[Milsurplus] Defuzing the past

[Bruce Gentry]

I just returnrd from Israel yesterday, and have been reading these 
posts.  We visited a captured Syrian bunker in the Golan Heights 
surrounded by well marked active mine fields. Being young at heart, I 
wanted to pose for a picture as if I were about to lob a big rock over 
the fence, but descretion prevailed and I did not. There is no way I 
would actually do it, the mines are fresh and live, and the IDF would 
probably get very angry.  On a less humourous(?) and more on-topic 
incident, a friend bought several thermal batteries from a scrap yard 
back in the 60s, and we literally fired one up. It got very hot, smoked 
and fumed, and produced  power for about 15 minutes.  We knew it would 
get hot, and took precautions, so it was surprising and exciting with a 
happy outcome. Has anyone seen or used the military solid fuel cartridge 
soldering irons from the 50s and 60s?  These are probably equal to a 250 
watt electric, an uncle had one with many cartridges, and it was great 
for fixing gutters and other tinsmithing.

   Bruce Gentry, KA2IVY

On 2/24/15 7:46 PM, Larry wrote:
> When i was stationed in Germany back in the mid-late 60's there were a 
> couple of us guys that would go out bunker hunting.  Bombs, artillery 
> shells, landmines?  We were a bit on the lucky side as we never found 
> anything that dangerous but we were warned about going into an area in 
> France and one up in the area where the Battle of the Bulge had 
> happened.  Apparently the locals would hear a big bang occasionally 
> and write off another animal.  Needless to say we took that word 
> seriously.
>
> I see a lot of Youtube videos have been posted from souvenir hunters 
> who are still finding an amazing  collection of weapons including 
> things like tanks, aircraft, left behind ammo, grenades and larger 
> caliber stuff in swamps, lakes, forests and other places.
>
> Larry
> W0OGH
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