Category: 2024

Masks Made of Bolts and Screws

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Ontario-based artist Dale Dunning has found a truly unique way to express the power of communication and
knowledge. His mesmerizing bronze and aluminum sculptures combine the art of typography with the
intricacy of welding and fasteners, resulting in a series of captivating metallic masks.

Each androgynous face is meticulously crafted from hundreds of typefaces, creating a figurative stamp that
symbolizes the essence of human interaction. But Dunning doesn’t stop there; he pushes the boundaries of
texture by incorporating thousands of bolts, screws, and washers into his creations, adding a layer of
industrial charm to these already stunning pieces.

For Dunning, the head is the perfect canvas to explore the depths of the human mind. “We live in our heads,
see, feel, and experience the world in our head,” he explains. By focusing solely on the head, he eliminates
the distraction of limbs and the rest of the body, allowing the viewer to fully immerse themselves in the
sculpture’s message.

As you gaze upon these masks, you can’t help but feel a sense of awe at the level of detail and craftsmanship
that goes into each piece. The juxtaposition of delicate typefaces and rugged bolts creates a visual
symphony that is both thought-provoking and aesthetically pleasing.

Composer John Cage — a Symphony of Bolts

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When avant-garde composer John Cage found himself confined by the traditional piano’s limitations, he
refused to accept defeat. Instead, he embarked on a journey that would revolutionize the world of music,
armed with nothing more than his creativity and a handful of screws.

It all began in 1940 when Cage was working as an accompanist for a dance class in Seattle. Faced with the
challenge of composing for dancer Syvilla Fort in a cramped performance space, Cage had an epiphany: “I
decided that what was wrong was not me but the piano.”

With that realization, Cage set out to reinvent the instrument. He began by placing screws and bolts between
the piano strings, creating his first prepared piano composition, “Bacchanale.” The result was a mesmerizing
blend of percussive, otherworldly sounds that defied convention and ignited the imagination.

Emboldened by the success of “Bacchanale,” Cage’s ambitions grew. He expanded his palette of
preparations, incorporating an array of objects such as rubber, plastic, and nuts in his most famous prepared
piano work, “Sonatas and Interludes.” Each object was meticulously chosen and placed according to Cage’s
precise instructions, transforming the piano into a veritable orchestra of unexpected timbres.

As Cage’s prepared piano compositions gained recognition, he remained deeply involved in the
performance process. He would often attend rehearsals, guiding pianists in the art of preparation and finetuning
the placement of objects to achieve the perfect balance of sound.

Today, Cage’s legacy lives on through contemporary composers like Kelly Moran and Hauschka, who
continue to push the boundaries of the prepared piano. Moran’s preparations evoke a hypnotic, bell-like
quality, while Hauschka’s eclectic mix of objects conjures the illusion of a sprawling, unconventional
ensemble.

At Tsamouris, we draw inspiration from visionaries like John Cage, who dared to challenge the status quo
and unlock new possibilities through innovation. Just as Cage transformed the piano with screws and bolts,
we strive to revolutionize industries by offering cutting-edge fastening solutions that defy expectations and
inspire creativity.

Tiny Radioactive Capsule Get Lost in the Australian Desert Due to Loose Bolts

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Seeking a Needle in a Haystack? A tiny capsule, no larger than a penny, managed to cause a stir that
reverberated across Australia. This was no ordinary capsule; it was a highly radioactive Caesium-137 device,
used as part of a sensor in mining operations by the giant Rio Tinto. When the capsule went missing in
January 2023, somewhere along a 870-mile (1,400 kilometers) stretch of desert highway, authorities found
themselves in a race against time to locate the potentially lethal object.

The capsule had fallen off the back of a truck during its journey from a mine near the remote town of
Newman to the state capital, Perth. It is believed a bolt securing the lead-lined gauge containing the capsule
worked loose somewhere on the journey – potentially shaken loose by the vibrations of the truck – and the
capsule fell through a hole left by the missing bolt.

The severity of the situation quickly became apparent: a mere hour of exposure at a distance of one meter
was equivalent to receiving ten X-rays, and prolonged contact could lead to skin burns, acute radiation
sickness, and even cancer.

Faced with the daunting task of finding a needle in a haystack, or in this case, a minuscule radioactive
capsule in the vast Outback, authorities deployed specialized radiation detectors to locate the gamma rays
emitted by the device. Search teams meticulously combed the truck’s GPS route, with a particular focus on
the densely populated areas near Perth.

As the days turned into weeks without any sign of the capsule, the urgency of the situation grew. The federal
government stepped in, providing additional resources such as radiation portal monitors and gamma-ray
spectrometers to aid in the search. The hunt for the missing capsule had become a national priority, with the
safety of the public hanging in the balance.

