Thanks Heleen, and sorry to put you under (even more) presssure. I have sent the completed-but-for-your- contribution(s) text to the people who will turn it into a book, and told them that I may add a page or two in the next few days, so there is no great rush (ie you have all of 17 minutes!). Send me something when you can, ajb. I can use 2 cartoons -- one at the end of the Intrioduction, the other at the end of the photo section. Regards, Val

FOUR FROM KATERINA, ALL FROM ATHENS (where Katerina is now living). THANKS, MOM KAT!

FOUR FROM HAN FISCHER IN EINDHOVEN, HOLLAND : BEDANKT, HAN

Somewhere in Warsaw ....

Souillac, Corrèze, France:

Job Interview Question And Answer: Why Are Manhole Covers Round?

This question was made famous when Microsoft began using it in job interviews. It is an example of a creative problem-solving question that is used to assess how a person approaches a problem with more than one possible answer, and to test their logic, common sense and ability to think through an unusual question in a high pressure interview setting.  

According to Joel Spolsky, one of Microsoft’s early program managers, questions like these distinguish between people who are smart and get things done, people who are smart but don’t get things done, and people who get things done but are not smart.

Microsoft must have been onto something, because this type of question has been adopted by many other companies as an alternative to more traditional interview questions.

A number of possible explanations for why manhole covers are round include:

• A round manhole cover cannot fall through its circular opening, whereas a square manhole cover could fall in if it were inserted diagonally in the hole.
• Circular covers don’t need to be rotated or precisely aligned when placing them on the opening.
• A round manhole cover is easily moved and rolled.
• Human beings have a roughly circular cross-section.
• Round tubes are the strongest shape against the compression of the earth around them, so the cover of the tube would naturally be round as well.
• It’s easier to dig a circular hole.
• Round castings are much easier to manufacture using a lathe.

                            (No, I didn't get the job)

COMING VERY SOON VIA AMAZON....DETAILS TO BE ANNOUNCED AT THE WEEKEND......MY 'MANHOLE COVERS' BOOK

Featuring 120+Manhole Covers from 40+ different countries, AND two special Manhole Cover cartoons from Heleen

TOMORROW BRINGS AMAZON MANHOLE COVER BOOK DETAILS: TODAY DELIVERS HELEEN'S SECOND MANHOLE COVER CARTOON

Somewhere in Warsaw ... 

"MANHOLE COVERS", BY VALENTINE M. HERMAN

My latest book is now available from Amazon.com.  It costs $20/€21 (plus shipping). Alternatively you can buy a copy directly from me for $15/€15 (plus shipping). A signed copy is also available at $15.01/€15.01(plus shipping), and a copy signed by me is also available at $15.02/€15.02 (plus shipping).

Here is a description of the book:

"This book contains images of 120 Manhole Cover designs from 100 cities in 20 different countries.

Manhole Covers are a neglected form of street art. They are largely ignored even though we encounter them every day. We walk, drive and cycle over them. Usually we don’t take any notice of them: they are just there, all around us on roads and pavements in many different shapes, sizes and patterns. – an essential, but ignored, part of the architecture of our urban environment. They are part of our Urban Architecture.

This comprises elements of the cities in which we live, play and work. It includes street lamps; mail and post boxes; shop fronts and signs; shutters and windows; doors and door knockers on private and public buildings; mail, post and telephone boxes; statues in parks; stone ornaments and metal plaques on houses and in gardens in public and private spaces; fountain and monuments; etc. And Manhole Covers.

We live in not one, but rather two, urban environments. An overground one; and a parallel, underground, subterranean one that is hidden from us, is unknown, and consequently ignored. Manhole Covers are an interface between these two worlds of light and darkness.

As a form of street art, a Manhole Covers provide a surface – a canvas, if you like – for a wealth of industrial and artistic expression in the open-air urban art gallery that we (usually subconsciously) visit daily.

The collection of Manhole Covers in this book includes Art Deco-style Manhole Covers with geometric patterns; Art Nouveau-style Manhole Covers with winding and twisting patterns; and a whole range of Manhole Covers with designs both ancient and modern. They are rich in imagery whether it be the coat of arms or view of a city, a company logo, a regional animal, bird or fish, or even an inspirational message --‘I Have A Dream’– a dream of what? A Manhole Cover?"

I would like to thank, nay thank very much, all members of this Group who have sent me Manhole Covers especially:  Heleen   Bradford   Carien  Raphael   Alan B   Bobbi   Katerina   Bonnevieda   Sil   Mim  Mother Brando   Richard C   Irene S  Diane H   Ilya S-B  Amy K

THANK YOU ONE AND ALL!

Congratulations on this achievement!

Congratulations, Val, on a great and fascinating project, and surely and interesting book. 

Why are manhole covers round?

...to make happy faces on 'em :-)

Somewhere in Warsaw .... 

ANOTHER ONE FROM HAN FISCHER IN EINDHOVEN, HOLLAND : BEDANKT, HAN§

Now I start to show interesting collection manhole covers from Albania. Photos takien in July this year, during my trip.  

Gjirokastёr, Gjirokastra - town, UNESCO place, in south part of the country.

Himarë, Himara (Greek: Χειμάρρα, Chimara) is a town in Albania, located on the Ionian Sea.

Himarë, Himara (Greek: Χειμάρρα, Chimara) is a town in Albania, located on the Ionian Sea.

