Graydog

Great link! Thanks. Say, I found a link to this question at the US Naval Historical Center, which also supports the same answer, i.e. it is bogus. http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq107.htm Thanks again.

Interesting e-mail running around the net as to what freezing the balls off a brass monkey really means. Anybody have any info to back this up or dash it? -Greydog XXXXXXXXXXXXXX CANNON BALLS!!! DID YOU KNOW THIS? It was necessary to keep a good supply of cannon balls near the cannon on old war ships. But how to prevent them from rolling about the deck was the problem. The storage method devised was to stack them as a square based pyramid, with one ball on top, resting on four, resting on nine, which rested on sixteen. Thus, a supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in small area right next to the cannon. There was only one problem -- how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding/rolling from under the others. The solution was a metal plate with 16 round indentations, called, for reasons unknown, a Monkey. But if this plate were made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it. The solution to the rusting problem was to make them of brass - hence, Brass Monkeys. Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts much more and much faster than iron when chilled. Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron cannon balls would come right off the monkey. Thus, it was quite literally, cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey. And all this time, folks thought that was just a vulgar expression?

light

signal

So, I am no fun. All I see is a building with glass windows that are reflecting light from outside the building. I can't see inside the building through any of those windows. I do see reflections from outside the building in some of the panes.

I agree 100% with your logic. However, still have not found anything to support bricks in use for any kind of shipment to Western Europe and it appears that the area of China is where bricking is well known to have occured, at least at some point in some places. This is simple technology, I don't see any reason why anybody making tea could not brick their product. I just haven't found anything to say positively they did. Now, Chinese shipment to Russia is a different story, but that's camel caravans and Yak Dung as a binder in some cases. If the Russians transshipped in block form, I don't know and haven't found anything on that, yet. So, before I go hunting for Russians, here's what I found on the Dutch: In the book “Merchant in Asia: The Trade of the Dutch East India Company’during the Eighteen Century” (A google book) There is picture on page 183 of a painting from 1800 that shows how the Chinese packed tea for export and it’s along the lines described previously. They put loose tea in a crate and stomped on it. There is a picture of a painting from 1700 that shows a “Merry Nell, a doxy with a tea pot” with a container holding the tea prior to brewing. The container has a round lid much smaller than the diameter of the container. This means the items to come through the hole had to be smaller than the opening and yet when inside the container to have enough volume to fill the box. This leads to a conclusion that the tea in the box is either loose, or by necessity have to be busted up fragments of block tea in order to fit the opening. But, busted up blocks of tea just doesn’t seem right when one looks at the container. On page 187 it speaks of manufacturing of tea in China specifically for European export. Within that process after the tea is made ready for sale it is immediately placed in an airtight container. There is no discussion of forming blocks or putting blocks of tea into containers. On page 188 it discusses internal transportation of tea leaves that wind up being exported (rather than grown exclusively for that purpose) and once again there is no mention of blocking but there is mention of packing. There is also mention that some chests could be found to be fraudulently packed with sawdust mixed in with the tea leaves. Still not conclusive proof that Bricks were not used in the Colonies in the America’s. Just conjecture on my part, but if they knew how much the container weighed empty then they could deduce tthe amount of product in the container when weighed full. If that works better to explain the saw dust fraud (since the container is unopened) is just more conjecture on my part. (This is an edit- I forgot to include that also according to the book the Dutch provided the airtight seals via lead sheeting, that they supplied to the Chinese, ergo they'd know the weight.)

Post deleted owing to rambling driveling on my part.

Is that a picture of "Sole Food"?

Great question. While the Boston Tea Party is well out of period, if they had been using tea bricks it would be relevant to the question. Id suppose for actual documents one would need to see if the East India Company had Tea Packing Instructions? Anyway, here is some information, really doesnt prove the question one way or another. According to this author the tea of the Boston Tea Party was shipped loose and not in bricks, however, it was tightly packed so it might be in a defacto brick like condition when the chest was open, bearing in mind some chests were over 400 pounds thats a big brick. Heres a link that has an original document as to the losses at the Tea Party: http://boston1775.blogspot.com/2009/12/how-much-tea-was-destroyed-in-boston.html Relevant text: Contrary to what some people have claimed, the tea was not shipped in bricks. The leaves were loose in the chests, but they were very densely packed, allegedly pressed under workers feet as they were loaded in the wooden boxes. It probably took some effort for the ruffians to break up the compressed clumps of tea leaves with their bare hands. All of the above certainly does not answer the question; its just kind of fun somewhat relevant trivia.

