July 2, 2009

Mechanical Flying Goose Decorates Radiator Cap (Jan, 1932)

Filed under: Automotive, DIY — @ 10:39 am
Source: How To Build It ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Jan, 1932
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Mechanical Flying Goose Decorates Radiator Cap

For novelty in radiator ornaments, you’ll have to go a long way to beat this mechanical flying goose. As you speed along in your car, an ingenious arrangement of mechanism in the bird causes it to straighten out and flap its wings to simulate a real live goose in flight.

WHILE your car is standing still this wild goose isn’t so wild. He perches sedately upon the radiator cap surveying the world with a glassy eye. But as soon as you start up and shift into high he flattens out his tail, stretches his neck forward and begins to flap his wings as if he were going somewhere, and going there in a hurry.

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June 30, 2009

Jivin’ Up THE JEEP (Nov, 1947)

Filed under: Automotive — @ 12:46 pm
Source: Mechanix Illustrated ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Nov, 1947
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Jivin’ Up THE JEEP

THE front seats of the jeep are tolerably comfortable, but the shallow, flat rear seat is a notorious back-breaker. It can be improved considerably by installing two pieces of1/2in. plywood, (photo 1, above right), hinged to the bottom of the seat frame. Position the back board to about the angle shown. To the front of the bottom board, attach short wooden feet (photo 2, right) about 10 inches long. The back board can be pushed forward, (photo 3, below) to give access to the hand crank mounted against the rear wall of the jeep.

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June 23, 2009

Car Owner’s Name on Foot Plate (May, 1932)

Filed under: Automotive — @ 12:34 pm
Source: Modern Mechanix ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: May, 1932
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Car Owner’s Name on Foot Plate

WITH so many cars on the street just like the one you drive, it is convenient to have some little individuality on yours to make it easily identified from the rest. One way to do this without altering or detracting from the car’s beauty is to use a little foot plate with your name on it. The plate is made of white rubber and is easily installed on the running board, as shown in the photo. This forms an attractive, inexpensive accessory that makes identification simple.

June 19, 2009

MI Tests the 1950 Studebaker (Nov, 1949)

Filed under: Automotive — @ 11:50 pm
Source: Mechanix Illustrated ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Nov, 1949
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MI Tests the 1950 Studebaker

“One of the best dollar values today,” says Tom McCahill. They’re not the fastest cars on the road but they’re tops in comfort and quality.

THE new, needle-nose Studebaker gives the boys of the Big Three something to shoot at. Back in ‘46, with the introduction of the 1947 Studebaker designed by Raymond Loewy, this first real post-war auto stirred up the populace. And now, once again, Loewy has set the pace with the 1950 Studebaker.

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June 17, 2009

NEW for the ROAD (Oct, 1951)

Filed under: Automotive — @ 6:10 pm
Source: Mechanix Illustrated ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Oct, 1951
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NEW for the ROAD

Motorcycle Car was built by automotive engineer Theron Huish of Los Angeles in one year’s spare time. The body is a reinforced aircraft drop tank; engine is the motorcycle type with a fan for cooling. Top speed is about 60 mph.

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June 10, 2009

Auto-Boat Speedy on Land or Sea (Jul, 1931)

Filed under: Automotive, Nautical — @ 10:15 am
Source: Modern Mechanix ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Jul, 1931
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Auto-Boat Speedy on Land or Sea

YOU may take your choice and call it a sea-going auto or a road-boat, but whatever it is, the vehicle shown in the photo below performs nicely on land or water, developing 25 miles an hour in the liquid element and 40 per on terra firma.

The land-boat (or sea-auto) was invented by Peter Prell of Union, New Jersey, presumably for the purpose of beating the jam on both tube and ferry while commuting to New York.

June 1, 2009

Where Do They Keep The Towels? (Feb, 1940)

Filed under: Automotive — @ 6:28 pm
Source: Mechanix Illustrated ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Feb, 1940
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Where Do They Keep The Towels?

