Friday, August 24, 2012

Alemite Greasing Gun

Wow! A $1.50 for this Alemite greasing tool at an estate sale. First one of this type I've owned. Looks like it belongs in the cab of a steam locomotive, perhaps it will hang inside one soon. Stewart Warner Corp. Alemite Division Made in Chicago USA.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad

Back in the year 2005, I visited the Cumbres & Toltec RR beginning at the Chama end. It was late March and ofcourse the trains were not running yet but there were folk gathered for a work day, volunteers spend time each season sprucing up the buildings and rail cars among other projects to get the line ready for service in May. After driving over Cumbres Pass and eventually all the way up to Antonito, I felt truly blessed for having visited, by accident, the railroad line. Ever since I have considered returning to volunteer time and labor some season and ride the train as well. Though I haven't returned yet, these days I am considering constructing a scale model of The Cumbres & Toltec with an 'N' guage set for locos and rolling stock. Seems quite a challenge for a novice model railroader but it also gives purpose to another visit to New Mexico and Colorado! Perhaps some aerial photos would be of great assistance in structuring the terrain. A long term project for sure, don't we all need one!

Crystal AM Radio

Remember the old crystal radio kits? This one is from my childhood somewhere around 1980. A "Science Fair" kit from Radio Shack. Many a night was spent tuning into the nearest AM stations and amidst the static you could pull in someones voice or music off of the waves. A good antenna and ground would always produce a connection to the radio world. What's old in new again!

Monday, August 13, 2012

Moving Dirt

Nothing beats the smell of fresh turned soil out here on the farm, whether it be by plow or blade, it's all the same and it stirs a farmers senses.
Sort of like fresh rain from the heavens and the first glimmer of sun on a clear spring morning following the rain.

This project began in the spring of 2009, the goal was to allow the water to drain from the yard freely into the field and not stand in the drive for days. So it has worked quite well but it seems that, as with most any dirt project, it simply isn't quite finished. For the soil is to me as the clay is to the sculptor and it longs to be moved, sometimes it just cries out to me begging to be stirred up.
Perhaps as the weather cools and brings a bit more moisture to the soil we will stir it up a bit more. Fall gardening time is fast approaching as well so we'd better knock the rust off of the old moldboard plow.

Last is a current photo of the same area.
Dozer is International Harvester 500g

Saturday, August 11, 2012

London Olympics Documentary

A fascinating look back into London's history as Tom Brokaw takes us back to WW II. Hitler and Nazi Germany, Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt, Japan and Pearl Harbor. An hour long piece on London's survival and Europe's liberation. A fitting documentary at a special time. Great!

Enjoying the London Olympics 2012!

Lincoln Sport Biplane

This article is available From EAA members only section on their website under the archives of Experimenter and Sport Aviation publications. Included in the article are these construction and three view drawings which are loaded with measurements and details concerning the lincoln Sport Biplane. This is an excellent light plane and would no doubt make for an impressive homebuilt project. Look up the January 1956 Experimenter or search Lincoln Sport.