HAPPY ENDING! It has been recovered. http://www.jouster.com/forums/showthread.php?p=30442#post30442 From the above: Great News! Got this update this evening. Thanks everyone for putting out the word. Well Boys, We're back in business. Got an anonymous phone call from a couple of"good Samaritans" in Detroit who was really scared of finding a stolen trailer in his neighborhood with a cannon in it after watching the news today. He offered to bring it to me anonymously and he did so around 5pm today. Ole number 5 is back home minus the winch and battery and with a broken side door handle Cursory look thru the inventory in the dark is that all the important stuff is there and I will do a daylight check tommorrow. Have to go back tonight with another padlock for the tongue. Good news is Good news and thanks for all the help the Batty mates put out. Got a call from a fellow cannoneer in Richmond Va this am and he notified the entire east coast about the theft. This afternoon got a call from a fellow in Dallas Tx and he notified the entire southwest of the US. Great Lakes region was notified. What an amazing network of fellow reenactors we have. Description of No. 5 went cross country in a half day.. Thanks all, Col. Bill

Create patients.

I also whole heartedly endorse Fugawee. A very good quality shoe for the price, and top rate customer service to boot. Note to file- They are made in Mexico. Website: http://www.fugawee.com/

Not funny and I hope they catch these yahoo's right quick. Ok with that said, if you read the first page of the Pub where it says "Recently Added Topics" it says and I quote "Cannon Stolen by Capt. Bo of the WTF co." unquote LMAO, ok Bo you gonna give it back?

I ordered a pair of these shoes. They got the measurements off so badly that my foot physically would not go in the throat of the shoe. So, while I have gotten a pair they were never worn. From what I had in my hands the shoes are a superb replica, but suffer from soles so thick that they will not bend readily with your foot. (A typical issue with another kind of shoe, 19th century brogan replicas if you do US Civil War reenacting) So, while the shoe is a spot on replica, IMO the soles can be an issue. This may or may not be an issue for other people. Plenty of folks can wear shoes with soles like this and have nary a problem. I have mobility problems on uneven surfaces, I must have a shoe with a sole that will readily flex, ergo I needed to return the shoe even if the size had been right. Loyalist customer service was excellent and they offered me the option of having a new pair made or getting a refund. I took them up on the refund and it was promptly made, after the shoes were returned. Fair winds, -Greydog

