Black Tot Day: A Fond Farewell to a Naval Tradition

Black Tot Day, celebrated on July 31, 1970, is a colorful and bittersweet milestone in Royal Navy history—the day when sailors were served their final daily rum ration, affectionately known as the "tot." This lively tradition, brimming with camaraderie and history, spanned over 300 years before it bid its joyous farewell.

Imagine the vibrant life aboard a 17th-century Royal Navy ship, with the salty sea breeze and the rhythmic creaking of timber. Back then, sailors were initially given beer, but as voyages grew longer and climates hotter, rum became the drink of choice. By the mid-18th century, the daily tot of rum was a beloved ritual, a moment of cheer amid the daily grind. Admiral Edward Vernon, known for his pragmatic flair, diluted the rum with water in 1740, creating "grog" to keep the crew healthier and happier.

Fast forward to the swinging 60s, a time of rapid technological advancement. Naval ships were now sophisticated marvels of engineering, requiring sharp minds and steady hands. The Admiralty began to worry that the cheerful tradition of the rum ration might not mix well with modern machinery and complex operations. Studies and discussions led to the inevitable decision: it was time to say goodbye to the tot.

Black Tot Day itself was a day of mixed emotions but also of great festivity. Sailors around the world raised their final cups in unison, savoring the moment. Many wore black armbands, not in mourning but as a playful nod to the end of an era. Some ships held mock funerals for the tot, complete with eulogies and toasts, blending humor and homage.

The end of the rum ration marked the Royal Navy's step into a new age of professionalism and modernity. This change was met with a touch of nostalgia but also with the understanding that it was necessary for the times. The Royal Navy continued to evolve, now more aligned with contemporary military standards, where duty and safety came first.

Today, Black Tot Day is a fondly remembered chapter in naval lore. It's a day that brings a smile to the faces of veterans and historians alike, celebrated with stories and toasts to a tradition that once brought warmth and unity to the hearts of sailors. As we remember Black Tot Day, we honor not just the end of a tradition but the spirit of camaraderie and resilience that defines the Royal Navy.

The Birth of the Motorcycle: The Tale of the Daimler Reitwagen

In the bustling heart of the Industrial Revolution, amid a whirlwind of innovation and invention, two brilliant minds, Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach, embarked on a journey that would forever change the world of transportation. Their creation, the Daimler Reitwagen of 1885, is celebrated as the world’s very first motorcycle.

Gottlieb Daimler, a pioneering German engineer, teamed up with the ingenious Wilhelm Maybach. Daimler, who had worked alongside Nikolaus Otto—the genius behind the four-stroke engine—was driven by a vision to transform personal transportation. Together, Daimler and Maybach set out to harness the power of the internal combustion engine, giving birth to the Reitwagen, affectionately known as the “riding car” or “Einspur” (single track).

Picture this: a wooden bicycle frame, sturdy and reliable, fitted with a 264-cubic-centimetre single-cylinder Otto cycle four-stroke engine. Mounted on rubber blocks to keep those pesky vibrations at bay, this engine churned out a modest 0.5 horsepower at 600 rpm. The Reitwagen could cruise at a brisk 7 miles per hour (11 km/h), a speed that must have felt like flying in those days! It rolled on iron-tread wooden wheels, supported by a pair of spring-loaded outrigger wheels for balance—a charming feature that hinted at the vehicle’s pioneering spirit.

One of the Reitwagen’s most enchanting features was its spray-type carburetor, which ensured efficient fuel combustion. Initially, it employed a simple belt drive system, which was later upgraded to a more sophisticated two-stage, two-speed transmission with a belt primary drive and a ring gear on the back wheel.

On a crisp day in November 1885, Paul Daimler, Gottlieb’s adventurous 17-year-old son, took the Reitwagen for its inaugural spin. His journey from Cannstatt to Untertürkheim in Germany was nothing short of legendary. Despite a small hiccup—a seat fire caused by the hot tube ignition underneath—Paul’s ride marked the first time a gasoline-powered motorcycle graced the roads.

Though the original Reitwagen was lost to a fire in 1903, its legacy lives on through several replicas displayed in prestigious museums around the globe, including the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart and the Deutsches Museum in Munich. These replicas stand as a testament to the innovation and daring of Daimler and Maybach.

The Daimler Reitwagen wasn’t just a motorcycle but a trailblazer that paved the way for modern motorized transportation. This marvelous machine demonstrated the potential of the internal combustion engine, influencing the design and engineering of both motorcycles and automobiles for generations to come.

In the grand tapestry of automotive history, the Daimler Reitwagen shines brightly as a symbol of innovation and ingenuity. Daimler and Maybach’s creation didn’t just introduce a new form of transportation—it ignited a revolution that transformed how we move, forever etching their names in the annals of history.

The Tragic Tale of the 1937 Fox Vault Fire: Hollywood's Lost Treasures

On a hot summer day in Little Ferry, New Jersey, a disaster struck that would forever alter the landscape of Hollywood history. On July 9, 1937, a storage building rented by the Fox Film Corporation exploded in a cataclysmic blaze. Flames shot over 100 feet into the air, visible for miles, as 42 individual vaults containing the bulk of Fox’s silent film archive were consumed in the inferno.

