Japanese War Tuba

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And you thought Harry Partch was the shit!

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 04:34 (twenty years ago)

did you read this on wikipedia yesterday? i did.

― Special Agent Gene Krupa (orion), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 04:35 (twenty years ago)

Looks like Terry Gilliam gone mad

― kingfish da notorious teletabby (kingfish 2.0), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 04:36 (twenty years ago)

No.

I read it on wikipedia today.

I still have my doubts about its veracity, but fuck it - even if it's faked it's a great image.

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 04:37 (twenty years ago)

xp - on another board, the description offered was "An artillery unit designed by Dr. Suess."

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 04:38 (twenty years ago)

Also, I am not sure you could launch a drunk piglet with such a gizmo.

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 04:39 (twenty years ago)

it isn't about launching, though, is it? it is about picking up sounds from distant enemy aircraft.

― Special Agent Gene Krupa (orion), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 04:54 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, if you believe wikipedia it's a giant ear-trumpet. I was trying to be funny. Failing, as usual.

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 04:59 (twenty years ago)

Incidentally, the British did similar experiments from the First World War through to the 1930s. Their remains - giant concrete "Sound Mirrors" - still exist, in various places around the east and south coasts.

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 07:27 (twenty years ago)

example: http://fsgfort.com/Cmate/70/Short.htm#10

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 07:29 (twenty years ago)

The Real Dad's Army thing on ch4 lately has had extensive bits about coastal and inland defensive measures put it place for WW2, has been quite fascinating - there's a line of concrete tank traps across the middle of britain for instance.

― koogs (koogs), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 11:22 (twenty years ago)

Oh god, I had my fill of Sound Mirrors when I was living with Joe, but he was so proprietary over them, you'd think he invented them.

The tubas are great, though.

― Failure Isn't Falling, It's Staying Down (kate), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 11:24 (twenty years ago)

There are tank traps and gun mountings *everywhere*, if you look hard enough. Offshore forts are rather cool, too.

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 12:09 (twenty years ago)

There was one FOR SALE in Country Life a few months back, but I think it was Napoleonic, not WWI or II.

― Failure Isn't Falling, It's Staying Down (kate), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 12:21 (twenty years ago)

Ooh, a Martello Tower?

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 12:22 (twenty years ago)

A seafort in the Channel - or perhaps it was just in the Solent? Can't really remember. But it had a helipad and everything.

― Failure Isn't Falling, It's Staying Down (kate), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 12:26 (twenty years ago)

I didn't know there were any Napoleonic seaforts - I thought they were mostly WWI.

The two we have just off the beach here - Bull Sand and Haile Sand are definitely WWI. One of them - Haile Sand, I think - is just on the low waterline, but I've never dared try to walk out to it - going out that far on the beach is very dangerous, as there are lots of channels and plenty of quicksands.

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 12:43 (twenty years ago)

(napoleon didn't have any helicopters afaik.)

― koogs (koogs), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 12:55 (twenty years ago)

It was a fortified island in the Solent which was used as part of the Napoleonic defenses. The helipad may have been added by later, eccentric millionaire owners. ;-)

I cannot check any further details until I go home and look through my back issues of Country Life.

― Failure Isn't Falling, It's Staying Down (kate), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 12:57 (twenty years ago)

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