Rauch and Lang Electric Car

 

U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower in a 1914 Rauch and Lang Electric during the 1952 campaign The car was owned by his mother-in-law, Mrs. Elivera Dowd. 

Rauch and Lang electrics were capable of 16-20 mph and 50-100 miles on a charge. The price point was about 4 times higher than a Model T.  Referring to the previous post, these cars were not fitted with Edison's nickel iron batteries, though apparently Thomas Edison did own a R and L electric car at some point.

Edison Nickel Iron Battery Section views, 1918

Although the Nickel Iron battery had been invented, patented and abandoned in Europe in the 19th century, Edison developed the technology and took out US and German patents for it in 1901. The projected use was for electric vehicles, as the energy density was higher than lead acid batteries of the time. These section models and drawings were done to promote the technology. 

 Unfortunately electric vehicles soon went out of production but the technology found uses for forklifts, standby power units and similar as the battery is very robust and long-lived, tolerating misuse like constant charging, overcharging, heavy discharge rates and even short circuits. Edison manufactured them till 1972, when the technology was sold to Exide Battery who discontinued them shortly afterwards. There has been recent interest in the technology as a storage battery for solar power.

Thanks, Rolf!

 

One of my vices is vises: Know your terminology

Tools and their uses, Prepared by the US Navy (Bureau of Naval Personnel)

 

Aermacchi N125

After WW2 Italy was getting mobile again and the Vespa motor scooter produced by Piaggio was selling well. Moto Guzzi responded with the Galetto, a 160cc scooter with larger 17 inch wheels, better suited to rough roads. An former Benelli engineer, Lino Tonti, designed the innovative 125cc utility scooter shown here. Named Cigno (the swan) he showed it at a motorcycle show in 1950, the Aermacchi company decided it would be their entry in the field. Various versions of the machine were made from 1952-56, but all were definitely utility, sales were never as high as hoped. It is estimated that less than 2000 units of all types were built.

 

Canadian Lumberman

 A magazine documenting the stripping of timber from Canada, the cover romanticizes the probably not workplace-safety-approved practise of log driving which is shown in the National Film Board popular 1979 short film Logdrivers Waltz, based on Wade Hemsworth's original song.  Surprisingly, the film does not predate Monty Python's Lumberjack song.

The magazine, which started in 1887, I believe, is still in business as Canadian Forest Industries . 

Service for Everyone

Illustration, possibly from a magazine of the time, by unknown artist, W. Eager, dated 1933

 

Sidecar Sunday

 

Space Cruiser

 Seen at the Davenport Swapmeet a few years ago.

Knife, George Hancock and Sons

images courtesy of  J. Campbell

George Hancock was one of many knife makers in the Sheffield area, which has been a leading iron and steel producer since at least the 14th Century. With iron and coal deposits, along with good water power, the area became one of the largest producers of knives and other cutlery. By the 1600s the industry became regulated by The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire (which is still going strong) and the history is well documented. Here is a guide to trademarks.

And more on G. Hancock from Is your name on a knife?

The original George Hancock was a spring knife and Bowie knife manufacturer operating from Love Lane and Holly Street. After his death in 1897, the assets of the company were acquired by Robinson & Oates so the name continued to appear in directories up to 1934 as a manufacturer of table knives at Challenge Works, 47 Eyre Lane.

Also a manufacturer of table cutlery and butchers’ knives, the Robinson & Oates partnership appeared in 1898 (when it registered a silver mark).  It was based at 47 Eyre Lane and the partners were Ernest Bamford Robinson (1867-1938) and Thomas Oates (1869-1937).  Robinson was a Sheffielder; Oates had been born in Doncaster.  By 1911, the address was Challenge Works, 47 Eyre Lane.  The marks included ‘909’ (granted in 1791) and the names of George Hancock & Sons, Ramsden & Co, and Harrison Bros.  In 1932, Thomas Oates withdrew from the partnership.  He died on 29 August 1937, leaving £6,025.  Ernest B. Robinson, of Briarfield, Curbar, Derbyshire, died in the following year on 19 November.  His estate was £3,003. 

Another job you probably wouldn't want to do, studying air currents in an autogyro

The American Heritage History of Flight, Simon and Shuster. 1962

Pitcairn Autogyros fly over Manhattan to study the affect of wind currents from tall buildings on the craft's stability. (1937)