Friday, August 7, 2026

Summertime fun!


 Fun for the whole family... 

Chrysler Master Technician Service Conference tools

 

  In the sixties and seventies Chrysler ran the Master Technician Service Conference (MTSC) program for technicians. Awards consisted of gold plated tools from various tool manufacturers including this ratchet set from Bonney. I wonder how many of the award sets saw usage. If I only owned a Chrysler or Dodge...






Thursday, August 6, 2026

One of my vices is vises, Stanley #702 corner vise

  Introduced in 1957, the Stanley 702 was a development of the #700 clamp-on vise (patent 1,765,321 of 1930) which utilized a screw mounted below the bench surface level and L shaped jaws allowing work to be clamped on the bench as well as vertically. Instead of iron, the #702 was aluminum, helping with portability and probably kinder if a chisel or blade slipped.





 

Steam engine

  Someone thought I should have this and I'm grateful! It is purportedly a pre 1900 Locomobile steam car engine, but I haven't had time to confirm that. Can't wait to put a little air pressure to it. 


Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Gray 212C Ball Pein hammer

These hammers made by Canada's quality tool maker should turn up more often than they do, but maybe everyone makes sure they keep theirs. This was another rescue, and has been rehandled.

1973 Catalog

Garrard Speke Sociable

Vintage Car Poster book by Colour Library Books Ltd. 1983

   Charles Garrard started his bicycle company in 1900, They started adding small 143cc engines from the French company ClĂ©ment in 1902 but because they didn't have the capacity they contracted James Lansdowne Norton to manufacture the frames. A V twin was introduced the next year and they added a forecar to the line which in 1911 became this front engine 2 seater three wheeler.

 Coincidently 1911 was also the first year for the Morgan 3 wheeler. Garrard was out of business before the start of WW1, and very few of these sociables remain.

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

On the hunt...


  Found! On a wall of an old bar, a poster worth posting (ha ha). A little photoshopping and we have a tolerable image. But with the miracle of modern AI, can we make it better?
   At random, a possible candidate was discovered (Pixella.ai)) and with the instructions "clean up the red areas, clean up the white areas", the bottom image was produced. For 99¢ I can get it without the watermarks and for $49 per month I can get a subscription. Not going to happen. 
  I prefer the photoshopped version (with remaining patina)... or with a bit more care in taking the photograph maybe just a image of the original grungy framed bar ornament.


Artist; Hugo Koeke




 

Williams Superslim Spanners



  Found this British-made black finish wrench in my overflowing wrench drawer, it stood out from the rest, it's a nice tool. They were made by T. Williams of Birmingham and were apparently supplied in various vehicle tool kits, but the "superslim" name isn't just a trademark, it is indeed quite thin, about 7mm- when a standard 7/8" (across flats) nut is about 1/2" tall. It's a keeper.


 Below, a complete set still in box seen
 at a swapmeet some years ago. They're still available at
http://www.smithfrancistools.co.uk/ though probably not at this price.






Ad from 1962

Monday, August 3, 2026

Cycle Guide, Feb 1970


 4 shillings in the UK... (that's the old money...)

Wow! The new 1990 Makita catalog is here!

 Like a kid in a candy store! Lots of money for cordless tools back then but I was making good use of the anemic and adequate 3.5 V B&D cordless screwdriver I had...