MOTnews 13 (09/02/2001)

NEW on the website

We added a lot of new unidentified objects to the "what's it" -page on the website. Now you really have a handful to puzzle out. We've also altered the photographs of the objects that were already on line to give you an even better view of the items that are still a mystery to us. Visit the site at www.mot.be and help us identify these unidentified (non-flying) objects.

SAY WHAT? In this MOT-NEWS item we try to explain proverbs and sayings that have their roots in our technical history. Similar proverbs are found in different languages, but each language has it's own typical sayings. Therefore we do not translate this item in English.

TRUE or FALSE

A sledge keeps its balance on two "runners" or "legs", made out of wood or metal. Do you think it could remain in balance on only one "runner"?

You can find the answer in the following MOT-NEWS.

ANSWER to TRUE or FALSE, MOT-NEWS 10 (8/12/2000) :

Sanding paper is made of a piece of paper or fabric that has fine-grained glass, sand, amaril (a sort of stone) or iron filings glued to it. In the past we also used sharkskin for sanding.

TRUE

Sharkskin as well as sealskin were used as sanding paper in the past.

KIDS-NEWS Sledging without snow?

With the warm we winters we know nowadays, you probably hardly ever have the chance to get out on your sledge. Not enough snow of course! But did you know that in the past, we used sledges even when there wasn't any snow?

Lots of freights were hauled in to the docks on sledges and farmers used to carry their ploughs to the fields on a sledge. In both cases they used horses to pull the freight.

Unfortunately you'll still have to wait for a nice cold winter and look for a helpful friend or dad to pull your sledge.