I'd drive that! According to an innocent bystander, this is a 1967 model. He pointed to the taillights and the horizontally folding rear window.
Progress is fine, but it's gone on for too long.
with apologies to Ogden Nash...
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Boston by balloon
Taken in 1860 by James Wallace Black, surely this aerial photograph of Boston must be the first such feat?
Not exactly, the actual first birds eye view taken from a balloon was taken 2 years earlier. French photographer Gaspard-FĂ©lix Tournachon, captured the first aerial photographs, photographing Paris from a tethered balloon at an altitude of sixteen hundred feet. Due to the primitive developing system, the feat required him to carry a complete dark room with him. Unfortunately, those photographs have been lost.
This Boston photo shows The Old South Meeting House on the left (still there today), where Washington St., cutting down diagonally meets Milk St, winding down to the harbour.
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Welland Canal-sized cargo carrier proposal
From Greatlakes-seaway.com; A distinctive type of vessel was developed for use in the inland canal system. The Great Lakes "canaler", a bulk carrier that is literally a self-propelling barge, with machinery at the stern and navigating bridge up forward, had a long, almost box-shaped cargo hold between. The "canalers" using the third canal had a maximum length of 79.9 m (262 feet) and could carry as much as 2,700 tonnes (3,000 tons). Larger ships were also built to sail from the Lakehead (Lake Superior) to Port Colborne where their 13,500 tonnes (15,000 tons) of cargo were transferred to several small "canalers". However, it soon became evident that these larger vessels should be able to move into the lower lakes and, between 1907 and 1912, plans were made for enlarging the canal once more. That canal opened in 1931 and is still in use today.
Continental wrench
192/ ABC Motorcycle
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Heidelberg , Germany Tram
A turn of the (last) century four wheel Heidelberg tram, complete with colourful advertising shown in the 1960s. Fast forward another 50 years and at least the advertiser is still doing well.
Monday, April 22, 2024
Camron US needle nose pliers
Wipac accessories, 1966
Sunday, April 21, 2024
Triumph Tiger Trail
The 1981 Tiger Trail was Triumph's response to the introduction of the BMW R80GS in 1980. The bike had longer suspension and was outfitted with plastic fenders and only available in bright yellow. The model was entered in several off-road races, where they did reasonably well.
The bike never was sold in North America and as it never really caught on in Europe, production was discontinued in 1982 with only about 180 units sold. Collector's piece indeed!
Sidecar Sunday
Captains Malins and Oliver, who travelled around the world on motorcycles in 1927 promoting the British film industry, pictured at the RAF base at Karachi where the engines were overhauled. The pair took just over a year to complete the trip. The 1000 cc OEC motorcycles gave little trouble but the sidecar frames were repaired many times.