Paul McCartney uses flattened pennies - how many other bass players do the same?

#3
I'm not sure what pennies are made out of in England, but a few decades ago, The US went from copper to zinc (with a dash of copper plating) for pennies. I'd guess that the zinc is less ductile, and this may not work as well as it once did. I've also heard the pennies typically vibrate off the track before the train gets there; I think some folks used gum to stick pennies to the tracks so they'd stay there. I'd say an investigation is in order.
 
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#4
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#5
It used to be fairly common to see machines that took a "penny" and another coin and flattened the penny as a souvenir of places, poems, prayers and such. They were common in airports, train stations and tourist destinations all over the world. I have a number of flattened souvenir "pennies" from my travels as well as a few actually flattened on railroad tracks from my youth that I occasionally use in my pick collection. I have some other coins that were also flattened quarters, nickles, dimes, pennies and some Mexican coins. My grandfather was superintendent at a Cotton Compress Warehouse in San Angelo and regularly had railcars in and out on the siding so it was fairly safe to place the coins on the tracks and retrieve them
 
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#6
micguy said:
I'm not sure what pennies are made out of in England, but a few decades ago, The US went from copper to zinc (with a dash of copper plating) for pennies. I'd guess that the zinc is less ductile, and this may not work as well as it once did. I've also heard the pennies typically vibrate off the track before the train gets there; I think some folks used gum to stick pennies to the tracks so they'd stay there. I'd say an investigation is in order.
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When I was young, I played baseball on fields near train tracks. We used to put pennies on them when a train was approaching, and go back after the train had passed to gather the flattened pennies. It worked every time.

I'd never thought to use one as a pick, and sadly, those flattened pennies are long gone.
 
#10
Dean N said:
I remember reading long ago that Squire used coins as picks. I'm a huge Yes fan, but never saw mention of this again. Maybe it's common knowledge among us bass players and I'm just clueless.
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+1
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#11
Signalsdrone said:
I work for a railway, don't bother flattening out coins.

First, you're trespassing.
Second, being near the tracks is dangerous.
Third, by showing off your cool "picks", you inadvertently might encourage someone else to risk their life for a guitar pick.

I've responded to enough fatalities over the years, no need to create others.
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You've convinced me to go flatten some coins today. Sounds exhilarating.
 
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#12
micguy said:
I'm not sure what pennies are made out of in England, but a few decades ago, The US went from copper to zinc (with a dash of copper plating) for pennies. I'd guess that the zinc is less ductile, and this may not work as well as it once did. I've also heard the pennies typically vibrate off the track before the train gets there; I think some folks used gum to stick pennies to the tracks so they'd stay there. I'd say an investigation is in order.
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"Get off the line, Pinky!"
 
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#17
micguy said:
I've also heard the pennies typically vibrate off the track before the train gets there
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I've flattened quite a few pennies in my day and this is not true. Though i have seen them shoot out from under a wheel once or twice. It should be noted that I did this in a location were the trains were moving really slowly, so YMMV
 
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