Crank - the origin

[CFS_Firey]

Does anyone know where the term 'Crank' originated?  Is it just the CFS? for that matter is it only the fire services that use it...?  I've only started hearing it in the last year...

[PF_]

Sounds like a movie...

Coming soon to a CFS near you, Crank, The Origin!  Where did it come from, what people has it infected "aaaaaaaaaaah" "go go go tree down tree down, strike out a 4th alarm!"  Thre Cranks are everywhere, in your bathroom, in your kitchen and sitting in oyur firetruck (cut to a dark image of person driving fire truck)  Can you handle this world we live in, CRank, the origin, coming soon......

Its early, just had coffee so Ill be right in a minute  :-P

[Mike]

HA! Put a smile on my face :) even if it is early.....
Coffee.... now theres a thought....

[Firefrog]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crank_(person)

"Crank" (or kook, crackpot, or quack) is a pejorative term for a person who writes or speaks in an authoritative fashion about a particular subject, often in science, but is alleged to have false or even ludicrous beliefs. Usage of the label is often subjective, with proponents of competing theories labeling their opponents cranks, but typically is used to describe someone who is well out of mainstream opinion on a matter. In most cases the people labeled as crackpots turn out to be wrong.

[CFS_Firey]

Cheers for that :)

[Toast]

So to those people who use the term crank to be a positive thing...

[K99]

Crank is also a term used by a lot of people associated  in the music industry. Crank can be used as a substitute for the word "turn".

Heres an example:

imagine a party that is in full swing, everyone is having an excellent time.

A great song gets played on the stereo and someone from within the crowd yells " Crank it up, I love this F....n song!"

So there you go, just another example of where "crank" came from. :mrgreen:

[Crankster 34]

Can also be used to describe the mood, i.e this party is cranking.

Not sure how that relates to fire service cranks like myself but I do like to crank out a good tune at a cranking party, of course it would have been better if the crank shaft in my car hadn't failed :)

[firetruck]

crank is also a key part of a bike, while we're at it.

as far as the original meaning, what can the word "crank" do that the word "knob" cannot?

[Big Yellow Gongbeater]

Another use of the word crank:
When a male indulges in some self time with a sock and his bedroom door locked.  This motion is aptly called "cranking" due to its resemblance to the act of turning over (cranking) the engine of an early model plane or motor vehicle to start.
  Most recently referenced use of this word in this context is on Big Brother.
 
Yet another meaning of the word Crank :mrgreen:

  In reference to Firefog's definition, the most recent adaptation of this meaning is to call someone a GONGBEATER of which there appears to be a thriving colony here in the CFS.

[Alan (Big Al)]

^^ :lol:

[medevac]

YOU CRANKER...

[pumprescue]

Well see fire truck we will make a deal, the true cranks can be cranks and they know who they are and you can  be the knob, damn 6%er

[Toast]

No no, I think that knob would quite well describe those who call themselves cranks.

[CFS_Firey]

^^ :lol: I concur!

[pumprescue]

yes toast you must be right...

[Toast]

Well, if you insist.

[firetruck]

it sure sounds as though he does...

[TillerMan]

Mmm, yes well it is true that those who are cranks know what it means, it is not a title that can be earned, you either are or you aren't. It's just a fact of life that some people are, some people will forever try to be and some people never will be CRANKS.

[Crankster 34]

Yes, there are those of us that wake up every morning with a big smile on our face because we know we are Cranks and are proud of it :)

[CFS_Firey]

Proud to be cranky! :P