Now this is cool.
David Silverman (one of the directors of the Simpsons, as it turns out), modified his sousaphone so that it shoots flames out of it. It's powered by propane and has an adjustable flame height.
Here's a quote from the original article:
We talked about attaching fire wicking to the top of the sousaphone bell, or something with propane shooting out of the top. But I'm not a carpenter or welder.
Fortunately, she knew a terrific carpenter/tinkerer. And one with a strong knowledge of propane, so things don't go boom in the night. I was hoping for something propane based, and a system where I could manipulate the flame height. Also, because the bell of the sousaphone detaches, I needed the fuel line to be able to detach in the middle as well.
Shanan Brown took on these problems, and solved them with a simple and ingenious system. A copper pipe attached to the curve of the left side of the horn, and a trigger device attached to that, prior to where you attach the propane tank. This allows my left (free) hand to work the trigger. The pipe continues up the side of the bell, and across the top. There is had been drilled with several tiny holes to let the gas escape. And finally - after seeing it in operation - the addition of two copper slats as a wind screen.
This reminds me of an idea that Reid and Mike had in high school, which was to create a flaming trumpet. Although, if I recall correctly, their idea involved kerosene (or was it gasoline?) and a lighter of some sorts, perhaps a Zippo. However they were planning to do it, I'm sure at the very least, the trumpet would have melted if not completely burned off the lips of whoever was planning to play it (Mike, no doubt).
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