the powell car post, i see some of you rememeber stuff that we have no need to know....hehehehehe. so if you KNOW something....that is totally obscure heres your chance to WOW us heheheheheheh. something like this: the worlds only 8 wheeled passenger vehicle....was the OCTOAUTO,produced 1908-1912, somewhere in there. was sorta like a modle t with 4 wheels front(2 seperate axles) and 4 wheels back. the front 4 turned. now how useless is that? why i remember it i collected CAR BUBBLE GUM CARDS, yep they had em in the mid 50's. wish i had them today, they are worth a bunch. the OCTOAUTO was one of these cards. i just did a search and found a pic of it!!!! http://www.geh.org/ar/strip15/htmlsrc/m198130510709_ful.html
[ March 11, 2003, 01:25 PM: Message edited by: old paint ]
Posted by Jon Aston (Member # 1725) on :
Daffy Duck's middle name is Dumas (as revealed in "The Scarlett Pumpernickel") Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
i was also told that signpainting is the .."2nd oldest profession".........
Posted by Michael Boone (Member # 308) on :
Studebaker v-8's in the 50's and 60's had solid lifters studebaker avanti motors were available with paxton super chargers.. paxton super chargers had 117 loose ball bearings in them...no races..........
Posted by Artisan Signs (Member # 3146) on :
The term "The whole nine yards" comes from WWII fighter pilots. The belts of ammunition were 27 feet long (nine yards), when the pilot returned from battle with an empty gun, he would say, "I gave them the whole nine yards". hmmmmmm
Posted by Neil D. Butler (Member # 661) on :
This is a bit morbid, but the term "Basket Case" comes from ,I believe the 1st or 2nd World war.... when a soldier was critically injured, ie lost his limbs, they carried him in a basket. "Basket Case".
Posted by Steve Burke (Member # 2674) on :
My mother-in-law is Brian Mulroney's cousin.
I found this out when I made a relatively unkind comment once (something to the effect of "THey should hang the B@$TARD")
Posted by Chuck Peterson (Member # 70) on :
There are more insects on one square mile of earth than there are people on the entire planet.
Posted by David Wright (Member # 111) on :
Olive Oyl had a brother named Castor. Never on the Popeye series, probably another dysfunctional family.
Posted by bronzeo (Member # 1408) on :
The car of which you speak was developed to ride more comfortably over rough roads. When you passed over a chughole with one wheel 7 were still on flat ground.....A very similar method is used by the world's most comfortable rider, the Citron, It uses a narrower wheelbase in the rear, so that it doesn't pass through the same chugholes. On some streets, we could use the 8 wheeler today,
Posted by Alan Ackerson (Member # 3224) on :
Can't remember where I heard this...
There are more people alive today than buried in the past.
Posted by John Cordova (Member # 220) on :
Did you know...
- On a two dollar Canadian bill, the flag flying over the Parliament Building is an American flag?
- When the average hardwood tree is cut down to make lumber, half the total wood volume is left in the woods; about a quarter is lost in the sawmill as sawdust, slabs, and edgings; and one-eighth disappears as shavings and machining residue, leaving about one-eighth of the original tree to be sold as timber.
- Texas is the only state in the US that is allowed to fly it's flag at the same height as the American flag
- Barbie's (the doll)full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
a hummingbirds metabolism is so fast that the movement of humans appears to them about as slow as the movement of a flower opening appears to us, or basically, they don't see us move we move so comparatively slow.
Posted by Mike Languein (Member # 319) on :
Doug, you said on an earlier post it would take you 3 hours to coat out a blank . . . it ain't just the hummingbirds...
I've heard several versions of the "Whole Nine Yards" theory; one I like is that the Scots' Great Kilt is made of 9 yards of Tartan - as it also wraps around the body, not just the "skirt" part.
Posted by Tony Potter (Member # 1199) on :
I might have read this one here somewhere down the line and don't know it exactly but the saying "freeze the balls off a brass monkey" actually is an old military shipping term.
In the old days they would stack cannonballs in pyramid shapes with a metal 'monkey' at their base to hold them up. Since the cannonballs would quickly rust in the salty air and stick to the monkey if it was made of iron, they were made of brass. When it got really cold, the brass would contract and the dents that the cannonballs sat in would enlarge and the balls would slip out with the rocking of the boat.
Thus it would be cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey
[ March 13, 2003, 05:24 PM: Message edited by: Tony Potter ]
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA......that is funny....
Posted by Arthur Vanson (Member # 2855) on :
The most obscure? Probably not, but I believe the aggregate power output of all three stages of a Saturn 5 rocket amounted to some 750,600,000 hp with the initial stage having a fuel consumption of 14 tons per second.
