Thursday, May 14, 2026

Wright reciprocating saws

 

 Wright Power Saw & Tool Corporation had a different idea for chain saws. The saws at the time were heavy awkward and the chain design was prone to kickback. Their first product in 1947 was a pneumatic-powered reciprocating saw designed primarily for underwater demolition, marine dock building, and military applications, but was soon adopted for logging. Tapping into the commercial logging and farming boom of the 1950s, Wright adapted its reciprocating technology to gas engine powered units. Initially the reciprocating action was directly worked from the crankshaft with its own connecting rod, no clutch! Although the machine was refined over the years, it always cut slower than a comparable chain saw and by the 1960s, they had moved on to a conventional chain arrangement and the manufacture was contracted out to Poulan. They went out of business in the 1970s.



Granite surface plate


 I've wanted one of these for years-decades! It's not been a must-have but definitely in the nice-to-have category. Besides, it gives my vernier height gauge a home.  It had been sitting in a friend's shed for 20 plus years ago, when he bought some forgotten object, it was given to him. My son quipped that he would remove it from my shop in 20 years... 



Wednesday, May 13, 2026

CPR toolshed padlock


 These brass locks were used on many railroads and were similar to the locks on switches, though they were keyed different. They don't look terribly secure.


 

Cast iron banks


  In 1920, the A.C. Williams Co. of Ravenna, Ohio was the world’s largest cast iron toy maker. They also made piggybanks in a large variety of shapes including these (appropriate) banks. 

Testbed


 This ex-Air Canada Viscount used in the development of the PT6A-50 turboprop engine model utilized as the powerplant for the de Havilland Canada Dash 7 commuter airliner.  The conversion was done by the United Aircraft of Canada, now Pratt and Whitney Canada. The modified plane flew from January to October in 1974. 

VickerViscount.net


Rich Child Cycle


 Who named that kid?

Monday, May 11, 2026

Warner radial engines

 
 

I was surprised to find that Warner is still around supporting their radial engines in the 125-185 hp range. From their site comes this: Warner Engines have powered many different civilian and military aircraft over the years:

 Aeronca, Amphibion, Beasley, Bird, Cabinaire, Cessna, Challanger, Commandaire, Consolidated, Conquest, Cosmic, Cross-Foster, Cunningham-Hall, Curtis, Dart, Davis, Doodlebug (NACA), Fairchild, Fleet, Gee-Bee, General, Goodyear (lighter than air), Harlow, Howard, Inland, Issoudun, Laird, Lincoln, Loening, Luscombe, Meyers, Monocoupe, Monosport, Ong, Paramount, Pitcairn, Porterfield, Ranger, Roamair, Ryan, Rearwin, Simplex, Sioux, Sky-Car, Stinson, Swallow, Swift, Travelaire, U.S.Navy (lighter than air) Valkyr, and Waco.

Along with the engines, they sell drawings like these




VW Jetta in white

 More than once people have stopped to look at and photograph this car. So here it is. To me it's just another one of thousands of boring old Jettas, but I guess to some folk it's getting to be a "vintage car"...


 

Sunday, May 10, 2026

Jas. Clark Electric tools


  When the company opened in 1892 the company was named after the founders, Cooper and Clark. L H Cooper retired in 1907 and the renamed company continued making their handheld power tools. This 1944 ad seems to indicate the company was doing well, but it was acquired by new owners in 1948 who closed and liquidated the company the same year.

Sidecar Sunday


 Passenger needs a windshield...