At the beginning of the first world war they plotted all military operations using these giant pins. Later in the conflict ‘map pins’ were developed and these ‘land pins’ became obsolete.
Another fascinating example of how the horrors of war pushed technology forwards in civilian applications.
20 Comments
Squeezer@lemmy.world · 27 pts · 2y
At the beginning of the first world war they plotted all military operations using these giant pins. Later in the conflict ‘map pins’ were developed and these ‘land pins’ became obsolete. Another fascinating example of how the horrors of war pushed technology forwards in civilian applications.
13esq@lemmy.world · 24 pts · 2y
Imho joke answers should be against the rules of the sub.
InvisibleShoe@lemmy.world · 23 pts · 2y
Looks like piece of a wheel and an axle from a tractor or a truck or something.
SatansMaggotyCumFart@lemmy.world · 25 pts · 2y
It’s in the centre of France so it’s actually the France axle.
Beryl@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 2y
Please don't touch it or you'll make France all wobbly
bdonvr@thelemmy.club · 3 pts · 2y
The IWW would like you to touch it
Zachariah@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 2y
…otherwise it’d just be sparkling wheel shaft.
Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee · 6 pts · 2y
I should call him ...
HootinNHollerin@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 2y
Or train
HootinNHollerin@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 2y
Marking the exact center of France
merde@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 2y
i remember seeing somewhere in paris the prime pin
must be around Notre Dame
edit: yes, it indeed is there : point zéro
Damage@feddit.it · 7 pts · 2y
It looks very rough, it could be an unfinished part: a fusion that hasn't received the subsequent machining.
Maybe a flywheel.
usualsuspect191@lemmy.ca · 5 pts · 2y
I think that's just from many years of rust and wear. I doubt that's the original surface finish
Damage@feddit.it · 1 pts · 2y
Could be both
YerbaYerba@lemm.ee · 4 pts · 2y
A large ship engine valve? Maybe an unfinished casting? Finished ones here
13esq@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 2y
If that's a valve, the cylinder is probably big enough to climb inside!
badcommandorfilename@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2y
I think it might be a riser or part of a sprue from a larger cast part
threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 2y
I wouldn't have known it was metal just from the picture. It looks like a stone bird bath.
Glemek@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2y
What does the top look like?
aurele@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 2y
It is flat (and round obviously).