Thanks, and I have tried that on low with no luck.
A couple weeks ago I attempted to load a pic of the catch basin grate with those
other photos, and it came back saying the file was too large. Today I took a pic
pretty much in the same position, and that one now loaded. Just a few seconds after taking
that pic, I took another (showing brush where much of the spring water comes from) and
it won't allow to load. The file's too large even on low. I'm not sure what's up. Computer/
digital camera is far from my specialty.
Anyways, this is the catch basin I put in to direct the flow underground and straight to
the pond..

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Well, although gatherings were down at the pond, Kids (and Adults) used to go up on top behind
the house and shoot some hoops, so in 2013, I decided to do a little landscaping and developing
and put a court down below. I've done many projects in the area before this one, but this one I
have a few pics of..
My Brother-in-Law use to run Heavy Equipment, so I rented a Mini Excavator for a weekend and
moved around some soil. Actually quite a bit of soil, because deep at the North end of the Pond
was another good size pile of dirt and rocks which we cleared out and used for fill where a farmer
and I cut down 9 very good size trees and he hauled the wood away for the taking. There I put
additional lawn and a parking area for a couple vehicles which I believe I have pics of for another
post..

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I had to jump quite a few months to find additional pics. The grass on the slope I planted
yet in 2013, but in 2014, a couple fellas from work, my Neighbor (which is a contractor) and his
helper (also a Friend I know), laid down the concrete.
I did the prep work and framing and re-rod the entire pad. I thought I had pics.
Anyways, the Village skreeded their own top soil (from water leeks, burials, ect.) so I was able
to get top soil by filling 5 gallon pails on the pick-up. That was a lot of work, and I might be in
the minority here, but beats going to a gym and/or spend to have delivered.
The last pic in the rear is where that pile of rocks and fill dirt went. It was part of the swamp
from the springs before being filled..

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A couple other pics of the area a month later.

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And while I had stone gravel left, I spruced up the walk path to the park..

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Actually, I only have 3 acres. Except for the brush and trees that divide the
house area and pond, I pretty much use every sq. in.
Maybe kinda wish I had more, but along with the machines, 3's plenty to
keep me busy. Although, I do like outside Summertime projects..

Well, I took a good part of one Summer away from the park because my basement hadn't
any more room to set up machines, so I set out to build a building to set more machines up,
however, those plans changed. It ended up be storage for more machines, and as you know,
who knows how they gathered so quickly.
Anyways, it's a pretty good story in itself how I got the 3" pipe and angle iron, but I was able
to get much fill dirt when the town trenched the ditches. I then dug holes to the virgin soil to
cement in the anchor post.

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I then welded up the 3" pipe and angle to make the A frames, and at work, they
were tossing a couple electric winches, so I made a frame for one, bolted the frame
to the bed of the truck (that was a hell of a little Ram 50), and used it to host the A
frames onto the anchor post.

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And with 2x4s, sheeting, and T-11, I finished it off from there.
As you see, this is before I had the digital camera. I come in late
when it comes to evolution..
I found these pics in the mix, but next time will be another project
from the park..

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Well, one project that I have a few pics of is the octagon pravillion.
Maybe 12 or 13 years back, I traded a small ball bowler to a Vendor
for a 3 horse Merry-go-Round Kiddie Ride. I just stashed it in the regular
pravillion for a couple years, then decided to clear out an area and build
a circular type structure. This was before I had a compact. It was quite
a little bit of work clearing it out. I had the digital by then, but couldn't
find many pics during construction, but do have a few. This is the only pic
I could fined showing the merry-go-Round before it was restored, and still
at the regular pravilion while getting the pravillion set up for concrete..

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Now having a digital camera, I would think I would have taken pics before I got this far with the project, but I guess not. Once I got started, I must have been busy and didn't give it a thought..

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I actually built another pravillion for the other 2 smaller Kiddie Rides, but this
one keeps them out of the sun the best, so I now keep the 3 together..

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Nothing particularly special, but found one more pic..

++++++

+

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Haha, Thanks. Just wish I took more pics throughout the projects to show..

It's been a little while since I posted, so I thought I'd show another little project..
This one's a small one but happy I was able to acquire it..
I had my eye on this decaying hidden bench swing at the old abandon Psychic Center,
and got to know one of the main maintainence workers (other parts of the facility is
still active, Community College, BOCES, ect.) and with his help, I was able to get this
vintage and pretty unique bench swing..
I dug the holes, braced it up, cemented it, and got her painted up throughout the week,
and on Saturday I threw the boards on, and that Saturday night an old Buddy from pool
league came over, shot a few games, and had a few sodas (quite a few), so he had to stay
the night and the next morning he was the first to check out the swing..

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Yup, just what I started with..
The push Merry-go-Round was the first piece I was able to get and restore, and at WalMart
saw a Rustoleum color called Redwood, and thought it would go good with black and that's
what I stayed with throughout the years..

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Actually 2 or 3 times a year there's good size gatherings at the pond and there's always
Kids at the age that love the paddle boats and playgound equipment.
Saturday Oct. 2nd there's a Summer closing party, and there will be quite a few kids
that'll be excersizing the equipment..

