Sunday, December 31, 2023

Sidecar Sunday

 

We'll sneak this post of the 100th anniversary of the first TT Sidecar race just before the end of the year.

 In 1923 the race attracted 14 entries and was won by Freddie Dixon with passenger Walter Denney. All but one outfit were 600cc, here Harry Reed pushes off his 350 Dot Bradshaw. He finished fifth.

Saturday, December 30, 2023

Science and Mechanics, 1950


 Crazy cover art, all the mech magazines of the time were irresistible to any kid. Looking at this one, the plane of the future was still a giant flying boat with piston engines.. 

One of my vices is vises; Etogar


A name I've never seen, apparently this was a Belgian company but I can't find much more info on it.





 

Friday, December 29, 2023

UST camp hammer


 Here's a pretty fancy modern hammer made in China for Ultimate Survival Technologies.  The brass head doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but hey, its a good-looking tool. I'd probably just hang it on the wall. 
It seems to be discontinued from the UST catalog 








RD350


 

Thursday, December 28, 2023

1931 Wolsley Hornet cutaway drawing

 

Artist, Maxmillian Millar. 

He worked from 1912 till at least 1961, doing art for Flight and Autocar magazines, among others. 


Just in time...


 The barque Monongahela is towed out of Lake Union in Seattle just before the final span of the Aurora bridge is completed in 1932. The new bridge replaced the previous drawbridge and allowed (most) ships to pass under to the harbour through the Lake Washington ship canal.

  The ship, built in 1892 by Barclay Curle in Scotland, was lost in December, 1943 after breaking her tow and running aground at Porcher Island, BC.

Wednesday, December 27, 2023

One tube radio receiver!

 


1955. from the days that people actually built electronics themselves. This is a simple design that uses one tube for both radio and audio frequency amplification. The 6AU6 tube used is featured at the Radiomuseum site and... they're still available for sale.. 

Canadian Pacific, to the Orient!

 

1935

Tuesday, December 26, 2023

1956 Pontiac- with blazing Strato-Streak power


 I think I need a Strato-Streak T shirt. 



Pitch 'em Horseshoes


 Walbert is better known for their radios they sold from 1923 and 1927, they also sold some metal toys and various other games, including this rubber "indoor" horseshoe game. They are hard as rock a century on, I wonder how flexible they were when new. 



Sunday, December 24, 2023

M10000 streamliner

Union Pacific introduced the first diesel streamliner in February 1934. Named the M10000 it was built by Pullman-Standard and was a lightweight three unit train powered by a 600 horsepower distillate spark-ignition engine. The train carried 120 passenger seats in two cars. The seats had fold down trays and passengers were served meals from a cart, there were no dining or sleeping cars. The yellow and brown train operated till 1941, when the engine needed replacement after almost a million miles and it was deemed too expensive to repair.

The photo above shows crowds around the train when it made a special stop at the Hoover Dam where it was posed inside a section of the water-flow pipe.





 

Sidecar Sunday


WD South with his Rudge Multi and unnamed co-driver at the 1912 One Day Trial.

Saturday, December 23, 2023

Citroen DS on display


The Citroen DS 19, was a hit when introduced in 1955, it was considered to be unbelievably futuristic.
 As amazing as it was, the body presented in an automobile form wasn't enough, for the 1957 Triennale of Milan, the wheels were removed and an underbody pan completed the visual shape. That theme continued for a few years. 
Below; On display at the Triennale of Milan in 1957. 




As a rocket at the 1962 Paris Motor Show.


And again, on a rotating stand at Amsterdam in 1963.





Thursday, December 21, 2023

Airplane engine connecting rods

Forked connecting rods being machined at an unknown airplane engine factory in 1940. I'm guessing that they are for a V12 engine, possibly a Rolls Royce Merlin? Below the same connecting rods during final inspection. 

Agnes Rogers, From Man to Machine, A Pictorial History of Invention, Little, Brown and Co. 1941

Christmas is coming! Give American Toys.


Or... buy the stuff your neighbours make...
I've published this other years, but the message is still relevant.

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Load o' poles...

Taking a break from hauling telephone poles in British Columbia, 1920.


 

Multitool by Oxwall


Of course Oxwall would have a multi-tool in their home tool lineup, This one has a hammer and does that count as a hatchet? Also liers, cutters, nailpuller and flat screwdriver. Sorry no bottle or can opener. 


Thanks, Ski!


 

Monday, December 18, 2023

Gobron-Brillié's adventure in streamlining


 This racer was built by the Gobron-Brillié car company was built for the 1903 Paris-Madrid race. The ship-like prow was added for the 1904 racing season, where it took part in hill climbs, sprints and for the Ostende Automobile Week, where the car, powered by a 15 litre four cylinder engine, set the first land speed record of over 100 mph. 

Monday Mystery, Sawset?

My guess is some sort of saw set, though I can't immediately figure out how it might be used. Finding a likely-looking H.Aikens patent didn't really help.




 

Sunday, December 17, 2023

Saturday, December 16, 2023

Type 57S Bugatti


 Not the typical Bugatti 57, this must be an (unknown) coachbuilders roadster conversion, I'd like to see it with the top down. Note the luggage rack, a small nod to practicality.

Farmer's delight, 1906


 

Friday, December 15, 2023

FMF Honda 125


I think we've found MARSHALL's friend's Honda motocrosser. Tricked out beyond belief, in 1979, this would be the ultimate. Just look at the list of mods, even a red-painted expansion chamber!. 




 

Thursday, December 14, 2023