pat wrote:

Why do "hose bibbs" typically have round handles and "sillcocks" all seem to
have a tee handle? (see
http://www.cornerhardware.com/cat_42...ill-Cocks.html)

I have to replace my garden hose faucet and it's apparent that I need a
sillcock with its male pipe thread. My current (leaking) valve has a round
handle, can the tee handle on a sillcock be replaced with the round handle?
Thanks!
here goes, just a guess, but if you look at the back of the one with the
round handle you will see that there is a plate on it to attach to a
wall. when its attached to the wall you hand is not gonna be able to
get around the back too much so you get a circular handle to turn from
the front.... the other ones dont have a back plate so they can be set
out further from the wall....now you can get your hand on the parts of
the crank when its facing the back wall???