| Author |
Message |
Mr_green_jeans (Mr_green_jeans)
Mousquetaire
Username: Mr_green_jeans
Post Number: 9
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Friday, August 1, 2003 - 1:01 am: |   |
I built a lovely fountain recently using four brass AFTOSA spigots, a polycarbonate "green glass" jar from Shopko, a candlestick from Pottery Barn and lots and lots (and lots) of epoxy resin.
Costs:
Spigots ~$35.00 with shipping
Jar $10.00
Candlestick $15.00
Epoxy(5 packages) $18.00
Total ~$78.00US
Looks really nice. The polycarbonate was easy to drill and the spigots come with seals. For easy assembly, I first filled the bottom-side base of the jar with epoxy to form a first smooth flat joining surface. I then filled the candle hole and the "dish" of the candlestick with epoxy to form a second smooth flat joining surface. I then epoxied the two surfaces together forming a solid one piece unit in the process. The fountain is very stable and has a reasonably Belle Epoch appearance, although it is clearly a modern interpretation similar in appearance to the small Versinthe fountain. However, capacity is ~72oz. If I ever get a digital camera I will post a picy. All it took for inspiration was reading the archives here. |
Marc Chevalier (Chevalier)
Absinthe Mafia
Username: Chevalier
Post Number: 1399
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 31, 2003 - 11:50 am: | |
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The Levitating Grin Salesman (Rimbaud)
le Duc
Username: Rimbaud
Post Number: 246
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 31, 2003 - 11:45 am: | |
Nice job, Marc!
"Please pardon our appearance while we are levitating..." |
The Levitating Grin Salesman (Rimbaud)
le Duc
Username: Rimbaud
Post Number: 245
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 31, 2003 - 11:41 am: | |
Crikey! I probably wouldn't have been able to afford one anyway. $400 is still a bit steep for me...
"Please pardon our appearance while we are levitating..." |
Marc Chevalier (Chevalier)
Absinthe Mafia
Username: Chevalier
Post Number: 1398
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 31, 2003 - 11:40 am: | |
Turangalila wrote: "Has anyone here actually had luck building fountains by hand?"
Yes. Here are two photos of a fountain I built back in October 2002:
 
The materials are metallic paint, wood, white metal, pvc plastic, brass and lots of epoxy. Total cost of materials: about $35. It was quite difficult to make the thing completely watertight, but all's well now.
All parts (except for the unfinished wooden lamp base, which I got from an arts and crafts store, and the spigots, which I ordered from www.aftosa.com) came from The Home Depot, which we actually have in Chile, and the jar came from a 99-cent store.
The top of the lamp base is a pvc plastic duct cap. It looks a lot like a jar lid. I drilled holes through the sides of it and attached the spigots that way. Then I attached the duct cap to the lamp base. I couldn't find a way to cut a large drainage hole through the bottom of a thick (molded) glass jar, so I ended up using a clear plastic jar for the reservoir. I simply cut the hole myself -- plastic's easy. I used largish o-rings to seal around the holes and join the reservoir to the duct cap below it.
The top of the reservoir is a metal lid that came with the glass jar I couldn't use. I attached a round drawer-pull to the top of the lid, which makes it easy to grab hold of.
The fountain is very lightweight, until you add water to it. The water's weight helps to give the fountain a good center of gravity.
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Marc Chevalier (Chevalier)
Absinthe Mafia
Username: Chevalier
Post Number: 1397
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 31, 2003 - 11:36 am: | |
There used to be a photo on the museum's website, but it was removed long ago. Trust me, it looked exactly like the antique French fountains, except that the metal parts seemed to have a dull pewter finish. |
The Levitating Grin Salesman (Rimbaud)
le Duc
Username: Rimbaud
Post Number: 244
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 31, 2003 - 11:17 am: | |
Damn, I just got finished sending them an email! Oh well. Does anyone have a picture of what the repro looked like?
