# Are scalar weapons for real? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 4, 2003, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879 "2003-08-04T12:50:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![MonkeyMule](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@MonkeyMule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMule)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/121 "2003-08-16T15:07:30Z")
Yes the aught-six is a fine model death ray. However deathrays really came into their own in the 1920’s. Thys just had so much style, and sophistication ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/122 "2003-08-16T15:27:14Z")
True, but, if you want a truly stylish death ray, you’ll have to find some of the post-war models, such as the 1949 Tucker, the 1950-1954 Electros, the 1952 Bowman, and the 1962 Barris, Carlin, & Barris. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/123 "2003-08-16T16:44:50Z")
Oh yeah, here’s the official website for [HAARP](http://www.haarp.alaska.edu/) which is believed to be the US Gov’ts attempt at building a scalar weapon. And [here’s a site](http://www.earthpulse.com/haarp/) written by those who think that HAARP’s a dangerous “plaything” even if it _isn’t_ a scalar weapon. (Though, they’re pretty sure it _is_ a scalar weapon.) We now return you to your 1920’s style death ray discussion. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMule](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@MonkeyMule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMule)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/124 "2003-08-16T19:46:06Z")
The Tucker was a true classic, but the Art Deco finback '23 is just to classy for words. It really has all those angry prongs and nasty bits cast about its refector dish that cleary state this thing was a right end, and a wrong end, and you don’t want to be on the wrong end ---
**Author:** ![ForumBot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee59a6/32.png) [@ForumBot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ForumBot)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/125 "2003-08-16T20:00:04Z")
attn: everybody saying “1920s style death rays” I DON’T GET IT ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/126 "2003-08-16T20:07:59Z")
Look at the fourth post to this thread, **ForumBot**. And the fifth and sixth. And it just kinda spun out of control from there… ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/127 "2003-08-16T20:24:54Z")
I don’t think it’s like a 1920s style death ray at all. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/128 "2003-08-16T21:53:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Marley23 \* > \*\*Look at the fourth post to this thread, **ForumBot**. And the fifth and sixth. And it just kinda spun out of control from there… \*\* Yeah, it spun out of control like an out of control 1920s style death ray. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/129 "2003-08-16T22:08:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ForumBot \* > \*\*attn: everybody saying “1920s style death rays” > > I DON’T GET IT ☹ \*\* Ya know, mental confusiopn is an inadvertant by-product of firing a 1924 Frobusher Ultra-Deluxe Medium-Ass Death Ray Cannon, from Ming-Mongo Industries. Tell me, \*\*ForumBot \*\*, have you been firing a 1924 Frobusher Ultra-Deluxe Medium-Ass Death Ray Cannon, from Ming-Mongo Industries? And standing too close to the etheric coils? Or merely hitting the old ketchup bottle too hard? 😉 😃 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/130 "2003-08-16T23:26:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor \* > \*\*Ya know, mental confusiopn is an inadvertant by-product of firing a 1924 Frobusher Ultra-Deluxe Medium-Ass Death Ray Cannon, from Ming-Mongo Industries. > > Tell me, \*\*ForumBot \*\*, have you been firing a 1924 Frobusher Ultra-Deluxe Medium-Ass Death Ray Cannon, from Ming-Mongo Industries? And standing too close to the etheric coils? > > Or merely hitting the old ketchup bottle too hard? 😉 😃 😛 \*\* I had heard that firing some 1920’s style death rays could produce such an effect. Thank you for clearing that up. ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Macphisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@Ms\_Macphisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Macphisto)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/131 "2003-08-17T00:31:06Z")
I just want to say I love you people. Now, does anybody know where I can get a 1920s style death ray of my own? Preferably something cheap, and I don’t mind having to fix it up a little. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMule](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@MonkeyMule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMule)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/132 "2003-08-17T00:48:33Z")
Well, Ming-Mongo Industries had several styles that may be to your liking, many of which are still in production today. Just send a self addressed stamped envelope requesting a catalouge Ming the Merciless Ming-Mongo Industries Dome of Unspeakable Horrors Northern Hemisphere, Mars Don’t forget to mention me for a 10% discount ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/133 "2003-08-17T02:08:07Z")
When dealing with Ming-Mongo Industries, I suggest you only deal with Ming. Otherwise you will find out that Mongo only pawn in game of life. ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/134 "2003-08-17T02:17:20Z")
You’d think by now there’d be a healthy supply of 1920s style death rays on eBay, but everytime I check they got nothin’ ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/135 "2003-08-17T02:54:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Trigonal Planar \* > \*\*You’d think by now there’d be a healthy supply of 1920s style death rays on eBay, but everytime I check they got nothin’ \*\* You’re just not looking hard enough. Here’s a [collection of _Popular Science_ magazines](http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3543911904&category=2241) with plans! ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/136 "2003-08-17T06:18:12Z")
Has a GQ thread ever spun out of control (like a 1920’s style out-of-control deathray) for this long before? Is the power still out in **Manhattan** , or what? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/137 "2003-08-17T12:17:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JulKatBo \* > \*\*I just want to say I love you people. > > Now, does anybody know where I can get a 1920s style death ray of my own? Preferably something cheap, and I don’t mind having to fix it up a little. \*\* Well, I hear that **ForumBot** has a used 1924 Frobusher Ultra-Deluxe Medium-Ass Death Ray Cannon, from Ming-Mongo Industries. But the etheric coils need changing. And, since Mars is reaching its closest approach to Earth, some Death Rays may be obtained with free delivery! [HERE](http://drzeus.best.vwh.net/Favorites/Quotations.html#wotw) are details. A free Orson or H.G. Wells with every order! (Choice or Orson or H.G. Wells determined by availability.) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_great_unwashed/32/4791_2.png) [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/138 "2003-08-17T12:25:56Z")
What’s a _1920s-style death_ anyway? Like you get shot with this ray gizmo and a few years later you die of TB, or something? ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/139 "2003-08-17T15:05:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MonkeyMule \* > \*\*Well, Ming-Mongo Industries had several styles that may be to your liking, many of which are still in production today. Just send a self addressed stamped envelope requesting a catalouge > > Ming the Merciless > Ming-Mongo Industries > Dome of Unspeakable Horrors > Northern Hemisphere, Mars > > Don’t forget to mention me for a 10% discount \*\* The Electro Death Ray Company of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, the Rochester Death Ray Corporation of Rochester, NY, and the North American Death Ray Company of Milwaukee are all good places to try in the U.S. Unfortunately, you either have to go to the plant to pick it up, or buy it at an outlet store, because, in 1965, the U.S. Government passed the Lindsay Bill, outlawing the shipping of death rays in the U.S. mail, or across state lines. (This bill, BTW, is believed to be the reason why Consolidated Death Rays Inc. and Barris, Carlin & Barris shut down operations in early 1966.) ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/140 "2003-08-17T15:09:38Z")
(BTW: Of the companies above, only the Rochester Death Ray Corporation sells '20’s-style death rays.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879.md?page=8)