Vintage Sprinkler Heads

[rp2813]

Hey guys, I've tried with Google and Bing and am not getting anywhere regarding vintage sprinkler heads. Not hose-end sprinklers, just the heads that would screw onto 1/2" pipe for in-lawn systems.

The original system is still in place here at the house and was fitted with 1920's vintage heads, I'm thinking they were made by Thompson, but by the mid 70's they had all been replaced, usually because they broke upon removal when clogged or whatever, but I'm sure my dad just tossed some of them too. Grrrrrrr!

I'd like to find a couple of vintage replacements for those spots in the yard where the heads are on a riser to clear surrounding vegetation. The rest of the system has 60's up to present day brass pop-up types made by Champion (still made in USA until just recently) that are fairly invisible in the lawn.

I have an aversion to PVC pipe and those ugly black plastic sprinkler heads like Toro and other brands.

Any suggestions for sites where I can find what I'm looking for?

Thanks,

Ralph

 

[frontaloadotmy]

Ralph

in your neck of the woods,try Urban Ore, Omega Salvage
in Berk. Caldwell Salvage used to be on Bayshore near
Army/Ceasar in SF. There's an Eco Salvage place near the
big post office in San Fran in proximity of Evans Ave.,
I forget the exact street. Habitat Restores. Maybe
a needle in a haystack; maybe not....

 

[gansky1]

How cool - from the 20's? Do you have any pictures?

My non-working sprinkler system is a "vintage" Rain-Bird from the 70's. There are two heads for the entire back yard - they're like water cannons when running! I had a guy come to look at the system once to get it going again, but he faded away and didn't get anything done. I've not had it working for years as it's really not needed much and I like playing with hoses and sprinklers anyway!

 

[rp2813]

I wish I had pictures. If there were some on ebay, I could lift the picture and post here but so far I can't find anything.

Urban Ore and other East Bay salvage operations have come to mind, but am not sure I can find these out there due to the breakage issue. If they've stuck themselves to the pipe threads after decades of use, they're more likely to break than to twist off. It makes me wonder if they're made of some type of pot metal.

I have a sort of missing link Thompson head of later vintage. It has the same sort of center arrangement as on the old ones. That's all I have to go by. I can tell it's made of the same materials because over the years it has taken on the look of those oldies.

Looks like I've got a rather obscure item to track down, huh?

 

[rp2813]

A Picture

After googling "sprinkler museum" I was able to find the attached picture.

Disregard the metal portion and observe the base, which is made of a different material. Notice the notches for a sprinkler wrench. This is very close to the look and shape of the original in-ground sprinklers at my place.

 

[rp2813]

A Picture

After googling "sprinkler museum" I was able to find the attached picture.

Disregard the metal portion and observe the base, which is made of a different material. Notice the notches for a sprinkler wrench. This is very close to the look and shape of the original in-ground sprinklers at my place.

 

[whirlcool]

I remember back in the fifties, sprinkler heads were these pop up bright brass affairs. Our local church had them near where we lived. They had a rather large yard in front of the church. They had a lot of these sprinklers in the lawn. I used to like to watch them in operation.