Barir's World
Humanity To Others;Knowledge Is Not Ours To Keep Alone;Your Mind Is Your Most Precious Resource
Four years in a purification tank
Gilbert V. Levin from the USA tells an almost incredible story in a letter dated 23 September 1991. This time it’s not about the Swiss knife saving a life or being used to rescue some hopeless situation, but about the little red knife itself having «survived» four years almost undamaged in a purification tank. Mr Levin wrote to Victorinox in Ibach:
«In 1973 I installed my new invention for sewage treatment at Seneca Falls, New York. One morning as I was crossing the bridge over the aeration tank of the treatment plant, I saw that the setting on one of the instruments was incorrect. I took out my dependable Swiss Army Knife to make the necessary adjustment. The knife slipped out of my hand and fell into the aeration tank. The function of the aeration tank in a treatment plant is to oxidise organic waste. This oxidising environment is very corrosive to metals
A parcel in the mailFour years later, in 1977, I received a small parcel by mail with a note from Al Hawk, the supervisor of the Seneca Falls plant. They had emptied the aeration tank and found my Swiss Army Knife at the bottom. The parcel contained the knife. It was in astonishingly good condition. The only thing wrong of any note was that the spring for the scissors was missing: it had dissolved. There was also some oxide on the aluminium parts that keep the blades separate. The plastic casing and cover had only suffered very minor damage near to the toothpick and tweezers. I intended long ago to send the knife back with my complements to the company which manufactures such durable knives. I have looked after the knife and since then have never used it. I enclose it for your attention as evidence to this almost incredible occurrence. I can assure you that very few products could have survived treatment like this, the components would have dissolved or simply disappeared.
Actually, I have wanted to write to you about this story for a long time but never got round to it. A similar article in the Wall Street Journal has now prompted me to write.»