Antique Bird Banger "Scare Away"

[displayfireworks1]

This thing is close enough to fireworks that I wanted to video it. From the markings it was made by Reed Joseph Company in Greenville Mississippi.
Made in Belgium originally and imported into the United States, as close as we can figure it was somewhere in the 1960's. Anyone having more information is free to comment.
See it here before public release.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dkF0YFk20I

[jknepp1954]

Was this at the CJ shoot? If so, I wonder if this same guy can be talked into bringing again to the shoot in OCT? Very interesting...

[smilli]

Used to see them a lot in Holland, the old models werk on carbid with water wat creates the explosive gas. Farmer about 5 miles away from my hometown has a cherryfarm and uses this canon to scare the crows, a common problem in holland.
That's also why it's often named 'kersen kanon' what is dutch for cherry canon.]
Here is an example video of a 70 year old canon!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bKSJqH1qfw

[displayfireworks1]

This video is funny. I think the man turning the gas on did not know how loud the device was going to be. The more I see of these devices the more I want one.

[Vavoom]

Cool. A gas cannon working on what appears to be carbide. Nowadays, gas cannons are still in use by growers of fruit. Indeed, as you say, on propane. Being shown here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSJI05MiiZo

To celebrate New Year's carbide is still used in north-eastern parts of our country. Albeit, in other proportions than the regular/antique gas cannons. Check this epic fail that made it to national news:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv_CmrRZljA

More to find on Youtube "carbid schieten"

[displayfireworks1]

At Vavoom

I am not sure if you know there is another video from one of your post. It looks like the noise was so loud it broke some windows in that house. Here is the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjNB-9a8aGo&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJlIGHg2ubU&feature=related

[jknepp1954]

you can hear Johnny Cash's "ring of fire" song in the back ground - OMG is all I can say!

[Vavoom]

@Dave:
The other videos I also knew of. Still, I didn't mind to see them again :)
All windows of the house were smashed because of the blast. The entire group paid for them afterwards (imagine trying to explain this to your insurance company). This gas cannon by the way wasn't "fueled" by carbide. Looks to me they used a mixture of acetylene/oxygen. And all that with a static plastic bag on top!!! I remember I was honestly scared to watch this video when I saw it for the first time (afraid of what could happen). It did work great to scare away birds, because I didn't see any in the video. haha.

@jknepp1954:
And indeed, Johnny Cash in the background...a very appropriate coincidence :)
"And it burns, burns, burns, BOEM, the ring of fire"

[displayfireworks1]

Here there are talking about the broken windows on a news report TV show. It starts at 5:13 in the video. I only wish I knew what they are saying. LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9-0PE4xz6E&feature=g-vrec

[Vavoom]

LOL, indeed. This is also a bit difficult for me to understand, because it's spoken in the frisian language. A language (not a dialect) spoken in northern province of Friesland. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Frisian_language

Here's what I made of it:
Presentator:
A fireworks canon caused a big bang on "Old Years Day".
The windows of family Zuidersma broke.
The movieclip of the canon is a big hit on the internet.
The clip has already been watched over 100,000 times and was also shown in national news.

Reporter:
Every last day of the year it's tradition to gather on the land of the family Zuidersma and shoot with carbid.
A big canon with LPG and oxygen is also present.

Nienke Zuidersma tells: "We asked him "Will it be ok?" "Yup", he said, "it won't be really big. We'll vouch for it. It won't be really big."" Nienke Zuidersma continues "Well, and then, it gave a bang....." <pause> "The boys commented "That didn't go well". "Indeed", she says with a smile, "that didn't go well." Reporter asks how many windows got smashed. Nienke: "Well, downstairs, upstairs and on the side."

Reporter:
The locals don't think they did any harm. So they don't think these stunts with fireworks will have any further consequences. The windows are being measured and will be replaced this time with double glass.

Nienke Zuidersma: "The guys gave their guarantee so they said they'll pay for it. The spectators will chip in as well. We can't call on the insurance company and tell them "Hey, we lit a canon. Will you pay up?" This is our thing."

<pause>

Erik Wiersinga: "Yup, I know, I said it could be done, but eventually it couldn't. It gives a nice shockwave. You can't see that in the movieclip, but you could feel it in the field. It's incredible the shockwave it gave."
Reporter: "There are cracks in the wall."
Erik Wiersinga: "Yup, cracks in the wall, which shows the force of the blast."
Nienke Zuidersma: "The entire house shook. Fotoframes fell of the wall, the clock as well. Inside several things are awry, but well...we laugh at it, there are worse things."

Reporter: "They learned a lesson, but quitting??? No way!!!"
Erik Wiersinga: "It was a bit stupid to put it this close to the house. Further away in the meadow nothing can happen. The shockwave can dissipate. The canon itself can't explode. Actually it's safe to do this, but so close to the house....that's not clever."

<pause>

Reporter: "But there are always bigger morons. Like this student in his (dorm)room. (Note: he lights a small carbid cannon inside).