Interesting conversation! I had always heard that the opposite was true -
ie that the brass 'monkey' contracted more during the extreme cold, while
the iron balls did not. Therefore the brass tray (monkey) shrank to the
point of being too small to contain the balls, allowing them to fall off ?!
Cheers, Fred
----- Original Message -----
From: "William Davies" <bill@rarebits4classics.co.uk>
To: "Eric Taylor" <5067375@sympatico.ca>; "Spitfire List"
<spitfires@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, March 14, 2003 1:57 AM
Subject: Re: brass core plugs
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Eric Taylor <5067375@sympatico.ca>
>
> > Bill, I'm surprised a fellow Brit would not know which expands more,
Iron or Brass. Have you never heard of the expression "cold enough to
freeze the balls off a brass monkey".
> > This has nothing to do with a primate's private parts, but goes back to
the times of Nelson when the cannon balls were carried around the ship on a
brass "Monkey". If it was as cold as
> > it's been here in Ontario for the last three months, the iron balls
shrank more than the brass, and fell off the monkey! So that solves your
question - or does it? ;-)
>
> Hi Eric,
> You learn something every day! I always assumed the saying had
something to do with the "three wise" varieties of Monkey. Now I know better
I have a whole new line in interesting conversation for the pub......
> Cheers,
> Bill.
>
> --
> Rarebits4classics
> .......ju
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