Silliker of Halifax

 A short-lived business located in Halifax. Opened in 1907, with assistance from the City of Halifax in the form of tax breaks, it was reorganized as the Nova Scotia Car Works in 1911- which became the Eastern Car works the next year. I wonder if they ever built anything.

Steam locomotive Dakin

The Great Western Railway locomotive poses for the camera in the summer of 1864. The name honours one of the directors of the railway and it appears top hats were big that year.

John Sloan's Defiance

Pretty minor mystery, but the exterior of this gallon-sized can gives no clue as to the contents. A quick Google finds another reference to John Sloan and Co. as a grocer so that narrows it down somewhat. A quick sniff inside provided no clues.

One of my vices is vises, Parkinson Model F No 7

This is very large, heavy duty vise, with surprisingly narrow jaws only 4 in wide. More on Parkinson; Grace's Guide

 

W.T. Grant wrench

Find a wrench, learn about a previously unknown department store.

 This is a surprisingly good quality wrench made in Japan for another vanished variety/department store chain named W.T. Grant. I would suspect it's part of a set and sold in the late sixties but I've never seen another. 

The first W.T. Grant store opened in 1906, concentrating on the bargain/high-turnover end of the market. The stores were mostly located in downtown areas. By the late sixties the chain was up to 1200 locations but had not followed the market to the suburbs. This and a number of other management issues caused bankruptcy in 1976. 

 

Sidecar Sunday

 

Seasonal jollity from the pen of F Gordon Crosby.

1922 SPORTSCOMBO AW

Seasonal jollity from the pen of F Gordon Crosby.

Motorola 1986

 At $4000 with a half hour of battery life, I suspect none of us had one of these Dynatak phones in the eighties... 

National 6 ton tractor

Built by National Steel Car of Hamilton, Ontario as an example of their capabilities.

 

Moto Guzzi Single racing frame

The British racer Arthur Wheeler started his career when racing resumed after WW2. Although he raced various brands in various classes, he became known for his association with Moto Guzzi, racing their horizontal singles in various classes. When Moto Guzzi retired from GP racing in 1957, he once again tried other brands, but in 1960, he and Ken Sprayson at Reynolds Tubing designed a new oil-bearing spine frame (shown above) for the old Guzzi engine, replacing the obsolete stock chassis. He saw some success and after redesigning the frame to fit both 250 and 350 engines (below) for 1962 did a career best of achieving 3rd place in the 250 championship. (Interesting arrangement at the headstock area)

 Bottom, for comparison, a stock Moto Guzzi Gambalunga.

Jonard Industries wrench

 

Jonard is not a tool name I run across, not being in the electronics business, but the company has been making tools and test equipment for the telecom, home security and fibre optic industries since 1958,  and seems to be still good and healthy today in a new larger location. 

This stamped sheet metal wrench (much like a Meccano or Erector set wrench) appears to have been in over its head on the 9/16" end but I suspect it's mostly used to tighten nylon nuts and other light duty tasks.