Raining Molten Lead

The theme for Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge this week is Metal/Fall. I know the ‘Fall’ in question is supposed to be the season otherwise known as ‘Autumn’. But I’ve decided to take it more literally.

The Phoenix Shot Tower (as it was originally called) is located close to downtown Baltimore, Maryland, and was completed in 1828. Standing almost 235 feet tall, at first glance it looks like a chimney. But a chimney with windows?

In fact, it’s actually a rather clever yet simple structure (a nod here to Ailsa’s – of Where’s My Backpack? – theme of Simplify) that used gravity to turn liquid lead into shot for pistols, rifles and even cannons. Molten lead was poured through a sieve in the top of the tower. The resulting lead droplets then fell through the tower and began to cool, forming spheres that fully solidified when they landed in a water bath at the tower’s base. Hence the term ‘drop-shot’.

While you’re pondering the ingenuity of 19^th Century manufacturing, why not sign up and follow my continuing Journeys here at Jaspa’s Journal, or through my brand new website,  Facebook, Twitter and Instagram?

And if that’s not enough for you, there are now three Jaspa’s Journey novels to enjoy as ebooks! Perfect for Kids 8 – 80!