I was visiting a buddy, and he gave me a alum. fluidyne radiator to take back with me. I had to explain what it was, and was it was cleared to be checked.

About 20 minutes later, i hear "THOMAS SEWELL, please come to the front counter immediately" called over the loudspeaker, so i rush to the counter, I am told to wait there, and that there was an issue. They said my radiator was smoking and i had some explaining to do. I demanded to see it, and a manager. Manager walks up and says, sorry, we seen some smoke and a weird smell, we thought that it was a bomb.

I never did find out where/what the smoke/smell was.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/suppo...eys/spankA.gif

A Dozen Roses.

it didn't work...

A 944 bumper (European) from Heathrow to Dulles. UAL let me carry it on (I was a VERY frequent flier in those days) and Dulles customs waved me through.

Pre 911, I was working in South East Alaska (survey) and packed a 44 Mag and ammo in my check bag. Not a problem.
Also pre 911, my friends and I would fly to Ann Arbor for early bicycle swap meets, I brought back some speedometers in my carry on. They drew a lot of attention in the XRay even then.

A case (12 cans) of gourmet olives. Put them through the scanner, and the TSA guy turned to his partner and asked, "Can he take these on board." The partner said "I don't know why not." So take them I did. It occurred to me later that they had banned all liquids....

Not me but another sword dealer packed a bomb. An inert WW2 aerial hand bomb that has the classic profile of one. Went from Hawaii to SF and back with no problems pre 9-11.

I currently travel on business almost weekly. I carry a sample case that is sometimes checked and sometimes carried on. We manufacture handles and parts for fire trucks and service body trucks. Packed in the sample case are 10-12" long 1.25" diameter sample sections of handrail. This ALWAYS either causes TSA to ask me to unpack the case (if it is carried on) or sometimes I am called to TSA while they go through the bag as checked baggage.

I am currently trying to head things off when I check in as this is getting old....

Back in '84 I smuggled back some hash from Amsterdam through SF customs.
I was 16...

I made an effeort to hide it.
My friend didn't care. Loaded pipe right in his pocket.


KT

Pre-911. and now, geez they allow what, 3 oz of liquids?

I was going to a buddies bachelor party in Reno and I carried on FOUR 2 liter bottles of home brew beer, over 2 gallons of liquid.

I've also checked 300 pounds of salt water reef tank "live rock" from florida to seattle. Really raised some eyebrows at work when I was ordering 300#'s of "rock" from florida..........

An 80# jack.

I brough the peanuts in last night - kids went crazy until I told them I had to boil and or roast them prior to them being suitable to eat. My wife just rolled her eyes - she brought up the fact that I brought back 20lb of prunes on time. Endless to say they were really good but gave me the shyts for a week. Of course eating about two pounds while watching WWF didn't help...

Mike, you in country? If not you may be eating that bag of peanuts.

You around this weekend?

Daughter has a BD party to attend and other than watching the game Sunday I think we are pretty free.

Think I may hit the liquor store and get some Margaritta supplies if that suits your fancy.

All post-9/11
- Takeouts from my favorite Italian place in St Louis in a styrofoam box (carry-on)
- Checked a Nintendo Wii (went to Best Buy a couple of days after Christmas and what have we here... a freshly unladed pallet of Wiis!)
- A spool of DVDs and computer parts packed in a carry-on with an antique wal-mounted Coke bottle opener. The only time they've ever wanted to peek inside my bag and I can't imagine why...
- carried on a bunch of Almdudler when I came back from Austria; later wished I brought some Stiegl instead
- checked a computer desk and space heater in a large suitcase

Nice blast from the past!

I once had to carry on a Miran 1B

http://websites.labx.com/osi/pics/48281.jpg

I remember bringing my iPod on board for the first time... it was VERY new, and hardly anyone had heard of it before. The TSA didn't understand what it was, and kept asking me where I put the CD.

I eventually had to open up a copy of WIRED, and point to the add where they were introducing it.

They still didn't get what it was, but let me on board with it.


And I still find it amazing that they don't bat an eye with me bringing 2 computer security cables in my carry on.

Coke.

As a kid we went to my Mom's old neighborhood in East London. The locals still has coke fires in their houses.. Being 5 years old - I grab a few of these lightweight "rocks" for a souvenir..

Going through customs at JFK, as they are poking through the luggage - I say - "Mom, where's the coke? Wheres my coke??" Added at least an hour to the trip..

Boy oh boy does that suit my fancy! Yup, we will be around. Give me a shout or I'll give you one.

an electronic box used to resolve shock pressure from detonations, and as it is possible to get "residue" on it, I thought there might have been an issue. Nothing detected.

shrimp larvae (****loads of them)

4 live crabs.