"Please pardon our appearance while we are levitating..." |
Marc Chevalier (Chevalier)
Absinthe Mafia
Username: Chevalier
Post Number: 1396
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 31, 2003 - 11:05 am: | |
The museum stopped selling them more than a year and a half ago. Petermarc asked why; the museum responded that the fountains were "defective". As I recall, the 4-spigot fountains sold for about $400. Not cheap, but they looked exactly like the antique ones. |
simon pedersen (Simon)
le Vicomte
Username: Simon
Post Number: 64
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, July 31, 2003 - 10:53 am: | |
The Museum in Pontarlier used to sell repro fountains at a very good price, although i think they stopped.Perhaps you could contact them via their website for details? |
The Levitating Grin Salesman (Rimbaud)
le Duc
Username: Rimbaud
Post Number: 240
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 31, 2003 - 6:48 am: | |
Two things I am hoping will happen in the near future (besides the release of J***, duh!): 1)Someone will manufacture a nice reproduction of a Belle Epoque absinthe fountain and sell it at an affordable price. 2)Someone will manufacture a nice reproduction of a Pontarlier glass (or other resevoir glass).
Wishful thinking...
"Please pardon our appearance while we are levitating..." |
Michael (Turangalila)
Mousquetaire
Username: Turangalila
Post Number: 19
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2003 - 7:37 pm: | |
Has anyone here actually had luck building fountains by hand? Tap water here is too bad for the kitchen sink method, and so I was thinking a little do-it-yrself project might do me some good... |
steena faustus (Faustus)
Mousquetaire
Username: Faustus
Post Number: 22
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2003 - 7:15 pm: | |
Forrrreeeeeeeeevvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrr!
Took me almost two months to get my order from sc via regular mail. =P |
The Levitating Grin Salesman (Rimbaud)
le Duc
Username: Rimbaud
Post Number: 238
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2003 - 1:24 pm: | |
$87.00 for the small Versinthe fountain shipped regular mail to the US from good ol' Spiritscorner. That's the cheapest I've seen. I haven't ordered from them in ages, how long does regular mail take?
"Please pardon our appearance while we are levitating..." |
Marc Chevalier (Chevalier)
Absinthe Mafia
Username: Chevalier
Post Number: 1395
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2003 - 12:43 pm: | |
As far as spigots go ...
F. Guy lidless fountain (2 or 4 spigots):
golden plastic spigots
F. Guy lidded fountain (6 spigots):
chrome-like plastic spigots
Versinthe fountain (2 spigots):
chrome-like plastic spigots
The "chrome" spigots look a lot better than the golden ones, I think. I've looked far and wide for the manufacturer of these spigots; no luck yet. I think they're Italian. Does anyone know?
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Absinthe-Distribution.com (Markus) (Mclion)
le Duc
Username: Mclion
Post Number: 191
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 - 11:43 pm: | |
Really nice, but quite costy....
Markus
www.Absinthe-Distribution.com |
Zouave (Giovannigray)
le Duc
Username: Giovannigray
Post Number: 190
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 - 11:39 pm: | |
I had a few people over for dinner Saturday night, so of course I ended the evening with an absinthe-fest for the uninitiated. The cool little Versinthe fountain was a huge hit. (So was Moonman's #20.. next time I'm hiding it).
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The Red Pigeon (Icarus)
Elitist Bastard
Username: Icarus
Post Number: 545
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 - 11:36 pm: | |
It's a good idea. But, it's essentially the same fountain with a cool top.
$200 euro (a good price) is far too expensive for what it is.
I doubt it would be worth your risk/reward Markus.
I like the small versinthe fountains... except that they say versinthe.
Escapee from the drunk tank |
Absinthe-Distribution.com (Markus) (Mclion)
le Duc
Username: Mclion
Post Number: 190
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 - 11:31 pm: | |
´Hi folks,
well the problem is not the price. I could sell the big F. Guy fountain with the eagle for around 200 Euros + shipping (35,- or 50,- Euro). The problem is the shipping. It's so damn fragile - just imagine it arrives broken. There's no insurance for any products sent to the U.S. So in the end I would pay for it. I know this would be fine to you, but not for me :-)
Maybe I'll buy some in October and maybe than I've a bombsecure packaging.
Markus
www.Absinthe-Distribution.com |
The Red Pigeon (Icarus)
Elitist Bastard
Username: Icarus
Post Number: 543
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 - 11:24 pm: | |
Right. For 50 euro who cares about plastic spiggots. It works and it's "neat".