The highest power output recorded by a British steam locomotive – 3,333 indicated drawbar horsepower – was achieved by ex-LMS Princess Coronation Pacific, 46234 Duchess of Abercorn while climbing to Shap Summit, manually fired by two firemen.
You are welcome to quote these figures – guaranteed to break the ice at parties
[ March 13, 2003, 07:12 PM: Message edited by: Arthur Vanson ]
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
Funny Mike.
my comment re: job costing from the "lavender sign" A. posted:
quote: I could probably get a pattern, drag out my saw horses, get the panel cut, prime & maybe coat out one side in 3 hours.
the use of commas and ampersand should have made that sentence clear to most readers. You using a respirator with all those antiquing shellacs Mike?
Posted by Stevo Chartrand (Member # 2094) on :
Ralph Wiggum's cat's breath smells like cat food. Simpsons fans will get that one
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
Shipping Manure.
Some historical information you need to know about Manure.
In the 16th. and 17th. centuries, everything had to be transported by ship. Manure used for fertilizer and shipped dry because it weighed alot less then wet, but once at sea it not only became wet but it began the process of fermentation, which is a by-product of 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 with a lantern, BOOOOM! Several ships were destroyed in this manner before it was determined just what was happening.
After that, the bundles of Manure were always stamped with the term " Ship High In Transit " on them which meant for the sailors to stow it high enough off the lower decks so that any water that came into the hold would not touch off this volatile cargo and start production of Methane. Thus evolved the term " S.H.I.T. " which came down through the centuries and is in use to this very day.
Well S.H.I.T. happens
[ March 13, 2003, 07:35 PM: Message edited by: Joey Madden ]
Posted by Dana Bowers (Member # 780) on :
How about that a giraffe has the same number of vertabrae in it's neck as a human?
Posted by Rick Beisiegel (Member # 3723) on :
The term "graveyard shift" comes from the days before embalming. Someone from the family was assigned to sit by the gravesite around the clock the day after burial to watch for a little bell to ring that was attached to a limb of the loved one by means of a string, so if they stirred, they could be rescued. Many were buried alive who were thought to be dead....kookey, huh??
Posted by Stephen Deveau (Member # 1305) on :
To Shake a Leg!
This is also a Mariner term for the women on a ship.
The Officers were allowed to bring their love ones on the ship, but they had to stay in the hammocks. Covering their whole body with a blanket, as not to let the sailors see them.
Twice a day a officer would do roll call and go to the sleeping area and state "SHAKE A LEG!" The ladies would dangle a leg out from under the blanket for the count of themselves. Posted by Suelynn Sedor (Member # 442) on :
John,
quote:- On a two dollar Canadian bill, the flag flying over the Parliament Building is an American flag?
I had to get my hubby's money collection out and look. Unless you guys have added a big maple leaf to the middle of your flag, that statement is false!
Suelynn
Posted by Brian Snyder (Member # 41) on :
Want trivia, right? (-: Here's what I found...
The following flags appear atop of the Parliament Buildings on the following notes:
Maple Leaf - $2 & $1000 Red Ensign - $5, $10 & $50 Union Jack - $100
The Red Ensign is predominantly red and consists of a small Union Jack in the upper left hand corner and the Canadian Coat of Arms in the lower right field. These elements are clearly visible on the note with the aid of a magnifying glass. Horizontal lines were engraved across the face of the Red Ensign to create a sense of motion and to deepen the contrast between the flag's background and the small Union Jack. These lines should not be mistaken for horizontal bands such as appear on the American flag.
The American flag has never been placed on any Canadian banknote.
These bank notes, as well as every other note ever issued by the Bank of Canada can be viewed on the section of the Bank's website entitled "Bank Notes". The website is
I hope this information will be helpful and thank you for your interest in Canadian currency.
Sincerely, Sylvie Dionne Bank Note Communication and Compliance Team Bank of Canada
Posted by George Perkins (Member # 156) on :
"Barf is frab spelled backwards".
Now for the ultimate trivia test, can anybody name the publication in which that little phrase sometimes appeared??????
Posted by Mike Languein (Member # 319) on :
Oh, sure - that's that cartoon kid with the jagged hairdo on channel 11 - Barf Simpson!
Posted by Lotti Prokott (Member # 2684) on :
Here's one for Adrienne: There are as many chickens on this planet as there are humans.
And a more sign related one: A lump of gold the size of a matchbox can be flattened out to the size of a tennis court. Now I only need to figure out how much size is needed for that...
Posted by Bruce Bowers (Member # 892) on :
Useless trivia, huh... Hey, Dave and Mike... this is for you guys...
