Things that make you go hmmmmm... (bomb)

[quk@isham-research.demon.co.uk (Phil Payne)]

In message <9711041915.AA22699@slpma6.IATC.ED.RAY.COM> schulz@iatcmail.ed.ray.com (Peter Schulz) writes:

> Your attempt at German is unfortunately accurate...

As far as it goes ...

> Ian said:

> > Having just ordered a new bomb from Guildford Motors [i Surrey
> > B.C. (604) 584 - 1304], I noticed that it had an apparent date on it,
> > marked Verfall: 22 Juli 98 (Any german saavy listers out there?).
> >
> > Is this a "best before date"? I was thinking (oooohhhhh, BAD!!!)
> > if these things have a lifetime of about 7 years before the nitrogen
> > seeps out, then what's to say that one made in 1990 is going to be any
> > good after sitting on a shelf for 7 years. Could one get conceivably get
> > a dead bomb? Just a thought. (I REALLY hope I'm wrong in my musings).

Audi's main distribution centre (in Soest) for the dealerships in the
western part of Germany (Rhineland, etc.) and Holland is currently
shipping new bombs with a "Verfall" of July 1999.  I have one here.

The "Verfall" date is a stock-holding issue, akin to the food store's
"Display Until" date.  In this case (products sourced from Lemforder)
the date seems to be the second anniversary of manufacture.  Thus, all
things being equal, I suspect your bomb was manufactured in July 1996
and should last (in normal operation) until at least 2004.

Incidentally - you should never have known this information.  It's
printed on the carton, which is also clearly marked: "Nicht zur Abgabe
an Endverbraucher bestimmt."

--
 Phil Payne
 Committee Member, UK Audi [ur-]quattro Owners Club