I'm running out of room for some big projects, but still adding small ones.
Haha. Yes, when friends are over, many times it's more than a 12 pack night.

Not one of the projects this time, but yesterday Friends and I had a little closing
Summer (or seasonal) gathering and what a superb early Fall day it was..
Mid 70s with plenty of sunshine. There wasn't much wind, but enough to spread
that cooker's smoke over the pond..

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It's been a little while since I posted here, so here's a small project I put up at the pond..
Years back I would travel through this small town and say to myself I'd really like to
have one of those (there were two) umbrellas that was set up at their McDonalds.
Speed forward 12-15 years, and out of a stroke of luck (and pleasantly blindsided), the
framework of one of those two umbrellas found me..
Fall was around the corner, so I left it down below and the following year I cleaned it up,
set the anchor, a long time mechanic buddy and I set it in place with his tow truck hoist,
I painted it up, and put on the new decorative top I bought for her.
I crank it up for outings, then let it down at rest when not in use..
It's 20ft. diameter and has been a great addition to the park during gatherings..

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Yes. I'm not much of a fisherman, but I've been told it's Sunfish, Bluegill,
and Large Mouth Bass in the pond..
Before I had the fountain, a neighbor's Coya fish grew to large for his
small indoor pond, so he brought them to my pond. A few years later there
was a very bad drought, and many of the fish had died including the Coya.
Since I had the fountain, there's been a drought that was just as bad, and
there was no evidence of any fish lost. The fountain also helps a great deal
keeping the algea under control..

Yes, it's too bad. Vintage Playground equipment has been being scraped for decades.
You're lucky if you stumble upon any..
However, the next small town over has a park with a few old pieces still in use.
It's on the main highway, but deep in on the lot. I only noticed it last year and took
some pics, but I'm only able to load one. It said that the files are too large when I
try loading. I wonder if there's a way they can be minimized from this laptop?

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It's concrete, and yes, looks 70s. The other pieces there are deeper in and look to be
from the 60s. If I can't minimize the file size with the pics I have, the next time I'm
down that way, I'll try taking them again..

Yes, I tried every selection from that box, and got the same result..
Ems interest me, but this laptop doesn't, thus, I'm not so good with it..
There's other pics I can't load, and the thing is, I take them with the
same camera and never change the camera's adjustments..
If you're ever in the Newark area and like EMs, you're welcome to stop
in. I have quite a few set up and then maybe you can show me a trick
with this laptop..
Oh yes. And if you happen to be thirsty, the fridge is never empty..

Yes. I'm not sure on the manufacturer(s), but residential pump merry-go-rounds
were made..
My last large playground equipment piece that I restored operated from the same
idea as this, but it's much larger and commercial grade..
I'll have the next post project being this Merry-go-Round..

It's been a while since I posted here, so I thought I'd write about the
Pull-a-Way Merry-go-Round. It's made by Game Time which was formed
in 1929 and is still manufacturing playground equipment. The Pull-a-Way
was one of their very first pieces they designed..
This was (more less) hidden for years behind a shut down institution.
Years back I was lucky enough to acquire it, and after having it parked to
the side for years, in the Fall of 2017, I finally placed it on a trailer for
restoration the following Summer..

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That following Summer I sand blasted it, placed it back on the trailer,
and took a pic with it primed (and partially painted)..

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Well, it appears a month of photos are hidden away someplace showing other
steps of the project along with the forming of the circular concrete pad, so I now
have to jump to where the Pull-a-Way is sitting on the pad.

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The following Spring I put on the 8 bench seats.
I think there's a video on youtube someone took with it in action.
I'll check if I can find it..

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This was during a gathering on a 4th of July weekend.
It's a little blurring, but you can see she can hold quite
a few people..

I have to be truthful. That thing can be a pretty good workout.
I've never timed the RPMs, but when you're on it and look outward
(like long distance), everything is blurry. People have gotten off of
it and staggeringly fell to the ground..
Most grown ups don't like going too fast, but for me, that's one part
that hasn't yet grown up.
It's my favorite playground equipment I restored. I'm very pleased to
have it. I've never seen one when growing up..

Haha. The Merry-go-Round. Yea. I was a little worried about your drive home..

Not from the Development of the Vintage Park, but from a park in a
neighboring town. It's on Main St. but kinda deep in and it was just last
year when I surprising spotted it still being in use, and being so close by to
where I get a hair cut, a couple weeks ago I took a few pics..

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I don't remember hearing about American Playground Device Company, so I had to look
them up and it seems they opened in the early 30s, and appears they're still manufacturing
playground equipment. Maybe even still from their original facility..
I already have 3 park grills from the 50s/60s, but if I had the American Playground, I could
easily find a nice spot to park it. That one looks to be maybe from the 40s..
One of the park grills I was able to get is a mobile grill. After a little fabricating, she's solid
and very usable..

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I'd maybe think the Rocket has a good chance of being USA made.
Miracle Playground Equipment (which formed in 1927 and still going
today) was known for their Rocket Slides in the 60s and 70s.
Unlike so many others, it's nice your Community didn't scrap that
vintage piece of history..