Meaning of the Bottlehead name

[larcenasb]

Aside from the name being a vacuum tube for a head, like the company's logo, was the name also chosen for the more obscure reference to cetaceans? Since Bottlehead is based near the Puget Sound where grampus (incl. orcas) are located?

[Paul Joppa]

It's an old term for amateur (ham) radio fans, derived (I believe) from "fire bottle" for tubes.

[Doc B.]

I'm pretty sure I coined the phrase as it relates to vacuum tubes, in the mid 90s. And yes it is derivative from the term firebottles.

[larcenasb]

I was thinking too much into it then haha, but it's a nice coincidence with the Puget Sound location. Hope all's well with both of you

[RPMac]

Wasn’t there a “firebottle” web site many years ago?

[Doc B.]

Yes there was in the 90s. I vaguely recall a little row of glowing tubes as the logo. After racing at Bonneville for a few years the term firebottle has a different meaning to me.

[2wo]

Speaking of Bonneville, how did it go this year?...John

[Doc B.]

All Bonneville events were cancelled just before they were to happen this year due to flooding. So I'm all ready to run two bikes next year. That's not completely bad, as a lot of other projects that have languished since I started land speed racing. Now there is some time to work on them.