improved electric liquid heater.
  
  It is an object of my invention to provide for greater heating capacity than has heretofore been common in electric water heaters; and to provide this increased capacity with minimum overall dimension of heating member.
  
  It is an object of my invention to design a compact heating member for electric heaters in general, and for water heaters in particular; and it is a further object of my invention to design a water heater best adapted to incorporated such a member.
  
  It will be understood of course, that compactness of an electric heating member is limited by difficulties of effective heat transfer therefrom.
  
  It is an object of my invention to provide a relatively small heat ing member having a large exposed surface; particularly a maximum of outwardly-directed exposed radiating surface, whereby heat transfer is facilitated.
  
  It is an object of my invention to prevent destructive overheating of the electric heating units of a heater; especially of a water heater.

• Hoyt, Reginald H. APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTRICAL CONDENSERS [PDF] U.S. Patent 1,715,035, issued May 28, 1929. [Illustrated above]

• Hoyt, Robert C. WATER HEATER GAS BURNER [PDF] U.S. Patent 1,756,748, issued April 29, 1930. [Illustrated above]

• Hoyt, Robert C. AUTOMATIC WATER-HEATER CONTROL VALVE [PDF] U.S. Patent 1,786,948, issued December 30, 1930. [above]
  Excerpt:
  
  ... invention relates to improvements in mechanism operative to control the supply of fluid fuel to the burner of an automatic water heater and particularly to mechanism C. Hoyt, No. 1,595,400, dated August 10, 1926, in which a fuel. supply Valve .is arranged to be directly operated by a differential piston which is automatically actuated in accordance with the turning on and off of service faucets.

• Hoyt, Leroy W. WATER COMPENSATOR FOR FORCED FLOW WATER SYSTEM INCLUDING AN EXPANSION TANK [PDF] U.S. Patent 2,901,176, issued August 25, 1959. [illustrated above]
  
  Excerpt: This invention relates to heating and cooling systems, in which water is circulated from the heat exchanger, either a boiler or cooler, through a heating or cooling system, and to which an expansion tank is connected, and has for an object to provide a compensator device in such a system which will discharge water to or absorb water from this system to compensate for the amount of water forced into the expansion tank by increase of pressure in the system when the circulating pump or booster is operating, and to reabsorb this amount of water when the circulating pump is not operating, and also to eliminate return of air to the system after it has been vented.

Litigation involving Hoyt Water Heater Co.

• HOYT HEATER CO. V. HOYT, CIV. NO. 14815. SECOND DIST., DIV. TWO. MAR. 27, 1945 [PDF], retrieved 2018/03/08, original source: https://law.justia.com/cases/california/court-of-appeal/2d/68/523.html
  
  The Hoyt water heater company, acting under its trade names Hoyt Heater Co. and Hoyt Automatic Water Heater Co. successfully sued to stop Charles H. Hoyt, a Los Angeles County California plumber, from doing business under the same name, asserting that it misled the public to think that Charles Hoyt was associated with the Hoyt Water Heater company.
  
  The Hoyt Water Heater company had been doing business under its names in California, including in LA, since 1911.

• Reno Gazette-Journal, Reno Nevada, 18 August 1988, p. 26, retrieved 2018/03/08, original source: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/152845296/
  Excerpts below:
  
  Stead company seeks Chapter 11 bankruptcy
  
  The Hoyt plant has a "skeleton crew," still making heaters, she said. The firm's executives hope to keep the business running by selling some assets to generate revenue, she said. Hoyt management contends its financial problems occurred after State Industries Inc., another heater manufacturer, violated California antitrust laws, said Richard Horton, another attorney representing the Nevada company.
  
  Hoyt contends State allegedly sold heaters at prices lower than production costs, deeply cutting into its sales market, he said. One year ago Hoyt filed suit in Federal District Court in San Francisco against State, the largest California distributor of hot water heaters, Horton said.
  
  State, which has headquarters in Ashland City, Term., at the same time filed suit against Hoyt in Reno federal court. State's suit contends Hoyt is using a process the Tennessee firm patented, but the Nevada company denies it, Horton said.
  
  No State executives could be reached to comment at that company's Tennessee offices late Wednesday. In the pending suits, both companies seek more than $10,000 from each other and attorneys' fees, Horton said.
  
  Interviewed by the Gazette-Journal in March 1984, Dan Lannes said Hoyt made 1,200 models of gas, electric and solar water heaters for various businesses and industrial developers.
  
