Further Adventures of the Dropped 100-400L

I found a good deal on an older Halliburton aluminum case a while back---model 106 which is one of their larger ones. It was apparently brand new, although the box gave signs it had been around for a long time. I’ve been using my backpacks almost exclusively in recent months, but decided I wanted better protection for the ‘big’ lenses on our upcoming trip to the east coast; the Halliburton case was ideal. I finally got to work on it last night and spent a good hour measuring and cutting, getting foam all over the kitchen, slicing my right index finger open, but finally ending up with a very neat job. The lenses really looked impressive all laid out in that gorgeous aluminum case.

I closed everything up, cleaned up the mess, but decided I wanted just one last look at my handiwork before putting everything back in the closet. The doggone case wouldn’t open---it was locked up tighter than a bull’s bottom. Apparently the combination lock had decided to change its code (or something) and the case was absolutely, 100% impenetrable. I fished the directions out of the garbage, but they gave me no clue. I tried the factory pre-set combination (0-0-0): nothing. I tried every other likely combination, and my precious lenses were still out of reach. Finally I went to the garage, got my largest screwdriver, and pried that mother open (destroying it in the process, of course). No matter, I was just relieved to once again be able to fondle my precious lenses. The Halliburton case is now fodder for a scrap metal drive and is in temporary repose in the outgoing trash.

Ultimately I found that I could fit the same three lenses in one of my smaller Halliburton cases for which I had the foresight to buy a new foam pack from B&H a while back. I spend another hour cutting and fitting, the job made somewhat more difficult because of the severely gashed index finger that kept getting in the way. Now I’m all set again. At least this case doesn’t have a lock on it so I won’t have this problem ever again. I will have to carry the lens shades separately, but that’s only a minor inconvenience. At least the lenses won’t roll out the truck door when they’re in the case.

Just thought I’d share.

"It's always something"!
-Gilda Radner

LMAO

Patience, my friend !!!!
You should have tried all the combinations before prying it open !!!
10 secs/combination (appriximate) * 1000 = 10,000 min /60 = 166.(6) hours / 24 = 6.9(4) days...
never mind.

Can you put new locks on it? Or is it too damaged to use now?

like padlocks with their appropriate bolted on loop things

Ron:
I should clarify: the screwdriver I used is enormous---a real two-handed honker of genuinely impressive proportions. It's almost two feet long and is decidedly not used to make delicate adjustments on anything. I'm afraid that my efforts at opening the case eliminated any thoughts of ever salvaging it, although I suppose if someone used as much determination in repairing it as I did in opening it, anything is possible.

BTW, part of my background is in explosives. The screwdriver was far from being my absolute last resort, although more aggressive actions might have been a cause for genuine concern for the safety of those lenses. I am thankful such steps were not necessary.

Perhaps a picture?????

Tom, sorry to hear about yet another misadventure on your part, especially your poor index finger. Ouch!

Belmondo, have you ever heard of a Tenney L. Davis, Ph.D?

Well I have now!.

I was involved in the manufacture of various ordnance devices for the aerospace program back in the 60s and 70s. I worked for companies that made all manner of explosive devices, and my job was princiapally tool design and develpment of manufacturing processes. The unwritten rule was that anytime we tried something new, the manufacturing processes people (me) had to try everything first. Those were very nerve-wracking days becuase I knew what a rotten engineer I really was! Fortunately I ended that career with all my fingers (and other digits) still intact. It was only later, while installing foam in camera cases, that they were ever in serious peril.

Me, too. When I was 12 I saved my nickles, dimes, & pennies & I bought it. The local library ordered it for me. Times sure have changed!

Amazing thread. Absolutely amazing!

Well, how exactly does one land a cool career like that (assuming I get to start life over)? That really sounds like fun, blowing things up.

Or wasn't that the goal?

Anyway, I, like others am waiting for the pictures of the remains of the Halliburton case.

For me, loud noises & things flying through the air was major fun in a small town in the '50s! The 'instant gratification' factor helped, too.

Tom W wrote:
Well, how exactly does one land a cool career like that (assuming I get to start life over)? That really sounds like fun, blowing things up.

We blew up lots of things---a lot of them that were never intended. In fact, back in around 1968 we pretty much eliminated an entire mountainside in a little town not far from where PacAce lives now. This was in a facility that made blasting caps, squibs, detonators, and so forth. A large storage bunker decided to auto-detonate one morning. There were several people killed including one or two whose remains were never found.

No, you don't want to go into that business. You'd be dealing with some pretty nasty stuff.