Thomas Bergin won the $1,500 grand prize in A.O. Smith's "Find The Oldest Water Heater Contest."

Thomas Bergin, owner of Bergin Brothers, Watertown, Wis., won the $1,500 grand prize in A.O. Smith's "Find The Oldest Water Heater Contest," after a routine service call uncovered a 50-gallon water heater manufactured in June of 1948.

The 52-year-old Duraclad water heater, which belonged to Sharon Lembke, also of Watertown, will be replaced with a new A.O. Smith 50-gallon electric water heater. An additional $1,000 prize will be presented to the Bergin Brothers journeyman who discovered the water heater.