Spring tension gauges

These gauges were used to measure and set spring tension on contacts touching another contact in a electro-mechanical relay. 

 P.K. Neuses website

These gauges were part of a tool kit belonging to reader Arthur's father, who was an electrical engineer for Ohio Power, a subsidiary of AEP American Electrical Power.  Below are some tools in the kit.

Thanks, Arthur!

Lark Finalwrench

  AI is suggesting this was a Whitworth wrench made by Thomas Smith & Sons in Birmingham. but it's actually a standard 1/2- 9/16" wrench. The company forged the "Snail Brand" tools but would apparently also do other brand names to order. 

 I can't find any reference to the name. Ideas?

 

Monday Mystery, big hook thingy

 This comes out of rural Maine, looks like blacksmith-made it so it could be part of any sort of old farm or logging machine but the 4 bolt flange might have been mounted to a wooden beam. Another clue might be the hole halfways up the shaft, maybe for a pivot or actuating arm? Anyways, just guesses, any ideas?

No prince of darkness jokes please

 They're trying!

Sidecar Sunday

Seen at the 2026 CVMG Rally.

The times are a'changin...

 The four masted Star of Shetland passes underneath the partially constructed Golden Gate Bridge on September 19, 1936, as it is towed outwards for Osaka, Japan for scrapping. The ship had been launched in 1899 as the Edward Sewell, and was a bulk carrier till it was sold to the Alaska Packers Association in 1922. In support of the salmon canneries, it carried lumber, canned salmon, freight and passengers between San Francisco and Alaska till it was retired. The bridge opened on May 27 1937.

One of my vices is vises, York 125

The York 125 is a heavy duty vise with a 5" wide jaw made in the Czech Republic, probably between 1934 and 1956. Rumour has it the shape inspired the Wilton Bullet vices.  The company is still around today.   History thread at Garage Journal.

Renault 40

 This was the flagship Renault from 1911 to 1928, wheelbase of 3.9 meters, (156 in) with another huge 6 cylinder, this one coming up short in comparison to the Bentley at 460 cu. in (7.5 litre), later 560 cu in. The radiator was mounted behind the engine, and there were w1brakes only on the rear wheels. Despite that, it apparently was an impressive machine... or as we used to say "it cut a mean swath".

Richard Hough and Michael Frostick, A History of the World's High Performance Cars, George Allen and Unwin, 1967

Fashion Friday, 1917

The Saturday Evening Post, 1917

Relevant a hundred (plus) years later....

 

Bentley Eight Litre

 

  Introduced in September of 1930, the new Bentley luxury car cost about $15,000. Powering it was this 487 cu. in. 6 cylinder overhead cam 4 valve engine producing 220 horsepower. Unusually, the cam was driven by 3 connecting rods. The bore was 110 mm (4.3 in), the stroke was 140 mm (5.5 in). Bentley went bankrupt 6 months later. only 100 cars had been made.