McColl Brothers Oil

 In 1873 John McColl founded the McColl Brothers oil company, which became a major supplier of lubricating oils, greases and paints etc. to the railways. As the automobile began to become popular the company started selling gasoline and oils in that market. It merged with Frontenac Oil refineries in 1927 and at one point the company had more than 4000 outlets in Canada. Texaco muscled in and became the majority shareholder in 1941. In 1959, the company name was changed to Texaco Canada.

Pedal (not paddle) boat

Found under a tractor during a tour through Tackaberry's truck and tractor collection near Athens Ontario. 

 

Bangor trolley line

Frank Sprague had developed workable electric motors and trolley systems in 1886 and 1887. He then installed the first successful large electric street railway system in Richmond, Virginia in 1888.

 To say that people were waiting for this to arrive is an understatement, the Bangor Trolley company was incorporated in 1887 and began service in April of 1889 on three miles of track. 

Proudly standing at either ends of the car is motorman O'Brien and conductor Coombs.

Bert's Motorcycles...

Here's a 1966 ad for a thriving Yamaha dealer, both locations are long gone, I was fearing the worst, but it seems Bert did ok, he's at a new location in Covina, California now. Wow.                   https://www.bertsmegamall.com/

 

1927 Willys Knight

Been sitting a long time but it's for sale. Anyone fancy freeing up some long-dormant sleeve valves?

Thanks, Glenn!

Thanks, Rolf!

Races we never attended, Brooklands 500 , 1937

Formerly 500 miles, this was the first 500km race at Brooklands. Sir Malcolm Campbell acted as official starter. John Cobb in his Napier-Railton Special won the race.  Youtube.
 

Pierre Guy Simca

Thanks, Rolf!

 A very fancy pedal car with chain drive and imitation leather seat. I didn't have much luck finding information on the manufacturer.

Farman Voison in Japan

 The first airplane in Japan, a 1910 Farman Voison is shown on display at the Haneda airport in 1960 as part of the celebration of 50 years of flight in Japan. The aircraft had been restored by The United States Air Force museum at Dayton.

Cog Railway Patents, Sylvester Marsh

In 1858, picking up on an idea by John Blenkinsop in England twenty years before, Sylvester Marsh applied for US patents for a cog-driven inclined railway. This set the stage for a World's First, the Mount Washington Cog Railway. He obtained a charter form the state in 1858, started construction in 1866 and the summit was reached in 1869.

In 1864 he patented an "Apparatus for descending gradients", a compressed air braking system that did not rely on brake shoes or friction surfaces.

 In 1867, he patented an improved cog rail design, in effect a ladder that was open- so any debris, snow or other material would fall straight through the pins.

Packman-JAP

June 1993 Classic MotorCycle

 Nice sleek lines on this one. If one were to tweak it slightly, I'd consider moving the saddle down and back above the rear fender... picky, picky...