Advertisement
Message Forums |
|
Topic: Unusual places or things
|
Page: 1 2 3
|
21/4/2024 at 1:24pm
Location: London Outfit: Lunar Cosmos 524
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 17/9/2015 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 2328
Site Reviews Total: | 1 |
|
Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
Site Reviews 2019: | 1 |
Site Reviews 2018: | 0 |
|
Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
Site Nights 2019: | 6 |
Site Nights 2018: | 0 |
|
Way back in the dim and dark days of the 1970's when I was being taught electronics, we were tutored on a device called an Ignatron, which was a mercury vapour rectifier for turning AC power into DC, and dating back to the 1930's (yes, our education was a way off 'cutting edge' technology)! Our lecturer was an old chap, who I distinctly remember saying something like "I'm obliged to teach you this, BUT I've never even seen one outside of a textbook in my long career before taking up lecturing, let alone in use, and you lot are certainly unlikely to ever need to know this outside of an exam, but that's the curriculum for you!"
Well, he was right, never encountered one for 45 years after my 'education', UNTIL I visited a water pumping station living museum, with steam engines and ancillary equipment dating back to the early part of 20th century, and low and behold there was a working Ignatron in the flesh no less! Only a daft old engineer could get excited by such things, but it was like discovering a Unicorn, it wasn't just ancient myth and legend and tales told in dusty books, they really did exist, a sad old man's moment of elation at coming 'face to electrode' with a mythical beast!
The other sad old engineers out there will recognise the 'joy' of encountering something of the ilk, the rest of you will write me off as being a bit barmy, but all the best engineers are a bit barmy! ... I think!
Anyway my years of expensive adult education in dusty corridors of academia being taught pointless trivia wasn't all wasted, I can recognise obscure ancient artifacts in museums without need to refer to explanatory plaques or listen to guidance from curators!
|
|
|
9397 Visitors online !
Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker - Recommend to Friend - Add a Missing Campsite
[Message Forums]
[Caravan Sites & Camping]
[Company Listings]
[Features / Advice]
[Virtual Brochure]
[Shop!]
[Reception]
[Competitions]
[Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]
[Event Diary]
[Contact Us]
[Tent Reviews]
Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024
|
Advertisement
|
|
|