Re: [CR] A peek into the life of painters and framebuilders

(Example: Events:Cirque du Cyclisme)

To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:18:36 -0800
From: donald gillies <gillies@ece.ubc.ca>
Subject: Re: [CR] A peek into the life of painters and framebuilders


In the early days of the aluminum can, I think that they came with both ends riveted onto the can, and no shaping to enable stacking, which made it possible to easily punch out both ends using a can-opener. In about 1980 all of this changed and we got the modern can. I do not believe this can be done without vintage cans.

Thus, when I was a kid in the early 70's, it was common to take 4 aluminum cans, remove the ends from 3.5 of them, and build a tennis ball cannon. The cans could be stacked together with duct or electrical tape. We used a small amount (less than a thimblefull) of gasoline as a propellent. The first step was to load the tennis ball. In the second step, A small hole, about the size of a triangular can-punch opener, was used to insert the match and ignite the fuel. Tennis balls could thus be driven 400+ feet into the sky. if you caught it, you were a wizard !!!

Warning : don't use too much gasoline as I am told that 1 gallon of gas is enough to put 1 pound into orbit !!!

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA, USA