But when you get into the 125+ euro range... it's a bit of a ripoff.
Escapee from the drunk tank |
Zouave (Giovannigray)
le Duc
Username: Giovannigray
Post Number: 189
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 - 11:19 pm: | |
I've been using the small Versinthe fountain, which I bought from Markus several months ago. Same deal.. two plastic, chrome-colored spigots, but I'm very pleased with it for day-to-day usage. Its only drawback is its height. For all but use with the shortest glasses, the fountain need to be propped up about three inches to allow enough room to clear the glass and the sugar cube.
But, big deal. It was $49. |
The Red Pigeon (Icarus)
Elitist Bastard
Username: Icarus
Post Number: 542
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 - 10:48 pm: | |
I own a 2 spigot F.Guy fountain that was purchased for me by a kind hearted absinthe purveyor.
The spigots are cheap plastic with a copper "look". There is NO metal of any sort in them.
The glass is relatively thin, and the piece itself feels very fragile.
Take out a tape measure, and look at the actual size, it's a lot smaller than I thought.
I'm happy with it simply because it's functional and I got a great deal on it. If I had had to pay 3X times the cost (as many people are selling them) I would not be happy.
Escapee from the drunk tank |
pierre verte (Petermarc)
Absinthe Mafia
Username: Petermarc
Post Number: 474
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 - 6:16 pm: | |
all the ones i've seen have plastic spigots...i have not seen a commercial reproduction/modern fountain yet with metal spigots... |
Zouave (Giovannigray)
le Duc
Username: Giovannigray
Post Number: 184
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 - 5:29 pm: | |
I think alandia.de is selling the F.Guy fountains. I believe the one with the eagle on the lid is going for 350 euros plus shipping. Worth a look before you drop a few extra hundred.
I've received a few shipments from them over the last few months. They're very pleasant to deal with and their packages are secured nicely. |
Georgie Boy (Mighty Fine Young Man) (Lediablevert)
le Duc
Username: Lediablevert
Post Number: 212
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 - 5:12 pm: | |
Betty has her fountains
outragously overpriced.
$400 for the lidless, $650 for the lidded.
Pure nonsense. I am also
interested in one, as I am currently
seeking out other sources.
>-I AM TROLLING FOR WALLEYE*> >--walleye-/*>
>----walleye--/*> |
Georgie Boy (Mighty Fine Young Man) (Lediablevert)
le Duc
Username: Lediablevert
Post Number: 211
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 - 3:24 pm: | |
I couldn't tell you, but she doesn't
say so on her site, which usually means
she is asking way frickin too much.
I tried contacting F. Guy on the matter
and still haven't got a reply back.
That deluxe fountain looks like it might
be a good investment for me.
Carafes are just too damn heavy! And I like
my absinthe cold, which means I usually
use more ice than I do water in my carafe, which
seems really odd to say, since both are
technically water, but I think you get the jist.
>-I AM TROLLING FOR WALLEYE*> >--walleye-/*>
>----walleye--/*> |
The Levitating Grin Salesman (Rimbaud)
le Duc
Username: Rimbaud
Post Number: 232
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 - 3:12 pm: | |
What $ does she sell 'em for?
"Please pardon our appearance while we are levitating..." |
Georgie Boy (Mighty Fine Young Man) (Lediablevert)
le Duc
Username: Lediablevert
Post Number: 206
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 - 2:49 pm: | |
Betty sells them.
And yes, they are quite nice.
Francois makes a
fountain without a lid,
and one with one. The one with the lid
has the Pontarlier Eagle ontop of it,
which is made of glass, and has
six taps. That is called
the deluxe edition. I believe that the
one without the lid only has two taps.
Both are made of thick glass,
and come with stainless steel taps,
so I'd guess that they'd both
last quite a while, as far as
fountains go.
>-I AM TROLLING FOR WALLEYE*> >--walleye-/*>
>----walleye--/*> |
The Levitating Grin Salesman (Rimbaud)
le Duc
Username: Rimbaud
Post Number: 230
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 - 2:26 pm: | |
Does anyone own one of these? Where did you purchase it? How is the workmanship? Does it stand up well to constant use?
"Please pardon our appearance while we are levitating..." |
