Comments on: The iconic M*A*S*H still http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 23 May 2013 20:03:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Nutrition Industry http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html#comment-1531149 Nutrition Industry Thu, 13 Sep 2012 01:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=180492#comment-1531149 Sorry, it isn't.  I was going to walk through the design, but PersonOfInterest already did at the MASH site: "It looks like it is largely for show. The copper coil needs to have more coils and/or be submerged in water to condense the alcohol or else you lose a lot as alcohol vapor. The plastic tubing at the top of the “pot” that connects it to the copper coil doesn’t sound like a good idea (hottest vapor hitting 1950′s plastic? – at a minimum I think the flavor would be affected). Several tubes appear to be completely for show (e.g. large plastic tube passing above and behind the coil). I am not sure about the heat stability of surgical tape, but I think the tape itself was mostly cloth back then – which might work. Now I am getting into the guessing area, but the metal array with the glass flasks hanging below it looks like something we used in P-chem to react different gases together and collect the resulting chemical. I can’t quite figure out how the copper coil outlet ties into the system, but it may be through the surgical tubing on the left of the array. Is so, the array is useless unless they are adding the “gin” to some flavoring agent in the flasks (juniper would be nice). Otherwise, they can just tap it straight from the coil to the glass like I think they did in the show." I am not sure how an inefficient condenser would affect methanol content either. BTW, I had a bumper crop of plums this year and thought about making up some plum brandy until I found out home distilling is illegal everywhere outside of New Zealand.  :( Sorry, it isn’t.  I was going to walk through the design, but PersonOfInterest already did at the MASH site:

“It looks like it is largely for show. The copper coil needs to have more coils and/or be submerged in water to condense the alcohol or else you lose a lot as alcohol vapor. The plastic tubing at the top of the “pot” that connects it to the copper coil doesn’t sound like a good idea (hottest vapor hitting 1950′s plastic? – at a minimum I think the flavor would be affected). Several tubes appear to be completely for show (e.g. large plastic tube passing above and behind the coil). I am not sure about the heat stability of surgical tape, but I think the tape itself was mostly cloth back then – which might work. Now I am getting into the guessing area, but the metal array with the glass flasks hanging below it looks like something we used in P-chem to react different gases together and collect the resulting chemical. I can’t quite figure out how the copper coil outlet ties into the system, but it may be through the surgical tubing on the left of the array. Is so, the array is useless unless they are adding the “gin” to some flavoring agent in the flasks (juniper would be nice). Otherwise, they can just tap it straight from the coil to the glass like I think they did in the show.”

I am not sure how an inefficient condenser would affect methanol content either.

BTW, I had a bumper crop of plums this year and thought about making up some plum brandy until I found out home distilling is illegal everywhere outside of New Zealand.  :(

]]> By: Nutrition Industry http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html#comment-1531141 Nutrition Industry Thu, 13 Sep 2012 01:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=180492#comment-1531141 Fizzbin? Fizzbin?

]]> By: mikey p http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html#comment-1531099 mikey p Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=180492#comment-1531099 Perhaps since a) I haven't seen many stills before, and b) I spent last weekend at the Museum of Old and New Art in Tasmania, this rather reminds me of Wim Delvoy's 'Cloaca Professional' installation in that gallery:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/emmalola/5397164089/ Perhaps since

a) I haven’t seen many stills before, and
b) I spent last weekend at the Museum of Old and New Art in Tasmania,

this rather reminds me of Wim Delvoy’s ‘Cloaca Professional’ installation in that gallery:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/emmalola/5397164089/

]]> By: morton http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html#comment-1530750 morton Wed, 12 Sep 2012 18:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=180492#comment-1530750 relevant: http://www.boingboing.net/2010/12/16/backyard-mash-set-re.html relevant:

http://www.boingboing.net/2010/12/16/backyard-mash-set-re.html

]]> By: Chrsitian Long http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html#comment-1530445 Chrsitian Long Wed, 12 Sep 2012 14:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=180492#comment-1530445  Double-Cranko, it was called.  Double-Cranko, it was called.

]]> By: politician http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html#comment-1530404 politician Wed, 12 Sep 2012 13:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=180492#comment-1530404 A Still Life, if you will. A Still Life, if you will.

]]> By: Cefeida http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html#comment-1530380 Cefeida Wed, 12 Sep 2012 12:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=180492#comment-1530380 But you can sail the HMS Bounty EXACTLY like it's portrayed in the movie.  But you can sail the HMS Bounty EXACTLY like it’s portrayed in the movie. 

