Doe anybody else like Rain Lamps?

[dalangdon]

While not *exactly* an appliance, and not even within my usual timeframe for collecting, I just think these are so much fun. I had a small one already, but I found this behemouth today. I plan on getting rid of the statue of the lady and putting in a Space Needle statue to make it a customized Seattle Rain Lamp.

And just to prove that there's a website for everything, rain lamps have their own site! check it out!

http://www.simnia.com/rain_lamps/index.htm

 

[jasonl]

Oh yeah!

My aunt and uncle had one those. I used to love to watch it work.

 

[petek]

Geeze it was only a few days ago I stopped in at my friends little store downtown, I've eBayed a few of his things, and he had one hanging in the store LOL. Said it worked but it was a fuss to find an outlet to get it plugged in so we didn't bother. I remember them well from the 70's, every Italian household of consequence had one HAHAHAHa.. Honestly I used to think they were the tackiest looking things, well they still are in a way but I suppose you could call it kitsch now.
I'd be a bit leery of Ebaying his, how fragile are they?

 

[maytagbear]

Nice idea about putting in a Space Needle, Dan

This is the great thing about being the "master" of your own "domain.

If you love items like this, you can have as many as you can find/afford.

If you fail to see the charm, you don't have to have a one.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[brettsomers]

never heard of a "rain lamp". so it pumps water? odd.

 

[DADoES]

Not water. Oil.

 

[dalangdon]

Pete, if you are going to try to sell it, make sure it gets drained. I had to wrap this one up in my coat, because it had to lay on its side, and I got nasty gunky old mineral oil all over my Carhart (which is the nice thing about Carharts - they just go in the wash)

If I had gotten that on the upholstery, I'd have never heard the end of it, lol.

When I went to Target to get the mineral oil, the only place they stock it is in the drug store, and it has NATURAL LAXATIVE written on it in big letters. I bought six bottles, and got all these quizical looks from people in line at the check out. Little did they know it was the rain lamp I was trying to "get regular", not me ;-)

 

[spinout]

rain lamp

We bought that exact rain lamp for my Grandmother maybe 30 years ago--and I think they still have it!!!

 

[customline]

Customline replies

I remember those and I thought they were the neatest things on earth. Used to check them out at Spencer's Gifts at our local mall. I always wondered what they were filled with.

 

[JerseyMike]

I also used to check them out at Spencer's Gifts

I found them fascinating. I also wondered how they worked. I agree that they also look very fragile! I found one on YouTube. You might want to listen to it with the sound off, because, IMHO, the music detracts from the video.

Mike

 

[petek]

Lo and behold if there isn't one at the flea market this morning.. now I'm gonna be seeing those things everywhere LOL

 

[bellalaundry]

I've heard,

You can put aromatic oils in these to gently scent the area where it is located. I'd love to have one! Kitch all the way!

Guy

 

[lederstiefel1]

Ohhh, how dreadful - such a kitch!!!!

 

[dalangdon]

After a rather extensive cleaning (you would not believe the film of rancid mineral oil, nicotine and grease that coated it) the lamp is functioning like a dream. I would have taken pictures of the process, because the mechanicals are interesting, but I didn't want to get my camera nasty.

There are three support columns which serve various purposes: One is the line from the pump, one is overflow, in case too much oil collects on top, and one is electrical. There are more complicated models with rustic mills with water wheels instead of naked ladies, but I don't know how they are set up.

Anyway, here it is in all its ersatz glory

 

[peterh770]

It looks like she is bathing in a tropical Tahitian Noni garden!