Multipurpose Automotive tool kit

Nice overly complicated system, but for once there is nothing on a hinge or pivot. I don't think it ever made it to the market. 

 

Monday Mystery, Vaco RT-14

  Ok, we're overstating the mystery aspect here, but we have a question from Russ about when this Vaco RT-14 set of interchangeable screw and nut drivers might have been manufactured. He has just finished the fine detailing of the set and pouch that once belonged to his late uncle John.  Keep those old tools working...

Multitool, Wilkinson Plough Co.

 By the spread out wrench jaws and flattened hammerhead, this multitool looks like it was very well used. No markings anywhere on this one, but it seems to have been made by Wilkinson Plough of Toronto who were in business making farm implements between 1868 and approximately 1930.

Sidecar Sunday

 William Harley in bowtie and William Davidson in sidecar with fish.

Bcum a Ham

Popular Electronics, Nov 1955

More on William Harrison.

I suspect he is no longer at this address (below).

Know your Schermuly products...

Schermuly rockets, surely a familiar name to most of us. I mean, the name Schermuly is almost synonymous with rescue rockets, right? 

Kidding aside, William Schermuly retired from the British Navy in 1880, and set about designing a line throwing rocket to aid in life saving situations. By the time his products reached the market, the devices could send a 1/2 inch line 3/4 of mile and became mandatory equipment on all ships. More of the story here.

Clear the track!

Not sure what's going on here or the year, but that is a Peter Witt streetcar, (introduced in 1921) being held up by a 1905 Ford Model B stalled on the tracks?

Fisher Pierce Bearcat 85

Interesting adaptation of the Coventry Climax car engine.

 Fisher Pierce was the parent company of the Boston Whaler, they had seen the benefits of a four stroke outboard and acquired a 55 hp engine that Homelite had been developing from the old lightweight Crosley engine. That idea wasn't new, various individuals and companies had been working on adapting that 44 cu in 4 cylinder auto engine to marine use, more here. 

 The 55 horsepower engine was fine for the 16 foot Whaler but they needed more power for the 21 foot hull they were introducing in the late 1960s. Fisher Pierce starting searching for a larger 4-stroke power head to adapt to marine outboard use. In 1970 they introduced the 85-HP 4-stroke outboard shown here, based on a vertically oriented Coventry Climax automotive block.  From exploring several forums it appears the development program needed more time, there were various reliability issues and unfortunately, this engine was only in production for 2 years. 

 

Monaco 1956 illustration design by Jean Ramel.

The race seems to be better attended these days... 

In the comments people point out that its has to be AI generated (Look at the text.) I only have to ask, what's the point?

  Below is the actual poster, illustration design by Jean Ramel. The race was won by Stirling Moss.

 

Gray #307 4 way Lug wench

Here's a small old cross lug wrench, about 13" wide and the largest socket 5/8", made by Gray.  Finish is dull, likely zinc, so I expect its old, what car has 5/8" wheel nuts?

 

Track inspection

Track Inspection 1889.  Can't beat the immediacy of the arrangement... 

Below, we can't see the interior but I expect the seating arrangements are better, a windshield and piped-in steam heat replace the buffalo robes, but the ungainly thing will never win a beauty contest. 

 

Russell Auto Girl

 

   A female machine operator at the Russell car manufacturing company during WW1, making munitions.  With a better publicity department, she could have been a WW1 Rosie the Riveter.

  Russell Motor Car was founded when CCM, a Toronto bicycle manufacturer, bought the bankrupt Canadian Motors company in 1903. After starting with a two seater electric, they moved to gas engines and by 1910 were using the Knight sleeve valve engine in their high end model. During WW1 they changed from making cars to munitions and after the war became a supplier of automobile and machine parts. The company ceased operations in the 50s.

1909 Scott

 

Rotary Snow Plow

 

Monday Mini whetstone Mystery

I saw these at and picked up a few from Liberty Tool, I don't recognize the logo, there are multiple Bay State companies, Tap and Die and also the AutoKit people. I wonder which company sold them. Is there maybe a separate whetstone Baystate?

 Chat GPT suggests the Norton Abrasive Company which is another Massachusetts (Bay State) company.

Heresy!

This is motorcycle abuse, like taking your grandmother to a skatepark.

 

Sidecar Sunday

Winter beater...

 

McCauley Metal Propellers, 1959 ad

 The company was started in 1928 in Dayton, where they started making propellers in wood. During WW2 they perfected the steel propeller and became one of the largest propeller manufacturers in the world. After WW2 they added forged aluminum propellers to their line. They were acquired by Cessna in 1960. Now, as part of Textron, they do complete variable pitch propellers and hubs as well as other aircraft components.  Though no longer based in Dayton, its good to see the company still around 90 plus years later doing what they do.   Propeller history video here.

Gilfillan Electric Drills

Progress is Fine covered Gilfillan Electronics and the company's involvement in ground approach radar systems during WW2 but it appears that as they were getting into radio and bakelite parts in the early 1920s they were also making a line of power tools. The drill ad dates to 1921, no pictures (yet) of the grinder they advertise. More here on Gilfillan at the always great Garage Journal.

Tinner's tools. 1893

                                       1893 Niagara Stamping & Tool Co. catalog Tinner's Hand Tools pp 12

W Steger Sales famous 8-1 Multitool 1929

Just another one of a long line of plier-based fencing tools. They look handier than they are.

Thanks, Ski!

 

Wing tips

 Get a charge account... Remember, this was pre Chargex/Visa.

Höhm deflector piston two stroke engine model

Thanks, Dave... thanks, Rolf

 This cutaway engine was photographed at the Cabin Fever Expo in Lebanon PA. Apparently it has a device to spark the spark plug when the crank is turned but unfortunately the 4.5 volt German battery was dead. Very nice model. 

Silvertone 210 radio

Another nice Sears product. This attractive 4 tube radio was sold in 1950- 1951.

 Further information here.

 

Hubley diesel roller

 Hubley made a similar but more detailed steam roller in the thirties, this is the modernized "diesel" model from the early 1950s. 

 The Hubley Manufacturing Company was incorporated in 1894, the company made electric train related equipment before moving into the toy business in 1909. The diecast toys were modeled on real  machinery. 

 

Chevrolet 1956 The hot one is even hotter!

 In the 5-6-7 Chevys, everyone has their favorite, I like the 56 Bel Air in red and white. 

Cold day here

 

Nasty cold day today, so I decided it would be a good time to stay inside and make a new handle for the splitting axe.. I started making handles when ones I bought failed to last more than a dozen swats... this should last for a few cords of wood at least... and it gives me the chance to play with a spoke shave...