I know naught about the “M” engines made in the Peoples Republic of China , but I have a small collection of pre-prohibition liquor items.
The liquor term
Highball (note one word) I have referenced on many of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s (pre-American prohibition) items is from the use of a tall glass for rye , corn, or blended whiskey. Seltzer could also be added. I’ve not seen a pre-pro Highball glass for Scotch. The old liquor advertising loosely referenced
Highballing as associated with the railroad signal devices that used large balls to tell the railroad engineer track conditions. Highballs on the signal device indicated clear track ahead , OK to go full out. Thus it was intimated that Highballing was associated with full speed ahead, clear tracks, smooth fast times ahead. Unless an engineer “highballed” too fast out of a rail-yard, because that could be risky and dangerous.
Most all the liquor Highball pre-1919 references I have are the tall glass itself.
The term ‘Highball cocktails’ was to become a common item when ordering a lot of spirited ‘mixed drinks’ during prohibition, and after prohibition ended.
Local 1800’s newspaper stories I have read concerning engineers messing with the fly-ball governors and safety valves were in steamboats. It seemed a great amount of bragging rights and pilot fame came from reaching a wharf ahead of schedule , and more so if the captain was to block the dock from a rival riverboat. Many, many explosions and steamer wrecks occurred by that unsafe practice of altering the governor and safety valves. The contemporary newspapers & steamer insurance companies clambered for government regulations. But the passengers loved the steamboat races , even though a lot of folks lost their lives when the boilers blew.
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