Morgan 3 Wheeler 2011- 2021

Powered by  a 2 litre S&S V twin coupled to a Mazda 5 speed transmission, I expect this thing is a lot of fun to drive. The replacement model featured a Miata motor.

Morgan 3

Alnico magnets

  Before there were rare earth magnets, there were Alnico (Aluminum Nickel Cobalt) magnets.

  Flexible magnets, made by mixing ferrite magnet powders and synthetic/natural rubber binders were brand new in the mid fifties.

  They had been invented by the German company Max Baerman, Goodrich Rubber developed a way to make them in sheet form, specifically for refrigerator door seals.
 

Knott Apparatus clamp

   Here's a nice little scientific apparatus over-center clamp , one of many types the Knott Apparatus Co. of Boston made over their 36 year existence. The company started in 1896, buying out the E. S. Ritchie Instrument company after the principal passed away in 1895. They became one of the largest suppliers of scientific equipment in America but closed during the Depression.

Catalog from 1916

Monday Mystery, a cast iron scale?

The name Fairbanks is cast into it, there seems to be a curved frame, possibly to hold a bowl or something similar and a strange tippy bird foot-like base. Ideas?

 

C E Jennings Expansive bit

C. E. Jennings sold all sorts of tools under the Arrowhead label.  This expansive bit acknowledges the Steers patent of 1884 shown below.

  The company seems to have been in business from the 1880s to the mid 1930s, expanding their business in part by acquiring other companies along the way. Their office was on Murray St.in New York, the factories were located in Yalesville, Conn and Port Jervis NY.  

  Catalog of their tool boxes and tool kits here.

 

Datamp.org US Patent: 296,242

Sidecar Sunday

 Cushman...

Know your hoses

 Top to bottom; steel braided rubber, clear pvc, reinforced pvc, plain reinforced neoprene, textured reinforced neoprene, copper.

A nice test for illustrators, a few lines and yes that is indeed a clear hose... but how to differentiate a copper from a steel line?

Croname panels

  Here's a metal promotional screw specification chart from the Croname company, who specialized in electroplated panels for instruments panels, dial scales for radios, badges, etc., all those metal plates that used to decorate tools and equipment.  The name is a contraction of the Crowe Name Plate & Mfg. Co. of Chicago and seems to have started in business in 1942. There was a branch of the company located in Waterloo, Quebec that went by the name of Croname-MacDonald Ltd.  The company seems to have disappeared in the early 90s.

Can-Pro wrench

I found this wrench at a thrift shop, never seen the name before and a quick Google search brings some conflicting results. This statement comes from the most likely site,  https://canpro-tools.com/en/ but gives precious little information. Here's what they say; "We’re a family-owned company based in Toronto and Montreal with over 35 years of innovating & developing tools & hardware for industrial market."   Or try this... https://canprotool.com/

Fashion Friday, The eyewatering '80s

 No. That is not Kenny Roberts...

 My experience with red leather indicates that the dye was never water proof- until it soaked into your skin.

Cars in the 'hood

Not really a Jaguar SS-100

 

Planes in formation; Seversky P-35

 Over Michigan in 1938

Failed Retail

 Just the remans of another long gone corner store on a residential street in Toronto. The space has long been a residence, but preserved details of the old decor reveal that not even the promise of fresh parsnips was enough to save the business... 

One of my vices is vises. Harper 4006 cobbler anvil/vise

 

Thanks, Kevan!

This anvil vise was found on Marketplace. Along with the missing clamping screw and handle, it's missing some lasts (as seen below).

  Harper and Sons of Dudley, England, was an iron foundry founded by Absolom Harper in 1822 that became A. Harper & Sons & Bean after George Bean joined the company in 1907. The company started as a producer of iron goods like fire grates and later became a significant manufacturer of automobile parts and eventually its own "Bean" cars, ceasing car production in 1929 but continuing as a parts supplier for decades.  I can't find much info on the company's anvil business but there was apparently an award for merit at the Melbourne, Australia Centennial for "Harper and Sons, Anvils, Vyces and Tools".

Worthpoint

 Company history here.

Graces guide

The King's ultimate argument

 Just one of the WW1 cannons on display in Quebec City. I'm not an early artillery aficionado but this is a German 150mm field gun from 1902. It's a device made in peacetime, illustrated by the level of detail shown by the details. The initials inscribed are RW II- emperor Reich Wilhelm the second and the Latin inscription Ultimo Ratio Regis meaning "The Kings ultimate argument".

 It was captured on April 9 1917 by Canadian forces after the Battle of Vimy Ridge. 

Remembrance day

 

London Auto Co.

 This company seems to have been more of an assembler than a manufacturer. Once again, not a lot of information online.

Monday Mystery; Bottle opener

This little item was sent to me as an unknown, Gratis means "free" so possibly was a giveaway for something? The label would suggest it had been made in Amsterdam but can anyone identify the logo?

 

A triumph of scaffolding

  Cantilevered out from the Manhattan side pier, the Queensborough Bridge is being extended across the East River, with the help of some epic scaffolding. The bridge was planned in 1901 and completed  in 1909.

Sidecar Sunday

 

End of the line

 

   The two foot gauge Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington locomotive #8 derailed in Whitefield on June 15 1933. Business was so poor the company didn't bother to rescue it. By 1937 the railway's locomotive, cars and rail had been cut up and sold for scrap.

 

Silk engine section view

 The Silk motorcycle was based on the long running water cooled two stroke Scott Flying Squirrel. Unfortunately, it was in production for only 4 years, ending in 1979. I had no luck finding a Scott engine section view for comparison. 

Update; I've added images of a disassembled Silk engine and the left side of the engine. (Thanks Jon!)

Also below; added a couple exploded Scott engine drawings. showing the overhung crank throws, and the dual chain primary drive. 

   1925 500 cc 2 stroke Scott Super Squirrel engine, showing the overhung crankwheels and the drive for the Best and Lloyd oil pump. The circular crankcase access doors could be removed to access the big end bearings.

Scott technicalities
https://scotttechnicalities.com.au/

Generator assembler

Another picture from National Geographic 

 1950's worker strikes heroic 1930s worker pose as he tightens jam nuts on a large stator.

Honda CM200T

 The lowly "Tinstar". In a time of 5 and 6 speed sporty 400 twins, Honda made these "custom styled" 4 speed, single carb bikes first in 175cc, then in 200 when I guess they realized they could barely maintain the speed limit. A beginner bike that outlived its usefulness by about the 3rd ride. And they still turn up in good shape.

1952 Golden Anniversary Cadillac

Another pretentious lifestyle Cadillac ad from the 1950s. No beautiful people in gowns and tuxedos this time but we'll throw in a gratuitous picture of an expensive necklace in a rustic setting. Jewels from Van Cleef and Arpel, still around today.

William Marples Brace

Truly a thing of beauty.  Terry found this brace in a local shop, I'm not sure how he could have left it there. Marples has a great history section on their site, find out more about this tool here.

Thanks, Terry!