Monday Mystery, Ken Tool S17

     Apologies for the poor images, I see Ken Tools (formerly Kennedy Tools) has been in business since about 1920 making tire changing tools, but I can't find any reference to this one.  Basically just a bar with 4 different-sized square knobs on both ends. Any ideas what it could have been used for?

 

Lenk No. 222 Alcohol Blotorch

  A very cool looking alcohol burning torch from Lenk, out of Boston, Massachusetts. Pretty sure it was part of Buck Rogers' collection of weapons. It was apparently capable of making enough heat for silver soldering or light brazing.

  I'm not really sure how it works and, as a face-saving measure, I'm not inclined to try it without more information.  For an earlier sample of their offerings, see Unusual Tools:  Lenk Improved Automatic Torch.

Below, an ad for a very similar tool from the American Products Corporation:

Popular Mechanics, February 1951

1955 Pontiac

Sidecar Sunday

 

Alfred Angas Scott shows off his own sidecar outfit. 1913

Universal Marine engines

  I was perusing a 1938 Yachting magazine and found the Universal Engine Co. line of marine engines. The ad wasn't the most visually appealing and I set it aside for later...

 There were at least two Universal companies making engines and light plants through the teens but it appears this Universal marine engine company opened in Oshkosh in 1913. Their advertising focused on the fact that the engines were built from the ground up (keel up?) as a marine engine, they were not adapted from automobile engines. In 1947 they introduced the Atomic 4 inboard gas engine which became a popular choice for auxiliary power in sailboats. The 1050 cc engine was produced until 1984 when diesels were taking over as the preferred powerplant. In response Universal marine-ized a Kubota tractor engine.  Westerbeke purchased Universal in 1990 and discontinued the line.

 

Triple compound steam engine

Once the simple steam engine had been developed to a useful level, it didn't take long for people to realize there was still potential energy in the exhausted steam and it could be utilized by routing the steam into progressively larger cylinders, this machine dates to about 1880.

 

Mascot egg grading scale

 Things ya learn, I never considered that eggs were sized by weight.

Vintage hovercraft

Hovercrafts seemed like they could have been useful and fun, but they were so loud!

 

Union Tool Co. tap handle

  Union seemed to be a popular name to use for a company, this one was originally the Union Caliper company, located in Fitchburg, Mass. but somewhere along the way moved to Orange, Mass. and changed their name to Union Tool. Previous post and history here. 

  Not to be confused with the Union Twist Drill Co. of Athol, Mass, who made drills, taps, dies etc., they were known mostly for precision machinist's measuring tools, clamps, protractors, gauges, calipers; etc. though possibly also taps and dies based on the discovery of this tap handle. 

More here.

 

1922 Kissel 6-45 Speedster

  The Kissel Motor Car company was founded in 1906 and produced quality cars and trucks out of its Hartford, Wisconsin factory. This Speedster, introduced after WW1, is probably the most memorable. It was nicknamed the Gold Bug and became a favorite of celebrities, among others, Amelia Earhart owned one.

 It was powered by a 338 cu in 6 and was capable of 70 mph.  Probably a thousand or so were built before production ceased in 1931.  The company later made outboard motors, it was sold to West Bend Aluminum in 1942.

Owls Head Museum