Odd factoids

[Tim Hall]

Polo ponies are so called because they have a hole in the middle. This makes them useless for water polo, as they keep sinking.

 

[Drago]

The eponymous German manufacturer changed their name from Strength Through Joy wagen, to Peoples Car. This is because the humourless Germans didn't want anyone thinking they could enjoy themselves driving their product.

 

[bruce1530]

Volkswagen also manufactured the original king size biscuits, Wagen Wheels, which used to be much larger than they are today.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Golf is a good walk spoilt

 

[Drago]

The Kubelwagen was designed as a self propelled bathtub for field grade officers. However, out of desperation the Nazzies started using them as regular cars.

 

[Seevio]

Volkswagen also manufactured the original king size biscuits, Wagen Wheels, which used to be much larger than they are today.

I have to dispute this factoid.

The Mk1 Wagen Wheel was much smaller than the current version of the Wagen Wheel. Each iteration of this handy snack has grown larger. So much so that Volkswagen have now introduced a new smaller biscuit to take the market space that used to be occupied by the original Wagen Wheel.

 

[raleighnut]

The sport golf is actually named after the VW Golf. Following the VW Golf being introduced in 1975, it quickly became the car of tosseurs all across Germany. The drivers were really up themselves and indulged in some dreadfully dangerous antics on the road. Things got so bad petrol stations started selling special bats with a blob on the end so victim could attack the cars of offenders and inflict maximum damage. The son of one driver got hold of his Dads bat, and started to use it to knock a ping pong ball around the garden. As the tool being used was a Golf bat, the name carried and the tiresome sport of Golf was born. Personally, I think the 1975 version was more fun.

By the 80s the French had got so pee'd off with the Germans coming over the border and hooning about on their roads that the manufacturers took a car that was lighter and more nimble than the Golf and stuck the biggest engine they could fit in it and fitted fuel injection thus the 205 GTi was born.

 

[Tenacious Sloth]

The French declined to become a full member of NATO after being told they couldn’t be in charge.

This is the reason that wine is so popular in France, as NATO troops are not allowed to transit through France on a NATO Travel Order. This resulted in a drastic decline in beer sales allowing the wine producers to dominate the French market.

Conversely, due to the increased numbers of NATO troops travelling through Belgium in order to avoid France, beer sales in that country are amongst the highest in the world.

 

[Drago]

The French built the Maginot Line to keep The Bosche out. Unfortunately, the unsporting Bosche went Round the ends, leaving the might of the French defences with their big guns fixed pointing 180 degrees in the wrong direction.

 

[david k]

Volkswagen also manufactured the original king size biscuits, Wagen Wheels, which used to be much larger than they are today.

As the Volkswagen Golf got larger, the wagon wheel got smaller

Coincidence? I think not

 

[Dave7]

The French built the Maginot Line to keep The Bosche out. Unfortunately, the unsporting Bosche went Round the ends, leaving the might of the French defences with their big guns fixed pointing 180 degrees in the wrong direction.

The Maginot Line failed because the French listened to the English soldiers singing about it and on the Friday they all took thier washing out to hang on it. By Monday they realised the song words were not literal but by then it was too late.

 

[Dave7]

In 1815 a guy called Ed Doulton bought himself a potters wheel.....just to make pottery as a hobby. His main job was working shifts at the local Penny Farthing bike company.
In mistaken belief that he was good he posted a cup & saucer he had made to Queen Vic.....hoping she would like it.
Anyway, the Penny Farthing factory got a massive order to supply the post office with three bikes. The boss phoned Ed on his very early phone and simply said "your on nights Ed" and coz he didnt have his hearing aid in he thought the message was "you've been knighted"........ and immediately launched a company called Royal Doulton.
The rest is history.

 

[classic33]

In the 1930s, excavations began at one of Southeast Asia’s greatest mysteries. The Plain of Jars in Laos consists of about 100 locations stacked with pots. These are not your usual sort of pottery. Carved from stone, some weigh up to 10 tons.

An unknown culture felt the need to drag the monster containers 8–10 kilometers from the quarry and arrange them in groups as large as 400. In contrast, single jars adorn other areas.

 

[Drago]

Ed Doulton progressed from penny farthing manufacture to forming his own firm and building his own bikes. However, an error at the blacksmiths meant the first batch of head badges were spelled as Moulton instead. Being unable to afford to get them remade Doulton was forced to use them, and the name stuck.

 

[classic33]

Was this the same person behind the lie detector test and Wonder Woman*?

*Born from clay.