RST Engineering wrote:

If the valve the person is suggesting that they use is available at the
local hardware store, it is far superior to ANYTHING that was available in
the middle of the last century.

Having done a fair amount of plumbing repairs in the last fifteen years, I beg
to differ. Pay *close* attention to the country of manufacture. If the new valve
is made in the US, Canada, or just about any European country, Jim's statement
is absolutely correct. One made in Indonesia *may* be satisfactory. Having seen
the failure rate on the Chinese shutoff valves which I've put in, there's no way
I would install something made in Asia in my fuel system.

And make absolutely sure that it has the warning label to the effect that it
contains substances that are "known to the State of California" to cause birth
defects. That substance is lead, which is required in the manufacture of quality
brass valves.

George Patterson
The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.