Unusual Pacific Items
Friday February 19, 2010
I spotted these curious looking planters or containers at an antique store the other day. The Pacific Pottery logo was easily viewable. However, I’m not sure exactly what these were used for. I would say some sort of footed planter, but they each have a notch on the side that looks like it was used to hold some sort of utensil or device.
Actually, it was also strange that the Pacific logo is upside down - assuming that they were indeed meant to sit with the open side upward. There were four of these in various different sizes. I had borrowed the Pacific collector’s book awhile ago, but for some reason I don’t recall seeing them in it. Anyone know?
Unusual Pacific Items items
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February 19th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
Once again - not knowing much - I will venture a thought or two. Brain trust here at work says they could be giant soup bowls as the slot would be for the ladle to rest when the lid was on. I thought that maybe something to do with lead-acid batteries made some sense. Mike
February 21st, 2010 at 9:09 am
Hi there - Just showed this pic to Steven, and he says they are probably chicken feeders. They would be filled with grain and set the way they are in the pic, allowing just a little feed to come out at a time through the notches.
Then again, he could be wrong.
That’s our 2 cents,
Hilary
February 21st, 2010 at 9:31 am
@mike, @hilary - thanks for your input! I did think soup bowls almost right away because of the notch possibly for a ladle, but that also makes sense about chicken feeders. I know a lot of the earlier Calif companies made livestock products in addition to normal garden pottery.
February 21st, 2010 at 12:26 pm
chicken waterers actually…they should have a low bowl at the bottom.
February 22nd, 2010 at 9:06 pm
Hmmm - Do you have any pictures of the inside? Is it smooth or are there any shapes or notches? Is there only the one “ladle” notch? Especially interested if there are large diameter threads.
I am thinking about industrial insulators - what do you think?
Mike
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:15 pm
Hmm - there might be something to this chicken Feeder Waterer thing! -
link
but why the BIG knob on the lid? I really think these should be set of giant platform insulators for “something”.
I have sent the picture off to what my consulting engineer PR guy assures me are “The smartest Engineers in the world” - and awair their response!
Mike
March 1st, 2010 at 4:05 pm
@teri - I didn’t see any bowls around, but that would make more sense if they’re indeed chicken waterers.
@mike - That’s a really interesting theory about insulators, I could see how that would make sense for the tops having that shape. I didn’t take a closer look at the insides, but yes, I believe there was only one notch. I’ll look next time we’re there for any threads on the inside.
March 8th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
I believe it is for chickjen feed. You put the feed at the top and it comes out the bottom. Jann
March 13th, 2010 at 9:45 pm
Definitely for chickens!
March 28th, 2010 at 5:50 pm
“Poultry Fountain, c. 1920’s” See page 14 “California Pottery: From Missions to Modernism” by Bill Stern, for photo and description of useage.
March 31st, 2010 at 9:51 am
@mari - Mystery solved, thanks for finding it! Funny thing, I have the book, but just never thought to look in it. For those wondering the description on the photo in Bill Stern’s book reads: “Poultry Fountain c. 1920s. Poultry fountains served California’s important chicken farming industry. To use: turn dome upside down, fill with water, place inverted ring tray on top, and turn rightside up: water will rise only to top of tray. As chickens drink, prevented from fouling the water by the narrow distance between the tray and dome, reserve in dome will keep refilling tray.”
April 19th, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Those are chicken feeders. Most companies-McCoy-Brush-Hull etc. made these…
May 26th, 2010 at 6:39 am
According to Lois Lehner’s book, Pacific made high frequency Steatite insulators for radio production during ww2 as well as pigeon fountains, sanitary poultry jars and other animal specific products. The list goes on to mention, “steam table insets…fumigating jars…combinets…buttermilk coolers…cider coolers…” take your pick. The mark was registered June 19, 1922. Great pieces, I love them.