THIS new foreign limousine has a hot and cold water folding wash-basin of aluminum built into its right front fender. Beneath the hood is a 2-compartment tank holding two and a half gallons of water. The hot water section is heated by exhaust gases passing through a spiral pipe. The two faucets give water of any desired temperature. The basin is automatically emptied when it is folded into the fender.

May 13, 2009

Trailer Saves Return Haul Costs (Aug, 1931)

Filed under: Automotive — @ 11:26 pm
Source: Modern Mechanix ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Aug, 1931
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Trailer Saves Return Haul Costs

A GREAT saving in the return trips of trucks used for the transportation of automobiles from factory to dealer has been effected as a result of the development of a new type of trailer. Built with rear extension that can be folded back, the trailer can be shortened so that one truck can be hauled by another on the return trip.

Triangular truss frame construction of the trailer makes possible a combination of maximum strength and minimum weight. The photo below shows the manner in which one truck is carried by another, without danger of accident on road.

Exterminating Rats With Deadly Automobile Exhaust Gas (Jul, 1931)

Filed under: Animals, Automotive — @ 10:49 pm
Source: Modern Mechanix ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Jul, 1931
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Exterminating Rats With Deadly Automobile Exhaust Gas

“IF THE fumes from an automobile exhaust can kill humans, they should have the same effect on rats,” said the head of the Department of Health of Highland Park, Michigan. And so onto the exhaust pipe of a dilapidated Model T Ford discarded by the police officials, the health officers rigged up a rubber hose and established themselves as modern pied pipers.

The “hunters” first seal all the holes of the building to be operated upon, leaving just two openings. The hose is then inserted into one of these, the engine of the Ford coaxed to wheeze a bit, and the carbon monoxide does the rest.

May 12, 2009

The Mercedes-Benz 190 SL (Apr, 1956)

Filed under: Automotive — @ 10:53 pm
Source: Mechanix Illustrated ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Apr, 1956
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The Mercedes-Benz 190 SL

Fine workmanship and splendid roadability are the top features of this sports rig, says Uncle Tom.

By Tom McCahill

THE NAME Mercedes-Benz, like Tiffany, Morgan & Company and Diamond Jim Brady is known from pole-to-pole and over the border and into Finland. Mercedes-Benz has had only one rival through the years for the title of Prestige Car Of The World—and that is Rolls-Royce. Actually, from a quality standpoint and longevity, Rolls gets the nod, but from a performance and accomplishment standpoint no one can touch Mercedes.

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May 4, 2009

Fold-up Spare Tire (Feb, 1957)

Filed under: Automotive — @ 10:27 pm
Source: Science And Mechanics ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Feb, 1957
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Fold-up Spare Tire
TAKING up a space of only about 6 x 10 x 14 inches when folded, this collapsible spare tire is just about glove-compartment size. Developer and manufacturer is The Gates Rubber Company, Dept. SM, 999 S. Broadway, Denver 17, Colo. The compact spare is quickly slipped over a wheel rim after the damaged tire has been removed, and inflated with a carbon dioxide cylinder. With a tread life of about 1000 miles, the tire can be easily deflated, removed from the wheel and refolded for future use. The Fold-Away tire will soon be available through tire dealers for approximately 75% of the cost of a standard 100 level tire; tire puller and carbon dioxide cylinder will be included in kit later.

April 30, 2009

MI Tests The Triumph TR-2 (Aug, 1954)

Filed under: Automotive — @ 12:16 am
Source: Mechanix Illustrated ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Aug, 1954
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MI Tests The Triumph TR-2

“A hairy-chested, flame-spiffing wildcat” is how Tom describes this 104-mph import. By Tom McCahill THE fastest automobile in the world selling for under $2,500 is one way of summing up the TR-2 Triumph sports car. In its price class, the new Triumph is a hairy-chested, flame-spitting wildcat. With this uninhibited rig you can pass a flat-out MG with enough extra speed in hand to give the MG driver double pneumonia in addition to dust in his eye and a slight eardrum concussion.

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