Off topic but with a technical aspect, Mythbusterish

[Dwight]

I know this is really reaching but I can't think of a better group of guys (any gals?) to run this by. I have tried to search the internet for this but I lack details. Anyway here it is. I heard this story 20 to 30 years ago, sometime back in the 1930s or 1940s there were two huge American companies (maybe G.E. and Westinghouse). These companies were competitors in a similar high tech industry and always trying to one up the other. One company's lab developed a new process that allowed them to manufacture the thinnest smallest filament ever produced, this was a coil shaped filament. Proud of their technical achievement, they sent a sample to their competitor basically saying Ha Ha, look what we can do. A week or two later they received the sample back with a note congratulating them on their technical prowess but suggesting they look closely at the sample to see what they were capable of doing. Upon inspection they saw that the competitor had bored a tiny hole through the length of the filament from one end to the other! I may have some details wrong but this was the gist of the story. Have any of you ever heard anything like this? Know any details? Or do you think this is just urban legend?

[Mark Bunte]

http://www.snopes.com/business/genius/wire.asp

[dwigle]

I think it's an urban myth that has taken various forms.

I heard a similar story about a US defense contractor in the early '60s. They sent their smallest drill bit to russia and asked if they had anything smaller and if so could they purchase one. It was about the diameter of a human hair.

The russians sent it back with a hole drilled in it lengthwise, along with a two word response. Yes and No.

[Æ]

I think it's an urban myth that has taken various forms.

I heard a similar story about a US defense contractor in the early '60s. They sent their smallest drill bit to russia and asked if they had anything smaller and if so could they purchase one. It was about the diameter of a human hair.

The russians sent it back with a hole drilled in it lengthwise, along with a two word response. Yes and No.

I would imagine that with holes that small. they wouldn't use an actual bit. Something like a Laser.

[billfitzmaurice]

At the Yalta Conference Stalin asked Roosevelt for supplies of condoms for the Red Army, in anticipation of the occupation of Germany and the potential for fraternization with less than healthy Frauliens. "But they must be at least 10 inches capacity to fit Russian soldiers", Stalin proclaimed.
"Done", Roosevelt replied, who turned to his aid and said, "send our Russian allies a full shipload of condoms, size Texas medium!"

[PassingInterest]

at The Yalta Conference Stalin Asked Roosevelt For Supplies Of Condoms For The Red Army, In Anticipation Of The Occupation Of Germany And The Potential For Fraternization With Less Than Healthy Frauliens. "but They Must Be At Least 10 Inches Capacity To Fit Russian Soldiers", Stalin Proclaimed.
"done", Roosevelt Replied, Who Turned To His Aid And Said, "send Our Russian Allies A Full Shipload Of Condoms, Size Texas Medium!"

Lmao! :d:d:d:d

[Dwight]

Sounds like urban legend, thanks to all

[curt_c]

I would imagine that with holes that small. they wouldn't use an actual bit. Something like a Laser.

The laser was just being invented back in the early 60's and the technology was experimental at best. Yes, they had to use drill bits...

C

[rone]

I may have some details wrong but this was the gist of the story. Have any of you ever heard anything like this? Know any details? Or do you think this is just urban legend?

I heard a similar story once, that Seiko (Japanese watch maker) proudly sent their smallest drill bit to the Swiss, and the Swiss sent it back with a hole drilled through it. These always sounded like nationalistic myths to me.

They have the same "snopy" flavor as the stories I have heard since the 70's where the government confiscates cars that, due to a manufacturing flaw, get 200 mpg... Seems strange to me that these are often repeated at garages by mechanics, who should know better.

Reminds me of the mechanics story about a young woman who went in to her dealer with a newish pickup and asked: "Can you check my rear end? my husband stuck his finger in there and said it was low."

[Misch]

I heard a similar story once, that Seiko (Japanese watch maker) proudly sent their smallest drill bit to the Swiss, and the Swiss sent it back with a hole drilled through it. These always sounded like nationalistic myths to me.


I've heard a german/british version of this one...

[Wolf]

There is a real one from the '70's aken to the car-mpg rates.

My Dad has an acquaintance, who owned two cars of the same make, both brand-new and consecutive products from the factory in the 70's. (IIRC, they were an Impala or Monte Carlo.)
He took one to the repair shop in lieu of getting about half the mpg of the other, and was wanting this one fixed to the same spec. The shop could find nothing wrong with the 'inferior' car, and stated it was getting the specified mpg for that model. Apparently inquiries were made, and the manufacturer had the VIN number checked for the better car. It was supposed to be sent to Europe, and had the fuel economy/emissions regulatory standards in place for their cars over there. Due to this mistake, GM offered to buy back the car, and paid off the guy's house in the transaction as he wouldn't have sold it back for less than that.

I found this very intriguing to say the least...and I can't blame him either..
Later,
Wolf

[billfitzmaurice]

There is a real one from the '70's aken to the car-mpg rates... It was supposed to be sent to Europe, and had the fuel economy/emissions regulatory standards in place for their cars over there. Due to this mistake, GM offered to buy back the car, and paid off the guy's house in the transaction as he wouldn't have sold it back for less than that.

Myth for sure, right up there with the 100 MPG carburetor that the oil companies supposedly bought the patents for and buried.
In the early days of emission controls it was widely assumed that cars with them got a lot worse performance than cars without. More than a few mechanics I knew at the garage I worked at removed catalytic converters on their '70s Detroit Iron so they could use leaded gas, and did everything else possible as well to increase performance. The improvements gained were slight.

[Jeff B.]

Myth for sure, right up there with the 100 MPG carburetor that the oil companies supposedly bought the patents for and buried.
In the early days of emission controls it was widely assumed that cars with them got a lot worse performance than cars without. More than a few mechanics I knew at the garage I worked at removed catalytic converters on their '70s Detroit Iron so they could use leaded gas, and did everything else possible as well to increase performance. The improvements gained were slight.

The changes made to engines between 1971 and 1972 that significantly changed the performance were not things that could easily be undone in a garage, by removing the catalytic converter, or changing the breather. So, if they did these things and saw little change, there's good reason. One of the signifcant changes in 1972 was to lower compression ratio and change camshaft timing. These reduced emissions but at a loss of horsepower and typically mpg as well. Unless someone was prepared to rebuild with new crank, pistons, and camshaft (maybe even new heads because in many cases valve diameters were reduced too) then they weren't going to restore the performance of the earlier engines. It is quite possible that at the time vehicles being exported used difference engines that had the higher compression, longer valve timing with significantly greater performance characteristics.

Jeff Bagby
Chrysler Powertrain Engineer

[billfitzmaurice]

It is quite possible that at the time vehicles being exported used difference engines that had the higher compression, longer valve timing with significantly greater performance characteristics.

Jeff Bagby
Chrysler Powertrain EngineerThat wouldn't get them twice the gas mileage.

[Jeff B.]

That wouldn't get them twice the gas mileage.

On that point, I agree. I just didn't agree with the idea that it was simple to "undo" what had been done to the engines.

[billfitzmaurice]

I just didn't agree with the idea that it was simple to "undo" what had been done to the engines.It was if you were Carroll Shelby. :D