3D sander

This is a unique design for a palm sander, looks useful for uneven surfaces. Never seen one in person before, it must not have been a sales success.

 

La Moto 1922

 

Bruning electric eraser

 I've made a lot of mistakes in my time, but not enough to justify a power eraser!

Transporting the future, Eames Tandem Sling Seating

  How do you transport a multi-seat bench for a waiting room? This sleek. modern aluminum and nylon airport seating system was introduced in 1962 by designers Charles and Ray Eames. The method of transport is more down to earth and not near as modern. 

Rain King D-1 sprinkler

 These common-item type devices were so much more interesting before plastic was invented. This 1932 patent lawn sprinkler is largely made of cast iron and brass.

Patent 1883264 applies to the design of the sprinkler nozzle, and is assigned to HORACE C. WRIGHT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNED TO CHICAGO FLEXIBLE SHAFT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ELINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS ADJUSTABLE NOZZLE 

W P Carter

A small (4" long) S wrench with W P Carter stamped on both sides and the letters EVO. After finding nothing online, I'm guessing maybe Mr. Carter was just making sure he didn't lose his tools?

 

Norton Motors North America, 1948

If you wanted a Norton over here postwar, you had to talk to Mr. McGill, even if you were in the USA. 

Motorcycles on album covers, Loverboy

 If you're a certain age you'll remember such songs as

 "Turn Me Loose" and "Working for the Weekend"... 

(Thanks Anon)

Sta-kon terminal tool

  Quality crimp connectors need a quality crimper. This Thomas and Betts solderless connector system has been around since the mid-fifties, the company has been in the electrical connector business since 1898. Thomas and Betts was bought by the ABB Group in 2012. More on the crimp connectors here. 

Thomas and Betts are also known for their invention of the ubiquitous plastic cable tie in 1958.

 

Wyandotte dump truck

Another job you may not want to do; Itinerant tinker

  A tinker was a metal worker who travelled around repairing pots and pans and other household items. This photo was taken in 1940 near Kysuce, Slovakia. This man is wearing the traditional linen shirt and heavy felt pants. He walked around the countryside carrying a bag of tools and a roll of wire, working where needed.

Sidecar Sunday

 Ridiculous helmets...

Little old multitool

 No name on it but I expect it's a special tool for some sort of machine like a cream separator or something. About 5 inches long, buy it for the sculptural qualities.

 

Saab 900

Just another Saab story (as they say). Still going strong. Looks like a survivor not a restore... 

Previous post.

 

B & H Footshift

 From 1948...

Discussion on the device here.

 

Maytag engine fuel mixing can

Today I learned that those lovely little Maytag washing machine twins (and single cylinders) were two stroke!

 

Melker adjustable wrench

 Another German manufacturer! Here's a Melker monkey wrench dating from, at a guess, 1900-1920ish... There are a few for sale online but no company info online that I can find.

Speed records, 1955

 Messerschmitt Kabinenroller on route to 3 speed records for sub-250 three wheelers. The modified 200 cc Sachs motor powered this machine to a blistering speed of 65.75 mph over 1000 miles, 65.24 over 2000 km and 64.03 for 24 hours. The driver's name is not mentioned. 

Here's an account of the event (in German).

Know your 1960s snowmobile maintenance

 They left out the pull cord check. It doesn't matter, you'll probably get stranded no matter what you do. Why do I want one?

Gee Dee multi-tool

 This is a "Gee Dee" German-made "multi-tool" - in all its glory - the handle is hollow. The head of the hammer unscrews from the handle, and those "bits" are stored inside the handle. Clearly a quality tool set for the professional. 

Thanks, BK!

 

The land that time forgot

 Snapped last summer... suddenly it's 1975...

Honda 90, 1967

 This was the most beautiful thing a rural kid travelling by bicycle could have imagined back then.

Starrett micrometer patent

 Patent 433, 311 Datamp notes it was not known to be produced.

100th Bugatti 46 chassis

 Monsieur Bugatti (center, behind steering wheel) with staff and friends posing at Molsheim in 1930. I wonder what the chassis number is. Bugatti register.

Triumph in 1967

 Just not sure what they're selling here...

Sidecar Sunday

 Hauptman trial? Anyone remember the Lindbergh kidnapping?

Seemed like a great idea at the time...

 

Link belts

The Teach Yourself books
 A E Peatfield, Engineering Components and Materials. The English Engineering Press, 1951

 Still around today... 

Lee Valley

Baldwin Duckworth chain

1948

 Care and lubrication here.  History of Baldwin Duckworth here.

Unnecessary cross section view?

Cyclopedia of Modern Shop Practice, American Technical Society, Vol 1, 1903

 The mystery of vise mechanisms revealed! No one could have known.

The Future of Transportation!

Junior Language Book B by Donalda Dickie, 1938

 But hadn't we already eliminated Zeppelins a few years earlier?

Long live the Offenhauser engine!

Artist; Vic Berris

  The Offy 4 cylinder racing engine was designed in the twenties by Fred Offenhauser and Harry Miller of Miller Racing as a marine racing engine. During the 1930s, when Indianapolis racers favored 1.5 straight eights, it was adapted for car racing and started winning due to the displacement allowance of 3 litres for fours. During the 1950s, rules changes and the need for more power prompted a 4.1 litre supercharged version. Starting in the late sixties, turbocharging was being developed, With displacement back down to about 2.6 litres, and 25- 40lbs of boost the engine was again competitive.  In all, cars powered with various forms of the engine won Indianapolis 27 times between 1935 and 1976.