Riteway Oil can opener and spout

A handy device for adding oil to that old automobile, from the pre-plastic bottle era. Remove the engine oil cap, insert spout, drop a can SAE30 into place and squeeze the handle to make a hole in the can. Manufactured by the Artra aluminum foundry in St. Charles, Missouri. The company was founded by Arthur E. Hoelting and partners,  seemed to still be in operation into the 1980s.

Boiler explosion

 "Ok, I think we should make a big steel cylinder with lots of tubes rivetted and/or welded in place, fill it with thousands of gallons of really hot water and pressurize it to 250 or 300 pounds per square inch, Then we should put it on wheels and run it down a railway track at 60 or 80 mph. What could go wrong?"

In this explosion, it looks like the front end of the boiler blew forward, tearing off the smoke box and smokestack, dragging most of the tubes along with them. No word on how the crew fared.

Cars in the 'hood, Mustang convertible

I'd drive that! According to an innocent bystander, this is a 1967 model. He pointed to  the taillights and the horizontally folding rear window. 

 

Boston by balloon

Taken in 1860 by James Wallace Black, surely this aerial photograph of Boston must be the first such feat? 

Not exactly, the actual first birds eye view taken from a balloon was taken 2 years earlier. French photographer Gaspard-Félix Tournachon, captured the first aerial photographs, photographing Paris from a tethered balloon at an altitude of sixteen hundred feet. Due to the primitive developing system, the feat required him to carry a complete dark room with him. Unfortunately, those photographs have been lost.

 This Boston photo shows The Old South Meeting House on the left (still there today), where Washington St., cutting down diagonally meets Milk St, winding down to the harbour.

Welland Canal-sized cargo carrier proposal

Here's a detailed technical drawing for a Welland Canal-sized lake cargo carrier. The 260 foot length would indicate the era of the third canal, constructed in 1887 and in use till 1931. Interestingly, there is neither a company name of a date evident so who was proposing this for who?  

From Greatlakes-seaway.com;  A distinctive type of vessel was developed for use in the inland canal system. The Great Lakes "canaler", a bulk carrier that is literally a self-propelling barge, with machinery at the stern and navigating bridge up forward, had a long, almost box-shaped cargo hold between. The "canalers" using the third canal had a maximum length of 79.9 m (262 feet) and could carry as much as 2,700 tonnes (3,000 tons). Larger ships were also built to sail from the Lakehead (Lake Superior) to Port Colborne where their 13,500 tonnes (15,000 tons) of cargo were transferred to several small "canalers". However, it soon became evident that these larger vessels should be able to move into the lower lakes and, between 1907 and 1912, plans were made for enlarging the canal once more. That canal opened in 1931 and is still in use today.

Continental wrench

Another imported tool which seems to be pretty good quality but there doesn't seem to be much more information available. When googling Continental wrench, I get a number of eBay hits, Continental wrenches made in India, West Germany, Japan and this one made in Korea.  No idea if any of them are related.

I also see the name Continental American, which seems to be something different, marked with the name Peerless and made in West Germany. 

 

192/ ABC Motorcycle

  This 400cc flat twin was designed by Granville Bradshaw for ABC (All British (Engine) Company.. It was in production from 1919 till 1925  but was expensive and did not sell well. 

  The similar-layout BMW R32 was introduced in the early 20s and though BMW has been accused of copying this engine layout, in fact the BMW engine was reverse engineered from a 1914 Douglas fore and aft twin and originally produced as a portable utility engine. BMW later adapted their motor for their first motorcycle, mounted crankshaft longitudinally in the the frame and logically, added shaft drive. 

 

Heidelberg , Germany Tram

A turn of the (last) century four wheel Heidelberg tram, complete with colourful advertising shown in the 1960s. Fast forward another 50 years and at least the advertiser is still doing well.

Camron US needle nose pliers

Once again a tool company that no one seems to know much about. The always-useful Garage Journal has a thread on Camron tools, they concluded they probably were a postwar manufacturing company named Cameron Mfg. Co., of Emporium, PA which eventually became ProAmerica Premium Tools- also of Emporium, PA.

 So although the tools keep turning up, they're still a bit of a mystery.

 

Wipac accessories, 1966

The Wipac name was the result of the merger of the British arm of the American Witherbee Igniter Company (Wico) and British spark plug manufacturer Pacy. They produced a range of electrical accessories for motorcycles and cars, ranging from switches and lights to magnetos.  The company moved with the times and is still around today focusing on automotive LED headlights.

History at the company website 

 

Triumph Tiger Trail

 The 1981 Tiger Trail was Triumph's response to the introduction of the BMW R80GS in 1980. The bike had longer suspension and was outfitted with plastic fenders and only available in bright yellow. The model was entered in several off-road races, where they did reasonably well.

