David Hendley on sat 22 jul 00
I just got back from a couple of days of helping
a buddy build a new kiln. First class kiln. Car kiln,
big, all new materials.
The local TV station came out and did a story.
Building a 2400 degree oven on a 104 degree
day. Ha ha.
My friend followed Nils' instructions for the Minnesota
Flattop. He even got the new, up-to-date plans.
Tapered, sealing car floor, check.
Flame trench and target brick, check.
Double-venturi exit flue, check.
Flat top, no way.
Texans just don't like flattops. I've seen dozens and
dozens of kilns and have yet to see a flattop (Except,
of course, Dannon's kiln. But what do you expect, since
Minnesota Mel got a Texas Work Visa and came down to
build it). Every time someone tells me they are going
to build a Minnesota Flattop, there is always an
'except' at the end of the sentence.
I've come up with several theories to explain this
Texas flatophobia:
The 'big hair' effect: We like big hair on our ladies and
big hats on our men (we also like Lyle Lovett). Ditto
for kilns.
The 'West Texas' effect: If you've ever driven from El Paso
to Abilene or Amarillo to Ft.Worth, you've seen enough
horizontal lines to last quite a while.
The 'ranch house' effect: We grew up in ranch style houses
with low-pitched roofs. We're sick of ranch style houses
and want hips, valleys, and palladium windows.
Yankees: We still don't trust 'em. That flat roof must
be a trick.
Any other theories?
--
David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
hendley@tyler.net
http://www.farmpots.com/
Tom Wirt/Betsy Price on sun 23 jul 00
Subject: The Texas Not-so-flattop
> Texans just don't like flattops. I've seen dozens and
> Yankees: We still don't trust 'em. That flat roof must
> be a trick.
>
> Any other theories?
David...I think it's 'cause Texans just like to do things the hard way?
Another Minnesota.
Tom Wirt
Bill and Sylvia Shirley on mon 24 jul 00
David,
Maybe it's because all those arched roofs look like the
Alamo.
Sylvia Shirley
Pittsburg, Kansas
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