When I decided to add a Washer tournament to Rosine Autumn Jam, I knew I would have to be creative to acquire enough “kegs” because the old, antique nail kegs are rare and expensive. That’s assuming you can find a pair the right size, 10-inch diameter by 19-inch height.
(from Google Images)
That’s over $300 for two, assuming you can find a matching pair! I know, I know…there are cheaper ones. But it takes time to find them. I don’t have that kind of time, money, or inclination.
On top of that, I wanted three pair for a tourney; that way teams wouldn’t have to wait too long for their turn.
So, I decided I would make my own…not from wood, though. My first thought was 10-inch PVC pipe.
I quickly learned that stuff is expensive. Scraps! I went to my neighbor Ferlin Lindsey, who works for the water department.
Ferlin suggested 10-inch commercial-grade corrugated tile. Commercial has an inside and outside layer, so it’s plenty stiff. He even gave me a scrap piece to experiment with.
Here’s what I have so far:
I nailed and glued in a wooden bottom. How do you like the red, white, and blue paint?
Last step is to pour in some sand, maybe a third full. I’ll not purchase sand! I’ll shovel it straight from the banks of Caney creek.
I certainly prefer to use real nail kegs going forward. If you’re interested know where I can find some the right size and fairly cheap, let me know. Until then we’ll use the ones I make.
The other necessary equipment would be the washers. Here they are! Found ‘em cheap on Amazon.
They are regulation: 2.5 inch outer diameter, 1 inch inner diameter. One team gets two red—the other, two blue.
To be fair, this isn’t the only kind of washer pitching.
Here’s the Google AI overview:
My family has always used nail kegs and 2.5 inch washers. Except one summer, we chose to change it up. I remember we threw at holes we dug in the ground, three-inch diameter holes, I seem to recall.
There are places around the country, particularly in Texas, where a board similar to a cornhole board has been developed. In the box earns one point. In the pipe earns three.
There are even boards with recessed holes that can result in “leaners,” similar to horseshoes.
Before you say these are more difficult, remember throwing at kegs is from 33-feet away. When competitors throw at their boards, it’s only from 20-feet away.
(from Clifton Museum Park)
Does this game sound like something you’d like to know more about? Should that be the case, there are several good sources of informational reading online to satisfy your needs.
If you’re interested, “Washer Pitching” by Neal Murphy and “Washer Toss: What Is It and How to Play the Game” by Robbie Reynolds are both insightful. Wikipedia offers some general info, too.
However, for the life of me, I have been unable to locate any information about our kind of washer pitching. This tells me that pitching washers at kegs may be a dying breed of the game; and therefore, it needs preserving.
That’s what we’ll be doing October 4th at the Rosine Community Park.
In case you haven’t seen it yet, here’s the flyer again.
(flyer by Tanner Autry)
So far no one has called to signup. I hope everyone is simply waiting to register the day of at 11AM. That’s quite alright!
So spread the word and come on out for some old-timey washer pitching. Let’s preserve some history!
