Flaming arrows integral to oil pumping: 1960
Amateur flaming-arrow archers (not a phrase that inspires confidence!) kept the fires burning in Alberta's gas towers in 1960:Bow Turns Flame Thrower for Oilmen (Apr, 1960)
Waste gas fumes burning off from this flare tower at Nevis. Alberta, sometimes blow out, and the mechanical relighting device doesn’t always work. The oilmen keep a bow and a fire arrow handy and relight the flare by shooting a flame through the fumes. It doesn’t require any skill at archery–note this oiler’s unusual form.
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Cory Doctorow
Upcoming appearances
* Feb 9, 2012, DeKalb, IL: Day of Doctorow, NIU
* Feb 10-12, 2012, Chicago, IL: Capricon 32
* Feb 13, 2012, Arlington, TX: UT Arlington College of Engineering Distinguished Speaker Series
* Feb 16, 2012, Victoria, BC: 13th Annual Privacy and Security Conference
Recent books:
* Context (essays)
* With a Little Help (short stories)
* For the Win (YA novel)
* Makers (adult novel)
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