We used to make things in this country. #116: T.E. Braime & Co., Ltd., Toronto, Ontario

Above, a brush advertising T.E. Braime & Co. of Toronto.  It was at a yard sale nearby and the lovely seller, Alice, kindly allowed me to photograph it.  This company was around at least since 1895, making overalls, "knickerbockers" and shirts.  In 1910, it was the site of a strike by female workers protesting, among other things, that they were charged for the thread that they used in their work.  Conditions in Canada for garment workers back then were similar to those today in Bangladesh.  See Today in Toronto History.  The factory location is now a Rogers telecommunications store.  Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

Interesting that the Arm and Hammer Brand trademark was used, perhaps to advertise the washing soda used on their products.

On the Level: Wabeco

Made by the German firm of Walter Blombach out of Remscheid.  They began as a manufacturer of files.  Today they specialize in machine tools such as small lathes and vertical milling machines.  

Click to see an impressive 1:5 scale round column drilling machine made by one of their customers. 

CWS, a Polish Indian?

In my pile of old motorcycle magazines I discovered a Ride and Glide dated January 1985, turns out it was the introductory issue of this (presumably defunct) Swedish chopper magazine.

No idea where it came from- I was never one to collect that sort of thing but I flipped through typical Harley chopper articles till I saw this Indian motor. It didn't look quite right (finned cases?) but the caption underneath explained that it is actually a 1936 or 37 CWS, a prewar Polish brand. The design was from 1931, patterned after the American bikes of the time, the engine based on an Indian Chief motor but according to the Wikipedia page the bike itself was more Harley Davidson. WW2 ended the venture.

The sailing ship

I found this evocative old print entitled "The Guiding Light."  James Gale Tyler was born in Oswego, New York in 1855.  He became interested in the sea as a teenager, eventually becoming one of the most notable maritime painters and illustrators of his time with his work appearing in Harper's, Century and Literary Digest.  During his lifetime, he documented the disappearance of the sailing ship.  Between 1900 and 1930, he regularly painted the annual America's Cup Race. The very popularity of his artwork made him one of the most forged artists, so much so that he was forced to take legal action against the forgers.    Although he lived most of his life in Greenwich, Connecticut, he moved to Pelham, New York where he died in 1931.

Instructions for the Fold-N-Carry Table

"Ditto"--the same in French and English!

Sears Sidecar Sunday

Big Round Engine

The right engine on a Grumman Tracker

Delahaye 165 by Figoni-Falaschi

In 1935 41 year old Giuseppe Figoni partnered with Ovidio Falaschi and set up a coachbuilding company in Paris. Figoni & Falaschi created some of the most memorable designs of the 1930s through 1950s including this 1938 Delahaye Cabriolet.   More info here.

The secrets of the Exciters! 1968

Mechanics Illustrated, July 1968

U-118

For the story and other great photos, see the Wikipedia entry.