The Magazine

'Wisconsin T-Head Mystery' landed in Indiana!

Remember the unidentified T-head posted by Kit Foster? Joe Gross was able to secure the parts for his Maxwell project that earlier was part of an Alice Ramsey diorama! "When I first saw the mystery engine, I was certain it was Maxwell. They incorporated the engine, clutch and transmission into one long aluminum cast pan. I initially saw it as part of a project to do with extra partial chassis in my care. I soon found the engine to be only five hours from my home in Indiana! A bit amazing, since I first knew of it from this website half way around the globe. It was in the care of a pair of hobbyists, Ted and Bob, that wanted to get it to someone that could use it. Well, two days prior to delivery I got an email from Hart's Machine Service that was working on my 1910 engine stating that they were hoping for a better option than pouring and boring the bearings in my 1910 Maxwell model G engine, since it's design would make the project difficult. After an evening delivery of the Wisconsin mystery engine, I was off a day later in the morning to deliver the option to Hart's. With a little investigation we found a K on the case, which we believe makes it a 1909 engine of the same size as mine. Some carefully disassembly lays ahead to audit it's fitness for recommissioning, but hopefully it will work out. Kit Foster can sleep nights now!"

Full story under Read More. Do you have a great story that you like to share? Let us know.

To Bead or not to Bead, that's the question

RR Silver_Ghost_straight_sided_longstone_460b

After doing the same for the Austin 7, Longstone Tyres has developed a new series straight sided tyres for the early type Rolls Royce Silver Ghost. You may like it or not, still it is a great thing that now at least you have the choice between being strictly original, or a lot safer for long distance or mountainous touring. Of course the simplest solution will free your wallet from overweight: maintain two sets. One beaded edge type for show or club outings. And a straight edged set for more serious use. Manufacturer Dougal Cawley explains the whole issue under Read More. But we love to hear your opinion as well!

The Future strikes Back!

It’s not our habit to advertise a new movie, but when we saw this poster promoting the latest Men in Black 3, we had to stop and think... We don’t know the story yet, as the movie will be released tomorrow (!), but knowing that it’s a science fiction film and seeing Will Smith driving this futuristic multi-powered uni-wheel, we thought, hey, that’s not the future, we’ve seen that wheel before! This machine is an invention that dates from the late 1920s / early 1930s, but that’s all we know about it. Anybody who can tell us more about it? Who made it...? Did work...? Or not...? Enlighten us!

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Tuesday, 22 May 2012

Today on PostWarClassic: It all comes down to spit and polish!

After all these years still there, still untouched

Browsing through old holiday photos Bas de Voogd came along this picture which he made some forty years ago. Supposing that all was cleared by now he did contacted Kris Ward from Kris’s Industrial Trials and Derek Rayner from the Leeds and District Traction Engine Club. To his (and our!) surprise Bas found out that some of the 'stuff' is still there. The yard is at Binton on Avon or somewhere close. The tackle is (or was) Bomford & Carrs and the tractor pictured here is an ultra-rare petrol powered one which Fowler started to make in 1909 but had only managed to sell 40 of these units by the 1930’s whilst at the same time 200 steam traction engines were built. The yard is still owned by a very old guy who will not part with it. In our opinion there should be made an ultimate attempt to save it from the scrap heap. Even if it is beyond repair it should be stored dry to be admired for next generations. But how?