Terry Sawchuck won the the "Rookie-of the-year" three straight years in three different leagues.
Johnny Bower was the oldest goalie to ever start a Stanley Cup play-off game.
Andy Brown was the last goalie in the NHL to not wear a face mask.
Eddie Giacomin forced the NHL to adopt a new rule barring goaltenders from handling the puck on the other side of the redline.
Michel Plasse scored the first goal by a goalie in professional hockey.
Ron Hextall holds the career record for most penalty minutes by a goaltender.
John Vanbiesbrouck ia the only player in the history of the NHL to have all 5 vowels in his last name.
Patrick Roy leads all goaltenders with surrendering the 500th career goals to three players (Brendan Shanahan, Steve Yzerman, and Joe Mullen).
Dave(Sabres) and Ken Dryden(Canadiens) were the first brothers ever to face each other in an NHL game.
Phil Myre was the only goalie to play on four Memorial Cup teams.
Jose Theodore is the only NHL goalie to have a shut out and score a goal by shooting the puck. (Damien Rhodes was credited for a goal in a shut out performance... other team scored in their own net).
My brain hurts now... Scouring those dark recesses can do that for you....
Posted by Robert Richards (Member # 3244) on :
Speaking of Studebakers, The ones about 52, 53 that looked the same front and back, had the starter under the gas pedal. You pushed the gas pedal all the way to the floor to start the car.
The Chrylser's during these years had a "fluid drive" transmission. You could change the gears in a straight shift without using the cluth.
Gosh, am I old or what.
More trivia? Yeterday was my birthday, I was _____ years old.
Posted by Kookaburra (Member # 254) on :
The brassiere entered our vocabulary as late as 1916. It was born in the united states, and although applied to the bust, it's literal translation is "arm protector". It's shortened name "bra" has only been used since 1937.
The brassiers'e's purpose was once clearly and amusingly advertised by a manufacturer who marketed three types of bra. He called them "The Dictator" (who suppressed the masses), "The Salvation Army" (who lifts them up), and "The Yellow Press" (who makes mountains out of mole hills).
Interesting, heh?
Kat
Posted by Arthur Vanson (Member # 2855) on :
Interesting? . . Absolutely, can’t have too much bra detail. Thanks for filling us in, just hope it won’t cause another bust-up.
Posted by Kristie Byrnes (Member # 3510) on :
Joe Nameth was the 1st professional football player to wear white shoes on the playing field.
Posted by Mike Languein (Member # 319) on :
I think 'somebody's' thumb hurts about as much as his brain after 'scouring the dark recesses of the Guinness Book' and only got as far as the Sports Section. In fact - not even past hockey!
I'm scouring the dark side of Guinness myself, today -- *urp* I believe! ---
I believe I'll have another
Posted by John Cordova (Member # 220) on :
I'm such a dork! I apologize to my Canadian friends!!! A co-worker gave me that bit of info on the American flag and the Candadian Parliament building. Sorry 'bout that! I shoulda considered the source.
Posted by Peter Manzolillo (Member # 1062) on :
Hey Bruce, great post, I'm a former goalie too! Did you know that Andy Brown also drove race cars in the off-season? (As if tending net without a mask wasn't dangerous enough!)
Also, it wasn't only Giacomin who was responsible for the "roaming" rule. Gary "Suitcase" Smith was the goalie for my favorite team, the Oakland/California Golden Seals, and he was known for his forays into the attacking zone. He narrowly missed an empty net against the Rangers once.
Flyer backup Al "Smokey" Macleod may have been the first goalie to used a curved stick. I recall seeing him with one circa 71-72 and it was quite a shock. He later went to the WHA and had 13 assists one season!!
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
and the most asked question...WHO INVENTED THE BIDET?....and has anyone ever REALLY USED ONE?
Posted by AdrienneMorgan (Member # 1046) on :
LOL....Bidet....that's a funny lookin' water fountain in your bathroom lady!
I was just thinking today...
Where did the saying.."She's the aple of his eye" come from?
A:)
Posted by Carl Wood (Member # 1223) on :
Hey - If you could line up all the people in China & march them past you - the line would never end - think about that a minute - it's kinda scary - - their population is multiplying faster than you can walk past a person!?!?!?
Posted by Arvil Shep' Shepherd (Member # 2030) on :
It is rumored that "Elvis the Pelvis"....had a Cousin that was called "Enis the -----" (Fill in the blanks)
And Buick also had the Starter activator under the gas pedal.....
The 1939 Cadillac/La Salle had a Vacumn operated Radio Antenna and a "Push Button" Radio...
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