My mom use to use one back in the 70s and 80s to can stuff. She was always really nervous using it because she knew what steam pressure could do. Dad always warned her if that little valve on top stopped whistling to head for the hills because it was going to put that thing into orbit. When the whistle would stop momentarily, the adults in the house would all turn and look nervously.......than after a moment it would start letting off steam again and everyone returned to “as you were” status.
Weight resumes rocking, dominoes go back to being shuffled.
The memories and smells of childhood.
We lived through it.
/johnny
One time my mom was cooking navy beans in ours. She got busy and forgot to put the valve on the top. The beans were making their exit out the tiny opening and covered the entire ceiling over the stove. Never were able to totally remove them. What a mess. Have to laugh about it now.
Was back in the mid 1940’s. The house is still there and probably the remnants of those beans.