S&S Seeds Shows Off Its
Vintage HydroseederSpray Baby to be featured at two industry conferences
S&S Seeds celebrates current landscape technology with a bit of nostalgia at the upcoming IECA and CLCA shows by exhibiting a newly reconditioned vintage hydroseeder.
The "Spray Baby," invented and patented by hydroseeding pioneer Richard Carlyon, made its debut in the 1970s, after Carlyon decided there had to be a better way to apply mulch to hillsides.
"The material we had then was difficult to mix," said Carlyon, 81. "It was stuck together like a bunch of toothpicks."
Carlyon spent 8 years perfecting his Spray Baby, but says he was still 10 years ahead of his time, as no one had yet heard of the technique of hydroseeding.
After receiving his patent, which was awarded for the rotating nozzle that distributed the material, and for the shape of the tank, which helped to "cover the surface as it was remixing," Carlyon spent a lot of time educating his customers about the process.
Now hydroseeding products are not only in huge demand, but much thinner, like S&S Seeds’ Enviro-Fibre S-100, so application is easier. Still, three decades ago, with the Spray Baby, Carlyon was able to go where no man had gone before.
"I chose it because it was small at only 1100 pounds," he said. "It was meant to go behind a pickup truck and you could wheel it around by hand."
When told that S&S Seeds had taken his Spray Baby and reconditioned it, Carlyon was not surprised.
"Before" picture of a vintage Spray Baby hydroseeder, invented by industry pioneer Richard Carlyon.
To see it in its refurbished state, visit S&S Seeds at the upcoming trade shows."The tank is made of fiberglass, so it’s indestructible," he said.
But, back in the ‘70s, such a piece of equipment was a tough sell. That is, until Carlyon discovered that mixing native seed with trash-based compost created a new product and a new market.
"It was a cute machine that ended up being used for a lot more than I intended," he said. "I took it to shows to sell and demonstrate."
And, now, it’s full circle for the Spray Baby, as it returns to an industry show, this time as an exhibit.
The California Landscape Contractors Association show takes place February 15-16, 2006 at the Los Angeles Convention Center with educational seminars, an executive forum, exhibitor reception and more. Representatives from S&S Seeds will be at booth #947. For more information, http://www/clca.us/lis/schedule.html.
February 21-23, 2006 S&S Seeds will be in booths #717 and #719 at the International Erosion Control Conference and Exposition at the Long Beach Convention Center. Events include training courses, technical sessions and a Catalina Island tour. For more information, http://www.ieca.org/Conference/Annual/Schedule.asp.
When you’re at the shows, make sure you visit S&S Seeds to see the newly refurbished Spray Baby. It’s a classic piece of equipment that’s a testament to one man’s vision of the landscape industry’s future.
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