 The bike never was sold in North America and as it never really caught on in Europe, production was discontinued in 1982 with only about 180 units sold.  Collector's piece indeed!

Sidecar Sunday

 Captains Malins and Oliver, who travelled around the world on motorcycles in 1927 promoting the British film industry, pictured at the RAF base at Karachi where the engines were overhauled. The pair took just over a year to complete the trip. The 1000 cc OEC motorcycles gave little trouble but the sidecar frames were repaired many times.

Judging a book by its cover...

 I was not even tempted to open it...

1932 Douglas K32

The Classic Motor Cycle, April 1987

350cc horizontally opposed twin.  Nothing says speed and power like tartan tank panels.
 

Panagra Airlines, 1959

 Panagra, also known as Pan American-Grace Airways, was formed in 1928 as an airline for service in South America. Its first flight was a four passenger Fairchild flight between two cities in Peru but soon was flying between the US and various Central and South American destinations. The airline did well and in 1967 merged with Braniff.

Bevel King TL-700 Grozer pliers

 These odd jaw pliers were found at a thrift shop for $1 The lettering was worn but searching eBay for "TL-700" turned out the full name is "BEVEL KING TL-700". They are used in glasswork, are known as grozer pliers and are for breaking glass along a scoremark.  The flat jaw is placed on the top of the glass, the curved on the bottom, then just pull.  Demo on Youtube.

 

Thanks, Inno!

1953 Corvette

Only 300 Corvettes were made in the year of introduction-1953. It was powered by a normal Chevrolet inline 6 giving it a top speed of about 105mph.. Only one choice of colour, all were Polo White with red interior.

 

Perfecto 2 speed differential for Ford Model T

The Perfecto two speed rear axle was a planetary gear system that when engaged reduced the final drive ratio of the Model T from 3.6:1 to 5.5:1. this enabled the car to climb most hills in Ford standard top gear (downshifted into the Perfecto intermediate gear) as well as adding a "bull low" to the transmission. This was a useful modification for the Ford Model T and about 650,000 of the units were sold between 1920 and 1927.

Th

Nylint hot rod

 I'm not sure about the relationship between the Buddy L and Nylint roadster hot rod toys, they look similar but not identical. Terry sends us a picture of his upgraded Nylint hot rod, with spiffy new wheels and radial tires. 

 People restore these toys! Link.

Official military hydraulic oil

Non-petroleum base.....

by Monsanto. Really? 

 

Magneto synchronizer

 By US industrial Tool and Supply Co. for aircraft engine tuning use, and still available today, magnetos are still common today.

  Wish I could add more to the following statement, found at least three suppliers;  "For internal timing and synchronizing of magnetos to the aircraft engines. Simply attach 3 clips to magnetos and adjust until both lights flash in synchrony and the buzzer changes pitch."

BMW Modulo concept, 1978

I don't remember this concept at all.  The motor looks like it was designed by an illustrator... 

The general design concept probably resulted in the BMW R80GS when someone pointed out that BMW already had a suitable motor...

  More here (scroll down). 

Mack wrench

 Here's a nice wrench made by Williams, likely for a Mack Truck tool kit. I would guess it would date to the 1920s?

Buddy L Roadster

 

Sidecar Sunday

 Not a chaperone in sight...

Know your knots!

Never was much good with knots!

A wall display by the Columbian rope and twine company of Auburn, New York. The company imported sisal and other fibre from the Philippines and Mexico and produced quality rope products from 1903 till 1982. Company history at the New York Heritage website.

 

Mercedes Benz at your Studebaker Packard dealer

 From 1957 till 1963 Studebaker-Packard imported and serviced Mercedes Benz cars at their dealerships. The company was struggling, Packard made their last car in 1958, Studebaker in 1966. Mercedes was on the rise.

Launch of a Sloop of War

 1875 photograph by Whipple and Black Photographers. Curiously, the ship has not been named. 

Update. The ship is the USS Adams, and was laid down by Donald McKay  It was commissioned in 1876 and was was in service till 1919. (thanks, Dave. More in comments)

 The Atlantic Works were located at Marion and Chelsea St. in East Boston.

One of my vices is vises, Athol Machine Co. #69

This a fairly small vice with narrow 2" jaws. The A.M. Co. logo indicates pre 1921 (info from Mivise.com) but an unusual feature is the key slot mount. I haven't seen any other Athol vises online with that feature.

 

Chcago Specialty 3003 Spanner Wrench

 Another spanner wrench for locknuts, this time from Chicago Specialty, who made all sorts of plumbing tools. I assume this might be used on locknuts on sink drains.