You arty & naval types should recognize this. 3' 50 cal naval shell case, one of two I have as a memento of my time on ship " HMCS Qu Appelle DDE 264". I've had the pair for decades serving different purposes this one holds the fire extinguisher in my garage, Why I decide to start polishing it I don't know? But i guess I'll have to finish it now.
Carve a couple wooden projectile bucks, use them to make brass 'shells,' and install them on your front walkway. They'll look nice polished, and that polishing will always remind you of your service.
If you were enlisted and not officer like me, that was part of your job - "Polish the bright work, sailor!" "Aye aye, sir!" It's looking great, by the way.
Yeah sometimes I get it my head that brass needs to be shiny. I love the Mackenzie class the swept and curved hulls were an elegant design, even my younger brother who served mostly on modern frigates misses the old steamers.
New ships are state of the art and advanced in many ways. But there is just something about that certain era of ships from the first part of the last century. They have something that modern ships just don't. I can't sum it up in one word, but they have an aura about them. Strong and capable of many arduous task, yet classy and sometimes even elegant. Like a lot of things from the past... they may not be as "good" as their modern counterparts, but man do I prefer them.
One of the things steamers have over modern diesel & gas turbine ships is fresh water. Steamers had a large distillation plant/s to make up for losses in the boilers and normal supply so there was ample fresh water for daily life, modern diesel & gas turbine powered ships have small plants and small ships usually have to resort to some form of rationing.
Makes sense. It always amuses me when I hear things like that. We took steps forward in one area, but took steps back in other areas. Modernization wasn't always "progress".
Tell me about it. Had a Tropical storm go thru here yesterday/last night. All clear this am so went out back door to check around outside. All seems ok thank heavens. Try to get in thru garage door in front of house which works from remotes or keypad. Keypad dead. All remotes in cars which are in garage. Walk around back of house to unlocked back door, walk thru house to garage to get new 9v battery. Have 9v in stock. Open garage door with wall control and go to keypad to replace battery. Pry old 9v out with dime and one of battery's terminals remains in battery connector. Battery is a Duracell not a knockoff. Go back into garage, search thru screwdrivers for driver small enough to pry off terminal. Comes right off -Halleujah ! Put new battery in, check see if works, it does. Go back in garage, close door from wall control, put screwdriver away. Took almost 10 minutes to get in a door.
Dayum! I don't think I've ever taken ten minutes to change out a 9 volt battery in my life! And, frankly, I use my teeth to pop them puppies off....
