USMC C clamp

 Not the Marine Corps, but the United Shoe Machinery Company, of Boston with the factory in Beverley, Massachusetts. History of the company here in a previous post.

Franklin commercial cars 1910

 

Norton Energette

 

James Norton started business in Birmingham in 1898, supplying frame lugs and complete frames for the exploding bicycle industry. When he became familiar with the French-built Clement engine, it was only natural to attach it to one of the frames he was building. In 1902 the Energette was introduced- the first Norton.

CNR 15630 in trouble

 

We met CNR's gasoline powered railcar # 15816 a couple of weeks back, this is another on the fleet of 36 units that CNR operated on various branchlines. Number 15830 is less ungainly looking but as we see below, internal combustion wasn't dead reliable, after suffering some sort of mechanical issue, the nearest handy steam locomotive was pressed into service for motive power, this time being #593, a Mogul of 1889 vintage.  It looks like it's working pretty hard.

Allan Paterson and Dick George, Steam at Oakville, Boston Mills Press, 1988

1954 Gilera 500

 1954 Gilera racer with, what I guess could be described as a half fairing. I like the way the fairing lines are incorporated into the tank. Very handsome bike.

Champ-item tips; Automatic choke tube replacement

 

Handy tip for all those corroded choke tubes that plague us daily.

 The Champ-Item name was registered in 1965 for all sorts of automotive hardware and repair items, listed as a dead trademark by 1987. The building at 6191 Maple Ave. in St Louis is still there, looking exactly as you imagined it. 

Wakefield #45 wrench

 

It seems to be just a crude stamped wrench, but Wakefield of Worcester Mass. seems to be proud of it! They needed a graphic designer on that project.

Alloy Artifacts has the story of the company.

Ride-on toy tractor

 

Nice looking toy found in a bookstore, No identification that I could find. 

Short Seamew

Probably one of the more ungainly-looking aircraft ever built, with bad name, it was designed to meet the Royal Navy's spec M.123D for antisubmarine role. The plane was design and built in 1952-53 for use off small carriers and from rough, improvised landing fields. It was intended as a slow loitering type of device, for patrolling over convoys while providing good visibility for both crewmembers. This ad was attempting to sell to Canada in 1954.

 It was soon seen to be an obsolete concept, the Royal Navy cancelled its order, and the 24 aircraft already built were scrapped over a period of years.  Not great loss, it apparently was a poor-handling plane with "vicious tendencies". 

Monday Mystery

Any guesses on this thing? About 18" tall, total. Fairly frail in construction, patented in Feb something 1901 with some fairly indistinguishable letters cast into the handwheel with an adjustable arrowhead.  I can't even imagine what it could be used for.