Cannon Balls a little history

[frogtog]

Cannon Balls

It was necessary to keep a good supply of canon balls near the cannon on

old war ships. But how to prevent them from rolling about the deck was the

problem. The best 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 a small area right next to the cannon.

There was only one problem -- how to prevent the bot tom layer from

sliding/rolling from under the others. The solution was a metal plate

with 16 round indentations, called a Monkey. But if this plate was made

of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it. The solution to the

rusting problem was to make 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,

you thought that was a vulgar expression, didn't you?  ;D

[Long Mike]

;D That was a good one! I love that sort of trivia! Now, please explain "Colder than a witch's in a brass brazier" ;D ;D ;D

[FishingBuds]

How about "colder than a well diggers butt"

[skillet]

 That was great! If you come up with anymore let us have 'em...

                                        As Ever,

                                         skillet

[justfishin]

Very cool. I hope everyone keeps this trivia coming. Its interesting as heck to me.

[frogtog]

Mike I just don't know about the. ;D

[Long Mike]

Hey Pal, I'm not the orian, you are! ;D

[Hookemdown.]

Hey Pal, I'm not the orian, you are! ;D

;D ;D

Great stuff frogtog

[slomoe]

Certain types of manure used to be transported (as everything was back then) by ship. In dry form it weighs a lot less, but once water (at sea) hit it. It not only became heavier, but the process of fermentation began again, of which a by-product is methane gas.

As the stuff was stored below decks in bundles you can see what could (and did) happen; methane began to build up below decks and the first time someone came below at night with a lantern. BOOOOM!

Several ships were destroyed in this manner before it was discovered what was happening.

After that, the bundles of manure where always stamped with the term on them which meant to the sailors to "Ship High In Transit." In other words, high enough off the lower decks so that any water that came into the hold would not touch this volatile cargo and start the production of methane.

Bet you didn't know that one.

Here I always thought it was a fishing term.

[Hookemdown.]

Certain types of manure used to be transported (as everything was back then) by ship. In dry form it weighs a lot less, but once water (at sea) hit it. It not only became heavier, but the process of fermentation began again, of which a by-product is methane gas.

As the stuff was stored below decks in bundles you can see what could (and did) happen; methane began to build up below decks and the first time someone came below at night with a lantern. BOOOOM!

Several ships were destroyed in this manner before it was discovered what was happening.

After that, the bundles of manure where always stamped with the term "S.H.I.T" on them which meant to the sailors to "Ship High In Transit." In other words, high enough off the lower decks so that any water that came into the hold would not touch this volatile cargo and start the production of methane.

Bet you didn't know that one.

Here I always thought it was a fishing term.

You know that's just a story right.  :

But it's still funny!

[slomoe]

you just ruined my day.   :'(

just playin, a co-worker told me that story and i thought it was funny.

[Bassn Blvd]

Certain types of manure used to be transported (as everything was back then) by ship. In dry form it weighs a lot less, but once water (at sea) hit it. It not only became heavier, but the process of fermentation began again, of which a by-product is methane gas.

As the stuff was stored below decks in bundles you can see what could (and did) happen; methane began to build up below decks and the first time someone came below at night with a lantern. BOOOOM!

Several ships were destroyed in this manner before it was discovered what was happening.

After that, the bundles of manure where always stamped with the term "S.H.I.T" on them which meant to the sailors to "Ship High In Transit." In other words, high enough off the lower decks so that any water that came into the hold would not touch this volatile cargo and start the production of methane.

Bet you didn't know that one.

Here I always thought it was a fishing term.