This is the oldest shot tower in the U.S. It was built to reduce dependence on imported British shot. It operated for almost a century before closing in the early 1900s.
The way these towers worked was the the free falling lead would form a perfect ball before splashing into a vat of water at the bottom
>>28254850
That's pretty cool, same principle behind initial making of ball bearings iirc
There was a guy would worked at the top of this 140' tower, he would haul lead ingots and fuel to the top where it would be melted and poured through a strainer that was sized for the size of shot needed. It was a highly toxic and back breaking job.
At one time, these towers were common along the east coast, with one being located every 100 or so miles. The next closest on to the Sparks tower is the still standing Baltimore tower - which is much taller.
As these towers closed up and shutdown operation, most of them were destroyed. This one was turned over the city and the old factory grounds were made into a playground. The tower was preserved and is now a defining feature of the area. There is even a high end condo complex, in the shadow of the tower, called the shot tower condos.
>>28254835
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qybStWdYcs
>>28254850
That's actually awesome. Best thing I ever learned on /k/.
>>28254892
>MFW learning this
Why.. not just... cast them? like tens at a time?
>>28254915
Gat dang, it seems like there are only two left, West Coast and Lawrence.
I wonder where shotshell manufacturers get their shot from.
>>28254976
That works ok with buckshot, but casting birdshot in a mold would get nowhere fast.
Some enthusiasts build "drippers" for making birdshot. I probably will someday.
>>28254926
>actually raining lead
neet
>>28254943
I'm going to be spending some time in Philly shooting lots of gun videos. There will be one on the Sparks tower and the history of it.
I found the location of Henry Deringer's Philly workshop - the one where he made the first Deringer pistol and the one that killed President Lincoln. I also found his grave site. Then there's the former Sharps factory before it relocated to New England. Just south of the city is the form Eddystone Enfield factory. Then, west of Philly is the birthplace of the Pennsylvania/Kentucky long rifle as well as the birthplace of Daniel Boone.
>>28254976
https://youtu.be/z1lqd0QnuAA
>>28254976
That is what they did before, using wood molds. The problem was 1790s technology was not conductive to tooling perfectly round molds that were cost effective. It was cheaper to build a big tower and rain down lead.
>>28254986
>>28255006
Is that where the term came from?
>>28254850
>they experience zero gravity
I think they forgot to physics. Still, cool process, thanks for sharing, op.
>>28254835
Thats pretty fucking neat.
I always just assumed it was cast, but this eliminates any need for perfectly sperical molds. Why go through all that trouble when you can just let nature do its work for you.
Pre-industrial manufacturing is pretty neat.
>>28255064
Its close enough for the average joe who's going to be seeing this kind of stuff for the first time.
>>28255064
Sure, until you get into space you really can't say zero gravity (even then there will be some small measured gravitational force). But the 1700s science behind what they figured out was pretty cool, and they knew the exact height it took to do it.
The people who figured this out were not highly educated people. There were everyday Joes who stumbled onto something pretty cool.
>>28255071
It is. This tower was built by plumbers. Now. If they had only known how toxic those lead fumes were to the guy working at the top of the tower.
>>28254835
hey, look everyone, it's the faggot that shits on nuggetfest
http://www.everydaynodaysoff.com/2015/07/28/k-assembles-at-nuggetfest-2015-innawoods/
fuck your thread, now we play the game
>>28255095
rolling
>>28255095
And yet, this is the best you have to offer this board. Congrat, you're worthless.
I will let the quality and originality of my content speak for itself.
>>28255095
And, no, I didn't boost these photos from somewhere or someone else. They were all taken by me.
>>28255095
Wizard Wizard get.
>>28255139
>Furher Wizard.
I'll take it.
The roof was not part of the original structure. It was added after 1913 to help preserve the interior of the structure. The worker at the top would have had walls surrounding him but open skylight above.
Today the interior is sealed off and there have not been photos or tour accounts posted in decades. It's questionable how much of the wood interior structure and steps is still intact.
>>28255121
I'm one of the faggots that brings legal NFA to nuggetfests for noguns to enjoy while you're in your basement shitting on us in the comment section for having a good time.
Repent from your faggotry, confess your transgressions, and come enjoy yourself at nuggetfest.
>>28255095
Caffeine addict get
>>28255214
>Arcane wizard
Why even live
>>28255095
Prussia wizard get
>>28255205
I don't even have a basement bro. There's nothing a nuggetfest that I don't have access to now. Plus, do you really want a PA LEO at nuggetfest? Not to mention also being twice the age of most attendees
>>28255095
I put on my robe and wizard hat
>>28255095
Snakepenis wizard get
>>28255095
Weeniemancer get
>>28254835
I got a shot tower in my home town. Bit newer than that one, but there is funny story that comes with it. It's second iteration of shot factory here. Previous factory ran by same owners got their trade secrets leaked to competitor. Their response was something that is kinda against how job contracts run now. They basically went to opposite from modern temporary contracts for few months... literally generational contracts, we hire you for rest of your career, your son, unborn grandson and so on for whatever unions demand plus 20%. One way of ensuring worker loyalty. Of course contract came with lead, arsenic fumes and associated side effects on health.
>>28255095
Rolling for Imperial Wizard
>>28255655
Fug, dunno whether a proud Aryan should choose Fuhrer, Klansman, Prussia, or Black Metal
Help me
Dear diary,
Today OP was not a faggot. However he was on the wrong chan.
The end.
>>28255705
you should choose killing yourself.
>>28255765
Which? Ghost, Skeleton, or Japanese?
>>28254984
There is one at shot tower state park in Virginia. Easily accessible from I77. I stop on the way to Florida all the time. Just out of wytheville.
>>28254850
Thank you for posting this and being productive on /k/
>>28255705
>Cross on flag leaves 4 sections available
Why not all of the above?
>>28255095
Roll
>>28255095
rollin
>>28255095
Rolling
>>28255095
Rolling>>28255095
Rolling
>>28255710
Dear blog,
Anon never changes. Proof evolution may not exist...
>>28255095
c'mooooooon snakepenis!
>>28255095
rolling
>>28255095
rooll
>>28255095
Well rollin' time
>>28255095
Rolling.
>>28257917
Me the tripfaggot getting ballsack wizard powers. How gay and appropiate lol.
>>28255095
Mosinmosinmosinmosinmosin
>>28255095
rolling
>>28258908
buzz buzz motherfuckers
>>28255095
rolling for american wizard
>>28255095
Rolling.
>>28255043
That... That is entirely possible where it came from.
Either that, or it came from WWI or something, when planes strafing trenches became a thing.
>>28255095
>no whizzard
...but muh magical realm
>>28255710
This IS weapons related, you troglodyte. It deals with the history behind the manufacture of Shot.
>>28255095
relling
>>28255095
roll.
>>28255095
boop
>>28255095
roll
>>28255095
shoop
What's the upper size size limit for this process? Could it work for bullets? Cannonballs?
>>28255095
rollan
>>28254984
>I wonder where shotshell manufacturers get their shot from.
We have better methods now.
>>28262499
Those work better when properly molded.
>>28255095
Rollin
>>28254835
Well, you lear something new everyday.
Thanks, OP.
>>28262745
I didn't know anything about the process until I found this tower and did a bunch of research.
>>28255095
Boy oh boy
