"Rain King" Lawn Sprinkler, 1925-1930

01

Artifact Overview

As suburban developments grew during the late nineteenth century, homeowners worked to maintain green lawns during dry weather. They usually spot-watered, carrying buckets to thirsty ornamental plants or using hand pumps or water barrel trucks to deliver more water. Pressurized municipal water systems made this job easier -- and opened a market in the decades that followed for lawn sprinklers designed to fit standard garden hoses.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Lawn sprinkler

Date Made

1925-1930

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

2005.121.85

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Constance & James Levi.

Material

Cast iron
Aluminum (Metal)

Color

Gray (Color)
Green

Dimensions

Height: 6.188 in
Width: 7.25 in
Length: 5.688 in

Inscriptions

on one side of base [in raised letters]: RAIN KING on one side of nozzles [in raised letters]: P2008 on one side of base [in raised letters]: CHICAGO / FLEXIBLE SHAFT CO. / CHICAGO on underside of base [in raised letters]: P2057 on one side of shaft [in raised letters]: PAT. JAN. 6 1925 / P 6514