Korçë (alb. Korçë, Korça[2]; gr. Κορυτσά, Korytsá; Italian: Corizza; tur. Görice) is a town in south-eastern Albania, in a basin at 866 m above sea level, at the foot of the Morava Mountains.

Korçë - town in south-eastern Albania.

Example from communist time.

Example trasfered probably from Greece.

STONEHENGE, UK, EMANHOLE COVER FROM DAVID HERMAN

Korçë - town in south-eastern Albania.

Pogradec (alb. Pogradec or Pogradeci) is a town in south-eastern Albania, the capital of Pogradec County in Korča Region. The town is situated on Lake Ohrid.

WHO IS 'PAM'?  

SHE IS NOT ONLY IN POGRADEC, ALBANIA, BUT ALSO IN SIGEAN AND THE GRAND NARBONNE CONGLOERATE, FRANCE

PAM is the name of Sain Gobain's products. PAM manhole covers have become benchmark products because they satisfy the criteria of location and exposure to traffic. 

In Poland, they are also used in many cities. Unfortunately globalisation has also spread to the sewerage industry and has reached Europe's periphery......

MANHOE COVER, DEVON, UK, FROM DAVID HERMAN

NOS News
•
Tuesday,August 15, 2023, 3:20 PM

Manhole cover thief active in Hengelo, more than 50 covers have already disappeared

A manhole cover thief is active in the municipality of Hengelo. According to the municipality, more than fifty manhole covers have disappeared in a few weeks. "We hope this will stop as soon as possible."

The so-called gully lids have been disappearing in various places in Hengelo for several weeks, says the municipality. Especially on Sportlaan Driene, the number is increasing, where more than twenty have disappeared in recent times.

Holes on the sides of the road were also suddenly seen in the area around Kuipersdijk and Enschedesestraat. "It mainly happened around the Groot and Klein Driene districts," a spokesperson for the municipality told RTV Oost.

'Report suspicious situations'
The municipality suspects that the manhole covers are stolen. The open street wells along the side of the sidewalk are then uncovered and, according to the municipality, this can lead to dangerous situations. According to the spokesperson, the missing lids will be replaced as soon as possible.

The damage to the municipality is likely to run into the thousands of euros. According to RTV Oost, a manhole cover at an old iron farmer yields less than 5 euros. The municipality calls on the residents of Hengelo to be alert and to report suspicious situations to the police.

In 2014, dozens of manhole covers were already stolen in Hengelo. Unknown persons then caused 7000 euros worth of damage. The municipality assumed that cast iron lids were stolen because of their value.

Thanks Carien; I have written to the Mayor of Hengelo asking if the municipailty would like to host an exhibition of photos of Manhole Covers from the Netherlands and around the world. No reply as yet. Meanwhile, my exhibition of photos of Manhole Covers  ("Sigean Urban Architecture PLUS") will be held here in Sigean at the start of September.

Manhole cover thieves are criminals posing threats of injury or death to pedestrians, and damage to automobiles,  too. A few years ago in Greece there was such stealing and the cities, towns, waterworks had to quickly put some time of synthetic "sealer" around the covers. Also there is now a high fine for any old iron/metal dealers buying stolen covers . 

Be careful when walking the streets...especially at night.

FROM THEO NELSON -- MANHOLE COVERS FROM CALGARY, CANADA: THANKS THEO!

This fragment has been part of the collection of driftwood and rocks in my front door garden bed for years. I didn't steal it from a street but found it.

Pogradec (alb. Pogradec or Pogradeci) is a town in south-eastern Albania. 

Pogradec - a town in south-eastern Albania. 

Element produced probably in communist regime time.

Manhole cover art by David Zinn, see also 

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cu6xUXIOgpP/

Tiny manhole cover turned into waffle maker, also by David Zinn:

(Credit / Link to manhole cover art / waffle iron: https://www.instagram.com/p/CwNP8qRO2OE )

(and his website: https://zinnart.com )

Shkodra (Albanian: Shkodër or Shkodra; Serbian: Скадар / Skadar; Italian: Scutari; Latin: Scodra) is a city in north-western Albania, located on the Buna River and Lake Shkodersky. The largest economic and cultural centre in the northern part of Albania. The population is approximately 77,000.

Shkodra (Albanian: Shkodër or Shkodra; Serbian: Скадар / Skadar; Italian: Scutari; Latin: Scodra) - a city in north-western Albania.

DUBLIN MANHOLE COVERS FROM BRIAN O'CEALLAIGH

Found an odd one: Xtreme casting

at the Port of Pireaus

Shkodra - a city in north-western Albania.

LIMERICK, IRELAND, MANHOLE COVERS FROM BRIAN O'CEALLAIGH (part 1)

Shkodra - a city in north-western Albania.

LIMERICK, IRELAND, MANHOLE COVERS FROM BRIAN O'CEALLAIGH (part 2)

TWO FROM SALSE LE CHATEAU, FRANCE

at Syntagma Square, Athens :-)

COLOMBIAN MANHOLE COVERS FROM BRIAN O'CEALLAIGH

Shkodra - a city in north-western Albania. Two first examples from communist regime time.

LIMERICK, IRELAND, MANHOLE COVERS FROM BRIAN O'CEALLAIGH (part 3)

in Athens near the FIX Metro:

Shkodra - a city in north-western Albania.