Norton 850 Commando

 

One of the prettier Nortons I've seen lately, Just parked on the street like a real bike...

Promotional sparkplug gapper

Nice little promotional item from AC Sparkplugs. Model number GG10.

 

Flagstaff holder

 Here we have two different flagstaff holders based on patent US661643 of Nov 13, 1900. I've never given much thought to flagstaff holders, I'm not a yachtsman and I never considered a motorcycle to be a flag displaying-type of vehicle. But it looks well thought out, no-tool angle adjustment, rope retention with a good solid base. 

 I think I'd maybe add a setscrew to retain the actual flagstaff, though.

I'll take the thrilling Bel Air Sport Coupe please...

 

One of my vices is vises...

 (Even the little clamp-on ones that the manufacturer couldn't be bothered to put their name on.)

Gulflube Single

 

 Gulf making a fancy presentation for a single grade oil in a multigrade world. It was introduced in about 1960, the SB classification says for engines before 1951. It disappeared when Gulflube merged with Chevron in 1985.

Monday Mystery, Ken Tool S17

     Apologies for the poor images, I see Ken Tools (formerly Kennedy Tools) has been in business since about 1920 making tire changing tools, but I can't find any reference to this one.  Basically just a bar with 4 different-sized square knobs on both ends. Any ideas what it could have been used for?

Solved! a multi-tool for removing recessed square head drain plugs.

Kennedy catalog 187. Thanks, Dave!

 

Lenk No. 222 Alcohol Blotorch

  A very cool looking alcohol burning torch from Lenk, out of Boston, Massachusetts. Pretty sure it was part of Buck Rogers' collection of weapons. It was apparently capable of making enough heat for silver soldering or light brazing.

  I'm not really sure how it works and, as a face-saving measure, I'm not inclined to try it without more information.  For an earlier sample of their offerings, see Unusual Tools:  Lenk Improved Automatic Torch.

Below, an ad for a very similar tool from the American Products Corporation:

Popular Mechanics, February 1951

1955 Pontiac

Sidecar Sunday

 

Alfred Angas Scott shows off his own sidecar outfit. 1913

Universal Marine engines

  I was perusing a 1938 Yachting magazine and found the Universal Engine Co. line of marine engines. The ad wasn't the most visually appealing and I set it aside for later...

 There were at least two Universal companies making engines and light plants through the teens but it appears this Universal marine engine company opened in Oshkosh in 1913. Their advertising focused on the fact that the engines were built from the ground up (keel up?) as a marine engine, they were not adapted from automobile engines. In 1947 they introduced the Atomic 4 inboard gas engine which became a popular choice for auxiliary power in sailboats. The 1050 cc engine was produced until 1984 when diesels were taking over as the preferred powerplant. In response Universal marine-ized a Kubota tractor engine.  Westerbeke purchased Universal in 1990 and discontinued the line.

 

Triple compound steam engine

Once the simple steam engine had been developed to a useful level, it didn't take long for people to realize there was still potential energy in the exhausted steam and it could be utilized by routing the steam into progressively larger cylinders, this machine dates to about 1880.

 

Mascot egg grading scale

 Things ya learn, I never considered that eggs were sized by weight.

Vintage hovercraft

Hovercrafts seemed like they could have been useful and fun, but they were so loud!

 

Union Tool Co. tap handle

  Union seemed to be a popular name to use for a company, this one was originally the Union Caliper company, located in Fitchburg, Mass. but somewhere along the way moved to Orange, Mass. and changed their name to Union Tool. Previous post and history here. 

  Not to be confused with the Union Twist Drill Co. of Athol, Mass, who made drills, taps, dies etc., they were known mostly for precision machinist's measuring tools, clamps, protractors, gauges, calipers; etc. though possibly also taps and dies based on the discovery of this tap handle. 

More here.

 

1922 Kissel 6-45 Speedster

  The Kissel Motor Car company was founded in 1906 and produced quality cars and trucks out of its Hartford, Wisconsin factory. This Speedster, introduced after WW1, is probably the most memorable. It was nicknamed the Gold Bug and became a favorite of celebrities, among others, Amelia Earhart owned one.

 It was powered by a 338 cu in 6 and was capable of 70 mph.  Probably a thousand or so were built before production ceased in 1931.  The company later made outboard motors, it was sold to West Bend Aluminum in 1942.

Owls Head Museum

 

Visualizing preignition

 

Boston-Maine Airways

  This is the showy side of a luggage label for Boston-Maine Airways. Boston-Maine Airways was established in 1931 by the Boston and Maine Railroad in partnership with National Airways, eventually evolving into Northeast Airlines. Northeast merged with Delta in 1972.

  The "Flying Yankee" name was borrowed from the streamlined diesel passenger train operated by the Boston & Maine and Maine Central railroads during the mid-1930s.

Vintage wood plane, convex

  This unidentified, possibly homemade, wood plane has a profile I've not seen before, with multiple passes it would plane out a tapered concave slot such as might be found on an eavestrough.  Interesting piece for someone's collection.

Oregon Wood Grenade

  This solid hunk of cone-shaped aluminum was intended to be pounded into a log to split it in multiple directions. I like the portability compared to steel but I wonder how soon the head would mushroom over in elm or other hardwood.

Tootsietoy panel delivery truck

Shame about the kustom by kid paint scheme, but it's in pretty good condition otherwise,despite the eggshell-like zinc diecast body...This panel was part of a line of diecast toy vehicles produced by Dowst Brothers in Chicago in the post WW2 era. 

 

Much better ...

Boeing 747 postcard, 1971

 

The 747 fleet served El Al from 1971 to Nov 2019.

  Farewell video.

Philips Dyno flashlight

  Here's a fun little device, a pump action flywheel-powered dynamo light (or squeeze flashlight). The fun goes out of it quick, as the pump handle has to be actuated almost continuously. The bulb lens cover is missing on this one.

 According to Wikipedia these were made in occupied Netherlands during the war.

 

Stanley Marsh no 100 mItre box

   Here's the king of miter boxes seen at Liberty Tool in Maine. I thought it was just a big solid professional miter clamp, turns out it's missing the back saw. Bottom image shows a  complete unit, similar but smaller, at another site. Here's another site showing the machine being used.

 

Toolsquirrel

Sidecar Sunday Car and sidecar in Uruguay

 

  Here are a series of stills taken from a video on Youtube. No explanation as this sequence was playing and we have no idea what the heck this is all about. Our friend Marshall sent me this link about a subject we know littke about...The Uruguay car industry.

 Uruguay Once Built Its Own Cars