Drainspotting

May 15, 2021 12:59 PM

Drain-spotting : Bethan Bell at the BBC writes on the joys of operculism, that is, the study of manhole covers, coalhole covers and drain covers, etc., those "abstract flowers in an otherwise arid field, bringing a note of flippant gaiety into the often depressing city surroundings".
posted by misteraitch (12 comments total)

If you like this sort of content, you might also like this twitter feed of drain and other covers.
posted by rmd1023 at 1:03 PM on May 15, 2021 [1 favorite]

Previously - eighteen years ago, links sadly dead.
posted by misteraitch at 1:09 PM on May 15, 2021

I love doing this! Whenever I travel, I always photograph manholes, utility covers, etc.
posted by Going To Maine at 3:56 PM on May 15, 2021 [2 favorites]

On my walk to work every morning, I used to step over a manhole cover with the old Saul Bass Bell logo on it. It always cheered me up to look at it.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 4:30 PM on May 15, 2021

This is one near my home; if you can't read the words at the top, they're "DUMP NO WASTE! DRAINS TO WATERWAYS" flanking a picture of a fish, implying, "That would hurt the fishies; we don't want to hurt the fishies."
posted by Halloween Jack at 5:28 PM on May 15, 2021 [1 favorite]

the joys of operculism

pale in comparison, for me, to the joys of "operculism".

I just love that there's a word for this.
posted by flabdablet at 8:50 PM on May 15, 2021

When I bicycle toured Hokkaido, I took photos of the manhole covers. They really like putting effort into them in Japan!
posted by kdar at 10:09 PM on May 15, 2021 [1 favorite]

Quilting With Manhole Covers that is all
posted by away for regrooving at 12:30 AM on May 16, 2021

It's a recurring theme in my Instagram and I didn't realize until this moment that it was a thing. Thanks for sharing this.
posted by Peach at 7:12 AM on May 16, 2021 [1 favorite]

Same here. When traveling I always look for unique ones. I found my people! Thanks!
posted by Miko at 7:15 AM on May 16, 2021

This is neat!

I've endangered myself more than once trying to get a decent photo of a cover. In my defense, most of the best ones are where the cars drive on the opposite side of the street from what I'm used to. Japan wins my list for best-maintained interesting covers among everywhere I've been.

Around here most of the covers are sadly utilitarian. The fire-escape weight decorations are often better.

(Also, the print-making group raubdruckerin might be of interest to people looking for gifts to give like minded people.)
posted by eotvos at 8:52 AM on May 16, 2021

I love taking pictures of manhole (and other access) covers. Even I don't understand the appeal. Something about their utilitarian artistry combined with durability. My favourite ones though are the ones customized for specific businesses/activities. EG: I've got images of manhole covers created for BC Parks. You see much less of that sort of customization now that covers are mega mass produced mostly overseas but 50-100 years ago small scale foundries were wide spread and custom covers (simple ones anyways) added practically no cost to the product.
posted by Mitheral at 9:23 AM on May 17, 2021