From a South Bend instruction manual from 1920. That's a cut depth of nearly an inch in steel. The flat belt on my South Bend wouldn't have enough traction to do that...
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Monday, February 23, 2026
GM parts
I recognize this as probably a steering king pin on a 50s GM car or truck but the box has no part number. I like the care that GM put into the design of a box for a lowly mechanical part.
Sunday, February 22, 2026
Saturday, February 21, 2026
Wrenchking
A patent pending wrench, made in the USA. There is an odd springloaded step in the open end which apparently provides a ratcheting action. Unfortunately I did not try it out. Does it work?
Friday, February 20, 2026
USS Akron and airplane
Practicing launches and retrievals of one of the three biplanes carried by the dirigible USS Akron.
Thursday, February 19, 2026
CLAW (Cinch Lock Adjustable Wrench)
Ad from 1993. Another world-beater wrench idea, as always with these things, it might occasionally be the tool for the job, but it's never going to replace any wrench in your toolbox. Examples available on ebay if interested...
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Flight magazine July 1957
The Flight Magazine grew out of the Automotor Journal and the first issue was published in January 1909. Under new management from 1934 when the founder retired, the name was changed to Flight International in 1962 and in 2020 changed from a weekly to monthly magazine.
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
You need a Luger ( and some intrigue)
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| from Outdoor Life Magazine (date unknown) |
I did a search to see if I could date the ad, and came upon some info at this site.
"Hans Tauscher first appears in New York City working for the Hermann Boker & Co. (There's that Boker name again) at 101 Duane St. selling C93 Borchardt Repeating Pistols and also representing the Deutsch Waffen und Munitionsfabriken (DWM) at the U. S. Army trials. Tauscher went out on his own around 1899 and an agent for DWM with an address at 320 Broadway. Over the years he appeared at several different addresses in Upper Manhattan including 302-304 Broadway, 10-12 Thomas St., 322 Broadway, and 56-58 Pine St.
Hans Tauscher, the spy;
In 1914 when World War I started, Tauscher was summoned to Berlin, Germany where he was given orders to take over the German spy network in the United States and Canada. On April 2, 1916 he was arrested for being involved in a plot to blow up the Welland Canal. At his trial he was acquitted for a lack of evidence and deported back to Germany where he was decorated by the Kaiser and commissioned a full Captain in the German Intelligence Division. His Agency in New York continued on being run by a general manager, Mr. Henry Muck.
In 1934 Hans returned to New York and on Aug. 17th he was issued a Certificate of Incorporation for the Tauscher H. Arms Corporation by the State. It was dissolved by the Secretary of State on Dec. 15, 1944."
(information condensed from the web site www.landofborchardt.com)
Monday, February 16, 2026
Sunday, February 15, 2026
Skilsaw 1612 chainsaw
Sidecar Sunday
Actor Keenan Wynn riding his Triumph motorcycle with actress Patti Chandler in the sidecar. Photo snapped on the set of the 1964 feature film Bikini Beach.
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Friday, February 13, 2026
Colon Locomotive of the Panama Railroad
The Portland Locomotive Works built this unusual 4 wheel tank steam engine for the Panama Railroad in 1865. The controls were mounted on the left and for some reason the firebox door is located on the right side next to the man posing on the locomotve. Where the fuel was carried is not clear. The gauge was 5 feet, driver diameter 42" with cylinders of 12 x 18".
Brillant wood plane
Thursday, February 12, 2026
Reading a caliper in 1919
We used to make things in this country #366, 466 de Havilland Otters
466 Otters were built between 1952 and 1967.
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Sterling linen tape measure
These "Sterling" cloth tapes were produced by the Lufkin company through the 1940s, they were sold alongside the steel measuring tape they introduced in 1890. Previous Lufkin post here.
MG speed record car, EX135
Monday, February 9, 2026
Wrenches not made here, Urrea?
Sunday, February 8, 2026
Vard hydraulic fork
Vard was a supplier of landing gear to the aviation industry during WW2, after the war they applied their expertise to making an aftermarket telescopic fork for motorcycles. More here,
Saturday, February 7, 2026
Hoggson & Pettis conductors punch
Hoggson & Pettis was more known for their Sweetland patent lathe chuck but Samuel Hoggson started the company in 1848 to make stencils, stamping and cutting dies. When Pettit joined the company in 1878, the chuck was added to the product line. A quick google brings up a number of other products, hole punches, leather marking wheels, a typewriter and this conductor's ticket punch. The company is said to have ben in business till at least 1918.

Friday, February 6, 2026
Infantometer
Modern medicine can't thank Dr. Dumay enough for this device to accurately measure the height (or length) of a baby lying down. The next thing is to consider how to pronounce the word. Is it In-FANT-o-meter or Infan-TOM-a-ter?








































