Wednesday, August 11, 2010
1904 Cadillac Model B runabout with cool rear tire mountable tread covers
0 comments Posted by welot at 10:35 PM
They appear to be "Billet" detachable tire protectors with "contre envelope" attachments or similar. ("The Horseless Age" Volume 15, January 4, 1905)
The "tread" part has flaps which extend over the sidewall on both sides and hold a wire extending around the circumference and fasten (tighten) in two places with a screw and nut.
At that time here were many types of tire protectors of various designs and attachment schemes. Some also claimed to improve traction.
It's my speculation that the covers were more than just variations of tread design, they were an extra layer pf protection from sharp rocks (no pavement) and the frequent flats were a fact of life, that's why there were 2 spare tires
from Shorpy, though the images have nothing to do with each other... I made the connection while looking through and saving the images I find interesting
The Harlem River Speedway in 1902 (not a motorcar racetrack) was a carriage route, I'd love to drive along it (proabably doesn't exist anymore)
0 comments Posted by welot at 9:31 PM
Black and white from Shorpy, the color images are postcards from http://www.coffeedrome.com/bobspeed.html 
This is a 1922 Dodge Touring Car, DCFD Serial No. 05, assigned to the Superintendent of Machinery. The DCFD Repair Shop is in the background next to Engine Co. 8 quarters. The American LaFrance in one of Engine 8's apparatus bays may be a 1920 750 gpm pumper DCFD Serial No. 125 which was assigned to Engine 8
From Shorpy
1920 Penn Oil fuel station with " Lightning Motor Fuel " !.. I want me some of that!
0 comments Posted by welot at 8:59 PM
from Shorpy
the 5th Avenue Stage in 1900, just a year or two before the horses became obsolete
0 comments Posted by welot at 8:29 PM
You wouldn't see these magnificent (if dangerous) horse carriages galloping up and down Fifth Avenue much longer at the time this photo was taken. 1900 was the year that the NY State Senate approved a bill allowing the Fifth Avenue Stage to run automobiles along the length of its newly-extended route.
By 1903, the horse carriages had been retired for "motor buses."
This was a relief to the residents of the apartment blocks near the "big stable" of the Fifth Avenue Stage located uptown. The stables took up the whole block between 88th and 89th Streets, were four stories tall, and housed over 250 horses. Its neighbors were continually filing complaints with the city because of the "noxious odors", as well as perpetual stamping and neighing of horses in their stalls, which made sleep impossible.
Commentary by Louise on http://www.shorpy.com/node/8588?size=_original
The Thew model O steam shovel from about 1898, self propelled and steered (all others were limited to working from railroads)
0 comments Posted by welot at 8:10 PM
Above from Shorpy
The color photos and write up are from http://www.mylargescale.com/Community/Forums/tabid/56/aff/8/aft/111626/afv/topic/Default.aspx Captain Thew studied these problems of ore handling and conceived a unique machine that would overcome the former difficulties and restrictions. With the help of H.H. Harris, an experienced shovel designer, Thew built his first machine at the Variety Iron Works in Cleveland in 1895. His machine was a fully revolving steam excavator with a 5/8-cubic-yard shovel attachment that could swing in a full circle, the first with this capability built in America. To add even more flexibility, he mounted the machine on four steel traction wheels, which could steer and propel itself without the need for labor-intensive rail tracks. Now able to travel without restriction, the shovel was able to perform any loading or cleanup work over the entire dock property, doing away with most of the hand labor
