Mini X ray

Nick Vesey

 A different kind of cross section view.

Norton Manx

 Seen at Barber a few years ago.

16th C multi-tool

Core77

 Just in case we thought that multi-tools were a relatively recent development...

A richly decorated combination tool, Nuremberg, circa 1580. Iron with fine etched decoration in the form of flowers and foliage. The tool can be used as pliers, hammer, nail-puller or mini-anvil. L 21.5 cm.

Oldsmobile Autronic-Eye

More here. Futureliner.org

 

Marvel Accessories Mfg.

 

Patent

Amusement device patent

 

 People have been mentioning that the US patent office might seem to be mostly interested in novelty items. I beg to differ and present this patent as evidence of their serious intent. Anyways, anyone inetersted in acquiring a franchise in what will surely be a lucrative venture?

"This invention relates to amusement devices, and more particularly to what is commonly known as the loop-the-loop, and its object is to provide an inclined plane terminating in a loop and having slots throughout the length of the plane and loop within which trolleys extending from roller skates are adapted to play and be retained while the user of the skates may race by gravity down the incline and around the loop without danger of leaving the common surface and at the same time simulating a daring feat which might be accomplished, but generally attended by too much risk when continually undertaken without the safety provisions herein more fully explained, set forth in the claims and shown in the accompanying drawings..." 

Google patents

Wilkinson motorcycle

 These oddballs were produced by the Wilkinson Sword Company. Wilkinson made the Maxim machine gun, a young on-staff engineer designed a scouting motorcycle armed with the gun. The military wasn't interested in the V twin powered device, but the seed was sewn for a unique touring motorcycle which was introduced in 1909 and named the TAC (Touring Auto Cycle). The engine was now a 676cc inline four and featured rear suspension, a bucket seat and fuel tank incorporated into the rear fender. A steering wheel was an option. The designers weren't finished; in 1911, they introduced the TMC (Touring Motor Cycle), now with an 850cc watercooled inline side valve engine. In the next few years, the engine grew again, this time to 996cc and the brand came under control of the Ogden Motor company who shut down production around the beginning of WW1.

 BTW, the last Sidecar Sunday post subject was also a Wilkinson, no wonder it wasn't easily recognizable!

Being tested at Brooklands.

Pioneer Run 1996
 (The Classic Motor Cycle Aug 1996)

Chevrolet van production line

 Looks like a 1966 model (or earlier). I drove several of these over the years, a great partner in crime for my misspent youth.

Spraker valve grinding tool

thanks, Ski!

 

  Here's a hand operated valve lapping tool, as the crank is turned, the star wheel engages one, then the other pin on the shaft, giving a back and forth rotating action for valve lapping action. It's similar to another device in an older post here.

Official Gazette of the US Patent office, Sept, 25, 1928 pp 783-784

J A Williams animal trap patent

US Patent 269776

Now, that's a humane trap...

Sidecar Sunday

Homemade hotrod

75 mph in that? No thanks...

 

Wm. Schrader bicycle spanner wrench

thanks, Ski.

Never seen one in real life, and there is little info online.

 

Charles Rennie Mackintosh

Scottish designer and architect, Charles Rennie Mackintosh

 

Rubber Insulated Screwdriver

Apr 1, 1891 The Electrical Engineer.

Who knows... it might catch on!

 

Klaxon Horns, 1914

 Death knell of the squeeze-bulb horn... Say it isn't so!

Rickman Triumph, 1966

500 Triumph-powered Rickman Metisse in the capable hands of Geoff Monty. Monty had been involved in the GMS (Special, 250 based on a 350 BSA single), GMV (Velocettes) and later Monard racing projects. This project must have just been for relaxation.

 

Paul Dunstall Performance, 1968

Paul Dunstall started modifying Nortons in the late fifties and became a licensed manufacturer of Norton Dominator-based race bikes in 1966 after purchasing the contents of the Norton Race shop. For those of us who couldn't afford a complete race bike, or were overseas, he also supplied go-fast parts for Nortons and BSAs.

 

Below, Decibel silencer.

British Cycle Supply

Auburn Rubber Toy, GM Aerotrain

Another one of Auburn's cast rubber toys, this time a model of the GM Aerotrain, about 10 inches long. Except for the freight trucks, it's actually a pretty good rendition. 
 

1971 Impala

Longer is Better...

German dairy equipment

 Only here for the drawings....

Monday Mystery 2, Kradkurbelwellenanlasser

Thanks, Andre

The name is self explanatory....

 It's a motorcycle crankshaft starter and looks looks like quite the wacky device,  is it to start the motorcycle or to start the truck? Possibly both options?
 

Monday Mystery, German tool logo

Here's an ordinary pair of pliers made in West Germany, what I presume to be a stock number; 62-8 brings nothing up on Google, neither does the logo on the back of the pivot. This looks like possibly a pair of pliers crossed with a screwdriver, and some text which might be TO O LS, too bad about the corrosion. Any guesses as to the manufacturer?

 

Savannah Road Races

After problems with spectator control during the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup on Long Island, the race was cancelled for 1907. Some forward thinking people in Savannah, Georgia saw a chance to have race in their city. They set up an race event run on public roads in spring of 1908 as a test and a showcase. When it was run successfully they attempted to get the Vanderbilt Cup race run in the fall, this failed but they contacted the newly formed Automobile Club of America and secured an even bigger race, the International Grand Prize race which was run on Thanksgiving weekend 1908. There was a Light Car race run as a support class and everything was well organized and run. The event was well attended and the event was considered to be a complete success.

Convicts hard at work doing track prep, banking the curve.

 

There was no Grand Prize race held in 1909, the Vanderbilt Cup was run in conjunction with the American Automobile Club's Gold Cup race on the newly constructed Long Island Motor Parkway. The race suffered a spectator fatality and several injuries, making it apparent that racing could not be organized at that site and the Gold Cup race was cancelled.  The Savannah Automobile Club immediately lobbied for and got the race for 1910. A new course was laid out, and the whole city worked to get everything ready. Once again everything worked as planned and races ran successfully, this time David Bruce-Brown won in his Benz. 

1910/1911 course

David Bruce-Brown in the winning Benz.

By now, Savannah was becoming known for hosting multiple successful racing events and the city finally got the Vanderbilt Cup as well as the Grand Prize race in 1911. once again everything worked as planned and everything went off without a hitch.

Bruce-Brown's Fiat runs hot while being serviced.

Ralph Mulford winning the Vanderbilt Cup.

Bruce-Brown winning the Grand Prize race in a Fiat this time.

And that was it for the Savannah Races. The city had run all their races very successfully, but the thought was that there was nothing to be gained by doing it again. The huge amount of work in planning and running of the events as well as a growing local resistance to the disruption and magnitude of the events put an end to the races. Everyone was content to say, we done good, let's move on. 

Julian Quattlebaum, The Great Savannah Races, University of Georgia Press, 1957, 1983