Author Topic: As Johnny Carson used to say, "I did not know that."  (Read 1505 times)

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Offline Cannoneer

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As Johnny Carson used to say, "I did not know that."
« on: April 21, 2012, 11:06:00 PM »
I've seen drawings and photos of sling carts before, but I didn't know that the world's first steam powered vehicle was an artillery mover.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ul8RHwBpM4
RIP John. While on vacation July 4th 2013 in northern Wisconsin, he was ATVing with family and pulled ahead of everyone and took off at break-neck speed without a helmet. He lost control.....hit a tree....and the tree won.  He died instantly.

The one thing that you can almost always rely on research leading to, is more research.

Offline Artilleryman

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Re: As Johnny Carson used to say, "I did not know that."
« Reply #1 on: April 22, 2012, 01:26:19 AM »
Interesting, At first I didn't see the artillery barrel probably because I was looking at the rest of the "infernal machine".  I can see why the government didn't rush out and buy a whole bunch of them.
Norm Gibson, 1st SC Vol., ACWSA

Offline moose53

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Re: As Johnny Carson used to say, "I did not know that."
« Reply #2 on: April 22, 2012, 01:48:33 AM »
It a good thing to look back and see how things have progressed over the years . Progress is not all at once.

Offline Soot

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Re: As Johnny Carson used to say, "I did not know that."
« Reply #3 on: April 22, 2012, 05:08:27 AM »
Tampa Bay Automobile Museum also has a car made by Hotchkiss, the arms maker.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotchkiss_%28car%29
"I did not know that."

Offline GGaskill

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Re: As Johnny Carson used to say, "I did not know that."
« Reply #4 on: April 22, 2012, 11:27:32 AM »
It works fairly well on a paved road for a short distance.  Would be interesting to run it for a number of miles on a dirt road.  Wheel treads seem way too narrow for soft roads.
GG
“If you're not a liberal at 20, you have no heart; if you're not a conservative at 40, you have no brain.”
--Winston Churchill

Offline KABAR2

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Re: As Johnny Carson used to say, "I did not know that."
« Reply #5 on: April 23, 2012, 07:34:30 AM »
It works fairly well on a paved road for a short distance.  Would be interesting to run it for a number of miles on a dirt road.  Wheel treads seem way too narrow for soft roads.
Actually it still uses basic wagon building principles it should actually do better on dirt roads or off road than paved....... not bad for a machine built back in 1769......
Although slow moving think what the possibilities would have been had they moved the boiler to the rear and made the cannon usable to the front on a slide carraige.........
Mr president I do not cling to either my gun or my Bible.... my gun is holstered on my side so I may carry my Bible and quote from it!

Sed tamen sal petrae LURO VOPO CAN UTRIET sulphuris; et sic facies tonituum et coruscationem si scias artficium

Offline GGaskill

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Re: As Johnny Carson used to say, "I did not know that."
« Reply #6 on: April 23, 2012, 01:52:29 PM »
Actually it still uses basic wagon building principles ...

That is true but it think its extra weight would be a problem on dirt roads.  And that is not counting the lack of a tender for fuel and water that would be necessary for extended travel.  Still an interesting piece that needed a better advertising department.
GG
“If you're not a liberal at 20, you have no heart; if you're not a conservative at 40, you have no brain.”
--Winston Churchill

Offline Cannoneer

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Re: As Johnny Carson used to say, "I did not know that."
« Reply #7 on: April 24, 2012, 02:06:10 PM »
It also seems like there may be a serious visibility problem when going forward.

RIP John. While on vacation July 4th 2013 in northern Wisconsin, he was ATVing with family and pulled ahead of everyone and took off at break-neck speed without a helmet. He lost control.....hit a tree....and the tree won.  He died instantly.

The one thing that you can almost always rely on research leading to, is more research.

Offline Artilleryman

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Re: As Johnny Carson used to say, "I did not know that."
« Reply #8 on: April 24, 2012, 02:12:52 PM »
I think the problem is that there isn't a continuous (without pause) transmission of power to the wheel.
Norm Gibson, 1st SC Vol., ACWSA

Offline GGaskill

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Re: As Johnny Carson used to say, "I did not know that."
« Reply #9 on: April 24, 2012, 07:49:47 PM »
I thought the ratchet drive ingenious but wondered why they wouldn't have used a crank.  It looked like the cylinders were double acting since in reverse they were pulling up on the ratchets and a crank would have developed twice as much power.  Also wondered why it was tricycle since wagons always had four wheels which would have distributed the weight better.  Perhaps more complicated steering.
GG
“If you're not a liberal at 20, you have no heart; if you're not a conservative at 40, you have no brain.”
--Winston Churchill