Turns out there are three long-time family businesses that specialized in the construction of the wooden water tanks in New York City. Here's an interesting New York Times article.

Bath, Radio and the windows open all the way!

at the Shorpy Arms.

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New York Times, November 10, 1950.

Furnished Rooms—West Side

Hotel Dixie

Rooms available for weekly occupancy. All rooms with private bath & radio. From $21 weekly. See Asst Mgr.

How many wooden water tanks can be spotted here -- Ten? Twelve?

Article at Scouting New York.

Looks like a city that's too tired to get out of its own way -- to tidy up, to modernize. And, to the right, the lazy electrician's favorite technique, abandon in place.

These days, every square foot is worth too much to neglect, unless it's too far off the beaten path to drag the value down.