The Greatest Mechanical invention

Clive,

Before the riotated stick, came teh stick frubbed back and fiorth in a groove in another piece of wood - which has the advantage it creates its own supply of fine shavings. I know someone who can raise fire this way.

Neil

Well yes - if you don't consider it to be in the slightest bit funny, then yes I suppose you might just conceivably take offense. BTW, I think that the word originates from a contraction of the Victorian surname of one of the suppliers of some flushing modifications to one of the greatest non-mechanical inventions ever...

Edited By Steve Garnett on 14/10/2012 18:29:06

I'm glad it's not wasted on you, Neil!

Crap is from the Dutch for 'chaff'; Thomas Crapper was just another excellent example of nominative determinism.

Neil

It was 'Crapper 'who invented the toilet and manufactured them ? In fact a lot of the Victorian sewers are now crumbling and having to be remade. Big pumping engines were used to expidite the flow of the sewage. There is a big Gas engine in Chatham behind the Pentagon building, I have been to see it and they ran it for us to see.

Neil, I was referreing to the firemaking kit with a bow string wrapped around the stick and being rotated to make embers.More like a machine. Rubbing two sticks together is hard work !

Clive

You could allways raise steam by telling jokes on this forum.

Cheers Derek

Quite - hence my reference to modifications...

I think Crapper sticks in my mind as its so appropriate, strange how names seen to match the act !

Clive

No,

They are either funny or not depending on your culture, Yours was not funny. But in your culture it may have been. FWIW the word 'Crap' is derived from the Old English 'Crappe' meaning leftovers or rubbish (hence Chaff) and has nothing to do with the unfortunately named Thomas Crapper. See the OED or any good etymological dictionary and expand your mind.

Regards

Wot's butterflies got to do with anything ?

Hi John

Etymology is the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time

Entomology (from Greek ἔντομος, entomos, "that which is cut in pieces or engraved/segmented", hence "insect"; and -λογία, -logia^[1]) is the scientific study of insects

(Both Wikipedia)

No lepidopterae in my tummy

Regards

Terry

Edited By Terryd on 14/10/2012 23:12:38

Well in that case, it would be yes - because that's exactly what I said - in the eye of the beholder. Please try reading and understanding what I wrote - or does the subtlety of that evade you too? And anyway, what you wrote is a clearly a non sequitur...

What I should have said about Crap re Crapper is that it's reasonably clear that the term in common usage possibly owes as much to American servicemen as it does to any ancient usage.

And I don't think it's my mind that needs expanding, thank you.

Regards, Steve

Guys

Maybe you would be better  to continue this discussion via PMs ?

Edited By NJH on 14/10/2012 23:31:59

The one thing I like about threads such as this, the true spirit of man (and some in particular) creeps out now and again!

I think it would be sensibly terminated at this point.

Hi There

This thread should continue for people that want it.

You don't have to read it and it appears to be doing no one any harm.

regards David

Sorry Guys - you misunderstand me. I was only refering to an increasingly acrimonious exchange between a couple of members which has nothing to do with advancing this interesting thread. I feel it better that exchange be continued, if necessary, in private.

Regards

Norman

Meanwhile back at the thread.....

Given fire is out of the running .

I have to stick with the wedge or inclined plane..as most basic mechanism

.thus knives, axes, screw threads, gears, sextants( octants) , clocks............

Although the pulley ( block and tackle) is pretty basic too..

And the antikethera mech.

( and other "copies" extant in Roman Rome) might have been made using dividing machines although these were never found ( cut one screw thread and one wheel and thus make another ( more accurate and "finer")..... and the "joy" of bronze was its value so when the mech. was no longer recongised ,as of value the metal would have been recycled.. so only "LOST" examples would remain.

While fire is ineligable I am somewhat appreciative of the enclosed fire or 'stove' today. Also VPN which allows me to work from home in front of the stove.

Heres one last go at it, its the, 'Cantilever stick' that is put over a fire to hang stuff to cook or roast !

Clive