Cannon Balls (A good read)

[Oldfart 0]

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 a 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 realise 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?
You must send this fabulous bit of historical knowledge to at least a few intellectual friends.

[madsod 0]

Good read that i like it ,

[aceuggy 0]

Well, I learned something there!!

[Iano 0]

that's interesting - have you heard the expression, keep your powder dry?

Don't know the precise derivative however the idea behind cavity walls that we have commonly since, well let's say mid C20, goes back to the period around the Napoleonic Wars when there was a threat of invasion. The military ports were protected by forts with cannon.

Problem was that dampness meant gun powerd could be rendered useless so twin leaf construction was developed for the powder storage areas in order to prevent the transmission of external damp.

It took quite a while to catch on for domestic purposed though didn't it.

[streetfighter 0]

I liked that good read you learn something new everyday

[Stue11 0]

Good read thanks guys, i love facts of history

[Robbie 0]

I Agree very interesting.

[BanditMike 0]

Getting to be quite the intellectual forum here. Best check I've logged onto the right one

Seriously though. Interesting to read