- Thread starter dextadriver
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500e
Always buy fire insurance a flood is a hard start
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Where I went to School in the late 40s there was gas lighting.
In a shed was a gasometer about 5 ft high and 3 in diameter that produced Acetylene from Calcium carbide and water I think, it was a proper gasometer with the top half that raised and lowered to maintain pressure in the system it was a big old country house and the gardener used to feed it.
We used to get!! small bits put them in a tobacco tin and put that on the Tortoise (heater) or one of the paraffin stoves made a lovely bang and flash when it blew the lid off.
Then off to the heads study for a beating, kids to day don't know they are born.
Then we had lectrick a V twin Jap ex Raf gen set that lasted till someone jammed the governor, of to the Heads ETC.
That was replaced with Lister Startomatic the science teacher a more enlightened man (ex RAF Navigator) instructed us in wiring the whole building and put 3/4 of us in charge of the supply no more trouble.
In a shed was a gasometer about 5 ft high and 3 in diameter that produced Acetylene from Calcium carbide and water I think, it was a proper gasometer with the top half that raised and lowered to maintain pressure in the system it was a big old country house and the gardener used to feed it.
We used to get!! small bits put them in a tobacco tin and put that on the Tortoise (heater) or one of the paraffin stoves made a lovely bang and flash when it blew the lid off.
Then off to the heads study for a beating, kids to day don't know they are born.
Then we had lectrick a V twin Jap ex Raf gen set that lasted till someone jammed the governor, of to the Heads ETC.
That was replaced with Lister Startomatic the science teacher a more enlightened man (ex RAF Navigator) instructed us in wiring the whole building and put 3/4 of us in charge of the supply no more trouble.
Gritineye
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A small bit put into each vase on the school window sills made the daffodils wilt completely within a couple of minutes in the most dramatic and entertaining way.
Mystified the teachers, simple things, 1950s happy days :-)
CompoSimmonite
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This has spoilt my assumption it was the seed from the Acetylene plant 
500e
Always buy fire insurance a flood is a hard start
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We were only saying that to confuse you @CompoSimmonite
Rannsachair
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Yes I recall my grandfather telling how he used urine when his water ran out for the acetylene lights on his old Douglas motorcycle.
Alan Reynolds
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They certainly did. Old cars, motorbikes and horse carriages used them before the incandescent bulb.
now if you look into the Health and Safety side of Acetylene, one of the recommendations is that it isn't used with copper alloys ..... and what are welding nozzles made out of 
"Can form a potentially explosive atmosphere in air. May react violently with oxidants. Forms explosive acetylides with copper, silver and mercury. Do not use alloys containing more than 65% copper."
from here
"Can form a potentially explosive atmosphere in air. May react violently with oxidants. Forms explosive acetylides with copper, silver and mercury. Do not use alloys containing more than 65% copper."
from here
pedrobedro
Man at Matalan
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now if you look into the Health and Safety side of Acetylene, one of the recommendations is that it isn't used with copper alloys ..... and what are welding nozzles made out of
"Can form a potentially explosive atmosphere in air. May react violently with oxidants. Forms explosive acetylides with copper, silver and mercury. Do not use alloys containing more than 65% copper."
from here
That's for joining pipes, when it's going through the nozzle it's mixed with oxygen and set alight so not so critical
julianthegypsy
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Every roadside workshop in Indonesia had an acetylene generator back in the eighties, and they probably still do. It was never a problem getting something fixed in the middle of nowhere!
Shox Dr
Chief Engineer to Carlos Fandango
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A mates Ex-GF nickmane was Acetylene Breath. She could cut Carbide just whistling Dixie
Pete.
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No need to leave them lying around - get this guy to cut them up!
Cylinder sizes/capacity
I have just had a quote from Air products for a 50L bottle of acetylene, and a 30L bottle of oxygen. Does anybody know what these are in BOC sizes, so I can try and make a price comparison? Cheers.
www.mig-welding.co.uk
James1979
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Stueeee
Old git
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Acetylene generators were certainly still in use there in the noughties when I was last there. Saw a bloke crossed legged wearing a nightshirt type 'overall' and safety Flip Flops whilst welding up an Ali canoe. Impressive and scary in equal measure.
julianthegypsy
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Ah yes, the ever present safety flip flops. If he was welding an Ali canoe he was doing well though!
We used to put carbide in the ink wells at school - brilliant if you were ink monitor. I tiny lump in each well (usually two in each desk) then top up with best blue / black ink from a copper spouted jug, just in time for the classroom to be untenable when the master came in 
(For the un-initiated, acetylene stinks !)
(For the un-initiated, acetylene stinks !)
