With tools he is all

Wisdom from the inside cover of The Starrett Story, 1982 edition...

 

Russian constructivist graphic design

 This is a vintage Soviet poster promoting using advertising services on trams, designed by Dmitri Bulanov in the 1920s.  The text highlights that tram advertising is inexpensive, rational, and read by millions of people daily, the roof banner reads, "ADVERTISING IN THE TRAM"

Eysink parallel twin

This was one of motorcycling's first parallel twins, obviously the designer was concerned about overall width, the crankshaft had one throw with curiously cranked connecting rods to get the desired cylinder spacing. This would also make it an even-firing 360° engine. The engine had atmospheric intake valves and exhaust valves operated by a front mounted camshaft.

 The Dutch-made Eysink was introduced in 1908.

 

Indian Motocycle Co. 1935

 

L S Starrett's first invention

 

Ladish Co. Brantford wrench

  This aluminum wrench was apparently intended for stainless fittings manufactured by the Ladish Co. in Brantford Ontario as part of their tank and pipe manufacturing.  It appears the Brantford operation may have become the Tri-Lad company in the early 2000s.

 The company was a subsidiary of Ladish Co. in Wisconsin, a company that had specialized in forgings of all types but mostly for automotive, farm and industrial purposes. Ladish had bought up the Tri-clover company of Kenosha Wisconsin in 1953 which manufactured stainless steel piping and fittings, that company was acquired by Alfa Laval in 1985 and closed down in 2000.

 Ladish lost business in the 1980s and after a bankruptcy in 1993, has focused on aircraft parts as they built back, ownership has changed again, it is now known as the ATI Ladish Company, Inc.

 

Lucas lighting kit 1920s

  If you owned a motorcycle in England in the 1920s, and wanted lights, there was a acetylene gas lighting kit available from Halfords (a motoring department store) for the equivalent of approximately £60 which gave you barely adequate lighting, or if you were feeling flush Lucas made an electric setup consisting of the above SS48 headlight and MT110 taillight and the magdyno illustrated below. If I made the translation from old British money £10 17s 6d correctly, that's about £600 (or about $1100 Canadian). I expect most motorcyclists just stayed home at night.

 

Heartfelt thanks!

Well, would you look at that...

 Ten million views. Sure, it's taken more than a decade, and I know these days there are people that can do that in a day but this is just a blog of old rusty things. No popstars or naked women.

I would like to thank everyone who stops in to take a look. Love the comments. Some of you have been here since the beginning, some for a short time and sadly some have passed on. You all are appreciated, you keep it fun for me and I learn stuff every day... keep well!
 

Sidecar Sunday

Folk art. 

 

Dunlop, 1967

 "Crummy" is a technical term...