Origin of steam

[j4koch]

After reading this forum for a while, I have found out where the phrase fencing "dry" originated. (i.e. from pre-electric days of using ink tips on weapons) Can anyone here tell me where the phrase fencing "steam" came from. I believe that this is primarily a British expression for fencing without electric scoring equipment.

[neevel]

Steam power predates electric power-- just as electric powered trains replaced steam trains, so did electric fencing replace "steam" fencing.

I'd be just as likely to ascribe the phrase "dry" fencing to the fact that it didn't need "juice" (electricity).

[The0ne]

whoa, steam fencing, that's weird.

[j4koch]

Neevel

I was wondering about the steam versus electric issue, especially in light of the English history of electical power replacing steam power. Is that, indeed, the origin of the phrase, or a well-educated guess?

[The0ne]

my educated guess is that that was an educated guess.

[J.Harris]

That's where I assumed the phrase came from as well

[Louweasel]

Yes, this is why we say "steam".
To be honest I think it makes more sense than dry...

[j4koch]

Thanks for all the responses. That's what I thought, but I did have dreams of a gigantic steam-powered Babbage machine used for scoring, with tubes running out of the fencer's weapons and gear!

Thanks again.

[MyraTrue]

I know what you mean about wondering about "steam". It sure threw me through a loop when I got to England.

"so are we fencing dry or electric?" I asked in my very American accent.

They looked at me as if I'd sprouted another head. "What the heck is "Dry"??"

Er... not electric?

I'd wondered where "steam" came from too. Dry always seemed right to me, just because its what I'd been taught. I always had this image of the "Steam" setting on an iron, and it just made me laugh every time they'd talk about fencing steam.

[Inquartata]

Steam, as in what came out of fencers' ears when they "wuz robbed" of touches by blind and deaf side judges, perhaps...

[neevel]

Of course, we're skipping over the brief experimentation with pneumatic scoring equipment...

[Black Jeebus]

What are the origins of "dry" fencing? Is it do to a lack of "juice"? The steam term actually makes more sense (and I use the term dry) than the other.

[j4koch]

Black Jeebus

My understanding of this is that prior to electric scoring, some people used ink-filled tips on their weapons. The ink spotted on the opponent's (formerly) white jacket, indicating a touch. During practice, you would not fill the ink receptacle and so would fence "dry."

[Black Jeebus]

This is after the invention of washable ink they were doing this right? I'd hate to have to buy a new jacket after every tournament.


Oh yeah. This is my hundreth post. YAY!

[Inquartata]

No. Originally they used a bit of cotton and soaked it in some chemical or other ( methyl something or other ) in a different color for each fencer. A touch would leave a spot on the jacket, which would then need to be erased by rubbing a lemon on the jacket...

[Louweasel]

Originally posted by Inquartata
No. Originally they used a bit of cotton and soaked it in some chemical or other ( methyl something or other ) in a different color for each fencer. A touch would leave a spot on the jacket, which would then need to be erased by rubbing a lemon on the jacket...

For some reason PMSL at "rubbing a lemon on the jacket"!! Laughing is far too energetic a thing to be doing at this time in the morning -it's 10 past seven am here. So am reading about sportsmen getting vigorously rubbed with citrus fruit (hey, whatever floats your boat..), having breakfast and sort of chair-dancing to Outkast "Hey Ya" on the radio. Tis a strange way to start the day...

Right, going to work now. Have a good day all!

[DHCJr]

Don't laugh, but adjusting the probability of winning did not start with putting switches in weapons and body cords. There were suggestions, that some fencers would soak their jackets in lemon juice, not just to smell nice, but to make it more resistent to the marks.

[Inquartata]

Ah, for the days when a fencing salle smelled like a salad bar instead of a stable...

[deadly lefty]

or when you would handwash your jacket and the water would turn into lemonade

[Inquartata]

Salty lemonade. ( Tequila, anyone? )