Sprinkler Thread!

[rp2813]

All of the snap-on fittings seem to be alike here.  The only difference among them would be the quality.  Steer clear of anything you might see at the dollar stores.

 

Hoses are usually sold in 1/2" or 5/8" diameters, but 5/8" seems too be the much more common size.  Don't fall for any of the "kink-free" claims.  At best they might be kink-resistant.  Hoses will be hoses.

 

[rp2813]

Also

I'm still on the hunt for 1920's to 50's vintage in-ground system sprinkler heads.  It seems like they all got junked when people tore up their yards and had PVC pipe and plastic heads installed.  I'm still working with 85-year old galvanized pipe under the front lawn, and all of the heads are "copper" & brass Champion pop-ups anywhere from 0 to 30+ years old.

 

[qsd-dan]

I'm still on the hunt for 1920's to 50's vintage

Got a picture of them handy?

 

[whirlcool]

Arbilab:

I remember vividly that kind of Sunbeam sprinkler in use in the late 1950's! Great photo, sure brought back memories!

Our tractor type sprinkler never jumped the hose, thank goodness but if it had it couldn't have gotten out of our yard as it was totally fenced.

 

[rp2813]

I Wish I Could Find a Picture

I've been unable to find any images on line over the years.

 

The closest I've come is the picture below.  The base of the sprinkler is similar to what I'm looking for.  Disregard the large metal apparatus that's attached to it.

 

[petek]

Did those vintage in ground sprinkler heads pop up or were they stationary? 

 

[cuffs054]

rp2813,
You bring back fond memories. None of this hacksaw and glue nonsense back then. When you whacked one of those beauties with your Lawn Boy the brass made a delightful ringing noise. And it took fortitude to fix that bad boy. Pipe wrench, pliers, shovels, real metal pipe that you hoped was the right length, bandaids and of course a new head or if you were lucky, just the pop up. Ah, those were the days. Oh yeah, the mower usually needed a new blade as well if not a whole new shaft.

 

[wiskybill]

A few of mine...

3 of my favorites

Nelson Jet Dial, Allenco Parkside, Everain

 

[qsd-dan]

The closest I've come is the picture below.

I'll keep an eye out for them.

 

[rp2813]

@ cuffs:

 

You have pretty much described a regular procedure around the yard here, except you forgot the "easy out" which has saved me from calling in professional help many times, and instead of "real" to describe the metal pipe, "rusty" is far more appropriate.  I've had to dig through fittings and hope to find the right length to replace what failed, and if  I do, it will usually involve at least cleaning up the threads on the bristled grinding wheel. 

 

I just replaced an older head recently because the gardener's mower had clipped it one time too many, loosening the whole pipe.  I found a length of pipe about an inch shorter and installed a brand new metal pop-up on it.  I bought the few Champion "Made in USA" heads that remained in stock at OSH a couple of years ago before they were replaced by the same type with only "Champion" stamped on top, and "China" on the bottom.

 

[kb0nes]

Quality Walking Sprinkler

My coworker recently went on a search for a decent quality "tractor style" walking sprinkler. He saw some of the late model Nelson sprinklers but they were mostly plastic now. He trolled Craigslist for a vintage one then he found the National Walking Sprinkler Co in Lincoln, NE. They still make ALL metal, high quality traveling sprinklers here in the US! They are still made the way they were 50 years ago and they are not much more costly then a used one unless you find a good deal. Its heavy enough to gain traction uphills pulling a lot of hose in wet grass.

Phil

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[arbilab]

Whirlcool, I have fond memories of the traveling Rain King. It wasn't just a sprinkler, it was a MACHINE. The only lawn eqpt dad ever bought I thought was worth a shirt. Before that was sprinkle hoses, the RK was much less work than those. He also bought a Lawn Boy mower which needed to be dismantled every other time I tried to start it. I was good with engines but COME ON!

 

[sudsmaster]

My place has a small front lawn, and at first I used a variety of wig-wag and whirly sprinklers to water the grass. The "original" underground sprinkler system used steel pipe which was rotted out and I stopped using that shortly after moving in.

However, in time I started planting roses and trees and the cute sprinklers couldn't do the job very well any more. Then I sort of arrived at a compromise: those ratcheting type sprinklers, running off two garden hoses stretched to the front of the grass patch. These project pretty well and keep the grass up front nice and green. By the house the water gets blocked by roses and the magnolia tree, but this is not readily seen from the street. Works for me.

Eventually I'll dig up the lawn, lay down plastic watering pipe, install valves on a timer, and then re-sod the lawn. Maybe after I retire...

 

[twintubdexter]

hey Ralph,

As the Plumbing Buyer @ OSH for several years, I was always amazed at the thousands and thousands of Champion sprinkler heads we sold and I appreciated that they were produced at a foundry here. Sad to hear they went Chinese.

 

[rp2813]

Let Us Spray

I wanted one of these until I found a picture of one, which was a real disappointment.

 

I thought he'd be sculpted with arms outstretched and would spin around -- slowly -- and that maybe his head would bob.

 

[twintubdexter]

Does that thing automatically convert the spray into holy water?

No wonder my friend Father Frank called me a heathen in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, huh?

 

[doubled]

Newcomer here. I just found a cool old Art Deco sprinkler

Can anyone tell me anything about this? I was picking a barn looking for motorcycle parts and actually tripped over this. I had to have it!