The Still from The Swamp in M*A*S*H

[peanutsfan1995]

A lifelong M*A*S*H fan, it's always been my goal to get as many props as I can related to the show. I've got comic books from the period, some medical tools, etc. etc. However, most of the stuff is obscure. My piece de resistance is the focus point of the infamous Swamp- the Gin Still. Unfortunately, during one of my family's (multiple) moves, we lost our copies of the show. And I can't get any DVDs for a while, seeing as my account is wiped. Like I mentioned previously, most of the pictures I can find on the Internet are lower quality. Does anyone here have some high-quality stills (no pun intended) from the series that they can put up here?

I appreciate anything that you can give me. I thank all of you in advance.

 

[Eradicator]

I'm looking through my pics but all I have is the sign post (on my to do list.. :lol)
I'll keep lookingfor you.

 

[mobius303]

The Still is at the Smithsonian in Washington. You can write them and ask for pictures of it.

 

[propologist]

There are numerous images from the Smithsonian available online and in books. I have wanted to make one myself but I haven't got to it yet. I'll see if I can find some around here and post them for you.
MASH is my all time favorite show. that show got me into collecting autographs many years ago. To day i have well over 250 autographs from mash . They include cast members and one time guest stars.
I'm going through all the episodes and making a new set of trading cards for them Here's Henry...

 

[RangerAndy]

Here's one I found:

 

[peanutsfan1995]

Thanks, much appreciated. And Andy, that's the only good, usable image I've been able to snag. And propologist, thanks for the book tip. I've been pursuing the Smithsonian route for the past three weeks. Has yet to produce a lot of products. I'll be checking my library in a couple days (already owe fines on an Ebert book), so I have the opportunity.

 

[robstyle]

If memory serves, both "China Beach" and "Tour of Duty" used the old MASH set and/or locations in CA.

All I had seen from MASH in DC, back in 2004 when they were still remodeling the joint, was the sign:

 

[Eradicator]

Found one for you! A very good pic lots of Detail

 

[Eradicator]

More pics for you! Hope these Help

 

[tk5378]

For those that didn't know, there were at least 2 different stills used on the show. The first pic above shows the oldest one, the others are a later version. I used to have a bunch of info stored around here somewhere, I'll try and look sometime today....

 

[peanutsfan1995]

Wow. These pics are amazing! Thanks man. I did notice that Russell is right. Even in the few pictures eradicator gave me, there are a couple variations.

I believe that the most frequent design is the one in the first, third, and seventh photo that he posted. So, I'll probably go with that.

Now, it appears to me that the faucets are simply taken from a period hand-washing station. So, a military surplus site ought to have one or two.

The containers attached to these faucets though... The first and third almost look like old, large light bulbs. I doubt it, but I'll pursue the idea.

The tubes just look like miscellaneous medical tubing that they probably nicked from supply.

I'll have to check out the other components though. And I'll probably need to go into more detail with those other pieces.

 

[Eradicator]

Wow. These pics are amazing! Thanks man. I did notice that Russell is right. Even in the few pictures eradicator gave me, there are a couple variations.

I believe that the most frequent design is the one in the first, third, and seventh photo that he posted. So, I'll probably go with that.

Now, it appears to me that the faucets are simply taken from a period hand-washing station. So, a military surplus site ought to have one or two.

The containers attached to these faucets though... The first and third almost look like old, large light bulbs. I doubt it, but I'll pursue the idea.

The tubes just look like miscellaneous medical tubing that they probably nicked from supply.

I'll have to check out the other components though. And I'll probably need to go into more detail with those other pieces.

The lightbulb loking thingy are old style chemistry beakers I think. for the faucets look at places like good willor orther second hand shops they usually have plumbing odds-n-ends like that. You can some times get the tubing from home depo or lowes if you have them near you.

 

[peanutsfan1995]

I actually have a friend who works for a Boy Scout camp. I think they have identical faucets. And thanks for the tip on chemistry beakers. I thought the central one was definitely a flask. I'll go through some old lab stuff on eBay.

Wow. This project is really coming together. I never could have done this without you RPF. And especially you Eradicator. I owe you

 

[Eradicator]

Glad I could be of help, but please post pics of your progress..lol

 

[peanutsfan1995]

Progress might not start for a while. I'm strapped for cash right now. This is more of a research phase. Next on my list is getting measurements.

 

[fuelish]

The flasks that look like light bulbs are called boiling flasks. If they have a flat bottom they are Erlenmeyer flasks. (Yay, watching Breaking Bad has finally paid off)

 

[cheech9898]

http://www.indigo.com/glass/gphglass/boiling-flask.html

The smaller flasks can be had for not too much money, Indigo charges like $15 for a 1000ml (1 liter) if that's the right size. The link above gives the dimensions. If it get's into the 2000ml (2 liter) boiling flasks the price at least tripples, and I'd guess that is what the big one is atleast. Just make sure that you get new, never know what's been in a used one. I think enough the right faucets will be the hard part to track down to make the valve bar rig. Since that still was such a big part of the show, just something close if around other MASH stuff will make it instantly recognizable thou. I'm partial to the copper version that you see Burns holding in Eradicator's pics.