Often here at Atomic Toasters we get to look at bits of technology whose time has come and gone. Especially with electronic gadgets in recent history, the lifespan of new toys is often very short. But there are some technologies that are firm believers in the philosophy of TTWWADI–That’s The Way We Always Did It. Today’s Quixotic Quantum Quandary is just such a bit to simple tech, and if you’re of a certain age you have probably come across this particularly ubiquitous item.
I once met a guy who had lived the sailing life for awhile, and lived the dream of reaching exotic ports in far away lands. On one such adventure he found himself in the land down under, with the opportunity of a lifetime. Like many a classic cartoon antagonist, he had the chance to enter the boxing ring with that beast so often confused for a big fluffy mouse–the jolly kangaroo. While I imagine many of us would have a hard time turning down just such a chance at glory, as he began climbing in the ring, gloved up and ready, one of his fellow sailors happened by and got him out of there. Turns out boxing a kangaroo can be a lot rougher than one would think, and the guy perhaps was not in the best condition to be fighting or even making the decision to go ahead with it.
As always, here is your hint!
I’d like for you all to share in the fun of rooting around for prized nuggets for us all to ponder over, so if you have a super strange piece of some old or neglected technology, please send some photos my way! Just email HycoSpeed@gmail.com and throw Q³ in the subject line so I’ll see it.
Hah! Love the hint.
http://nickshell1983.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/…
if you’re of a certain age you have probably come across this particularly ubiquitous item I'm pretty sure these are still in use… don't know what would replace them…
You are quite close, but that if you're of a certain age is the kicker. Yours, age doesn't matter, so…
The certain age part had me thinking I knew what it was, but then Batshitbox threw me with his answer. Beer tap? The picture of the ball shaped internal bit looks a bit elaborate to me for an old school water tap.
In fact, as the man says in his ad, this is apparently "not for weenies with no style". http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/atq/3125834849.ht…
<img src="http://images.craigslist.org/5Ke5H25M53Kf3J13N6c78e0c5c3c1c3f11128.jpg" width="500">
I'd say that you've nailed it. What I was thinking of was way off base.
Ahh, I wouldn't have gotten that. I was puzzled by the three fittings barely visible in the third pic.
Didn't we have a beer keg on Q³ a little while ago?
What, are you saying I have a probelm! No sech thing. I
neverrarelyoccasionallyusually post while dirnking.Besides, it was just the internals of a keg.
Absolutey right on! Nice job!
<img src="http://atomictoasters.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Q3-No25-Answweir.jpg" width="400/">
The one you found is far shinier than mine, I guess I should get out some polish and get after it. I will say that I paid far less than $200 for mine, although I could most likely be categorized as a "weenie with no style", so I probably just didn't know what I was buying. Mine came from an auction of a bunch of stuff leftover from a restaurant/bar opening that flopped, and was in a big tub with some other stuff for something like 5-10 bucks. I had visions of someday building an outdoor polished wood top bar with this on it, but I don't know if that will ever happen. It looks cool though!
5 or 10 bucks for a solid brass 3-tap tower is an absolute steal.
Clean it up and use it! Homebrew for all!
<img src="http://www.feistees.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/itpth.jpg" width="200">