The fire began innocuously enough, with a spark likely ignited by the volatile nitrate film stored within the facility. Nitrate film, used extensively in early cinema, was infamous for its flammability and the ability to spontaneously combust under certain conditions. As the fire raged, it quickly became apparent that the scale of the disaster was unprecedented.

Firefighters battled bravely, but their efforts were hampered by the flames' ferocity and the film stock's highly combustible nature. When the smoke finally cleared, the extent of the loss was staggering.

Among the ruins were countless silent films produced by Fox before 1932. These films represented not just the creative output of a studio but a significant portion of the early history of cinema. The loss included works from some of the era’s most prominent directors and stars.

Notably, the fire claimed the last remaining prints of many films by acclaimed directors like John Ford and Raoul Walsh. Ford, who would later become synonymous with Westerns, had several of his early works destroyed. These films provided critical insight into his development as a filmmaker and the evolution of his directorial style.

The blaze also consumed films featuring stars like Theda Bara, one of the original screen vamps whose work in films like "Cleopatra" (1917) and "Salomé" (1918) was now lost forever. Bara's performances were pivotal in shaping early Hollywood's depiction of femme fatales, and her films' destruction left a gaping hole in film history.

The immediate impact of the fire was one of profound loss. Silent films, many already at risk due to their fragile nature, became even scarcer. The fire robbed future generations of the chance to experience and study these foundational works. Historians and filmmakers alike lamented the loss, recognizing that these films were more than entertainment; they were cultural artifacts reflecting their time's social and artistic fabric.

This tragedy also served as a wake-up call for the industry. The volatile nature of nitrate film had long been known, but the Fox vault fire underscored the urgent need for better preservation methods. In response, studios began investing in more secure storage facilities and exploring safer film stock alternatives.

The Fox Vault fire was a turning point in film preservation. It catalyzed efforts to transfer existing nitrate films to safety films and established dedicated archives and institutions focused on film preservation. The lessons learned from this disaster have shaped how film archives operate today, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding cinematic history for future generations.

Despite the irreplaceable losses, the legacy of the 1937 Fox vault fire endures as a reminder of the fragility of our cultural heritage. It serves as a testament to the resilience of the film community and the ongoing commitment to preserving the magic of cinema, ensuring that even as we look back with regret at what was lost, we can move forward with a renewed dedication to protecting what remains.

The fire may have consumed many treasures, but it also ignited a flame of awareness and action that continues to illuminate the path of film preservation today.

On This Day July 8th

  OTD

July 8th is the one-hundred-eightieth-seventh day of the year, with 176 days remaining until the end of the year.

 

Events

1497 – Vasco da Gama sets sail on the first European voyage to India.

1730 – An estimated magnitude 8.7 earthquake causes a tsunami that damages more than 620 miles of Chile's coastline.

1776 – Church bells (possibly including the Liberty Bell) were rung after John Nixon delivered the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence of the United States.

1889 – The first issue of The Wall Street Journal is published.

1932 – The Dow Jones Industrial Average reached its lowest level during the Great Depression, closing at 41.22.

2011 – Space Shuttle Atlantis was launched during the final mission of the U.S. Space Shuttle program.

 

Birthdays

1766 – Dominique Jean Larrey, French surgeon (d. 1842)

1831 – John Pemberton, the American chemist and pharmacist, invented Coca-Cola (d. 1888)

1838 – Eli Lilly, an American soldier, chemist, and businessman, founded Eli Lilly and Company (d. 1898)

1895 – Igor Tamm, Russian physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1971)

1908 – Louis Jordan, American singer-songwriter, saxophonist, and actor (d. 1975)

1926 – David Malet Armstrong, Australian philosopher and author (d. 2014)

1947 – Reports are broadcast that a UFO crash-landed in Roswell, New Mexico, in what became known as the Roswell UFO incident.

1952 – Jack Lambert, American football player and sportscaster

1958 – Kevin Bacon, American actor and musician

1992 – Son Heung-min, Korean footballer

 

Highlighted Holiday

NATIONAL BLUEBERRY DAY

With their rich history, blueberries are more than just a delicious fruit. Did you know they're native to North America? They come in shades of blue and purple; the ones we have today were first grown in the 1900s. Back in the day, the wild variety was a bit tricky to farm, so people had to forage for them in the wild. Native Americans have been munching on these berries for over 13,000 years, using them in medicines and as a tasty flavoring for food. Elizabeth White and Frederick Coville are the ones we can thank for turning these wild things into the yummy blueberries we have today. And here's the best part - they're not just delicious but also super good for you! Eating blueberries can help lower cholesterol, keep your heart healthy, fight aging and cancer, and even boost your brain. Plus, they're in season from April to September, so it's the perfect time to celebrate Blueberry Day and Blueberry Month!

 

Holidays And Observance.

Be a Kid Again Day

Coca Cola Day

International Town Criers Day

Math 2.0 Day

National Freezer Pop Day

National Ice Cream Sundae Day

National Milk Chocolate with Almonds Day

SCUD Day (Savor the Comic, Unplug the Drama)