One of my vices is vises, Armstrong Pipe Vice

 

  Frank Armstrong and Henry House started working in the sewing machine factories in Bridgeport Conn but formed their own company in 1870, making steam fitting tools and equipment. House soon left, Armstrong continued the company and in 1882 introduced this pipe vise under  U.S. Patent No. 269,141 featuring the hinged yoke and hardened steel jaws. The company thrived during the steam era and was around at least into the 1950s. 

Short C-23 Sherpa

  To paraphrase interior designer Dorothy Draper "If it looks right, it will fly right".  This isn't one of those. It looks like the box an airplane came in, though to be fair, it was considered to be good and reliable, though slow. Short made 60 of these STOL transports between 1984 and 1997, the biggest operators were the US Army and Air Force, who have both retired the aircraft. 

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Bikes in the 'hood, KZ650

Considered fast in its day, the KZ650 followed the styling lead of the Z1. I remember them mostly in the green. Get a front fender, man!

 

Utica Tools 2001-8 pliers

  Difficult to read the stamped text, but these are "Side Cutting Pattern Button's Pliers" made by Utica Tool. The wire cutter portion is unique. They were manufactured in the late 1930s and into the 40s, the rough black finish might have been wartime production.

 

1968 Fiat 850 cutaway drawings

 Some nice technical cutaways from the Dutch 850 Fiat Special instruction book.

Swallow Sidecars, Model 4, 1928

 

We used to make things in this country #381; Cast iron kettles

 

Here's a cast iron kettle made by the Terreau and Racine company of St. Paul St., Quebec City, a maker of kitchen kettles and other containers- hollowware as it's known.... 

 Charles Terreau arrived from France and started his foundry in 1850, originally making metal fittings for sailing ships. When he passed away 15 years later, his wife continued the business, adding Mr. Racine as president. In the mid 1920s they started making components for refrigeration systems. In 1987 they merged with another company, becoming TR LC Refrigeration and Ventilation.  More at Cast Iron Canada. 

Exact C Clamp

  These "Exact" C-clamps were manufactured by the Exact Level & Tool Manufacturing Company, which was better known for their torpedo levels. Previous post here. The company started in the 1930s in Highbridge, New Jersey and lasted till 1985 when it was bought by the Hyde company and shut down.

Locomotive Catawissa

  The Little Schuylkill Navigation, Railroad & Coal Co. was incorporated in 1826. Amazingly, that was 200 years ago.  As that time predates the common use of photography there are no photographs of the first locomotives.

 This one, the Catawissa, was made in England by Edward Bury of Liverpool and was one of two ordered by the company. By 1832 it was running a 28 mile track in Pennsylvania from Port Clinton to Tamaqua. This photograph of unknown age shows the locomotive later in its career with an added cab, stack, pilot and sandbox. The locomotive was still on the property in 1863 and was sold  to the American Dredging Company in 1871. 

Fashion Friday, riding gear

Norton Commando, for the space race?