Friday, October 3, 2008

Water Towers

These water towers are relics from the past but they can still be seen all over Manhattan, especially on top of older buildings. I don't know much about them but I assume they were the main source of water for the residents of the buildings before modern water system was invented.

So what is the oldest thing you have at home? Do you collect antiques?

19 comments:

Wayne said...

These are part of the NYC skyline but I wonder why they are left in place.

It's a testament to how well they were constructed that they seem to survive without any apparent maintenance.

I tried to get a couple of shots of these on my visit but nothing turned out. This shot is very nice.

USelaine said...

I don't collect antiques that belonged to other families, but I have some things that came from my great-grandparents. My Danish great-grandfather was a captain of merchant sailing ships, and he immigrated to San Francisco in the 1880s or earlier. He married a woman there who also came from Denmark. I have a preserved (probably with formaldehyde) sawfish "nose" with all those lateral spikes along each side. It's nearly three feet long, and it belonged to him. I have silverware that belonged to my Cornish great-grandparents. I have some of their old books too. It's hard to tell what things are actually the oldest.

Diederick Wijmans said...

Nice shot. You can see that in the earlier days a certain touch was given to the architecture of even the most common buildings (on the right), while the other was just plainly built for the use it was meant for.
Have a nice weekend!

Olivier said...

J'adore les Water-Tank de NYC. superbe photo.

I love the Water-Tank NYC. superb picture

Saretta said...

I like the building on the right, too!

I do not collect antiques, I'm allergic to mold! I think the oldest thing around my house is my husband! ;-)

valeria said...

What colours in this photo, Ming!!
We have quite some antique furniture at home, a couple of pieces, a little sofa and a writing table date back '700.

alice said...

I have a prehistoric ax, found by my grand-father plowing his field around 1920...

Anonymous said...

Nice shot. We'll have to look for them next visit.
I have a rocking chair, table and quilts from my grandparents. I also collect antique linens.

Doris

Virginia said...

I like the old towers that look like they are from a small town in Kansas sidled up to the fancy schmancy building on the right.

Oldest thing in my house? Me of course!

NYD said...

The water towers/ tanks are not really relics, ming. They are still maintained by buildings over six stories high and used to provide water in emergencies especially fire.

One company, Rosenwach, built over half of the tanks you see everyday and many of the ones you don't notice due to building design.
All that gobltygook aside I think this is a damn fine picture. And as Blognote has previously mentioned, you can see the magnificent brickwork of past craftsmen.

Jane Hards Photography said...

W just don't have these in the UK, and tahat's why they facinate me. Nice perspective you got on this. Albums,books and vintage postcards are my thing.

sonia a. mascaro said...

This water towers is very typical of NY, isn't? Very nice photo!

Have a good weekend!

Fashion Schlub said...

The oldest thing in my house...is probably the house! It was built in 1917 - will be 100 in just a few years.

Chuck Pefley said...

Oh boy! Now you've asked the right question ... my house was built in 1929, and I just uncovered leaky clay pipe that is part of the storm drain downspout system last weekend. I put the task off as long as I could, but jumped at the opportunity for help from my son-in-law who was visiting me last weekend. The repair was successful, though not easy. Just in time, too. Tonight it's pouring!!

Jay has one of those big water towers on top of his building at Bowery and Spring. I think it's still functional, too.

NormanTheDoxie said...

The oldest thing in my house is me.

dianasfaria.com said...

I really like this shot Ming. I've always enjoyed looking at the city's water towers but never got to see them close up.
I like old things in general, but I like modern as well. I wouldn't say I collect antiques, but I do own a few.

Kitty said...

I love these towers, they have such a great look to them!

marley said...

The water tower is interesting but the detail of the stone work on the neighbouring building is what caught my eye! How blue is that sky?! Very!

Jean-Mi said...

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http://watertowersny.canalblog.com/