Johnny Lujack knows his bikes...

Another Indian model that didn't work out...

Nth power Convair guided missiles, 1950's

 

Hispano Suiza Six cylinder, 1919

At 403 cu inches it was big for a six cylinder engine, but it was essentially half of the V12 airplane engine. For new auto engine the camshaft was moved to become OHC.

 

Monday Mystery Todd #4

Ok, Its a Todd #4 and it's made in the USA...?

 

Ford Model N chassis assembly

Model N chassis assembly room at the Ford Piquette Ave. plant in 1906.  Seven thousand Ns were built in two years before production switched to the more famous "T". 
 

Sidecar Sunday

 

Clamp, Strong Scott Manufacturing

 

 Strong Scott Manufacturing, originally located in Minneapolis, MN, manufactured equipment for processing grain and flour.  The company started in the late 1890s but ceased operations in 1967. Their line of equipment was highly regarded for being durable and well-made but doesn't show up in online images much, though catalogs exist. This particular device is a clamp that secured the grain spout of the elevator onto a train car. We'll look for an image of it in use.

Several current companies including Bepex and Gerber of Montana reference Strong Scott as being part of their business and Norseman Distilling proudly occupies their old factory.

Thanks, Terry!

We used to make things in this country #352. Sadler and Haworth belting

More belt manufacturers found while looking for anything on belt-run factories. That's quite an image, not sure what sort of headdress that Atlas Shrugged type of character is wearing. Belts are Power!

With the advent of electric motors, business must have died overnight.

 

 Balata is a latex rubber-like material obtained from a tropical tree.

 Rabbit Hole alert. The Great Amphibian by Winston Churchill.

Etsy

Thoughts on a Suzuki Bandit 400

 I've always thought this was an attractive motorcycle, along the lines of a Ducati Monster... oh wait, this preceded the Monster by a few years, but the 400 cc size just wasn't enough for those of us who were used to 1100cc engines. When we saw the 600 and 1200 bandit arrive in showrooms a few years later we were disappointed to see a whole different frame and look to the bikes. Why didn't they just continue the 400 style frame? 

And... could someone put a large size motor in the 400? Many years passed and recently when a Bandit 400 parts bike appeared I took it upon myself acquire the frame for a look see. I set a 600 katana engine up on the bench and this is what I found.  The back two mounts were quite close to lining up. chain alignment is OK. The bottom end isn't the issue. Unfortunately the width of that air/oil head is the problem. Not even close. The 400 engine hangs from mounts on the head, only 14 inches apart. Sadly the 600/1100 head is a bit more than 16 inches wide. And of course the 600/1100 engine has front mounts on the cases. So the answer is: Not easily. 

Early disc brake experiments, 1966

 These discs look advanced for the time, large diameter with expansion slots for dealing with heat. I guess the Hurst calipers were what was available... MotoTec seems to be still in the disc business.