We used to make things in this country #377 Lincoln Toys power shovel

This beat up stamped excavator toy was seen at a local antique store, the Lincoln name was not familiar but it turns out Lincoln Toys was a Canadian company in business during the 1940s and 1950s, Along with construction and farm toys there were also several lines of trucks in different styles and scales. I will add them to the post as I find them.

 Kay Manufacturing started up in Windsor at the corner of Erie and Lincoln St. in 1941, receiving a contract to produce ammunition boxes and fenders for the Canadian Army. The company name changed to Windsor Steel the next year and their product line expanded into other stamped metal products. After the war with government contracts gone, they started a line of hardware products, bicycle accessories and pressed steel toys, becoming a supplier of Massey Harris farm toys. They opened a salesroom on Lincoln St, naming it Lincoln Specialties. 

Meanwhile near by, another metal stamping company named Ellwood Industries also started producing their own line of stamped toys. This line was successful, being sold through Canadian department stores Eaton's and Simpson's. Ellwood Industries moved down the road to a factory in Tilbury where they also produced stamped parts for the Ford Motor Company. Arrangements were made to market the toys through Lincoln Specialties. 

Both companies were successful through the 1950s but competition from Tonka and other stamped metal toys put them out of business by 1958. 

More history at The Canadian Toy Collector Society site.

 Canadian Museum of Civilization collection here.

 

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.