Another job you probably wouldn't want to do... Stoker at a 19th C Coal mine

 To power the steam powered hoists, coal mines frequently had 10 or more boilers lined up in a building producing enough steam to do the job. Mechanical stokers eventually came along to reduce the effort of keeping them fed.

Cable lubricator

Looks a bit fiddly and make leaky too. 50plus years of motorcycle ownership and I've never owned a cable lubricator. They don't seem to be a common item.

Wind tunnel testing, B29 Superfortress

Last minute details. Wonder what happened to these models.

Box of Russell Jennings Spur Auger Bits

This beautiful box of bits was at an antique mall. Not cheap, but if I had any plans to ever use a brace and bit again, I would have been tempted. We covered the history of Russell Jennings in an earlier post on Irwin Auger Bits. 

Nicky Dees Burgerz

 The former Power's Diner, the current owners bought it just before Covid struck. They persevered, and it looks great front and center on Military St, Port Huron, Mi.  History here.

Santa Fe Super Chief, 1949

The new diesel streamliners on the Santa Fe passenger service followed a southwest native theme, the orange and silver paint was nicknamed the war bonnet scheme. Nevertheless, this seems a rather fanciful portrayal of the relationship...

Below, the interior of the observation car looking forward from the extreme rear of the train.

 

Turnstile design for the Empire State Building

  The Perey Turnstile company has been in business since 1913. In 1928 John Perey and Conrad Trubenback came up with the modern concept of a turnstile, a waist-high housing with revolving tripod arms to control passage of pedestrians. Industrial Designer John Vassos worked on styling for the company including a system for the Art Deco styled Empire State Building.

  The company is still in business today.

 

Chapman 5352 lock nut wrench

What do we call these? Pin wrench, hook wrench, I guess these things are known by different names.  I don't recognize the Chapman name, possibly it's the modern day Chapman Mfg of Durham Ct.

 

Monday Mystery, Kennedy memorabilia?

This was found in an old family trunk... It seems to be a John F Kennedy Presidential display of some sort?  The fold-down stand has some tabs which make me think it was part of a larger setup. Any thoughts or guesses?

 

Craftsman cranked chisel

Here's another tool found at a thrift store, initially it seemed like a useful chisel that would suit my "hack" woodworking skills, a cranked chisel intended to be used with a hammer. 

But immediately I discovered that it won't keep an edge, which reminded me of why Craftsman chisels weren't known for their quality back in the day... I can still use it for a wedge, I guess.