New Imperial record setter

Feb 1992 Classic Motor Cycle 

New Imperial dealer Harry Nash started tuning a 150cc Model 23 in 1932 and soon was beating larger machines in races. He added streamlining and with the engine sleeved down to 125cc, set several world records at Brooklands. The machine attracted a lot of attention and here it is on display at the 1936 Olympia show with a pretty young visitor adding to the attraction. 

Below, Harry Nash setting off on a run. Bottom, an unmodified model 23.

cybermotorcycle.com

New England Boat show 1929

Valmobile

The Valmobile (Valise-mobile) was designed by Victor Buffort, inspired by the British wartime Welbike. The front end folds up into the rear portion for postability. They were made in France between 1954-55 and in Japan by the Hirano Motorcycle company till 1961. About 100,000 were made.

Locomotive San Gabriel

The locomotive San Gabriel was built by the Vulcan Iron Works company of San Francisco  in 1864 for light passenger service on the san Francisco and Alameda Railway (or Los Angeles and San Pedro Railway depending on source). Looks like the prototype for every cheap toy steam engine toy ever.

J.A Faye woodworking machinery exhibition

The J.A. Faye company's exhibition of woodworking machinery at the Centennial Exposition of 1876 in Philadelphia. Not a sign of safety equipment anywhere! The overhead pulley and belt system of the time seems to be minimal, supplanted with another system under the floor. 
 The company was a major manufacturer of industrial woodworking machinery at the time. 

The excellent vintagemachinery.org site covers the convoluted history of the company.

The Only

Francois Richard (say it like the French, Ri-Shard) came to the US in 1904 bringing a reputation for mechanical innovation, having built a medal-winning 2 stroke engine in France. He soon made the acquaintance of Alfred Vanderbilt, for whom he built a race car for the 1906 Ormond- Daytona Beach Race. Three years later he introduced the Only, a two seat car powered by a 201 cu.in. single cylinder engine with a 10 inch stroke. 
The 1913 ad shows the racy car which cost $800, a very reasonable sum at the time. It was not a success and the company was reorganized later that year under a new name, the Metropol. That venture also failed.  

Ski doo 1966

Fondation Armand Bombardier , Ski-doo, As long as there is winter, 1999

For 1966, the plain yellow machines got a facelift designed by Anselme (Sam) Lapointe and the familiar Ski-doo look was born. There was a new brighter yellow highlighted by a new seat-height black stripe, The seat was changed from red to black..

Sidecar Cygnet Sunday

thanks graysailer!

Surface carburetor

Before Wilhelm Maybach's float and needle-jet carburetor of 1893 entered common usage, this was the carburetor. A sheet metal box half full of gasoline was attached to the intake of the engine. the air was sucked in the air inlet down the chimney across a sheet metal surface. This moving air picked up gasoline vapour, the mixture then continued past the throttle valve and on into the engine. A pipe from the engine exhaust aided evaporation and the rider fiddled with the air and throttle valves trying to keep the engine going. Talk about distracted driving!

Palmer Cord tyres

Reading between the lines, Mr. Horsman came in 4th on his Palmer Cord tyres, tires or "tars", depending on where you hail from... 
Palmer Cord Tyres was founded in 1895, made tires for many vehicles up until roughly WW2, by that time they were specializing in aircraft tires, wheels and brakes. The company had become a subsidiary of Goodrich rubber in 1933. In 1957 the company name was changed to Palmer Aero Products.