We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:29:53 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification And it's not a close-up of a fromkitz gear, edge-on, that is only 2mm big but photo'd to appear ginormous, either. Just in case Bill shows up. Let's make it a two-fer. What's the first thing that pops into your mind when you see this picture? I'm guessing your answer will tell us something about you and your life to date.... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html Fri, 07 Mar 2008 07:38:58 -0600 COOL! Someone invented an anti-aircraft gun directional with a spitoon attached! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70566 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70566 Sat, 08 Mar 2008 15:22:09 -0600 Fuze setter for anti-aircraft shells. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70560 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70560 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 23:45:39 -0600 I'm late to this, but the large egg-shaped housing looks like either a motor or a generator. The operator's right hand may be holding a pull handle or an aiming handle, I'd guess pull handle, as in an earlier mention of a recoil lawnmower starter. The cup to the left has an adjustment, but in one axis only, and it seems pretty beefy for a tuning crank for a sound generator. The slot on the 'starter' mechanism is going to end up being significant, too, but it is too small to be a shotgun trap. This is sort of like 'the blind men and the elephant', each piece looks like something else. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70556 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70556 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:02:54 -0600 1st pic. Crude version of an early warning listening device to locate aircraft? Can't tell if the larger disc is a mic or not, but if so, then cup on the side would be the speaker? Handles for making adjustments to pinpoint the source of the noise? Pic 2, some poor hopeful with a rifle grenade. As stated above. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70555 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70555 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:24:26 -0600 Whut's yer point, Fluffster? Note - I did put in a "st" so as not to be offensive! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70554 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70554 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:52:55 -0600 you sir... are EVIL! :-) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70553 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70553 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:46:07 -0600 Eric - you are correct, your commentary *does* tell me that... But to answer some of your questions... ...I just deleted all that - I'll make it part of the post where I do the reveal! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70546 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70546 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 14:05:29 -0600 Errr - make that a non-PLATE camera. And yes, Sir John, you are EVIL (and causing me to waste time at work LOL). It's nice to see others are baffled, too, and that we have consensus on the era of that "far too well turned out" young man in the second picture. The mind hesitates to think what will happen if the grenade clips the bayonet! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70545 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70545 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 14:04:45 -0600 at up there? (All of which may tell you that I've never been trained in the use of rifle grenades nor bayonets.) The contraption in the first photo looks like a diabolical instrument for extracting confessions from coffee beans. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70544 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70544 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 13:56:11 -0600 Pic 1: The early model Pinnacup combined both collection and laboratory assessment capabilities. It was the electrical interface that caused it to be dropped in favor of collectors, observers, and additional duty officers. Pic 2: That is one vertically challenged individual being used as a demonstrator. Perhaps a former Welsh rugby hooker? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70543 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70543 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 13:55:32 -0600 This one has me pretty stumped. BSEG. That would be definition #1.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70542 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70542 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 13:55:05 -0600 (posting before I scan the comments) Second picture is WWI era from the uniform (esp the helmet). Early grenade launcher? I'm guessing a plate from a training manual or manufacturer's catalogue? It's obviously a 'studio' shot. The top one - Hand crank leads me to think about the same vintage - possibly a bit later from the shoe styling, but then men's shoes and trousers don't give as many clues as women's kit. The photo shoot (casual, not staged) means later - non-box camera, but whatzit has an almost deco styling in the base. It would help if we could see another elevation of the 'face' plate. That cup-shaped appratus to the left is positionable along the vertical axis (hand crank again). This one has me pretty stumped. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70541 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70541 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 13:53:12 -0600 Trias - there is a cord, it's coiled behind the machine, you can see it there near the crank. Yes, the photo is staged, it's a picture from a training manual. This is going better than I expected... on both pics! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70534 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70534 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:37:45 -0600 Number1: It looks like an electromechanical device but no batteries no cord it's kind of odd really. It's awfully looking like that dude pulls a ripcord like a mower. Which might make this a signal generator. Number2: First thing? It looks staged. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70533 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70533 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:31:14 -0600 Second picture is the origin of the RPG. As I recall, they found it to be more dangerous to the user than the enemy. I don't recall the actual make and model of the unit but it was made to keep soldiers from carrying a second device for such purpose. World War 1 era as I also recall Feel free to smack me down :) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70518 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70518 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 09:22:12 -0600 First photo, electrical sound device powered by hand crank. I would think it was for signals. Second photo, .303 Short Magazine Lee Enfield, with a grenade launching capability. The grenade looks more modern than the rest of the outfit, and the soldier is an apparent, "Demonstrator, post!" type individual because of his clean uniform, wall backdrop, and the safety appears to be in the forward or off-safe position. But what do I know, I'm an old ER nurse. Airborne, All the Way! Alan Briley, RN http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70517 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70517 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 09:17:51 -0600 gold wheel. The second pic? That boy is young and full of optimism. Let him hit forty or so and he'll remember well every single 'nade he fired from the shoulder.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70515 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70515 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 09:13:49 -0600 MOUSE, sure simplified the man/computer interface.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70511 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70511 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:49:58 -0600 Heh. I guess that *could* be a young Senator Craig, with a "wide stance"... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70510 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70510 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:44:06 -0600 Um, the guy in the second pic is going to fall on his arse when he pulls the trigger 'cause his stance is not so good for handling the recoil? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70506 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70506 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:31:08 -0600 and meat slicer.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70504 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70504 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:19:26 -0600 The top one looks like a sausage grinder. LOL Ha, first thing I thought of too! I'm going to guess that it's some sort of playback device. The cup-shaped part on the left has a small wire attaching it to the main body, so that's where the signal could be transferred. Shot in the dark, I'm going to say this is WWI era, so comms were probably quite difficult. Hand crank to make it play because batteries weren't terribly effective at all back then. Kind of like a phonograph that can be broken down for easy transport. Second pic? Some poor fool is about to have a REALLY bad day when he catches that grenade.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70503 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70503 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:11:06 -0600 The top one looks like a sausage grinder. LOL http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70501 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/lets_have_anoth.html#comment-70501 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:03:05 -0600