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34722032/ns/world_news-world_environment Article: SYDNEY - A conservation group's boat had its bow sheared off and was taking on water Wednesday after it collided with a Japanese whaling ship in the frigid waters of Antarctica, the group said. The boat's six crew members were safely transferred to another of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's vessels, the newly commissioned Bob Barker. The boat is named for the American game show host who donated $5 million to buy it. The clash was the most serious in the past several years, during which the Sea Shepherd has sent vessels into far-southern waters to try to harass the Japanese fleet into ceasing its annual whale hunt. Clashes using hand-thrown stink bombs, ropes meant to tangle propellers and high-tech sound equipment have been common in recent years, and collisions between ships have sometimes occurred. The society said its vessel Ady Gil a high-tech speedboat that resembles a stealth bomber was hit by the Japanese ship the Shonan Maru near Commonwealth Bay and had about 10 feet of its bow knocked off. Locky Maclean, the first mate of the society's lead ship, said one crewman from New Zealand appeared to have suffered two cracked ribs but the others were uninjured. The crew was safely transferred to the group's third vessel, though the Ady Gil's captain remained on board to see what could be salvaged, he said. "The original prognostic was that it was sinking, but at this point it is flooded with water but it seems to still have a bit of buoyancy," Maclean said by satellite phone from the ship, the Steve Irwin. 'Stopped dead' The group accused the Japanese ship of deliberately ramming the Ady Gil. "They were stopped dead in the water when the incident occurred," Maclean told The Associated Press of the Ady Gil. He spoke by satellite phone from the ship, the Steve Irwin. "When they realized that the Shonan Maru was aiming right for them, they tried to go into reverse to get the bow out of the way but it was too late. The Shonan Maru made a course correction and plowed directly into the front end of the boat," he said. Glenn Inwood, a New Zealand-based spokesman for the Institute of Cetacean Research, the Japanese government-linked body that carries out the hunt, disputed Sea Shepherd's account, saying video shot from the whaler showed the conservationists' boat moving toward the whaler just before the collision. "The Shonan Maru steams to port to avoid a collision. I guess they, the Ady Gil, miscalculated," Inwood said. "Sea Shepherd claims that the Shonan Maru has rammed the Ady Gil and cut it in half its claim is just not vindicated by the video." Japan's Fisheries Agency said it was still checking details about the clash. Spokesman Toshinori Uoya said there were no injuries on the Japanese side. It was not immediately clear what would happen to the Ady Gil. Sea Shepherd said in a statement posted on its Web site that the boat was "believed to be sinking and chances of salvage are very grim." Sea Shepherd sends boats to Antarctic waters each southern summer to try to stop the Japanese whaling fleet from killing whales under what it calls a scientific whaling program. Conservationists and many countries say the program is a front for commercial whaling. Each side routinely accuses the other of dangerous activity during what has become a cat-and-mouse chase in one of the world's most remote regions. Australia and New Zealand which both have Antarctica territories and are among the closest nations to the waters where the hunt goes on have urged both sides to show restraint, warning that they are far away from rescue if anything goes wrong. "Our strongest condemnation applies to any violent or dangerous activity that takes place in these remote and inhospitable waters," Australian Environment Minister Peter Garrett said Wednesday. He said he could confirm the collision, but that details were still unclear. Wednesday's confrontation with whalers marked the first for the 1,200-ton Bob Barker, which rescued the crew. Sea Shepherd only recently bought the ship after its namesake, the former host of the "The Price Is Right" game show and a longtime animal rights activist, donated the money. Barker met Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson through a fellow activist and said he was instantly impressed. "He said he thought he could put the Japanese whaling fleet out of business if he had $5 million," Barker recalled. "I said, 'I think you do have the skills to do that, and I have $5 million, so let's get it on,' so that's what we did." Barker, 86, said he was "genuinely proud" to be associated with Sea Shepherd. The Ady Gil, meanwhile, clashed earlier Wednesday with another Japanese ship, the whaling fleet's mothership, the Nisshin Maru. Provocative actions The Institute of Cetacean Research, the nonprofit organization that conducts the hunt, said the Ady Gil came "within collision distance" of the Nisshin Maru's bow and repeatedly dangled a rope in the water that could have entangled the ship's rudder and propeller. The Ady Gil's crew lobbed small projectiles designed to release a foul smell, and the whalers responded by firing high-powered hoses to keep the Sea Shepherd vessels away, the institute said in a statement. "The obstructionist activities of the Sea Shepherd threaten the lives and property of those involved in our research, are very dangerous and cannot be forgiven," it said. Maclean confirmed the earlier clash. Japan's whaling fleet left in November for its annual hunt in Antarctic waters. Uoya said that for security reasons, details of the fleet's composition, the number of whales it hopes to take and the number of crew members are not being released to the public. The Ady Gil is a 78-foot trimaran made of carbon fiber and Kevlar in a design meant to pierce waves. It was built to challenge the record for the quickest circumnavigation of the globe and can travel faster than 46 mph. Sea Shepherd unveiled the Ady Gil last October saying a California millionaire with the same name had donated most of the money for it. At the time, the group said the boat would be used to intercept and physically block Japanese harpoon vessels. (<-Mission accomplished! However, next time they may want to consider what their blocking boat is made out of vs. the size and weight of the ship they are trying to block with it.- Greydog)

Maybe the goat is French?

Yes, I got mine two days ago and it is exactly as Black Fox described along with an actual CD enclosed (Hooked on to a page).

Authorities said a father was attempting to demonstrate for his son the dangers of gunpowder. He ignited a blast that blew off one of his fingers, injured the boy and damaged his home. Hmm, sounds like his old job was as a DEA agent giving gun safety instruction to a class of kids? Let us hope his next safety demonstration is on the dangers of Russian Roulette.

Here is a link to some period paintings you may find useful from a style and color stand point of RN officers (unforunately they are mostly all high ranking) http://www.nmm.ac.uk/mag/pages/mnuExplore/BrowseByDate.cfm?StartRow=1&PageNum=1&action=date&lettera=&letter=&name=nk&collection=nk&daterange1=1701&daterange2=1750 The link is for the British National Maritime Museum website viewing paintings by date.

It strikes me as sad the number of people that are firmly convinced that if they haven't personally been hurt then defacto their actions are safe. I recently had a 30 min argument with a "pirate" about why you should not stick the barrel of a gun in your mouth, espcially at a public event in front of children. At the end of 30 min's I just threw my hands up and walked away. I personally endorse the concept of event safety rules, published well in advance, and rigidly enforced by event staff. It's my personal experience that when we leave these matter's to peer instruction/concern the result is we get the most unsafe yahoo in the place telling us to piss off and zip support becuase in a non-structured group setting "peers" would rather avoid conflict than hold people accountable for safety.

