The Noisy West

The Castaways - Liar Liar

2012-02-10T23:23:00.000-07:00

Their Only chart topper
1965

Coppi / Tin Tin

2011-03-24T20:40:00.001-06:00

I wonder if the drawing is by Herge, the fellow who penned Tin Tin?

Cars; Mercedes

2011-03-21T00:58:00.001-06:00

Year?
SE Portland

1953 Ferrari 212 coup

2011-02-27T20:28:00.005-07:00

How often does the opportunity arise to by an incredibly fine automobile in
used car lot condition?

Cars from this era, even somewhat boring cars like a low end American 4 door sedan, are becoming increasingly hard to find in that state between
restored,
and the junkyard.

I hope whoever buys it changes the oil, cleans the plugs, and leaves it as it is.

Estimate: $375,000-$550,000 US
RM Auctions

Douglas Jones

2011-02-23T11:09:00.002-07:00

Link

1940's Anodized Allez Cottered Cranks

2011-02-22T21:24:00.002-07:00

£295
@
Hilary Stone

Nakima's Boots and Harry's feet

2011-02-16T00:33:00.002-07:00

Jones on 35th / Division

2011-02-16T00:15:00.005-07:00

Hardy Krüger

2011-02-10T01:01:00.003-07:00

Hardy Krüger
-German actor-

1960's Swiss Backback

2011-02-05T01:34:00.003-07:00

1960's Swiss Military internal frame pack
These are growing harder and harder to find.
Andy and Bax still has a few
I have another for when this one wears out, if it ever does.

Sunny and Chris, SE Hawthorne

2011-02-02T02:39:00.003-07:00

Vernazza, Italy

2011-01-20T00:41:00.000-07:00

Stump Juice, Pt. 2

2011-01-18T13:38:00.003-07:00

Tastes pretty good, and will lay you out in just a few minutes.

ROY Jeans

2011-01-13T20:23:00.003-07:00

Roy's Jeans - Video by Self Edge from Self Edge on Vimeo.

Dishonourable Machines

2011-01-11T18:02:00.002-07:00

"Typewriters you can own. I think a computer owns you."

Manson H. Whitlock, typewriter repair man

Paintings of Houses

2011-01-04T20:35:00.002-07:00

Christina's World, Andrew Wyeth, 1948

House by the Railroad, Edward Hopper, 1925

Reproduction 1956 Portland Beavers Cap

2011-01-03T00:56:00.004-07:00

Made by Cooperstown, who is currently going out of business.
100% wool, with a leather sweatband

Available at Winn Perry
which is located on 11th and Division
in the old Model T Factory.

$48

Same Shoe, Different Day

2011-01-01T16:47:00.005-07:00

12/31/2009

12/24/2010

Blackbird's Esquivel Natural Leather Hobo shoe
worn every day for a year

More info here

Stump Juice

2011-01-01T14:50:00.005-07:00

3 Gallons Water
5 Pounds Cane Sugar
3 Packets Fleischmann's Dry Yeast
Bit of Back Tea
Bit of Cracked Wheat

Ferment 5 days in cupboard covered in a wool
blanket, with a light bulb inside for warmth.

Water lock cap made out of a Bic pen, a small jar
found in my tool box, and a rubber stopper. Lets air out, but not in
to avoid contamination by "wild yeast"

Remainder of cracked wheat not used eaten for breakfast.

3 Rensho Messenger

2011-01-01T14:46:00.000-07:00

3rd / Burnside
Portland, OR

The Monologuist

2010-12-23T19:44:00.002-07:00

Here

Tracy Inn Matches

2010-12-13T22:45:00.001-07:00

1960's Tracy California

Wooden box, made in Italy

Found on the porch of my house.

Stelvio Pass, 1930's

2010-12-06T17:06:00.002-07:00

I picked this postcard up in a small mountain town somewhere in the Alps. I photographed it by affixing a jewelers loop to my Cannon 20D.

The pass is infamous for its terribly long and winding grade, and is often included in the Giro d'Italia bicycle race.

Fred Lane, From The One That Cut You

2010-12-02T14:34:00.007-07:00

Fred Lane was his own Tuscaloosa Alabama New Wave Psychojazz Duke Ellington

with five tabs of acid in his morning coffee before leading the band.