]]> By: noah django http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html#comment-1530366 noah django Wed, 12 Sep 2012 11:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=180492#comment-1530366 my obligatory, go-to quote for all things MASH-related: "white folks was MAD when OJ got off.  I hadn't seen white folks that mad since they cancelled MASH!" --Chris Rock my obligatory, go-to quote for all things MASH-related:
“white folks was MAD when OJ got off.  I hadn’t seen white folks that mad since they cancelled MASH!”
–Chris Rock

]]> By: chgoliz http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html#comment-1530361 chgoliz Wed, 12 Sep 2012 10:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=180492#comment-1530361 I think it's the U.S. equivalent to Mornington Crescent. I think it’s the U.S. equivalent to Mornington Crescent.

]]> By: Just_Ok http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html#comment-1530352 Just_Ok Wed, 12 Sep 2012 09:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=180492#comment-1530352 And you'll land in jail...and his orchestra And you’ll land in jail…and his orchestra

]]> By: nixiebunny http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html#comment-1530326 nixiebunny Wed, 12 Sep 2012 08:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=180492#comment-1530326  What do you expect? It's a prop. Its job is to reflect light, not make gin.  What do you expect? It’s a prop. Its job is to reflect light, not make gin.

]]> By: smut clyde http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html#comment-1530325 smut clyde Wed, 12 Sep 2012 08:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=180492#comment-1530325 It is a still. Of a still. Ha. It is a still. Of a still. Ha.

]]> By: smut clyde http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html#comment-1530324 smut clyde Wed, 12 Sep 2012 08:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=180492#comment-1530324  Those berry-like structures have a special name, 'Diaspores'. Yay botany!  Those berry-like structures have a special name, ‘Diaspores’. Yay botany!

]]> By: Alpacaman http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html#comment-1530317 Alpacaman Wed, 12 Sep 2012 07:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=180492#comment-1530317  Known as party grade in the labs at the university I go to, my cousin told me.  Known as party grade in the labs at the university I go to, my cousin told me.

]]> By: penguinchris http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html#comment-1530277 penguinchris Wed, 12 Sep 2012 05:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=180492#comment-1530277 Yeah - I was thinking of Adam Savage when I wrote my comment. I've watched a few of those videos, he's done some neat stuff!  Yeah – I was thinking of Adam Savage when I wrote my comment. I’ve watched a few of those videos, he’s done some neat stuff! 

]]> By: dioptase http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html#comment-1530278 dioptase Wed, 12 Sep 2012 05:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=180492#comment-1530278 You know, if you wrap some foil around the top there, you'll get a better yield. You know, if you wrap some foil around the top there, you’ll get a better yield.

]]> By: kullervo http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html#comment-1530269 kullervo Wed, 12 Sep 2012 05:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=180492#comment-1530269 In ninth grade, inspired by M*A*S*H*, I built a still and won the science fair. School and county.  And today is the third anniversary of the death of Larry Gelbart. In ninth grade, inspired by M*A*S*H*, I built a still and won the science fair. School and county. 

And today is the third anniversary of the death of Larry Gelbart.

]]> By: John Maple http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html#comment-1530247 John Maple Wed, 12 Sep 2012 04:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=180492#comment-1530247 <blockquote>. . . From what I know of the Korean climate, I would think there are plenty of junipers there.</blockquote>There are also too many drunks in Seoul.

. . . From what I know of the Korean climate, I would think there are plenty of junipers there.

There are also too many drunks in Seoul.

]]> By: Preston Sturges http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html#comment-1530245 Preston Sturges Wed, 12 Sep 2012 04:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=180492#comment-1530245 it does not look at all functional in terms of having a good condenser, and the whole manifold set-up seems pointless.  Given the amount of hardware they would have had lying around in the army and the technical know how of surgeons, they would have put together something much nicer.  Of course, they would have been drinking the laboratory grade ethanol any way.  it does not look at all functional in terms of having a good condenser, and the whole manifold set-up seems pointless.  Given the amount of hardware they would have had lying around in the army and the technical know how of surgeons, they would have put together something much nicer.  Of course, they would have been drinking the laboratory grade ethanol any way. 

]]> By: talktothechair http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html#comment-1530246 talktothechair Wed, 12 Sep 2012 04:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=180492#comment-1530246 Based on what I've seen of my brother-in-law's still, the one in the pilot episode is most realistic. Based on what I’ve seen of my brother-in-law’s still, the one in the pilot episode is most realistic.

