Matchless, 1948

This may be the last recorded use of the word "Predominates" in an motorcycle ad. 

How many people today have even used the word in a sentence, I wonder?

 

Expanding toolbox find

This box was sitting out beside the road, and I couldn't just leave it there, right? It even came with a few stray Gray sockets.

Though I don't need another toolbox, and this doesn't seem to be any significant make, no stamped name, remains of a decal or any identification of any sort. A little WD40 on the thirty pivots and it works well. I think it's left best with patina till I figure out what to do with it.

 

One of my vices is vises, Cleveland Milling Machine Co. 1917

 

Recommended camouflage patterns

 

High Speed Steel, now with Uranium

 1916.

Sidecar Sunday part II

 

                                                        Pursued by Morgans!

Sidecar Sunday

Tippco Silver Racer. A rare and beautiful toy, the sidecar monkey swings out and leans to make the turn as the vehicle turns left.

Thanks, Rolf!

 

Truth in advertising, 1969

 "Vintage machines for the enthusiast".

 The company went out of business in early 1971.

1949 Pontiac

"It's not a show car," he said, "I drive it every day."

URS engine

Privateer Helmut Fath won the 1960 sidecar championship using a BMW, the motor of choice at that time. In 1961 BMW gave him factory support but a crash ended that seasons challenge. As he recovered, he planned on building a more powerful BMW engine but parts were not available form the factory. A resourceful man, he and friends designed and built an inline four from scratch naming it the URS after their town Ursenbach. 

It first ran in 1964, and though it made good power, it broke- a lot. problems were ironed out and development continued till the engine was reliable and powerful. In 1968 Fath won the championship again, beating the factory BMWs and breaking their 14 year winning streak. 

The engine was a 2 valve DOHC inline four with two crankshafts connected by a common cushioned countershaft. The chain driven camshafts are driven from that countershaft and are also made in two halves. A series of gears drives a Bosch fuel injection pump intended for a Borgward car.  The engine produced 78 horsepower at 13,000 rpm while maintaining a healthy spread of power. The transmission (not shown) was an Austrian make, Schaftleitner, and used 4, 5 or 6 speeds depending on the track. The engine was also tried in solo motorcycles using a frame from Seeley and later Rickman.

 Drawing above by Bill Bennett.