A hydrant is a device allowing water intake directly from the water mains. Its main purpose is to provide water to the appropriate services in case of fire, but sometimes also for living or commercial purposes. Each hydrant has a cut-off valve and an outlet that allows a receiving hose to be connected. In order to restrict access to unauthorized persons, and to protect the device against vandalism, hydrants are equipped with different locking systems that require special tools to open. There are two types of street hydrants. The first are underground designs with a box that contains the outlet and valve and are closed on the top with a cover installed at ground level. Then there are the above-ground hydrants, in which the valve and outlet are placed on a structure above the ground. Underground hydrants were used in Europe and Asia as far back as the 18th century. The first above-ground hydrants were built in the 19th century, after the invention was patented in the USA by Frederick Graff in 1801.
The object presented here was produced in a Kraków cast-iron foundry established in 1918 by Władysław Klimek, a master moulder who gained his professional experience at the factory of Ludwik Zieleniewski in Kraków. Klimek’s company produced different types of castings, including farming and industrial machinery components. The plant’s production was not interrupted even during World War II. In 1949, the enterprise was nationalised.
Interesting fact: Hydrants as we know them were not used before metal pipelines became widespread. Up until then, pipes were made of wood, so in the event of fire a hole was drilled in the pipe and water was taken from the opening, and the hole was plugged after firefighting was finished.

References:
Pipes – Wood, Page “The History of Sanitary Sewers”, http://www.sewerhistory.org/photosgraphics/pipes-wood/ (Accessed: 7.05.2021).
Władysław Klimek, photoblog „Klapyme”, https://klapyme.flog.pl/wpis/5760384/wladyslaw–klimek, (Accessed: 7.05.2021).