Tuesday, September 6, 2022
Sunday, September 4, 2022
Beached but not abandoned...
It doesn't look good for the remains of this John Deere 710, but apparently someone is trying to start the engine...
Bouton Paul Defiant
Seemingly designed by someone who had never seen air combat, the only armament was 4 machine guns in the turret behind the pilots seat. The role that was envisioned was to would intercept and destroy unescorted bombers. That worked for a short time early in the war, before the Germans learned to shoot them down with fighter escorts.
Quickly removed from service, they found a new role as a night fighter, and the addition of onboard radar in early 1941 made them much more effective. However, Beaufighters and Mosquitos soon replaced the Defiants in the nightfighter role. Just over a thousand units were built.
Saturday, September 3, 2022
Friday, September 2, 2022
We used to make things in this country #341 Thibault Fire Engines
Fargo-based Thibault fire engine on display at Matagami, Qc. town square. By the license plate, I would say it's a 1962 model.
The Thibault company started building hand pumps in 1908 in Pierreville, Qc, building their first motorized fire engine in 1918. The company grew, thriving on government contracts during WW2, but the founder passed away in 1961, leaving the nine sons in control. Family strife led to the selling of the company but then followed a confusing time where the company ran through several ownerships before finally being sold to Pierce Manufacturing of Appleton, Wisconsin in 1997. At last check various descendants of the family are still building fire equipment and bodies for rescue vehicles at several companies in Quebec. Thibault history here.
Thursday, September 1, 2022
Cyclotron speed record Triumph
In 1966 London motorcycle shop owner and sprinter Fred Cooper decided to go for the world motorcycle land speed record- which was about 240 mph at the time. He decided that a pair of Triumph engines in a hardtail frame would be a good place to start, then added a Shorrocks supercharger. The machine did 160 mph with ease and through the next couple of years of development ran in the 190-200 mph at various venues in Britain. More room was needed to really explore the higher speeds the machine was capable of. The newspaper Daily Express provided some sponsorship, was planning a streamline shell but lost interest before a trip to the Salt Flats could be arranged.
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