Here's the link and below the link is a cut and paste job of the article. Tourist shot by ramrod Cannon mishap at tourist site injures Ky. man Ramrod shoots 100 yards, breaks 52-year-old’s leg, bruises wife updated 1:30 p.m. PT, Fri., Oct . 16, 2009 LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. - When Douglas Struder watches war movies, he doesn't have to wonder what it's like to be shot by a cannon. He has a pretty good idea already. Struder, the president of a Cincinnati-based marketing firm, was visiting the Adirondacks earlier this month when a cannon fired at a recreated Colonial fort sent a ramrod flying more than 100 yards. It struck his left leg, fracturing the tibia just below the knee. State Department of Labor officials plan to talk to the operators of the privately owned Fort William Henry about the accident to see if any state regulations were violated, said Karen Williamson, a department spokeswoman. Struder, 52, and his wife, Shirley, were in Lake George on Oct. 2 as a stop on a fall foliage trip to celebrate their 31st anniversary. They were eating lunch on a concrete wall along the lake's southern shore when a gust of wind blew away their food container. As Struder got up to retrieve it, a cannon was fired at the nearby fort. Something hit his legs, knocking him to the ground. "I was in shock. I didn't know what had happened," Struder said this week in a telephone interview from his home in Butler, Ky., about 25 miles south of Cincinnati. The history buff soon realized he had been hit with a wooden ramrod about the length of a broomstick. The ramrod also struck his wife in the lower back, causing a bruise. Police and an ambulance crew soon arrived, along with a fort employee dressed in an 18th century British soldier's uniform. "I thought it was a long time to hold a grudge," Struder joked. The ramrod was used to load the cannon. According to fort officials, it fell in front of the barrel just as the cannon fired, sending it hurtling through the air. Paul Ackermann, an arms specialist at the West Point Museum, wonders if that's even possible. "You can never say never because stranger things have happened in life, but that sounds very, very unlikely." He said it's more likely that the ramrod was inadvertently left in the cannon prior to firing. That would explain the distance the ramrod covered, Ackermann said. "A hundred yards would be nothing," he said. Messages left with fort Director Dawn Littrell on Friday weren't immediately returned. But she told The Post-Star of Glens Falls that the wind blew the ramrod across the cannon's mouth. "It was just a mishap from start to finish," Littrell told the newspaper. The original fort was built by the British during the French and Indian War and then destroyed by the French in 1757 after a weeklong siege. The battle and subsequent massacre of some of the fort's garrison by France's Indian allies were retold in the James Fenimore Cooper novel, "The Last of the Mohicans." In the 1950s, local businessmen reconstructed the fort as a tourist attraction featuring tour guides in period uniforms conducting daily musket and artillery demonstrations, including an hourly firing of the replica cannon that caused Struder's injury. Struder said his attorney has been in contact with fort officials regarding his medical bills, but he declined to comment on any potential legal action. While laid up at home, Struder watched the 1992 film version of "The Last of the Mohicans." Struder said he used to wonder what it would be like to experience the artillery barrages depicted in movies. "It's not as hard to imagine as it used to be," he said.

Well, obviously what I read was wrong. It’s rather disappointing that one can’t even trust information from what should have been a reputable source. Thank you for the clarification.

From what I have read, the metal Marlinspike was invented in the mid to late 19th century to be used in the splicing of metal cable, though it is also used on fiber rope. It essentially replaced the instrument previously used in splicing fiber rope called a “fid”. The earlier fid is made of wood, is not as slender as a marlinspike, and doesn’t work well with metal cable/lines. That’s about all I know, if that’s of any help. I do not have any information on the transition from fid to marlinspike vi-a-vi decorative knot making.

Well, I know fer sure we'll be raidin and pillagin. Everythin works out right we be havin a bit of kidnappin and hostages fer ransom to boot. Then thar be...well from thar it might get illegal as it were, and we'd never do something illegal! Sounds like the Double Cross will be at Ojai that day and that be fer sure. May ye find that the shawdow behind you is always yer own. -Greydog

Pyrat Rum XO Reserve, not only is it the best but the hand blown hoof bottel is period to boot. At $22 from Bevmo you can't go wrong. A#1 all around. Fair winds, -Greydog