On Tue, 10 Sep 2013 09:03:29 -0700, pyotr filipivich
wrote:

John B. on Tue, 10 Sep 2013 08:57:22 +0700 typed
in rec.crafts.metalworking the following:
On Mon, 09 Sep 2013 09:27:02 -0700, pyotr filipivich
wrote:

John B. on Mon, 09 Sep 2013 18:39:06 +0700 typed
in rec.crafts.metalworking the following:

If you are worried about gas leakage between the cylinder and the
barrel look at the Nagant M1895 Revolver that moved the cylinder
forward to seal against the rear of the barrel.

Made it the only revolver which could work with a silencer
attached, too.

True, but silent or not it was a pretty awkward design :-)

Well, one can't expect perfection right out of the bag.

Correct. But they started with the S&W "Russian" and seemed to have
gone downhill :-)

"A designer knows that they are finished, not when there is no
more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away."

Yes, I've read that too but it is hardly true today. Automobiles
started out with hand starters, manual transmission and acetylene
lights and look at them now.

True. But the question is: are the "gizmos" which replace those
items as simple as they can be? (Leaving aside the whole issue of how
complex an automobile is/was compared to operating a horse.) The
principle still holds, no matter how complex something is, there is a
point where one cannot remove some thing without having it "not work".

Even a Rube Goldberg extravaganza can use this principle, of
removing the bits and pieces which don't serve the purpose. Granted,
it is sometimes difficult to be sure what the purpose of a Rube
Goldberg "Device to Fry an Egg" might actually be, so flags, banners,
bells and whistles could be essential parts of the design. Why are
you placing this stick here, when it is neither functional, or
decorative?

I'm still not sure that tells the whole story. The first Ford V-8, for
example, was a side valve engine with no valve clearance adjustment.
Far more simple then modern overhead valve, variable valve timing,
engines.

Cars today seem to all have air conditioning a device that isn't even
necessary for operation - cars lacked this device for most of
automotive history - for another example.

The thesis just doesn't seem true when applied to consumer end items
where the opposite seems to likely be the guide line.

--
Cheers,

John B.