 |
Witco fountain found in Maryland! |
johntiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 31, 2002
Posts: 1525
From: MD
|  Posted: 2005-06-20 06:34 am Permalink
An impossible dream has come true! About a month ago I had some spare time and headed up to Havre de Grace MD to browse at the many antique stores. I spent a good hour at a large antique mall and decided I'd try one other place before heading home and instead of driving I figured I'd take a walk. So as I'm heading up the street I catch a glimpse of what appears to be a giant tiki out front of the store I'm heading for. As I got closer I made it out and let loose with a hearty, "holy shit!" At first I didn't realize it had been a fountain... the pump base and bowl were missing but the flat area beneath his head and his feet gave an indication of its former glory. There was a $250 price tag that seemed reasonable but I went in anyway to see if I could talk 'em down a little. To make a long story short I got it for $200 cash.
I know some of you may think it's blasphemous but as you can see I've added a customized replacement bowl and base... kinda like adding lake plugs to a stock '49 Ford. One day I hope to commission Keigs to build a traditional replacement bowl and pump housing but for the time being my bamboo bowl and lava rock base will work fine. Damn, I didn't take a pic of the fountain in operation... will do that later! I didn't want to share the fountain until I had it up and running and it was nearly driving me crazy trying to keep it under wraps!
_________________
|
Feelin' Zombified
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 15, 2003
Posts: 1328
From: The Exotic Shores of Lake St. Clair
| Posted: 2005-06-20 06:43 am Permalink
CONGRATS!!!
it couldn't have happened to a more deserving person (well, maybe me  ) I love stories like this... give us all a little hope and reason to keep on the hunt. Can't wait to see more pics!
-Z
_________________
Thank God The Tiki Bar Is Open
Thank God The Tiki Torch Still Shines...
|
Kailuageoff
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 27, 2002
Posts: 1486
From: Honolulu Lounge,Lewes, DE
| Posted: 2005-06-20 07:31 am Permalink
Awesome. Another Witco comes in from the cold. Enjoy.
KG
|
Turbogod
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 14, 2002
Posts: 1219 | Posted: 2005-06-20 07:58 am Permalink
Very Very nice indeed John. Well now we're all gonna come over and marvel @ this great dicovery.
_________________
|
rodeotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 21, 2004
Posts: 1513
From: calgary
| Posted: 2005-06-20 08:43 am Permalink
I can see your face now. Congrats on the great score.
|
tikicleen
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 11, 2003
Posts: 324
From: ripon: almond capital yet no orgeat
| Posted: 2005-06-20 12:40 pm Permalink
Quote:
|
On 2005-05-20 19:14, in response to the witco fountain found by tikicleen & the drunken hat, johntiki wrote:
Wow! What a score! I think I'd lose my mind if I ever found a Witco fountain... why oh why do I have to live in Maryland?! Nobody had cool stuff like that!
|
|
...and to think you wrote this just a month ago. who knew?! people in maryland did have cool stuff! congrats john!
and ps, the bowl looks great! if it were me, i wouldnt be in any hurry to replace it.
|
Formikahini
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 22, 2002
Posts: 1491
From: Houston, Texotica
| Posted: 2005-06-20 1:29 pm Permalink
Johntiki, that is FAB-ulous!! Congratulations!!!!
And for a totally do-able price, too!!! (It always adds to the pleasure for me, for some perverse reason, when the price was already great and you can get them to make it lower still!!)
Now you'll never be able to complain about the lack of scores in Maryland, huh!! Witco fountains are NOT small potatoes!!
|
Johnny Dollar
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 01, 2003
Posts: 2916
From: Baltimore, Maryland, PNG
| Posted: 2005-06-20 4:06 pm Permalink
sweet man, you continue to add tiki cred to the MD!
_________________
|
johntiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 31, 2002
Posts: 1525
From: MD
| Posted: 2005-06-22 09:17 am Permalink
As promised... pics of the fountain in operation.
wide shot...
close-up...
_________________
|
ookoo lady
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 24, 2004
Posts: 779 | Posted: 2005-06-22 10:04 am Permalink
Very cool! Your bowl and stand look perfectly at home with the fountain, you've done a great job.
_________________
|
Kava King
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 20, 2002
Posts: 217
From: Kensington-on-Avondale
| Posted: 2005-06-22 11:45 am Permalink
You will never regret buying this one.
I stole...er, BOUGHT one very similar to this one a few years ago, and he really "ties the room together" to paraphrase the Dude. They don't usually make it this far (when were those carved- 30? 40 years ago?) in PERFECT shape, and mine was certainly no exception! I agree that the improvised bowl setup looks pretty cool, but you could build a replica of the original base yourself without having MAJOR carving skills, IMHO.
|
tikicar
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Feb 19, 2005
Posts: 106
From: York, Pa.
| Posted: 2005-06-22 7:17 pm Permalink
John that is a great find. See this area is good for Witco finds. If you decide to make your own base. You can use mine to measure if you like since I live pretty close to you. I just bought a pump. I want to get mine working as well. Although my cat will sit and drink out of it then. Scott
|
johntiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 31, 2002
Posts: 1525
From: MD
| Posted: 2005-06-23 6:30 pm Permalink
Tikicar - I might take you up on your offer when the time comes!
|
Sabina
Grand Member (8 years) 
Joined: Apr 08, 2002
Posts: 367
From: The Lounge of the Seven Pleasures!
| Posted: 2005-06-23 10:07 pm Permalink
JohnTiki, that is quite possibly the most excellent find in Maryland EVER! I am just so glad it found a home with one of the tribe instead of disappearing off to someone who wouldn't have a clue what it was and decided one day to use it as a coathanger!
The Tiki Gods have smiled down upon you!
|
kiara
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Apr 06, 2005
Posts: 97 | Posted: 2005-06-23 10:54 pm Permalink
that really is "an impossible dream."congrats.....
|