The title of the album below was inspired by a poorly written threat
note found in a 1952 Dodge panel truck.

Look up "I Talk To My Haircut" and listen away.

Stumptown Coffee

2010-12-01T20:08:00.005-07:00

SE 34th / Division

La Morizoco Espresso
machine with custom body

Pattern on cheap film backing bled through image
causing dots

Holy Roller

2010-12-01T20:04:00.002-07:00

Mid 60's Mercedes
off of Burnside

Optimus Svea 123 stove

2010-11-23T19:41:00.005-07:00

1950's Svea 123 backpacking stove
I have been using it for bike touring.
It replaced my MSR Whisperlite, which had many
moving parts, and took to long to set up.
This stove only has 1 moving part, and is completely self contained.
It will run for an hour on a full tank (4 oz).
The knob has wrench cutouts, and can be used to completely disassemble the stove.
The pump is for cold conditions.
It can usually be started by just warming it up with your hands.
The aluminum lid doubles as a pot, but I don't have the handle.

They are still made, costing around $90.
This one was $8 at a second hand store in Victor Idaho.

Frank Fairfield

2010-11-14T23:00:00.003-07:00

“The truth is just another story. You can remember it any way you want; it’s never gonna’ be the same twice.”

-Frank Fairfield

Listen to him play here.

PROFESSIONal

2010-11-14T19:00:00.004-07:00

PROFESSIONal

from Vita Brevis

Thanks Josh!

Mobile Homes/Harsh Reality, Peter Garfield

2010-11-10T22:42:00.002-07:00

Website

1964 jRj

2010-11-04T00:33:00.010-06:00

The Sieber is no longer available.
1964 jRj (Bob Jackson)
Custom frame
Campagnolo Nuovo Record headset, bottom bracket, and derailleurs.
Avocet 1 sealed bearing hubs.
Cinelli bar and stem.
Mafac Competition brakes.
Stronglight cranks.
This bike has been sitting in the back of a down town bike shop for years now.

Lubitel 166

2010-10-29T17:33:00.009-06:00

I asked if I could take a picture of this guy's shop.
He told me
"You can do whatever the hell you want."

I was given an old Soviet Lubitel 166 camera by a friend.
It is a plastic bodied reflex camera made on the cheap in the 80's.
These are the first pictures that came from it.
Not to shabby for free!

Portland New Yorker

2010-10-15T21:30:00.003-06:00

50's Sieber Track Frame

2010-10-12T11:26:00.023-06:00

Sieber was a small Swiss Italian company
known for its maple track racing rims.
They disappeared sometime in the 1950's.

This one is equipped with heavily milled steel Magistroni cranks,
Magistroni bottom bracket (note hollow spindle),
and Magistroni headset.
The chaining is a Williams 48 tooth.
The stem is an old steel mystery job.
The saddle is a B17 Imperial, snagged off of my touring bike.
The bars are Velo Orange Porteurs.
58cm frame
nickle plated lugs and seat stay caps
Originally red with white lettering and box lining.
The frame is pretty much bare steel,
as nearly all of the paint has faded
to nothing, or has been blasted off for repairs.
I have just been wiping a bit of wax on it.
Detail photos of frame here.

That clearance would be a lot tighter if I were running

27" Rims

The frame was restored by Mark Nobilette.
A poorly drilled hole in the fork crown was filled.
A bent seat stay bridge was replaced.

Sieber can still very lightly be seen on the down tube.

Maybe I will trade it in for a $25 gift certificate to Taco Del Mar.
Maybe I will make it into Yard Art.
Maybe I will send it to a small Russian village.

Or if you would like to buy it, it would be

$650.

Email me if you might want it neath your cheeks.

The price is for the frame, headset, Bottom Bracket, cranks, and fork.

very similar bike on velostuff.com

1950 Tempo Matador Camper

2010-10-10T19:03:00.006-06:00

7,500 Belgian Ducats

HERE

Hooah! Riding around Portland.

2010-10-04T17:38:00.007-06:00

Spotted this Merksxkxss somewhere along Hawthorne street.

K cut all of her hair off.

Its go time!

2010-09-20T00:33:00.007-06:00

Hey Folks. After a long break, I am back with a vengeance. I was going to try to keep this thing up and rolling, but didn't. In late July I rode my bicycle in Italy for a few weeks, pictures will come later on in a different post.

