 |
Riverside State Hospital | | | Wonderland |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
 |
 |
Please remember that the comments posted here are not the opinions of opacity.us or its affiliates.
Comments pertaining to real location names, methods of entering the property, promotions or advertisements, off-topic discussion and general flaming, as well as those submitted under various aliases are subject to immediate deletion and your ip address being banned from this website. By submitting your comment you agree to these terms. Visit the forum for off-topic and general discussion. To prevent your comment from being removed and to help keep this site uncluttered, please read more about comments on opacity.
Memories and stories from past employees, visitors or patients are gratefully welcomed, they help keep these places alive!
|
Riverside State Hospital | | | Wonderland | |
Lynne, yes I believe the blades spun in a way to "naturally" oscillate the fan at the swivel above the housing.
Oh, and I forgot to mention, these fans can fetch at least $2000 each. SOMEONE GET ME ONE!!!
Unless connected to a certain place, why want to consficate? If you see something that gives ya'll a certain feelling that makes you want to covet it for your future generations ( and this doesn't make it OK!) say so, but don't talk about resale-go to Ebay!
the ventilators rotate on the central axis by interval of a means strap, that is impelled by reduccion back of one of the motors, I have one of these ventilators that I am recovering with much patience, are rarisimos considering the 6 trowels of each one and which they were constructed exclusively to place hanging of the ceiling, if somebody has but information by fabor agamela to arrive
this fan pic recently got posted on a fan collectors site. So there are now some of the more obsessed collectors probably trying to find this place. Frankly many a fan collector are pretty greedy when it comes to finding any of the rarer fans (those valued over $500) and would step over their own mother to get one, as well as lie, cheat, steal etc. Many of these more desperate collectors are oddly the ones with enough cash to buy the things legit. But they would break into a place like this easily if there were a half dozen of them laying about. Forget the rats, decayed floors, other unpleasantness, and oh yeah, IT'S ILLEGAL.
I can smile at the folks who simply want to take cool pics. But when you go salvaging it just isn't cool. taking a picture is one thing.
Though I have never been a member of your merry group, I have monitored your site for several years. And do know several members. As with all collector groups, this one too has a dark side. A few of the seemingly eternally cordial members have been involved in some pretty despicable behaivor all in the name of protecting their interest in obtaining fans.
Usually having obsessions are a fairly unhealthy thing. And one can safely say anyone who feels the need to have say 10,000 fans in their back yard is obsessed. (Yes, there actually are a collector or two who have literally 10,000+ fans in their collection.)
I just found the earlier poster who spouted off of how these fans were worth at least $2,000 and how he seemed to almost request some poor sap to go out and get him one, a bit off. These gyros are not worth at least $2k anymore. A well used one which needs repairs and restoration can be had for much, much less. This is beside the point of the logical notion that they do in fact have value and taking them would in fact be illegal.
As a photographer who trips upon places like this from time to time, I can say they are very unsafe in many ways. Sure some shooters have probably snatched a little trinket here and there. I haven't personally. But most photographers who take a little 'remembrance' aren't doing so to resell. They are getting their treasures from the photos they take and for what they stand for.
I was Not suggesting in Any way that the bulk of the fan collector population would indeed plan a raid to New England to hit this hospital. According to the updates anyway it is obvious that the building has been bought and is under lockdown and restoration. Usually the type of people who buy buildings like this make sure no such treasures hang around anyway. To anyone remotely familiar with restoring older buildings, these fans would stick out like a sore thumb and be promptly removed.
By the way, LH, wasn't even suggesting you were rubbing your hands together planning a visit to New England. We've talked before and your a stand up guy.
Some of the fan collectors do need to step back and take a breath and realize... They are Just fans.
I do have a few old fans I use in my photography. Have always had interest in them. Used them a lot back in Texas in the 50s. Definitely a reminder of a better time. Though do like the cameras of today a little better. They aren't built quite like my Leica rangefinder, but I can't argue with the good lenses they make these days.
Sorry if I offended the earlier fan collector. But just sounded a bit too much like you were trying to find some pickers to go stick their necks out. I just wanted to clear the air that in the present fan market, $2k+ for westinghouse gyros in unknown condition was a bit deceptive. Go find an Emerson Gryo.. then you can overstate value.
I love most all the pics on this site. It's good to remember.
Wait... What? People actually collect these things? Wow, I guess there really is a market for everything! I wonder what I have laying around that people would want?
But yes, I guess it could get hot down in the Ozarks. especially if you hold an annual 'show and tell' at your farm where you have a big ole fire roasting a whole pig telling stories of how you acquired a particular fan. Im sure they fail to mention the fan that everyone is ooowing and aahhing over that is worth about $15,000 was acquired from a local picker for $300 who didn't know what it was worth. But I'm sure occasionally he taps his offshore bank accounts to pay retail for a fan from another collector that he can't steal.
But it's all in good fun I'm sure.. provided no two of them have their sights heavily set on a fan. As the great movie line was... "As long as theres no find, the noble brotherhood will last. But when the gold roles in, thats when the trouble starts." well, it went something like that.
Trust me, some of these guys get goose pimply when they buy that special fan. Then they have debates that last weeks over when someone finds a fan blade and doesn't know which exact fan it fits. Others get more excited than they did on their honeymoon when they find a fan that ran off of DC current instead of the more common AC version.
