Climbed more than a few of those in my high steel days . Several times had a hammer on a rope to beat a half inch of ice off the rungs . It's all in the grip .
Same with me Robert. When you get past the point of terminal velocity what does it matter? I spent my adult life climbing. High voltage transmission towers as a journeyman lineman. If you fuck up well nice knowing you. If you do your fucking job right you can kick back and enjoy the rewards. (Like I am doing now.)
Not sure, but I do think Edison's first light bulb is still operational as he used extra thick tungsten (compared to today's crap). I'd bet money a bulb could be manufactured today that would last decades or even centuries.
A number of years ago I read about the Hungarian state owned company (Tungsram) that made light bulbs. Evidentally, at that time Hungary had a lot of tungsten. The bulbs they produced under communist control were very long lasting and the article said they were sometimes past down to the next generation of family members. That won't work under capitalism as the market must always have customers needing your product. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tungsram
Yes, but for very specific application like this. Bulb would be expensive because of super low volume but what are they paying these guys? Just a thought.
Been there, done that. Working for a company in Westminster, we got the call to to 'head to B'more. WBFF, what was(is) Fox 45 in Baltimore had a bulb out. Their tower was just off to the right side (going south) of the JFX (Jones Falls Expressway, AKA I-83) Took me over an hour to climb the 1280', unclip and swap out the bulb. Coming down was always faster, but not by much. And that was pretty much the end of your day at that point, arms and legs were putty. But man...the view from up there was incredible. Tower is still there last I drove through. Been a while though. 39.336272021858186, -76.64933956102129 are the coordinates thanks to teh goggle Looking down was cool...looking up with clouds moving...yeah, fuck that. Never look up with the tower in view.
I've only been 300' up a 1000' tower and only once. I was inspecting feedline after a lightning strike took out the antenna (pinholed one of the six bays) of an FM station where I was chief engineer. Soonest a tower crew could get there was two days. You aren't just woofing about don't look up with the clouds moving. Even 300' was quite a view in the flatlands.
Feral...tie the lead in a loop or a knot, and tie the knot to the leg of the tower. I called bullshit many times before I was sent up to 'fix' one. Side was blown out, and a scorch mark on the tower leg. Nothing downstream was hurt, lightning arrestors were spotless, and the equipment worked perfectly. After that, I tied knots in everything, including power cords and tied them to the local grounds.
That was hard for me to watch, in my old age the stomach takes a wild ride just from a video. So ya big nope for me and hats off to those guys. No job for a man bun soy boy!
I wish I had figured out how to get that job Way back when I could have done it. I'm pretty sure it paid better than roughnecking. Once you climb past the That fall is fatal height, it's all the same. Anyone know what that paid in the late seventies and early eighties?
I knew a man who used to paint the Mackinaw/Mackinac bridge here in Michigan. He would climb the cables on the way up to the top. A job like that of course, is never finished. You get done, and it is time to start over. Me and some friends in high school used to try and climb the radio tower just south of our small town. From the ground it looks pretty easy to get to the first lightbulb, at a mere 60 feet. The challenge was to climb up and steal the bulb. Once you start to get close to the 60 foot height, you would be surprised just how high that is. Then you have to try and figure out how to unlock the padlock allowing you past the metal grid that covers the ladder, to allow you to get to the light. I don't remember anyone ever getting the bulb from that tower, in all the time I lived there, 30 years of my 61 years. But I do remember having the police catch several youths halfway up the tower. I don't remember what their fate was, probably at the time, just a slap on the wrist. Now, of course, they would get a fine and community service or some such thing.
https://youtu.be/8gW4TQ08YVU
ReplyDeleteThe Old Lamplighter by the Browns 1960
And he drops his 10mm socket.......................
ReplyDeleteNo, no, no, noooooooo!
ReplyDeleteIn the spirit of the season just passed, Nope, Noppity-nope-nope, Nope-Nope-Nope!
DeleteNo fucking way.......
ReplyDeleteMy exact thought.
DeleteAnonymous too
Climbed more than a few of those in my high steel days . Several times had a hammer on a rope to beat a half inch of ice off the rungs . It's all in the grip .
ReplyDeleteSame with me Robert. When you get past the point of terminal velocity what does it matter? I spent my adult life climbing. High voltage transmission towers as a journeyman lineman. If you fuck up well nice knowing you. If you do your fucking job right you can kick back and enjoy the rewards. (Like I am doing now.)