Just as hope began to wane, a breakthrough occurred on February 1st. A vehicle equipped with specialized
detection equipment picked up traces of radiation while traveling at 44 mph (70 km/h) along the search
route. Portable detectors were swiftly deployed, and the capsule was pinpointed a mere two meters off the
side of the road.

Remarkably, it appeared that the capsule had not caused any harm during its time in the wilderness, having
seemingly remained undisturbed where it had initially fallen. An investigation was immediately launched by
the chair of Australia’s Radiological Council to determine how such a dangerous object could have been
misplaced, with the possibility of charges being laid against Rio Tinto.

The case of the missing radioactive capsule serves as a stark reminder of the importance of proper handling
and transportation of even the smallest, most unassuming objects when they possess the potential for harm.

Missing Bolts on Qantas’ Boeing 737 Engine

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A pilot with the Australian airline Qantas raised concerns about the airline’s maintenance standards after
sharing shocking footage of a Boeing 737 plane missing three out of four bolts and a seal on an engine air
duct. The video, tweeted by journalist Michael West in September 2023, showed that the missing pieces had
fallen into the plane’s cowl.

According to West, the maintenance work on the plane was carried out in Brisbane, and the issue was
identified by engineers on a Saturday. While the missing bolts could have potentially led to a fire onboard,
West admitted that suggesting the plane could have crashed would be too alarmist.

Qantas stated that safety had always been their top priority and that an investigation was underway to
determine how the defects occurred. The airline also emphasized that the air duct takes air away from the
engine and does not impact its operation.

West has raised concerns about Qantas’ cost-cutting measures and outsourcing, suggesting that these
factors may be contributing to mounting problems with the airline’s planes. He also pointed out that
regulators inspect Qantas planes before takeoff to ensure their safety.

Artist Drills Thousands of Screws to Nail Perfect Portraits

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In 2011, California-based artist Andrew Myers took portraiture to a whole new level by creating stunning
three-dimensional images using thousands of everyday screws. Myers’ unique approach involves drilling
holes into wooden planks and meticulously placing screws to form the likeness of his subjects.

Each portrait takes Myers over six months to complete, with some larger pieces requiring up to 10,000
screws. The artist starts by studying a photograph of his subject and meeting them in person to ensure he
captures their facial features accurately. He then painstakingly drills the screws into the pre-drilled holes and
hand-paints each screw head to achieve the desired effect.

Myers’ screw portraits, ranging from 23.6 by 23.6 inches (60 by 60 centimeters) to 4 by 4 feet (1.2 by 1.2
meters), have garnered significant attention from art collectors, with smaller pieces selling for USD 9,000
(EUR 7,650) and larger ones expected to fetch up to USD 35,000 (EUR 29,750). However, despite the high
price tags, Myers insists that the portraits are more a labor of love than a lucrative endeavor, as the cost of
purchasing thousands of screws adds up quickly.

At Tsamouris, we admire the dedication and precision that artists like Andrew Myers bring to their craft. Just
as Myers carefully selects and places each screw to create a masterpiece, we are committed to providing
high-quality fasteners that ensure the integrity and longevity of the projects they hold together.

New York City’s Hidden Randel Bolt

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In the early 1800s, surveyor John Randel Jr. embarked on a monumental task: transforming New York City
into the orderly, gridded metropolis we know today. Armed with metal bolts and marble slabs, Randel Jr.
traversed the island, marking nearly 1,000 proposed intersections. Despite facing opposition from angry
landowners and enduring countless setbacks, his vision laid the foundation for modern Manhattan.
Today, finding Randel Jr.’s original bolts has become a treasure hunt for history buffs and surveying
enthusiasts. The only authenticated bolt, discovered in Central Park in 2004 by geography professor Reuben
Rose-Redwood and surveyor J. R. Lemuel Morrison, remains a closely guarded secret to protect it from theft
or damage.

These bolts represent more than just historical artifacts; they symbolize the “politics of mapping” and the
complex relationship between progress and personal loss. While the grid system ushered in a new era for
New York City, it also meant the destruction of homes and livelihoods for many Manhattanites.
Intrepid explorers continue to scour the city’s parks, armed with Randel Jr.’s old maps and a keen eye for the
unusual. Rumors of additional bolts and even a surviving marble monument circulate among the surveying
community, but the Central Park bolt remains the only officially recognized relic.

At Tsamouris, we highlight the significance of these hidden treasures and the stories they tell about the
evolution of our cities. Our commitment to providing high-quality fasteners is rooted in the belief that even
the smallest components can play a crucial role in shaping the world around us.