]]> By: Ted Bautista http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html#comment-1530237 Ted Bautista Wed, 12 Sep 2012 03:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=180492#comment-1530237 recreating movie props is apparently a popular hobby of sorts with a big community around it. adam savage apparently does this -- link to him recreating the Bourne Identity burn bag:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQbbtnTz1KE recreating movie props is apparently a popular hobby of sorts with a big community around it. adam savage apparently does this — link to him recreating the Bourne Identity burn bag:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQbbtnTz1KE

]]> By: Wayne Dyer http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html#comment-1530235 Wayne Dyer Wed, 12 Sep 2012 03:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=180492#comment-1530235 Texas "Mountain Cedar" here is a variety of juniper, and the berries are the same kind of "berry-like seed cone", but it's not the variety used in gin.  Texas “Mountain Cedar” here is a variety of juniper, and the berries are the same kind of “berry-like seed cone”, but it’s not the variety used in gin. 

]]> By: penguinchris http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html#comment-1530210 penguinchris Wed, 12 Sep 2012 03:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=180492#comment-1530210 This seems like something people would be interested in recreating, like how people recreate other movie and TV props. This has the advantage of probably being fairly easy to pull off, though it will certainly take a bit of scrounging to find the right fixtures. This seems like something people would be interested in recreating, like how people recreate other movie and TV props. This has the advantage of probably being fairly easy to pull off, though it will certainly take a bit of scrounging to find the right fixtures.

]]> By: Boundegar http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html#comment-1530207 Boundegar Wed, 12 Sep 2012 03:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=180492#comment-1530207 I bet Gale Boetticher remembers that still fondly too. I bet Gale Boetticher remembers that still fondly too.

]]> By: Boundegar http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html#comment-1530204 Boundegar Wed, 12 Sep 2012 03:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=180492#comment-1530204 The CGI version? The CGI version?

]]> By: Brad Johnson http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html#comment-1530201 Brad Johnson Wed, 12 Sep 2012 03:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=180492#comment-1530201 It's easy to tell by looking at the needles (green parts). Cedars are flat, with segmented sections. Junipers are round. Other than that they look a lot alike. At least here in the Sierra of CA. I would imagine it's the same everywhere.  Gin is not really made from junipers. It's *flavored* with juniper, and other stuff.  It’s easy to tell by looking at the needles (green parts). Cedars are flat, with segmented sections. Junipers are round. Other than that they look a lot alike. At least here in the Sierra of CA. I would imagine it’s the same everywhere. 

Gin is not really made from junipers. It’s *flavored* with juniper, and other stuff. 

]]> By: Deidzoeb http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html#comment-1530196 Deidzoeb Wed, 12 Sep 2012 03:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=180492#comment-1530196 Darn, I had hoped it was more stable than this: http://en.allexperts.com/q/MASH-1380/2010/4/game-trapper-hawkeye-play.htm Darn, I had hoped it was more stable than this:
http://en.allexperts.com/q/MASH-1380/2010/4/game-trapper-hawkeye-play.htm

]]> By: franko http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html#comment-1530190 franko Wed, 12 Sep 2012 03:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=180492#comment-1530190 i bought one of their IV-vodka bottle joke items in a antique store in LA a few years ago. i bet they were sold in a place like Spencer's at the time. anyway, it brings back fond memories of this show, but what i wouldn't give to have a prop replica of their still on the bar instead. i bought one of their IV-vodka bottle joke items in a antique store in LA a few years ago. i bet they were sold in a place like Spencer’s at the time. anyway, it brings back fond memories of this show, but what i wouldn’t give to have a prop replica of their still on the bar instead.

]]> By: The Life Of Bryan http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html#comment-1530180 The Life Of Bryan Wed, 12 Sep 2012 02:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=180492#comment-1530180 I remember trying to work out the pattern when I was a kid, and decided that it was just entirely ad-libbed. I remember trying to work out the pattern when I was a kid, and decided that it was just entirely ad-libbed.

]]> By: Deidzoeb http://boingboing.net/2012/09/11/the-iconic-mash-still.html#comment-1530173 Deidzoeb Wed, 12 Sep 2012 02:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=180492#comment-1530173 Next up for extreme M*A*S*H geeks, could someone please post the rules to the game where they played some game of cards and the outcome of each hand affected their game of chess? The simplest thing would be to say that whoever wins a hand of cards gets to make a chess move, but that could be a really short game if one person wins a few hands in a row. Next up for extreme M*A*S*H geeks, could someone please post the rules to the game where they played some game of cards and the outcome of each hand affected their game of chess? The simplest thing would be to say that whoever wins a hand of cards gets to make a chess move, but that could be a really short game if one person wins a few hands in a row.

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