What is that little metal plate flapping on tractor’s exhaust?
A lot of tractors, bulldozers and some trucks use exhaust flappers - small metal plates that can be seen and heard flapping...
Why some pressure gauges are filled with liquid?
You may have noticed that some pressure gauges are liquid-filled. These measuring devices are often installed in industrial equipment, hydraulic and other...
Goliath Pionier looks like a cartoon villain’s car, but was very important
Unique does not necessarily mean beautiful. The Goliath Pionier is not necessarily a beautiful car, but it is so unique that it...
Front-hinged and rear-hinged bonnets – why both exist?
Some cars have front-hinged bonnets, but most hoods open towards the rear. What are the advantages and disadvantages of these designs? Why...
No fist-bumps allowed – a peculiar WW2 glove-pistol
Small firearms have one advantage - they are easy to hide. On paper Sedgley OSS .38 was not a very powerful or...
Why Robinson helicopters have such tall rotor masts?
A helicopter flies by and to a great surprise of your friends you immediately identify it as a Robinson. With confidence too,...
Convair Sea Dart was a fighter jet seaplane
Fighter jets are highly capable military aircraft, but their range is actually quite limited. This is what makes aircraft carriers so important...
The shortest double-decker coach in the world is only 9 meters long
Double-decker buses have some disadvantages. A higher center of gravity worsens their stability in corner and some lower bridges is a problem...
Why Volkswagen decided not to make the BlueSport sportscar?
There are many words we could use to describe modern Volkswagen cars – serious, reliable, safe, modern, maybe a bit boring. Of...
This boat had 10 meter wheels, but what for?
Humans have been travelling by sea for thousands of years, so it's probably not surprising that there have been quite a few...
Horshoe nails are weirdly interesting and have other applications
It is believed that horses were first domesticated in around 3500 BC. They quickly became an absolute necessity for human civilization -...