Photographic revolver

David Cheshire.  The Book of Movie Photography.  New York:  Alfred A. Knopf, 1979.

Hence "shooting a camera"?

Block & Tackle

I've cleaned up and painted this old triple pulley block.  No maker's mark. The sheaves are interesting:  each contains 5 slotted rollers connected by spacers and which run on a ridge around the inside of the bore:

They were full of hard, dried grease.  Unfortunately, one sheave is missing so I had to turn a new one up on the lathe.  I'm not skilled enough to make the bearings, so I just bored the sheave with shoulder to take a regular sealed ball bearing: 

Below, installed in the pulley block:

Pulley blocks are interesting animals.  Below, the proper terminology.  (Unless specified otherwise, all diagrams are taken from Boatswain Trade Group One.  BRCN 3039 (64).  Royal Canadian Navy Trade Manual.  1964.)

Source:  NavyBMR

My double block was missing a becket and thimble, so I added them. 

Usually, both the stationary and moving blocks have the same number of sheaves.  The most common exception is called a "luff":

Threading the rope (technically "reeving") was something of a challenge.  Since you pull in the opposite direction to the movement of the load, it's also referred to as "rove to disadvantage." Below, how to reeve a two-fold purchase and a three-fold purchase:

A combination of a triple-block and double-block is referred to as a "double luff" or "gyn" tackle.  That's what I made.  Reeving it is somewhat different.  Below, from Global Security:

Double luff tackle. Obtain a double- and a triple-sheave block. Place the blocks 3 feet apart with the hooks or straps facing outboard and position the blocks so that one is face down and the other cheek down. When reeving a tackle that has one block with more sheaves than the other, always start with the block with the most sheaves. In this instance, start reeving through the center sheave, keeping the line parallel. Never cross from one side to the other. Double luff tackle has a 5 to 1 mechanical advantage.

Source:  NavyBMR

Pulley blocks aren't used much anymore, since they're complicated, create friction with every sheave added, and have largely been supplanted by geared hoists.  Still, they're very cool.

Anyway, my final product. I hope I managed to reeve it correctly.  I tied the rope to the thimble with a bow line knot.  I'm looking forward to trying the tackle out!

Schrader tire gauge

The Schrader valve as we know it was patented in 1893, They are used on almost all modern pneumatic tires, the exception being some narrow-tire bicycles.

Two Gals Go Motor Jaunting, 1943

From Motorcyclist.

Black Diamond Knife and Saw Sharpener

Photographed at the Elgin County Railway Museum in St. Thomas Ontario.  A lovely little machine tool.

Notice the phrase "The Only" cast into the top of the frame.  That's self-confidence! Founded in 1911, Black Diamond is still around!

According to What Is It Like to Live in Natick:

"The technique of figure-eight stitching for baseballs was developed here. They were made for years by H. Harwood & Sons (now condos) and stitched by women in their homes. 

And, thanks to the old Hostess/Wonder Bread factory that used to be on Speen Street, the town ­appeared in an episode of “Family Guy.’’ After a nuclear holocaust, Peter remembers that Twinkies are the only food that can survive such a calamity, and the family ventures out to find the factory in Natick."

Ford for 1925

Still the Model T in 1925, the new Model A was still more than a year away.

CN #5700

Don Ball Jr., Portrait of the Rails, Galahad Books, 1972

CNRs lightly-streamlined Hudson locomotive #5700 leaving Toronto en route to Montreal. CN only had 5 such locomotives, preferring the larger 4-8-4 wheel arrangement.

We used to make things in this country. #271: Touralo Coach Company, Vancouver, B.C.

From 1945.  The copy writer was certainly a silver-tongued devil! Coal and wood stove, but no internet!

This company has left nary a trace on the web.

Nelson's signal at Trafalgar

Boatswain Trade Group One.  BRCN 3039 (64).  Royal Canadian Navy Trade Manual.  1964.

Torpedo motorcycle

On a recent trip to Davenport Iowa I happened upon a book chronicling the history of the Illinois town of Geneseo. In it was this entry, for a motorcycle I had never heard of. The manufacturer, the Horndecker Motor company was based in Whiting Indiana but later moved to Geneseo Illinois. See below.
 And apparently American Pickers is looking for an example.

Standard Catalog of American Motorcycles