Random reminder

Press, 15 August 1978, Page 23

Random reminder

MUSCLEMAN

They called him Bulldozer around, the works. He had wide square I shoulders, a beautiful barrel chest, bulging biceps, and he tapered neatly from head to toe. Bulldozer was proud of his build and his physical strength, but he was a quiet, modest chap. A new blacksmith came to the firm and he soon heard about Bulldozer and his feats of strength. The new blacksmith was a bit of a hard case, and he set out to discover exactly how powerful the muscle man was. The smithy acquired a couple of bars of 12mm diameter copper. The bars were old and dirty with no sign of brightness or colour to reveal that; they were copper. One day as Bulldozer was passing through the blacksmith’s shop, the I smithy mentioned that he had heard of the powerful man’s strength. “Have you ever tried bending steel bars?” asked the blacksmith. Bulldozer said that he had no! opportunity or reason to try bending steel bars.

. The smithy produced one of his I copper bars, about two feet long, seized one end in each hand and commenced trying to bend it. With much grunting, groaning and grimmacing he managed after an apparent struggle, to bend his bar into a fairly neat U shape. Bulldozer had keenly observed this exhibition, and had his hand out at once. “Give me a piece” he asked. Smithy handed him a bar of 12 millimetre diameter STEEL. Several heads of tradesmen from adjoining workshops appeared at doors and windows, well aware of what was going on. Bulldozer applied the strain . to the steel bar. His forearms trembled i under the strain. He changed his grip, I the veins stood out on his forehead ! and the steel bar took on an L shape. Puffing slightly, Bulldozer ! apologised. “Could I have a couple of bars to take home and practice on,” he l asked, “I’m getting a bit soft.”