We were in a new bar and grill with a ‘70’s retro vibe. This Hamm’s sign was on the wall. Is this falls in the BWCA? What is the name?

Well I love the Hamm’s nostalgia - Hamm’s, the beer refreshing, Haaaam’s. And set on some wood paneling is perfect.

But looking at this from a geological/physical standpoint, how would such an image be possible? Water always takes the path of least resistance to move down hill. So how would it be possible that water would run over a 20 foot waterfall, but not run through the much lower campsite just to side?

I understand these signs have become quite valuable. My BIL has one he picked up at a rummage sale for $15.00 because it was not working. He played around with it and got it working and last I heard he had been offered $350.00 for it. I keep asking when he will give it to me for my birthday.

I was a longtime subscriber to Canoe (later Canoe Kayak) magazine. I remember a story about the local guide who took a photo crew into a waterfalls in the BW to get some photos of a red canoe at the falls. I also heard that there were several local bars or resorts that claimed to have the original red canoe used in the photo shoot.

I am guessing there might be several different signs since I remember my BIL’s sign as somewhat different than this sign.

Just checked online for these signs and they are going a lot more than what I remember my BIL told he was offered quite awhile ago.

last years thread Land of Sky Blue Water

Was that the moving version? My brother has one . A bar in Biwabik had one. The story goes the F word was subtly inserted to a number of those before it was discovered. Apparently there was a dispute with payment to the sign creator. My brothers did not have that but the bar in Biwabik did have.

deerfoot: "Just checked online for these signs and they are going a lot more than what I remember my BIL told he was offered quite awhile ago."

Yeah I would love one of those signs, especially a "TV Rippler", but $1000 is more than I'm willing to pay.

That waterfall scene is iconic but like Jaywalker said that waterfall just looks wrong. I suppose that's part of the charm. I've seen versions that crop everything left of the tent, which looks better. I doubt that particular scene is real, though it could be loosely based on real ones.

Jaywalker: "Well I love the Hamm’s nostalgia - Hamm’s, the beer refreshing, Haaaam’s. And set on some wood paneling is perfect.


But looking at this from a geological/physical standpoint, how would such an image be possible? Water always takes the path of least resistance to move down hill. So how would it be possible that water would run over a 20 foot waterfall, but not run through the much lower campsite just to side?
"

While I think in concept, you are correct Jaywalker, I think that the depth perception could be off. Is the campsite connected to the land behind it (peninsula) or is it an island? (While there would not be a BWCAW campsite like this on an island, potentially so small, for several reasons, I think there could be in the Q.). I think there are campsites we just visited in the BW that could model this one very near Lower Basswood Falls.

I do not think there is a specific spot in the BW that looks like this? (Not that I have visited.). I think it could be a composite inspired by several different places. E.g. Lower Basswood Falls? The intermittent falls on Mug Lake? Eddy Falls? Etc.

I want to know where I can get a tent like that

Love these Hamms beer signs. Mine turns on every time I’m out in my shop.

The weird two-part waterfall and odd smoke from the fire makes it look like an AI generated photo well before that was even a thing. I love these Hamm's signs. Classic.

Cool sign. A Hamms beer sign is always a welcome addition to any man cave shop garage. Still have my beer can collection I've had for 50 + years for whatever reason I can't seem to part with it. My Hamms cans.

I don't drink beer much these days after I had chemo it makes me sick, but there is one pub I haven't been to in a long time that has 16 oz cans of Hamms and I get the shorty glass and sip it slow. The beer has a taste I can only describe as liquid aluminum. Yummy

Jaywalker: "Well I love the Hamm’s nostalgia - Hamm’s, the beer refreshing, Haaaam’s. And set on some wood paneling is perfect.


But looking at this from a geological/physical standpoint, how would such an image be possible? Water always takes the path of least resistance to move down hill. So how would it be possible that water would run over a 20 foot waterfall, but not run through the much lower campsite just to side?
"

I think that’s Escher Falls.

I see the canoe just gently sits on shore, right next to a set of rapids. That canoe is going over.

