04-27-2009, 10:47 PM
Martin, if we ever meet in person at some event, I'll buy you a stout or three. A friend once said never trust any beer that you can see through, and I tend to agree 
Some ales also fit that criteria.
Do you happen, or does anyone else who reads this feel that Marsden's translations can be fully relied upon? If not, though I don't read Greek or Latin, perhaps commissioning a scholar to translate Heron, Philon, Vitruvius, et al, would be worth while. If Alan has made available his translation, is it available in a scholarly journal in full?
A big, big future project, if it ever comes to fruition, is to build a torsion machine entirely with Roman and Greek era hand tools, such as block planes, draw knives, pit saws, etc, cast bronze parts using Roman period techniques (one blacksmith told me that perhaps clay molds were likely used) using period alloys, sinew or horsehair ropes, and so on, hand wrough iron plating, etc. Methods available must impact processess developed and used in building any ancient machine, I am guessing. Just saw the carpenter's tools thread with those yummy reproduction Roman hand tools, and that gets the juices flowing for certain.
My own preference is for the early machines, I find those so facinating, rather than the late ferroballista (excellent term, Randi) machines. The little gastrophets are very cool to me, and that is actually much closer to start date than the future project mentioned above. You will probably never find me building a metal framer, simply because I don't possess the competent metal working skills. Since a lifetime can be devoted to wooden machines, I don't shed many tears. And above all else, what I am striving to do is not improve upon these designs, but find out what they really were capable of. I dont think anyone has pulled off sinew ropes yet, and I hope to change that.
Dane
PS Attached is one shot of my little baby, a "scorpio-minor" made from ash. The plating is not iron or bronze, alas, but cartridge brass. Pardon the black PVC washer mock-ups. The real ones will be bronze. The slider I am going to redo, as well as some other modifications.
Some ales also fit that criteria. Do you happen, or does anyone else who reads this feel that Marsden's translations can be fully relied upon? If not, though I don't read Greek or Latin, perhaps commissioning a scholar to translate Heron, Philon, Vitruvius, et al, would be worth while. If Alan has made available his translation, is it available in a scholarly journal in full?
A big, big future project, if it ever comes to fruition, is to build a torsion machine entirely with Roman and Greek era hand tools, such as block planes, draw knives, pit saws, etc, cast bronze parts using Roman period techniques (one blacksmith told me that perhaps clay molds were likely used) using period alloys, sinew or horsehair ropes, and so on, hand wrough iron plating, etc. Methods available must impact processess developed and used in building any ancient machine, I am guessing. Just saw the carpenter's tools thread with those yummy reproduction Roman hand tools, and that gets the juices flowing for certain.
My own preference is for the early machines, I find those so facinating, rather than the late ferroballista (excellent term, Randi) machines. The little gastrophets are very cool to me, and that is actually much closer to start date than the future project mentioned above. You will probably never find me building a metal framer, simply because I don't possess the competent metal working skills. Since a lifetime can be devoted to wooden machines, I don't shed many tears. And above all else, what I am striving to do is not improve upon these designs, but find out what they really were capable of. I dont think anyone has pulled off sinew ropes yet, and I hope to change that.
Dane
PS Attached is one shot of my little baby, a "scorpio-minor" made from ash. The plating is not iron or bronze, alas, but cartridge brass. Pardon the black PVC washer mock-ups. The real ones will be bronze. The slider I am going to redo, as well as some other modifications.
Dane Donato
Legio III Cyrenaica
Legio III Cyrenaica
