Balls !!!!

[Frad]

Did you Know ?????



CANNON BALLS!!!
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 a major problem. The best 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.
Answer
The solution was a metal plate with 16 round dimples, called, for
reasons unknown, a Monkey. But if this plate were made of iron, the
iron balls quickly rusted to it. The solution to the rusting problem
was to make the plates of brass - hence, Brass Monkeys.
Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts more, and more rapidly
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, you thought that it was just a vulgar
expression, didn't you?

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

[Mutley]

Have you just made that up?

[Frad]

Originally Posted by shel750

Have you just made that up?

I aint that clever

[winxp-master]

Yup i'd heard that before and i always wondered where the expresion came from...

[alpslapper]

It's a great story. But it's not true. Sorry.

Shot was actually stored on what was called a garland, and no matter how much the ship pitched and rolled they wouldn't break free. Stacking cannonballs as described would have the top layers breaking free in heavy rough seas, killing and maining all about.

Earlier in time the balls were stored in on a rope lattice arrangement - which is probably the origin of the name finally given to the ''garland'' they were eventually stored in.

I prefer the myth though.

[MCsanandreas]

Originally Posted by alpslapper

It's a great story. But it's not true. Sorry.



I prefer the myth though.

me too!

[doglegdon]

Originally Posted by alpslapper

It's a great story. But it's not true. Sorry.

Shot was actually stored on what was called a garland, and no matter how much the ship pitched and rolled they wouldn't break free. Stacking cannonballs as described would have the top layers breaking free in heavy rough seas, killing and maining all about.

Earlier in time the balls were stored in on a rope lattice arrangement - which is probably the origin of the name finally given to the ''garland'' they were eventually stored in.

I prefer the myth though.

Someone's been raiding "wikipaedia" again eh?!!!!! I prefer the myth too.

[alpslapper]

Originally Posted by doglegdon

Someone's been raiding "wikipaedia" again eh?!!!!! I prefer the myth too.

Nope, I've been contradicting this myth years before wiki was even invented but yeah, I prefer the myth too

[Mutley]

''Thus, it was quite literally, cold enough to freeze the balls off a
brass monkey. And all this time, you thought that it was just a vulgar
expression, didn't you?''

It's probably a northern version of the story then ........

[Frad]

Bracknell Royal Naval Association - Them be Cannon Balls

Alpslaper can you give me some proof that this is a myth I'm having a real argument with a soon to be ex pal over this one

Cheers Frad