Sunken Treasure... Shining Quality!
An exciting story of two men who explored the true depth of Fisher family excellence.
(Pictured above Ray Fisher, Jr., Kyle Sanderson, Aaron Little)
Those who appreciate fine commercial plumbing know that Fisher components last and last. Few more than Ray Fisher Jr., the fourth-generation Fisher Manufacturing owner. But Ray never dreamed that proof would one day be sitting on his conference room table, having spanned a thousand miles, half a century, and been brought to light from the strangest of places.
The odyssey begins.
Cut to Eugene, Oregon, where two intrepid young men, Aaron Little and Kyle Sanderson, are setting out on a SCUBA diving trip to the frigid waters of Puget Sound off Seattle, Washington. Their goal? Dive the wreck of the SS Ranger, a double-hulled workboat resting in Port Townsend’s Boat Haven marina in about 30 feet of water.Young, fit and trained, both were well prepared for the adventure ahead. Tied to Eugene Skin Divers Supply, the two had achieved coveted Dive Master status with the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), and brought over sixteen years of SCUBA experience between them.
With cold water temperatures, strong currents and often poor visibility, the waters of the Pacific Northwest can tax even the toughest. But Little and Sanderson were well equipped, carrying thermally insulated “dry suits” and high-capacity 120 cubic foot tanks of air. Nothing would stop these men from seeing the wonders the Ranger would reveal. Though neither had inkling they would discover if not sunken treasure, per se, a treasured piece of the Fisher family legacy.
Making a big splash.
Suiting up and slipping beneath the surface, Little and Sanderson reveled in exploring the remains of this 80-foot World War II era workboat, including the chain steering pulley and cables that once controlled a huge rudder. The wreck was also covered with many varieties of plant and animal life. But something much more interesting quickly caught their eye: a large solid brass gate valve which, unlike the badly corroded piping and other debris, was still in excellent condition despite the age of the vessel and its years under water. This, they thought, was too good not to be shared with the rest of the world.
Busy beneath the waves.
So Little and Sanderson set to work. But bringing the valve to the surface, they soon learned, was no walk in the park—or, in this case, no dip in the family pool. In fact, using a hack saw the two labored for about an hour to cut the valve away. Then, with two lift bags inflated from air in their tanks, they at last freed the device and watched it drift slowly to the surface, where it saw sunlight for the first time in many, many years.Back on the boat, they finally got a chance to admire their prize up close, and appreciate its size—a whopping 85 pounds. The valve was in the closed position with the rubber gaskets fully intact. Equally incredible, it opened without forcing or breaking and was still under pressure. The two were awestruck. Where did this hardy piece of hardware come from? And how could it be in such excellent shape after so many years? They were determined to find out.
Bringing home the quality.
After carefully cleaning the valve the divers saw the Fisher name on the side and instantly agreed to try locating the manufacturer. That’s when Little and Sanderson met the man with the key that unlocked the mystery of the sunken gate valve—Ray Fisher, Jr. He was only too happy to answer their burning questions, and ecstatic about being reunited with his company’s handiwork—an obvious piece of history.
Without hesitation, Ray flew the divers from Eugene, Oregon, to Fisher Manufacturing in Tulare, California, at his expense, treating them to a grand plant tour and sumptuous lunch. There was also a ceremony of sorts for the other homecoming hero—the 4” solid brass gate valve itself. Like the two brave explorers, Ray was just as floored by its remarkable condition, especially seeing it now, restored by a thorough cleaning. After a careful bit of research he explained that Fisher had made the valve under contract to the U.S. Government and Merchant Marines somewhere between 1940 and 1945. It was no less than sixty-four years old!
Standing there in the conference room, gazing at that gleaming, quite-functional solid brass fitting, all three men beamed with pride too—Little and Sanderson for their noble decision to resurrect the sunken valve and find its origins; and certainly Ray Fisher, Jr., who proudly heads the long Fisher family tradition of craftsmanship.