By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Robert Bosley stands with his 1955 gas pump. He inserted
a television set where the meter used to be.



Welcome to
Robert Bosley’s world

In his Kakaako shop
you'll find a treasure trove of
unusual items and, OK,
his business too

By Rod Ohira
Star-Bulletin

In Robert Bosley's world, there's a connection between sprinkler supplies and a hodgepodge of antiques that includes toys, furniture and even a "Hawaii Five-O" badge.

One's for sale, the other isn't, but Bosley gives them equal billing at his Diamond Head Sprinkler store on Waimanu Street in Kakaako, located at the former Foundry site.

The unusual combination allows the 57-year-old Missouri native, who came to Hawaii from Bakersfield, Calif., 30 years ago, to combine business with pleasure.

"I enjoy this," Bosley said. "I think people like to go to places that are interesting, like Planet Hollywood or Hard Rock Cafe. The food is not much better than at other places but they've got great collections."

Bosley has painstakingly preserved the Foundry's historical ambience.

"The brick floor was crooked when we got in, so we took out every brick and put them all back by hand," said Bosley, who has also kept the original furnace, hoists, cranes and pulley in place. "You know they made manhole covers for the City and County of Honolulu here and the Pali Tunnel plaque was also made here."

The added attraction is Bosley's own collection.


By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Robert Bosley stands on a shelf of sprinkler supplies
next to his 1880s Moyer buggy, which hangs from
the ceiling of his store.



Hundreds of pieces are tastefully displayed throughout the store.

"I get things that I like," he says. "I started collecting over 30 years ago. The fun part is when you run across a treasure and can get it for a great price."

His recent acquisitions include an English bar purchased from a Palolo Valley resident; four street lamps used in the movie "Twister" that he found in Hershey, Pa., and two chairs with a light from Hawaii Theatre.

Bosley's collection includes:

A French armoire featuring six glass pieces that he purchased in San Francisco. "Most have only three glass pieces," Bosley said. "This one is held together by four bolts."

A 1915 nickel slot machine with a side candy dispenser acquired in San Mateo, Calif. "Gambling was illegal so if someone won, a piece of candy would come out and you exchanged the candy for money," he noted.

A World War II Army Air Force uniform. "It belonged to my father who was an airplane mechanic," Bosley said. "What is unusual is in 1944-45, he worked on a new instrument called a computer that was on the B-29."

An 1850 Mosely folding bathtub. Equipped with a container for kerosene to heat a water tank, the tub could be stored like a folding bed.

A restored 1946 Wurlitzer Jukebox featuring old 78-rpm discs. "My favorite song is Hambone," Bosley says.

Toys, including a priceless 1924 steam shovel and 1914 National American peddle-car. Bosley has his Marx train set on display inside a 19th-century steel drug cabinet. "Marx was the poor man's train set but since not many people kept it, the value has shot up," he says.

Hawaiiana items such as the original doors from Kawaiahao Church, a Hawaii car license plates collection, the fire extinguisher and original lobby mailbox from the Alexander Young Building, and the original fire-alarm box (No. 4172) from Piikoi Street and Kapiolani Boulevard.

Two seats from Chicago Stadium, one of them autographed by Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan.

A 1940 drinking fountain from a post office in Georgia. "There were two of them," Bosley said. "The sign above one read blacks and the other whites. It's hard to imagine that kind of thing until you come across something like this."

An 1880 Moyer buggy from Billings, Mont., and 1897 telephone that works.


By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Bosley stands in the stairway that leads to the dance studio
above Diamond Head Sprinkler Supply. He calls the photos
a "chop suey" collection of frames of his wife's family.



"A lot of things people just give me," Bosley said. "I've got a water container and napkin that belonged to Princess Kaiulani that I got from her family.

"Collecting is a hobby, and I've got lots of other things stored away," he added.

Bosley and his wife, Teri, enjoy dancing and compete on the country-western national circuit. The second floor of the former Foundry doubles as a dance studio and antique storage room.

"We usually go antique shopping whenever we're on tour," said Bosley, who has installed an elaborate security system to protect his collection. "Our staff keeps telling me not to bring home any more stuff because we don't have room for the sprinkler supplies."

Bosley, however, isn't concerned and thinks it's good for business.

"Ninety-five percent of the people who come in are men and they always say 'I've got to bring my wife and kids,'" Bosley said. "When the women come, what attracts them is the armoire. The men like the slot machine.

"Most of them remember the things we have as things from their childhood," he added. "Word of mouth about our collection is getting around and I'm happy people are coming down to see it."




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