It could use a painter tie up no doubt. Get a 12 pack of Hamms in the can, by the time you’re on your 5th or 6th it won’t bother you anymore. I like the tent, bush craft poles and all.

Does Hamms come in the bottle, I don’t think so.

The Hamm's Beer jingle from their 1970's commercials will be stuck in my head for the rest of the day...

Good memories. Thanks for that nostalgic trip back to my childhood.

Pinetree: "last years thread Land of Sky Blue Water "

And a thread from 2011:
https://bwca.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=forum.thread&threadId=341730&forumID=12&confID=1

Thank you VNO for always having a cold Hamms gold top waiting for me upon my exit from the BWCA! A simple pleasure of life that does not go unnoticed.

Because everything in all advertising is 100% accurate right? lol

The part of the picture that looks odd to me is the "mini falls" to the right.

But it reminds me of the site right below Lower Basswood Falls (mentioned above).

I remember the moving Hamms signs from the bowling alley where I watched my dad bowl league when I was a kid. Fun post.

JimmyJustice: "Thank you VNO for always having a cold Hamms gold top waiting for me upon my exit from the BWCA! A simple pleasure of life that does not go unnoticed."

+1

I was told a long time ago that a lot of the Hamm’s commercials and photo shoots were done on Moose Lake. The island across from the public landing is still called Hamm’s Island by some of us because it was in several commercials. The falls could very well be Hibbard’s Falls just off the road where Jim Brandenberg lives now & has taken many stunning pictures. After Hamm’s did the commercial with a bear in a canoe a friend traveled up the lake asking people if they had seen the bear that had taken his canoe. The bigger question is why no other company has picked up the idea of featuring canoeing and the Boundary Waters. That campaign WAS Hamm’s.

Minnesotian: "

Pinetree: "last years thread Land of Sky Blue Water "

And a thread from 2011:
https://bwca.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=forum.thread&threadId=341730&forumID=12&confID=1 "

Cool,wonder if there is another one earlier yet?

Pinetree: "

Minnesotian: "

Pinetree: "last years thread Land of Sky Blue Water "

And a thread from 2011:
https://bwca.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=forum.thread&threadId=341730&forumID=12&confID=1 "

Cool,wonder if there is another one earlier yet?"

Yep - here’s one from 2007.

plander: "I think that’s Escher Falls. "

I think you’re right. That must be why the paddler didn’t bother to tie the canoe with a painter - if it drifts out and goes over the smaller second falls, a few minutes later it will come back over the larger falls and be right a back.

What a great jingle:
Hamm's beer commercial

Maybe this should be added to the Name That Lake forum :-)

Marketing. I guess you don't always have to represent the truth when advertising. I grew up on the East Side of St. Paul and attended Church not far from the brewery.
I guess the water was good since my friend Dave used to tap their source for home brews.

Jaywalker: "

plander: "I think that’s Escher Falls. "

I think you’re right. That must be why the paddler didn’t bother to tie the canoe with a painter - if it drifts out and goes over the smaller second falls, a few minutes later it will come back over the larger falls and be right a back. "

Rumor I heard was the falls in the photo / sign/ commercial was Basswood falls.

A friend gave me this sign couple years ago. Her son worked on it but never finished it. I rebuilt it with parts I bought from a guy in Minnesota. works good now. Just seen a add on Craigs List out here, someone asking 1200 for a Hamms beer sign!!

plander: "

Jaywalker: "Well I love the Hamm’s nostalgia - Hamm’s, the beer refreshing, Haaaam’s. And set on some wood paneling is perfect.



But looking at this from a geological/physical standpoint, how would such an image be possible? Water always takes the path of least resistance to move down hill. So how would it be possible that water would run over a 20 foot waterfall, but not run through the much lower campsite just to side?
"

I think that’s Escher Falls. "

I saw what you did there. :-)

deerfoot: "I understand these signs have become quite valuable. My BIL has one he picked up at a rummage sale for $15.00 because it was not working. He played around with it and got it working and last I heard he had been offered $350.00 for it. I keep asking when he will give it to me for my birthday.


