Many readers probably remember the fountain in front of the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology that was dedicated in 1967 to commemorate Hobart Brothers Company’s 50^th anniversary.  Exceeding 19-feet high, the 2700-pound totemic tower consists of five   spheres fabricated from silicon bronze and welded with the gas tungsten arc process.  The famous sculptor, George Tsutakawa, then professor of art at the University of Washington, created the fountain with the help of Jack Uchida, an engineer with the Boeing Company in Seattle.  David Niland, professor of architecture at the University of Cincinnati, designed the raised concrete stage, reflecting pool and gardens.

The fountain was out of operation for several years.  During recent research, I found a memo from 1991 requesting funds for the fountain repair, which were not forthcoming at that time.  Meanwhile, many ideas surfaced to include removal of the whole structure to create additional parking space; or filling in the leaking pool with topsoil for a garden and picnic area.  When I joined the Hobart Institute in November of 2002, I was determined to restore the fountain and gardens to its former glory as the highlight and lasting memento of the 75^th anniversary of HIWT for employees, students and the community.  I am grateful for the vigorous and enthusiastic support I received from the staff.  It has helped me often during the restoration process, when we encountered seemingly irresolvable problems.

We started to work on the project by collecting any and all available information about the fountain; however, except for a description of the artwork and some pictures, we could not find any technical drawings that would have been very helpful.  Several people recalled certain features but not accurately enough to create a drawing.  The pump and motor unit was bad, the supply pipes were leaking and the electrical wiring needed replacement.  What ideally should have been a restoration project with a proper plan, including step-by-step action items with cost estimates and deadlines, we embarked on with many unknowns. Our ultimate goal was to restore the operation of the fountain and hopefully enhance its beauty!  At this early stage, the only thing we positively knew was the outcome… the fountain had to be operational again, somehow!

As work proceeded, we found that the sculpture mounting plate on which the sculpture rests on the reinforced concrete base was heavily corroded.  It was determined that a new base was required.  The first major task was to remove the tower of spheres from the base.  To facilitate this, workers designed and fabricated a cradle on which the sculpture could rest during the reconstruction.  On the third attempt with the use of a heavy-duty crane, we were able to lift the 2700-pound sculpture off its base and very carefully place it on the cradle for the move to temporary storage within the school.  While there, the sculpture was cleaned on the cradle with a light Jet Mag blast, followed by cleaning with a blend of 260 baking soda.  Once clean, the sculpture was preserved using Incralac, a specially designed, clear, air-dry coating for copper-based alloys that I found with the help of the Internet search engine Google®!    Meanwhile, a new base ring was then designed and fabricated using stainless steel. 

In April 2004, we lifted the motor and pump unit out of the 15-feet-deep vault for restoration. It was found that the 20 HP motor had a short to the housing and could not be repaired. We purchased a new motor, had the Gould pump reconditioned and the two units were laser aligned on a new base. 

During the same month, workers cut a strip of the concrete in the pool and the walkway and dug down several feet to the 6-inch water supply pipe and the 8-inch water return line.  A backhoe to use as a digging tool was lifted into the pool with a crane. We found cavities in both pipes and replaced these parts with new PVC pipes.  We also replaced all other corroding piping and valves that were found in the vault.  

In May of 2004, masonry workers began the process of restoring the masonry.  Their first step was cleaning the masonry by using a chemical restoration cleaner and water, applied by use of high pressure over air to provide approximately 550 PSI, to clean the walls, revealing many cracks in the concrete walls that were repaired and filled using an elastomeric sealant. Two coats of elastomeric coating with a thickness of 16-mils were applied by brush to all walls for protection from future deterioration.

The pool surface was sandblasted and all cracks were cleaned and filled, followed by the application of two coats of a water-resistant epoxy, as is used on offshore and marine structures as well water tanks and water treatment facilities.

Due to the sensitive nature of grounding requirements for pools and fountains in the National Electrical Code, a new electrical distribution system was required to feed the fountain. This included a new grounded feeder from the fountain control room in the near-by building to the vault, a new 45 kVA solidly grounded wye transformer, three new 2 kVA buck boost transformers for the pump, and a new 150A main breaker panel.

Electricians disconnected the existing reflecting pool light wiring and designed and installed a new lighting system using nine, low-voltage brass incandescent fountain lights controlled by a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). The pump and ultrasonic water level sensor with automatic refill are also controlled by the same PLC.

Once the outdoor work was complete, a crane once again provided the power needed to set the sculpture carefully in place.  By June, with great enthusiasm and high expectations, we were ready to start the fountain!  We excitedly watched as the pool filled with water.  It is difficult to describe our disappointment when we found that only part of the water got back to the pump, causing the pump to malfunction.  We quickly realized that we would once again need to begin troubleshooting. 

Using a bore scope, we tried to detect the leaking spots in the return pipe system.  We located the spot and cut the concrete once again to get access to the pipe, only to find that there was no pipe. We gave up speculating how the return system was routed and made a decision to close the four existing water return drains in the pool floor and proceeded to design and install a new return system. This again required digging down to the existing 8-inch return pipe.

Once the new water return system was in place, we filled the pool and restarted the fountain, confident that this time all would be perfect!  It was not.  Within a short while, brown water flowed into the pool from the overflow openings.  It now became clear to us that the 6-inch supply pipe had a leak in the portion close to the center of the pool, probably in the 90-degree elbow, the part we originally thought would be sound.  I was determined to find a solution other than digging again, so I surfed the Internet to find linings for pipe.  While I found several options that I think would have worked, one of the many people who helped with the project had the idea to insert into the existing pipe a heavy-duty, flexible tank pipe -- the type that is seen mounted on the side of fuel tank trucks to discharge fuel. After checking how much water could be delivered with this reduced inside diameter pipe, we decided to implement the plan.  We also sealed off the overflow openings, since we found evidence that the overflow piping system also had leaks from corrosion, leaving still other overflow holes in place. This last plan was implemented without delay…and it worked! We then cleaned and calibrated the many water outlets the fountain has.  

In the surrounding area, a new garden was designed and planted.  A new cover, made from brushed stainless steel, was designed for the manhole, giving access to the pump in the vault.  This provides a nice enhancement to the garden, giving it an elegant, oriental touch.

Today, employees, students, visitors and the public at large can enjoy the beauty of this great piece of art, one of the largest bronze sculptures in the United States. The five, stacked spheres each have three, eye-like facets behind which three nozzles, for a total of 45, spray water causing a vigorous fountain to erupt from the concave plates that hide the water outlets. The artistic effect of the water flow is based on the volume flow principle, rather then the water jet principle. The end suction centrifugal pump delivers 1,400 gallons of water per minute to the fountain.

Professor Tsutakawa, who died in 1997 at age 87 at his home in Seattle, once explained that the fountain is an expression of man’s balance and harmony with his environment. The water action symbolizes the continuity and rhythm of life. The totemic form stands for the past, the present and the future of the family, the theme that we reflect in this year of celebration. At night, with the new illumination, the fountain changes its character from a vigorous waterfall to a mysteriously beautiful veil.  We will rededicate the Unity of Man Fountain this year on May 14^th for the 75^th anniversary of the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology, as its commemorative plaque reads:

 Dedicated as a symbol of the
Beauty – Strength – Flexibility
Available from good craftsmanship
In the art of welding

This restoration would not have been possible without the help and support of many individuals and companies and I would like to express my deep appreciation, gratitude and thanks to all.