Though as silly as it sounds, it's probably no more strange than when they see people who like sites like this look in awe at some of the photos which to them aren't that exciting. But then again, I don't think many of the photographers are paying five figures for any of these photos. Nor are they throwing BBQ parties to show them off.
For me, it's kind of a service to the people who originally manufactured the fans, who are no longer living, i mean, what is 2 hours out of my time to clean, oil, & polish? and then get to enjoy some sweet breezes from something that is 8 times older than myself? Sure, i might have too many, but look at those people who collect those baseball cards, whoopdeepoo, it's worth $500, but you cant keep cool with it. Sure it's got a pic of a dead guy, but it sits ina box and does nothing.
These things, fixed up, and kept in good condition, will probably run for 500 or more years. (old fans in general) Sure, you might have to re-insulate the windigns a few times in that time period, but, they are a huge chunk of our nation's history, and well frankly,t hey deserve our respect(the peopel who built them and the fans themselves) And if we dont preserve our history, where are we?
Just my thoughts, cool Gyro too, Brian
The owner of this hospital was made aware of these fans and they have been removed from the site. I believe out of 5 fans 2 were stolen in the last couple months.
We are talking Westinghouse Gyros. Scarce fans, but not rare or exotic. As mentioned above, they aren't worth 2 grand since eBay went live and many came to light driving their values down. They are the most common of the gyro fans and I sure wouldn't be breaking into that place and breaking my neck just to steal a fan that really wasn't worth that much. To me, the effort that went into the thief finding the place. staking out the security, busting in, locating, taking them down without the aid of a ladder.. having the strength...
all of that for a fan that might have a current ebay market value of $750? Sorry, but thats just screwy.
I can understand the restoration part. But you can buy many a fan off of ebay legit that will need plenty of restoration.
But of course there are a lot of people out there that want something nice for nothing.
plus theres something creepy about wanting a fan that was used in a place like that. Kind of like those funeral parlor fans that pop on ebay now and then. Luminaires they are called. ornate pedestal fans. often sell for $600-1200. I like old fans but wouldnt want one that used to blow flies off of dead people.
glad the owner got those remaining gyros. You can get seriously hurt in a place like this. Much more fun looking at the photos someone else took!
If they hang there for another 20 years, then the building may have fallen in on top fo them.
$$ value aside, they needed to be removed from where they were period.
I have taken fans from abandoned buildings before, yes. but usually only because the situation granted that there is a possiblity that the building may collapse in the future, because nobody is going to do anything with it.
If it's any consolation, i take an envelope with me when i have done this, put my phone number in there, and either tape it to a wall, or if the ceiling is low enough, the ceiling. it's a way to explain as to why i took the fan, in the event the owner does come looking for it.
As such, i still consider the fan not mine for several months after taking it. once again, in the event i get contacted by the person wanting it back. I can hand it over.
As i said, i prefer for our history to not get destroyed any worse than it already is.
true you might not always get what you want with this approach. But it does keep one from commiting theft. As much as many of us would like to preserve history, I don't think it rationalizes theft to do so.
But I am sure (without a doubt) that even the beloved, pig roasting president of the fan club has a number of fans you can classify as..er..ill acquired.
I just think these places should be left alone for a variety of reasons. Taking pictures is great. Anything else is pretty much theft.
I do take fans, but that is usually after attempting to contact the owner. I get no response, well helllo fan.
Can we say rationale to the extreme? But I suppose you don't know better given the illustrious president of the fan club setting such a fine example. I mean since over half the fans in his collection were acquired well under market value, if not outright stolen, how can any of his followers learn anything. But I suppose if he tosses his members enough free BBQ pork and beer he will keep his image intact. No need to sweep away all the dust covering the true story of many of his fan finding methods. It's all about bonding, right?
Not that he's the only one in the club stealing fans. But certainly he, unlike many of his brainless doters, can afford to pay market value.
But, I digress. Enjoy your ill gotten booty. Make sure a few thousand pounds of plaster and asbestos doesn't fall on your head next time you yank what is become a fairly common fan off the ceiling of a 110 year old building.
Plus, most of the fans seen on the AFCA were acquired at thrift shops, estate/garage sales, e-bay, or from other collectors. Not all of those fans were stolen, and who really gives a flying fuck about fair market value anyway? If you can get a really nice fan for cheap, well so be it. Oh, and you're making it sound like the AFCA is a cult... BULLSHIT! The AFCA is no different than Opacity. It's a place for collectors, like Opacity is a place for UEs and those who like abandonments.
...and I've been looking at Motts pictures for four hours now! Which might be concidered a bit... well... yeah... They're good pictures;-)
In fact if I ever some how, some day get one of those fans into my possesion I will just give it away to one of those collectors.
And I will not take a single penny for it.
That is how UGLY that fan really is to me.
Money is not everything.
Signed: An American Soldier in Germany.
http://img242.imagesha...2/3881/whgyroas4.jpg
If getting in touch with the owner of the building is not possible, I keep a watch out for activity at the place, so maybe I could drive up, or walk up and ask someone about the fans or whatever in person. That's just my 2 cents.
"Yeah, I'm just here to change a light bulb"
*reaches up*
*BBBBZZZZTTTTT*
"OH GOD MY HAND!!!!! Can someone grab that for me?!?!?!"
*Taubin wanders off laughing hysterically*
Fan People. I had no idea there were such critters. **chuckling**
fan fans.
*snarf*