I was a longtime subscriber to Canoe (later Canoe Kayak) magazine. I remember a story about the local guide who took a photo crew into a waterfalls in the BW to get some photos of a red canoe at the falls. I also heard that there were several local bars or resorts that claimed to have the original red canoe used in the photo shoot.

I am guessing there might be several different signs since I remember my BIL’s sign as somewhat different than this sign."

I don’t know about a Canoe article, but this one tells the tale best:

Sky-Blue Waters, Bears and Beer

I've seen some Hamms signs where the falls are flowing, like an action scene. I'm sure they are valuable cuz they are so cool. Awesome story, bears like marshmallows, makes perfect sense.
If I may, I have to say, don't drink beer much since I had chemo and all that happy scene cuz it makes me sick if I have more than 3, the carbonation or something whatever, I'll have a pint of Guinness or a can of domestic once in a while so I don't get stale. That said I have drunk my share of beer, and I have opinions. Being from the Chicago area we were weaned on Old Style, I get one once in a while, it's nasty, like sour or something, what happened there... The guys from the hood I'm at now Lake Villa drink Busch Lite, why I have no idea, that is the most tasteless beer in the world, I'll have one thank you, and I might not finish that. Hamms beer is unique in it's own sense, I said before to me it tastes like liquid aluminum, in a shorty glass in the right kind of pub I'm in for one 16 ouncer. Which brings me to this conclusion. I think Pabst Blue Ribbon might be the best of the bad beers. It actually has some taste tho I won't be having more than one. There is a bunch of bad beers. I remember in college we once got keg of Stag beer, which was a cheaper brand of Schlitz if you can imagine that. Just rambling...

Cheers scat

gravelroad: "

deerfoot: "I understand these signs have become quite valuable. My BIL has one he picked up at a rummage sale for $15.00 because it was not working. He played around with it and got it working and last I heard he had been offered $350.00 for it. I keep asking when he will give it to me for my birthday.



I was a longtime subscriber to Canoe (later Canoe Kayak) magazine. I remember a story about the local guide who took a photo crew into a waterfalls in the BW to get some photos of a red canoe at the falls. I also heard that there were several local bars or resorts that claimed to have the original red canoe used in the photo shoot.


I am guessing there might be several different signs since I remember my BIL’s sign as somewhat different than this sign."

I don’t know about a Canoe article, but this one tells the tale best:


Sky-Blue Waters, Bears and Beer "

And if you want to see that red canoe from the commerical with the bear riding in the front, it is at Voyageur Brewing in Grand Marais: hamms beer canoe in the taproom/

That is a great article, thanks for posting!

I prefer Grain Belt Premium as my cheapish lager, but those stories now have me thirsty for a Hamms. That's some fun history, thanks for posting it.

This one is only 3 grand.

Wish I had bought one years ago. I stared at this thing for hours as a kid.

Minnesotian: "And if you want to see that red canoe from the commerical with the bear riding in the front, it is at Voyageur Brewing in Grand Marais: hamms beer canoe in the taproom/ "

Seventy-one revolutions around El Sol and I’d never heard the refrain ”Hamm’s, the beer you’re lookin’ for” until tonight. Could have done without that in the time remaining.

Here is the one true Grail - the original version:

Hamm’s, the beer refreshing

I have the Holy Grail of Hamm’s signs
Sells for 5000 +
Way more than the moving campsite scene.
I garbage picked it 35 years ago.

Neon, very nice!

Stumpy: "
I have the Holy Grail of Hamm’s signs
Sells for 5000 +
Way more than the moving campsite scene.
I garbage picked it 35 years ago. "

Wow! I love finding stuff stories. I consider a steal at an estate or garage sale as pretty good. Hauling it out of the garbage for free is cool.

Did you have to repair the neon or did it work straight from the trash?

okinaw55: "

Stumpy: "
I have the Holy Grail of Hamm’s signs
Sells for 5000 +
Way more than the moving campsite scene.
I garbage picked it 35 years ago. "

Wow! I love finding stuff stories. I consider a steal at an estate or garage sale as pretty good. Hauling it out of the garbage for free is cool.


Did you have to repair the neon or did it work straight from the trash?"

Had to repair the last m & s