Broken Bolts on New York’s USD 4 Billion Mario Cuomo Bridge

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New York’s USD 3.9 billion (EUR 3.6 billion) Mario Cuomo Bridge has been mired in controversy since its
opening in 2017, with allegations of faulty bolts and a potential cover-up by the construction consortium,
Tappan Zee Constructors (TZC). Despite assurances from TZC and the New York Thruway Authority that the
bridge is safe, concerns persist about the structural integrity of the span.

In 2018, a whistleblower claimed that engineers secretly replaced failing bolts to hide the faults from
inspectors. The New York attorney general’s office launched an investigation into the alleged 60 failed bolts
out of the more than one million used in the bridge’s construction.

TZC maintains that all bolt testing indicates no issues and that the bridge is completely safe for the traveling
public. The company spent over USD 1 million (EUR 921,000) on expert assessments and testing,
concluding that a small percentage of bolts had manufacturing defects that led to breakage during
tightening.

In 2021, a federal review by the Federal Highway Administration found “no safety concerns” with the bridge,
according to the Thruway Authority. However, an outside bridge expert cited in a report by The Albany Times
Union called the volume of bolt failures “unprecedented and highly alarming.”

Despite the controversy, TZC stresses that the bridge was built with numerous redundancies to prevent a
collapse, even if some bolts were to fail. The most recent inspection found only one failed bolt out of
hundreds of thousands.

Jesus Nut

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The “Jesus nut,” a term coined by American soldiers during the Vietnam War, refers to the main rotor
retaining nut that holds the main rotor to the mast of some helicopters. This single component is so critical
that if it were to fail mid-flight, the consequences would be catastrophic, with the rotor detaching from the
helicopter.

The origin of the term is a grim reminder of the importance of this fastener. Soldiers believed that if the Jesus
nut failed, the only thing left to do would be to pray to Jesus, as a crash would be inevitable. The term has
since been applied more broadly to any single component, such as a bolt, whose failure would lead to the
complete breakdown of a system.

Despite the rarity of actual Jesus nut failures, the component must be rigorously checked before each flight.
In one tragic incident in 2000, a Bell 206B helicopter crashed within ten minutes of takeoff, after the mast nut
was removed for repainting and not properly restored and checked prior to the test flight.

Weak Bolts Troubled Brooklyn’s Barclays Center

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Just a month before the Barclays Center’s grand opening in New York in September 2013, engineers
discovered a potentially serious issue: nearly a quarter of the bolts anchoring the arena’s distinctive steel
panels were weaker than specified. The discovery raised concerns about the structure’s integrity and
sparked a race to replace the subpar fasteners before the inaugural event.

The Barclays Center, with its weathered steel facade and striking canopy, was designed to make a bold
statement about Brooklyn’s resurgence. However, the project faced numerous challenges, including the
abrupt shutdown of the panel fabricator midway through the job and occasional instances of rusty orange
drips staining the sidewalks.

Engineers determined that only 8% of the 23,351 bolts needed replacement, but the issue raised questions
about communication between the arena’s developer, Forest City Ratner, and city regulators. The Buildings
Department claimed it had not been notified of the bolt problem, while Forest City maintained it had
submitted a letter outlining the issue and the planned fix.

Despite the last-minute bolt replacement, the Barclays Center opened on time and withstood Hurricane
Sandy’s winds just a month later. The project’s executive vice president for construction downplayed the
issue, asserting that such problems are not uncommon in highly customized architectural projects.

At Tsamouris, we supply the largest construction companies in Greece with the highest quality screws,
ensuring that problems are avoided and the strictest building standards are maintained.

300-Million-Year-Old Alien Screw?

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A mysterious object resembling a screw embedded in a rock has sparked intense speculation since its
discovery in the 1990s in Russia’s Kaluga region. While some believe the “screw” could be evidence of
advanced ancient civilizations or even alien technology, experts suggest a more down-to-earth explanation.
The “screw,” measuring approximately an inch long (2,54 centimeters), was found by a UFO and paranormal
research team called the Kosmopoisk Group. They claim the stone is between 300 and 320 million years old
and contains another hidden “screw” inside, as revealed by X-rays.

However, without detailed information or the opportunity for conventional scientists to examine the object
firsthand, speculation has been based on grainy online photos. The leading hypothesis is that the “screw” is
actually the fossilized remains of an ancient sea creature called a crinoid, with the rock forming around the
gradually dissolving creature, creating a screw-like impression.

Crinoids, now largely extinct, were abundant millions of years ago, and their fossils often resemble screws.
Some argue that the size and markings of the “screw” don’t match typical crinoid stalks, leading to more farfetched
theories involving ancient advanced technology or alien visitors.