Edmunds custom heads

  Eddie Edmunds was a mechanic in Portland, Oregon in the 1930s when he started developing and manufacturing intake manifolds and performance heads. After several years of manufacturing there he moved to Southern California where there were more mold makers and aluminum casting. He made these parts for many engines but eventually went bankrupt in the late 1940s. It's a wonder these parts still turn up. After that his focus changed to installing air conditioning units in cars. Apparently, he passed away in 1969.

Siren Fire chief car

Another windup car by Louis Marx, from the 1930s.

 

Steam Yacht Lyndonia

  A picture to hang in the mancave. The Lyndonia was a yacht built for Cyrus Curtis of the Curtis Publishing Company of Saturday Evening Post and the Ladies Home Journal fame. It was only steam powered for 5 years, the steam engine was replaced with diesel engines in 1925. 

The vessel was acquired by the U.S. Navy in 1941 and commissioned as the USS Southern Seas (PY-32). While serving in the Pacific theatre it was unfortunately sunk during a typhoon off Okinawa on October 9, 1945, with the loss of 13 crew members. 

From the Facebook USS Southern Seas group. Interesting reading..

Ford 5-Z-829 wrench

 Another Ford Model T tool. The left end is for adjusting the bands in the transmission and the right end fits the oil pan drain bolt.

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