Vintage work crew photos

[desbromilow]

So Marv, now I understand where the term "Loose cannon" came from.

I was always taught that the expression "loose cannon" originated from shipboard blackpowder cannons (think the cannons you see in movies of pirate ships, etc) which were attached to wooden trolleys, and the trolleys tethered to the porthole structure. If the cannon came out of the trolley, or the trolley became unattached to the ship structure, it could roll around in hull, and do damage to the ship, the crew, and goods.

[mklotz]

I was always taught that the expression "loose cannon" originated from shipboard blackpowder cannons (think the cannons you see in movies of pirate ships, etc) which were attached to wooden trolleys, and the trolleys tethered to the porthole structure. If the cannon came out of the trolley, or the trolley became unattached to the ship structure, it could roll around in hull, and do damage to the ship, the crew, and goods.

Yes, indeed, my take on the meaning as well. It's confirmed by the Wikipedia entry which contains a fascinating anecdote about the term. I don't think Wiki will be upset if I quote the whole entry here...

--------------------------

A loose cannon refers to a cannon (usually a wheeled cannon) which gets dislocated and moves about randomly on the decks of a warship, creating a hazard to crew and equipment.

A famous literary depiction of a loose cannon appears in Victor Hugo's 1874 novel "Ninety-Three", whose plot is set during the French Revolution. In a well-known episode, a ship of anti-revolutionary French Royalists is sailing towards Brittany, to aid the anti-revolutionary Chouannerie rebellion. While at sea, a sailor fails to properly secure his cannon, which rolls out of control and damages the ship. The sailor risks his life to secure the cannon and save the ship. The Marquis de Lantenac, leader of the Royalists, awards the man a medal for his bravery and then executes him without trial for failing in his duty.

The widespread publication of Hugo's book, both in the original French and in translation to various other languages, helped make the concept of a loose cannon more well-known. It has eventually developed a metaphorical meaning relating to a person who is acting in a wild and unpredictable manner and who constitutes as much danger to his or her own side as to the enemy.

--------------------------

[Jon]

This is a good time to plug the wikipedia easy search plugin that I like. You just make the text below into a bookmark (these are known as bookmarklets). Then I put the bookmarklet in my browser favorites bar, which I can access with key commands (depends on browser). So, I just press command-3, and then a little box pops up, into which I can type my Wikipedia query, and then press enter to search. My hands never leave the keyboard.

javascript:void(q=prompt('Wikipedia:',getSelection()));%20if(q)void(location.href='http://en.wikipedia.org/w/wiki.phtml?search='+escape(q))

[jimfols]

This reply should have been for the Bell Casting post.

I see lots of pride in their endeavors.
Here's a photo of a finished product.

http://taylorbells.co.uk/wp-content/...17/12/york.jpg

[12bolts]

Nice find Jim.
Although I bet that truck was overloaded!

Cheers Phil

[marksbug]

wow thats a great big ding dong making thingy,,,, "preparing molding case for... great peter..of york minister" ... but it is a nice mold no matter what they are moling for the minister. I suppose next will be the pole pit mold......for the great peter....dam you just cant make this stuff up!!!I wonder if it feeds from the bottom or top?I wood assume bottom to help eliminate voids in the great peter.perhaps they should for made it for peter the great!!!or his minister!!! yes Im bored, too much rain&storms.

[Rikk]

Interesting stuff about making bells, these guys do it the old way. That portion of the episode starts about 18 minutes in. I just watched this the other weekend while out in the garage trying to get stuff done. A tv does not lend itself to getting stuff done, but it's at least somewhat educational.

[Jon]

Ferro Machinery Foundry Co. Cleveland, OH. December, 1918

Fullsize image: https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...s_fullsize.jpg

[Ralphxyz]

Not sure, exactly what we are looking at, at the Ferro Foundry, some sort of compactor? Obviously women doing the work with men watching. The first guy on the left looks like he might be a ghost.

[IntheGroove]

Looks like she's putting sand into a sifter...