DeleteI think they have to change the bulb every month due to FAA rules....not for a million bucks would I do that..
ReplyDeleteNot sure, but I do think Edison's first light bulb is still operational as he used extra thick tungsten (compared to today's crap). I'd bet money a bulb could be manufactured today that would last decades or even centuries.
DeleteEnter the phrase 'manufactured obsolescence. Search Phoebus Cartel.
DeleteA number of years ago I read about the Hungarian state owned company (Tungsram) that made light bulbs. Evidentally, at that time Hungary had a lot of tungsten. The bulbs they produced under communist control were very long lasting and the article said they were sometimes past down to the next generation of family members. That won't work under capitalism as the market must always have customers needing your product.
Deletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tungsram
Yes, but for very specific application like this. Bulb would be expensive because of super low volume but what are they paying these guys? Just a thought.
DeleteFuck that light.
ReplyDeleteThis must have been one of those tasks for geocache.
ReplyDeleteWhat? You forgot the bulb?
ReplyDeleteBeen there, done that. Working for a company in Westminster, we got the call to to 'head to B'more. WBFF, what was(is) Fox 45 in Baltimore had a bulb out. Their tower was just off to the right side (going south) of the JFX (Jones Falls Expressway, AKA I-83)
ReplyDeleteTook me over an hour to climb the 1280', unclip and swap out the bulb. Coming down was always faster, but not by much. And that was pretty much the end of your day at that point, arms and legs were putty.
But man...the view from up there was incredible. Tower is still there last I drove through. Been a while though. 39.336272021858186, -76.64933956102129 are the coordinates thanks to teh goggle
Looking down was cool...looking up with clouds moving...yeah, fuck that. Never look up with the tower in view.
I've only been 300' up a 1000' tower and only once. I was inspecting feedline after a lightning strike took out the antenna (pinholed one of the six bays) of an FM station where I was chief engineer. Soonest a tower crew could get there was two days. You aren't just woofing about don't look up with the clouds moving. Even 300' was quite a view in the flatlands.
DeleteFeral...tie the lead in a loop or a knot, and tie the knot to the leg of the tower. I called bullshit many times before I was sent up to 'fix' one. Side was blown out, and a scorch mark on the tower leg. Nothing downstream was hurt, lightning arrestors were spotless, and the equipment worked perfectly. After that, I tied knots in everything, including power cords and tied them to the local grounds.
DeleteThat was hard for me to watch, in my old age the stomach takes a wild ride just from a video.
ReplyDeleteSo ya big nope for me and hats off to those guys. No job for a man bun soy boy!
Not for all the money in the world.
ReplyDeleteI am a "boots on solid ground" type.
I wish I had figured out how to get that job Way back when I could have done it. I'm pretty sure it paid better than roughnecking. Once you climb past the
ReplyDeleteThat fall is fatal
height, it's all the same.
Anyone know what that paid in the late seventies and early eighties?
Kinda like after the first one they're all free.
DeleteI didn't (couldn't) even watch until the end, but my sphincter is still clenched up tighter than a rusted spud nut.
ReplyDeleteI knew a man who used to paint the Mackinaw/Mackinac bridge here in Michigan. He would climb the cables on the way up to the top. A job like that of course, is never finished. You get done, and it is time to start over.
ReplyDeleteMe and some friends in high school used to try and climb the radio tower just south of our small town. From the ground it looks pretty easy to get to the first lightbulb, at a mere 60 feet. The challenge was to climb up and steal the bulb. Once you start to get close to the 60 foot height, you would be surprised just how high that is. Then you have to try and figure out how to unlock the padlock allowing you past the metal grid that covers the ladder, to allow you to get to the light. I don't remember anyone ever getting the bulb from that tower, in all the time I lived there, 30 years of my 61 years. But I do remember having the police catch several youths halfway up the tower. I don't remember what their fate was, probably at the time, just a slap on the wrist. Now, of course, they would get a fine and community service or some such thing.
Climbed 2 of the 3 2000' towers near Locke CA. Getting down was much quicker, just stepped off the edge.
ReplyDeleteHope the climbers are welded good an strong...Ohio Guy
ReplyDeleteUse 50 yr life LED bulb.
ReplyDeletechillhill