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Itasca company glad to offer qauge to science

After "Mythbusters" crew members broke a complimentary $950 gauge from Itasca-based Shimpo Instruments, Mason Saltzman, the company's national sales manager, wasn't angry, not even peeved. He just mailed off another one.

"I think of it as PR," Saltzman said. "Just seeing the company's name on the "Mythbusters" credits is getting our name out there."

Manufacturers of force, torque and speed evaluation instruments and accessories, Shimpo began working with the show in 2005.

"They originally called me up to explode the myth of a train going by someone very fast, if suction can pull the person into the train," he said. "They wanted to take one of our force gauges and attach it to Buster, the test dummy."

Saltzman sent off a 200-pound capacity force gauge, valued at roughly $950.

A few months later, he got another call.

"They broke the gauge. Apparently they used it for something and got a very high force on it, which I was shocked by."

So, this time, he sent something more powerful; a 1,000-pound capacity gauge, valued at $990.

The instrument was used in the famed "Salami Rocket" episode, to test the thrust of the salami rocket they constructed.

"It had over 800 pounds of thrust - it was really amazing to see. It is kind of kooky but the gauge really worked well for their application," he said.

Talking with the "Mythbusters" crew on a weekly basis for the past year and a half, Saltzman gained a lot of respect for the show.

"These guys are insane," he said. "You really have to appreciate what they do - they make proving physics and science a kick."

Saltzman's wife works in the human resources department at Harper College.

"Our whole family's going to be there (on April 12)," he said. "I'm really looking forward to meeting them in person."

- Kerry Lester