Sidecar Sunday

 Australian Alan Bruce took the world's sidecar record from Ernst Henne at 123.15 mph in 1932 on this supercharged Brough Superior with Bruce Goulding sidecar.
 

American Machine Co. Ice Chipper

Be it known that I, HERMANN ALBRECHT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in ice chipping tools, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists, mainly, of an icepick in which a guard, handle, and blade are combined, substantially in the manner described hereinafter, the object of the implement being to chip from blocks of ice, without pulverizing the same, fragments approximating to uniformity in size. 

In the accompanying drawings, (bottom image) Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved ice-pick; Fig. 2, a vertical section; and Fig. 3 a rear view, looking in the direction of the arrow.

 The American Machine Co. facility manufactured various consumer and industrial products starting in 1879. It was acquired by the North Brothers in 1894 and served as the unified manufacturing base for the company, enabling them to expand into hardware lines like ice cream freezers and eventually what they were best known for, the Yankee line of hand tools.

 

Cargo ship cruises...

My idea of a cruiseship. Sailing around exotic locations, watching other people work. 1954

 

Stanley Plane #45

  Back when decorating castings added to the value of a tool. I didn't find a name or model on this one, but googling seems to indicate the model 45. It's missing quite a few parts- the fence and supports, but no matter, this is a tool bought for looking at, rather than working...

 

Erector Set

  The Erector line of metal girder construction sets was introduced in 1913, quite a bit later than the similar Meccano made in Britain. The sets were popular and after a redesign in 1924 made the kits more versatile , also electric motors, wheels etc. were all added to make more complex toys. In this 1958 starter kit it is implied that you could make a 3 foot tall robot, probably piggybacking off Robbie the Robot in the movie Forbidden Planet. Sorry, kids, you'll have to buy a bigger kit!

We had Meccano sets as kids, the Erector sets seemed cheap in comparison. The interest in this sort of building set declined in the seventies, and we know where kid's interests are today. The line was discontinued in the eighties. Meccano bought the rights in 1990.

 

Norton 850 Commando

 

One of the prettier Nortons I've seen lately, Just parked on the street like a real bike...

Promotional sparkplug gapper

Nice little promotional item from AC Sparkplugs. Model number GG10.

 

Flagstaff holder

 Here we have two different flagstaff holders based on patent US661643 of Nov 13, 1900. I've never given much thought to flagstaff holders, I'm not a yachtsman and I never considered a motorcycle to be a flag displaying-type of vehicle. But it looks well thought out, no-tool angle adjustment, rope retention with a good solid base. 

 I think I'd maybe add a setscrew to retain the actual flagstaff, though.

I'll take the thrilling Bel Air Sport Coupe please...

 

One of my vices is vises...

 (Even the little clamp-on ones that the manufacturer couldn't be bothered to put their name on.)