An interesting piece of history about gunpowder manufacturing
- Thread starter Jstpssng
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Industrial Toys
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I used to make lots of black powder as a kid. It usually took quite a while to get the right formula. I used to mix it in a large pie plate, take a little off to the side and try and ignite it with a Ford T spark coil. One time, the formula was just about right when a spark landed in the dish! That was in the basment of my parents house, and the flames were licking the ceiling as I ran to the laundry area for water. Nothing bad happened but the house did fill up with a lot of smoke! Only my sister was home and not too impressed.
k0ua
Epic Contributor
My Father told us a story that stick in my mind now that you relate the powder mills blowing up:
One day on the farm as he and his father were picking peaches in their orchard two "powder monkeys" came by on their way to work blasting out rock cuts for the construction of 39 highway in southwest Missouri. The two explosives handlers wanted a bushel each of the peaches, and advised when they went by on the way back home that evening they would pick them up and pay for them. They never made it back. Of course my dad heard a large explosion down the road, but that was not unusual as blasting went on every day. But apparently something had happened in the course of their work during the day, and the two men were now in small fragments. The life of a "powder monkey" was not an easy or safe one.
One day on the farm as he and his father were picking peaches in their orchard two "powder monkeys" came by on their way to work blasting out rock cuts for the construction of 39 highway in southwest Missouri. The two explosives handlers wanted a bushel each of the peaches, and advised when they went by on the way back home that evening they would pick them up and pay for them. They never made it back. Of course my dad heard a large explosion down the road, but that was not unusual as blasting went on every day. But apparently something had happened in the course of their work during the day, and the two men were now in small fragments. The life of a "powder monkey" was not an easy or safe one.
I actually came across this while trying to figure out what's being used in in-line BP rifles these days. I saw where the inventor of Pyrodek Dan Pawlak(sp?), had been killed in an explosion at his factory. One thing led to another and I found this, which I found interesting.
MossRoad
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I spent a lot of time around King's Mills, Mason, Lebanon, etc... as a teenager. Had some family in that area. Never knew why Kings' Mills was named that. Now I know. Thanks. 
Looking4new
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This might not be manufacturing, but it is still about gunpowder.
The date; 6 December 1917, Halifax,NS 2,000 dead, 9,000 injured and 25,000 left homeless. It flattened the town.
https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion
Halifax Explosion - The Canadian Encyclopedia
The date; 6 December 1917, Halifax,NS 2,000 dead, 9,000 injured and 25,000 left homeless. It flattened the town.
https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion
Halifax Explosion - The Canadian Encyclopedia
Last edited:
This might not be manufacturing, but it is still about gunpowder.
The date; 6 December 1917, Halifax,NS 2,000 dead, 9,000 injured and 25,000 left homeless. It flattened the town.
https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion
Halifax Explosion - The Canadian Encyclopedia
Wow, that was brutal! Nearly a century later still send a Christmas tree to Boston every year thanking them for their support. :thumbsup:
Ed of all trades
Elite Member
On a lighter note, My grandpa told of when he was little he had a tobacco bag with some powder in it and a wooden spool tied to the string. He was dropping a little on the top of a hot cook stove and watching to puff. He dropped a little to much and it followed it to the bag and It exploded. The spool hit him in the head and knocked him out and he remembered waking up on the floor with a knot on his head. I assume he got scared and dropped the bag on the hot stove because no harm was done to his hands. Good thing they were not hurt. He walked on those hands for over 70 years. Had home made crutches made of walnut, with big feet on the end so he could go where he wanted without sinking in the ground. When this happened he was a young boy with frozen joints in his legs from inflamatory arthritus. SP He grew up and got married and had 3 kids. He made a living fishing and trapping. Ed
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King's Mills has one of the last remaining shot towers as well (there are 8, apparently).I spent a lot of time around King's Mills, Mason, Lebanon, etc... as a teenager. Had some family in that area. Never knew why Kings' Mills was named that. Now I know. Thanks.
mark02tj
Platinum Member
THANKS for that link!! I've book marked it to go back and read the story. I've lived in the Dayton area since I was 10 years old (40+ years now) and I've not seen that website. Full of great stuff!! The only downside is that I'll be reading some of it now instead of spending time reading the "tractor ****" here on TBN! :laughing:
