Sprinkler Collection

[jons1077]

I know at the wash-in in Tucson a couple of folks asked me about my other collection which comprises of lawn sprinklers. I decided to go ahead and take some photos and post them for anyone who has an interest in items like these. I will try to explain what each of the items are as well. Please enjoy!

Jon

 

[jons1077]

pulsating sprinklers

starting from the left:

 

[jons1077]

1) early 1980's Rainbird NIB (my grandmother that had this one also had the pair of 68' GE's)

 

[jons1077]

2) 1974 Rainbird NIB (I still can't believe I found this one in its condition! These are somewhat rare and with the usual chipped paint and missing dial.)

 

[jons1077]

3) Late 1970's (I think 1979) Nelson RainArc NIB (I paid good money for this one due to it being unused. Still has advertising hanging from it and all the paperwork inside the box.)

 

[jons1077]

4) Late 1970's Nelson Beta Rain NIB (I believe this was the first plastic pulsator head Nelson made. This one is very rare due to the type of spray arm it has. Only a couple of years after this one, the spray arm was altered to save water per the government. Therefore, one like this was only manufactered for a few years. And...plastic breaks easily so most ended up in the trash.)

 

[jons1077]

5) (bottom of the picture) 1970's Melnor w/ spike NIB (Another one I got due to nostalgia but also rare to be new in the box.)

 

[jons1077]

Oscillators...

This one is maybe the oldest of my collection. It is a Nelson Dial-a-Rain that dates back to the 1960's. (It is very hard to date these sometimes!!!) I was used but in good condition and still with the box and paperwork. Nelson has made these for many years but of course this one is special...it has the "teardrop" logo.

 

[jons1077]

"Teardrop"

 

[jons1077]

Jet Dial

This is my other oscillator by Nelson that dates from 1979. It is also in new condition in its original box with the paperwork. This sprinkler and the one before it are actually pretty heavy. These, like pretty much everything else, were made so much better many years ago. I like the gold-tone aluminum on this one.

 

[jons1077]

Nelson Red Label

The Nelson Red Label has been gone for over 20 years now. They are becoming more and more rare.

 

[jons1077]

Sunbeam

This was another very rare find for me. I normally would stick with pulsators or oscillators, but as I was scanning Ebay one night, this one caught my eye.

Sunbeam lawn equipment has been out of production for about 25 years now. There are quite a few old Sunbeam rotary sprinklers out there similar to this one. This is one of only 2 or 3 that I have seen still new in the box.

This one probably dates from the late 1960's or early 1970's.

 

[jons1077]

Sunbeam

metal base...turn the red dial to change the amount of area covered. This was probably a favorite of kids for playing in!

Thanks for looking and hope it was at least somewhat interesting!

Jon

 

[exploder3211]

Thats neat.. Very unique

 

[petek]

Oh you hit a sore spot with me and new lawn sprinklers, they're so junky and don't last. I bought an oscillating one the other week and it oscillated for about 10 minutes and jammed. I finally caved and bought a a Dramm? last week at a garden center, cost enough but hopefully it will last forever. Then today when I was at the thrifts there was a Sears Craftsman oscillating type with some sort of dial to adjust the volume, it wasn't all metal but it looked to be one of their "better" ones. I didn't buy it cause they wanted $7 and I wasn't sure if it worked or not.

 

[63getelevision]

1043

This is a neat little sprinkler from the '50s, when we bought it. It has an elongated diamond with an S shaped figure in the middle, embossed on the bottom. And the numbers 1043.

 

[jons1077]

petek,

I honestly don't know how the newer stuff is. I don't even like the way the stuff looks so I don't bother too much with it. Kind of the same way I look at a Kenmore washer now... Ebay is a great way to find some good, cheaper, vintage lawn sprinklers. I'd be more than happy to help you find what you are looking for too.

Jon

 

[jons1077]

63getelevision,

Yes, that is the Nelson Poppy. That is one I have no collected yet and plan on doing so. Very unique because it would appear to have a circular pattern but actually waters a square pattern. Very cool!

 

[stainfighter]

have a Nelson Poppy

which we bought just a few years back at Wally World, looks just like the one my neighbor had in the 60's. Only drawback to that design is it won't water smaller areas that well. Once you turned the water down low it won't rotate at least in my experience not for less than 10 feet circumference, will come to a stop and just 'pee' you have to adjust and watch it for a few to make sure it will rotate. Love the oscillating Dial-a-Rain and the green Sunbeam. I used to do yardwork around our NJ neighborhood back then and watered their yards when they were on vacation. Memories!...

 

[paulg]

Sunbeam

Sunbeam sprinklers and mowers were very popular around Chicago when I was a kid in the 1960s and 1970s. Then again, it seems that a third of nearby Berwyn worked for Sunbeam. I'm rebuilding a small Sunbeam mower right now. Never can have enough mowers! LOL.

 

[jons1077]

Paul

Very cool!!! I had to obsessions as a kid growing up...washing machines and sprinklers. I'm afraid I may never get enough of them either. We had a Wizard lawn mower when I was a kid. I remember that thing being so heavy for me and since I loved watering the yard, the grass was always very thick!!!

 

[frontaloadotmy]

Sunbeam K3 Automatic Rain King

Hi Jon, For some reason not long (something you posted, no
doubt) after you joined I checked your profile and was intrigued and pleased to see your mention of collecting
sprinklers. Of course, I collect just about anything, and
especially if it reminds me of when I was between 6 or 7 - 12.
The Grandparent Years!!! I remember my Grands got one of these
new when they built their last house in 1959. Anything with a
"dial" adjustment works for me!!! I also have a Nelson from
2000 or 2001, looks the same but no smart "Tear Drop" marketing by then.

 

[frontaloadotmy]

Sunbeam A R K no 2

Got this from a neighbors estate sale 5 years ago, it was still occasionally in use. The original connector was
obviously retrofixed. I'm sure it did some drenching in its
day!!!

 

[jons1077]

Rain King

frontload,

I remember our next door neighbor from when I was a kid had one of the K-3's. I agree...the dial always intrigued me as well. Pulsating sprinklers were by far my favorite though. I had really cool parents who would give in and buy sprinklers for me as I was growing up. I think by the time I was well into high school I must have had over 30 sprinklers of various types. Unfortunately, with us moving so many times and eventually me moving out many of them were destroyed or lost.

 

[frontaloadotmy]

thats a shame to loose much of your collection

But you have some very nice "rain birds".

 

[red_october]

Ah, Rain Birds. That's quality.

My dad still has an old Rain Bird; it's a light green color, matte finish, with two large, smooth black wheels. The head has been replaced a few times but its original one was a dark grey-brown, probably tarnished brass. Not sure when he bought it but it's at least as old as I am, and probably older. My guess is it dates from the 70s. Due to its quality it's regarded as a regular use thing and not an antique at all, although it probably is.

 

[jons1077]

Rain Birds

...were always my particular favorite. I don't know why. They had this kind of mean look to them.

 

[appnut]

Those rotary sprinklers were my most favorite.

 

[tlee618]

Jon I remember you telling me about your sprinkler collection in Tucson. Thanks so much for posting the pictures, these are just fantastic. Terry

 

[jons1077]

Thanks guys! I'm glad you like! I'm just glad I can share something with the club until I finally have my house and some washers!