Progress is fine, but it's gone on for too long.

Thursday, July 25, 2024

The Modern Motor-Driven Woodworking shop, 1930

This 125 page book by Woodworkers Educational Department (a division of Delta Manufacturing) dates to 1930 and introduces the reader to the world of woodworking with power tools. It's the forerunner of a million woodworking books and seems very advanced for the time, there were still factories running machines with belts and shafts. Many techniques and tips are described along with instructions for operating the various tools. I wonder how many regular guys could afford these sophisticated tools, or even a workshop, 1930 was into the Depression.

New York Central to Chicago!

A New York Central travel poster by Leslie Ragan in 1929. Not a train to be seen, the attraction is the Magnificent Mile but there is smoke in the sky, signifying industry and prosperity.

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

General Tire Squeegee

The Squeegee tire was in production for at least a decade, starting about 1939. General Tire started in business in 1915 in Akron, diversified into broadcasting by buying radio stations during the 30s and later rocketry. The tire portion of the business was bought by Continental in 1987.

22 mm wrench

This looks like another specific tool for some machine, similar wrenches on ebay suggest a carriage wrench or a scythe/snath adjustment tool. The logo resembles a Maltese cross. Material might be cast iron.

How many people (besides me) needed to look up the word "snath"?

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Railway crossing

Coal train passing through Osage, West Virginia in 1938.

Imagine all the issues modern health and safety people would have with the scene...

Buick Skylark, 1953

Not the usual style of early fifties car ad. Interestingly, the car doesn't seem to be available in the shade of yellow shown, the closest was Osage Cream (below).

Monday, July 22, 2024

Porter Safety Seal

Patented in 1902 and again in 1916, but I could not find those patents, this device seems to be related to putting an anti-tamper seal on a container or door. There is a similar one on ebay, but without description or instructions. Any guesses as to how it might work?