  A voluntary petition was filed Aug. 10 in Reno Federal Bankruptcy Court by Stead Industries, Inc., doing business as Hoyt Heater Co. The document says that as of June 30, 1988, Hoyt had assets of $13.7 million and the same amount of liabilities. The petition says two creditors are owed secured debt of $6.7 million, and 347 creditors t , l ii i : - i By Wayne MeltonGaiette-Joumal
  
  Hoyt Heater Co., a Stead hot water heater maker that contends it's a victim of a major competitor violating antitrust laws, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization.
  
  Hoyt's 100,000-square-foot plant remains open at 14290 Lear Blvd. The 78-year-old company moved to Stead from Oakland, Calif., in 1982. Its personnel manager, David Luther, declined comment on the bankruptcy. Earlier this month he said Hoyt employed 200. Co-owners Dan and Stephen Lannes could not be reached for comment.
  
  Hoyt's bankruptcy attorney, Jennifer Smith Flangas, said there have been a number of recent layoffs, but she doesn't know how many. Some or all laid-off workers will be rehired as needed, she said.
  
  ... Hoyt reported it has three stockholders and 12,835 common stock shares. ... Dan Lannes, board chairman, and Stephen Lannes each directly or indirectly owns, controls or holds 20 percent or more of voting securities, the document says. The exact amount each owns was not listed. Hoyt listed 20 creditors with the largest unsecured claims. Topping the list is Robertshaw-Grayson Division of Long Beach, Calif., which is owed $1.12 million.
  
  Other top creditors and amounts they're owed include: Nichimen American, Inc., of San Francisco, $509,000; Willamette Industries of Cerritos, Calif., $382,600; Punch Press Products of Los Angeles, $354,000; and California Steel Industries of Pasadena, Calif., $246,500.
  
  The petition says Hoyt has filed no previous bankruptcies.
• Miller, Chuck, "A Little Place in the City, even though a house is small it doesn't have to feel that way", Fine Home Building Magazine, October/November 1982, p 45
  
  Excerpt: A 20-gallon Hoyt water heater (Hoyt Heater Co., P.O. Box 60129, Reno, Nev. 89506) is tucked under the counter to the right of the sink. Measuring a mere 25Yz in. high by 22 in. in diameter, including its thermal blanket, the heater runs on 1 10 volts, needs its own 20-amp circuit, and has to be used judiciously-it doesn't reheat very fast.
  
• HOYT WATER HEATER CO., 282 NLRB 1348, 1357(1987) [PDF] Stead Industries, Inc., d/b/a Hoyt Water Heater Company and International Union of Operating Engineers, Stationary Local 39. Case 32-CA- 7554 19 February 1987 DECISION AND ORDER BY CHAIRMAN DOTSON AND MEMBERS JOHANSEN AND STEPHENS
  
  Excerpts: - random or isolated viewing of a union gathering by an employer agent is not prohibited surveillance.
  
  The record reveals that on 2 October 19852 employee Ronald Bailey walked through the Respondent's facility shouting, "They just fired me for Union activity" and announced, "Union meeting at my house tomorrow at 3:30."
  
  Employee Brad Holmquist, who went to the meeting, credibly testified that on 3 October, after parking his car at an intersection with a clear view of Bailey's house, he observed President and Coowner Dan Lannes drive past the house during the meeting.
  
  Five minutes later he saw Manufacturing Vice President Jim Bridegum and Industrial Relations Manager David Luther drive past Bailey's house together.
  
  All were driving very slowly, Holmquist testified, and were "looking around at homes and parked cars."
  
  The record further discloses that although the three managers were called as witnesses by the Respondent, none testified about the alleged surveillance incident.
  
  On the subject of Bailey's termination, however, Bridegum testified that he was concerned about whether employees believed Bailey was discriminatorily discharged and that he met with leadmen and held other meetings with employees in the 2 days following Bailey's termination to ascertain their understanding and to inform them that Bailey quit.
  
  In spite of the foregoing evidence, the judge found that the managers' conduct was "suspect" but that the "General Counsel has failed to sustain the burden of raising the suspicion to proof of un-lawful surveillance."
• State Industries, Inc. v. Mor-Flo Industries 883 F.2d 1573 (Fed. Cir. 1989) - patent infringement claim against Hoyt Heater Co., Rheem, Mor-Flo, Bradford White and G.S.W. (A Toronto Ontario company) and others concerning foam insulated water heaters.