The guy holding the sausage in the top photo is Miles, my traveling companion. He enjoys summer sausage. I do not. At all. Greasy filthy sausage.

Miles and I rode from Fort Collins to Portland when I got back from Italy.

So now the Noisy West comes from Portland.

Yup.

Goodbye Fort Collins

2010-07-21T18:21:00.003-06:00

I sold the my Volkswagen bus, which means I am going to Italy for two weeks. I will ride with two friends from Milan to Rome. When I told this to my friend Miles, the gentleman in the red tank top, he suggested that once I got back to Fort Collins I quit my job in order to continue on with him to Portland, then San Francisco. He would be leaving on the 12th of August, three days after I get back from Italy.

I subleased my room and packed up my most important things into large, unorganized boxes. I'm ready to leave. I don't imagine I will be home anytime soon. I will do my best to keep up on my bicycle journey here with photographs, and maybe some words.

Cold War Bomb Shelter

2010-07-05T14:36:00.004-06:00

A friend of mine, the fellow who can be seen in one photo, is watching a house for some friends while they are out of town. The house was built at the turn of the century, but was renovated sometime during the cold war.

I would guess late 50's by the fixtures and such in the house. A few months after moving into the house, the folks who live there discovered a secret, very tiny, S shaped hallway in the basement. Upon further inspection, it was a blocked off bomb shelter complete with bunk bed, and canned goods to last until salvation came in tanks and airplanes.

The S shaped hallway was intended to block the explosive force of a bomb. The folks who live in the house plan on cleaning the room out and using it for storage, so I snapped a few photos before they did. I apologize for the poor photographs. I was a few cocktails deep by this point in the evening. I will likely go back for a few more photos.

Back Home

2010-07-02T17:18:00.005-06:00

Went back home to see the folks a few weeks ago.
My step mother was busy in the garden.
The beetle was my car in high school.

Freddy Mertz Bicycle Frame

2010-07-02T12:33:00.003-06:00

Via Velocult

1940's Italian Furniture Design Drawings

2010-06-12T10:35:00.002-06:00

Via Mondoblogo

Rotary Telephones

2010-06-03T10:35:00.002-06:00

@ Sweet Bella

Thanks Janet!

Six Day Races, Fort Collins, CO

2010-05-25T08:55:00.002-06:00

Note Drew's gold colored XB3 Soviet Track frame.

Up There, Documentary on Mural Painting

2010-05-21T12:07:00.001-06:00

Thanks Pop!

Blue Campagnolo High Flange Hubs on Ebay

2010-05-17T10:15:00.003-06:00

Buy It Now on Ebay for $469

(they aren't mine)

JUMP Photo Series By Philippe Halsman

2010-04-29T12:03:00.009-06:00

1. Murray Kempton, 1956
2. Duke / Dutchess of Windsor, 1956
3. Dali, 1949
4. Prof. J. Robert Oppenheimer, 1958
5. Jane Mansfield, 1953
6.Jackie Gleason, 1955
7. Nixon, 1955

More at L.M.G.

via The P.P.

Thanks Pop!

The Photography of Louis Faurer

2010-04-24T11:43:00.003-06:00

"Louis Faurer is best known for gritty but humane pictures of everyday people in the street, particularly those made in the 1940s and 1950s in New York’s Times Square. As Faurer recounted thirty years later, “1946 to 1951 were important years. I photographed almost daily and the hypnotic dusk light led me to Times Square. Several nights of photographing in that area and developing and printing in Robert Frank’s darkroom became a way of life.”

Info via MOCP

Favorite Shirt

2010-04-09T13:59:00.003-06:00

1960's Karman

Purchased second hand 6 years ago

That's a little over 1/4 of my life so far

The elbows are finally wearing out

Hanging your favorite shirt to air out rather than washing it to often is the best way I have found to extend its life

Zager and Evens perform In The Year 2525

2010-04-01T17:05:00.002-06:00

1969 at the Beat Club

Zager AND Evans - In The Year 2525
Uploaded by peter95000. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

1966 Bus for Sale

2010-03-28T19:45:00.002-06:00

I've got my kombi for sale on thesamba. Come buy it.

1984 Jack Taylor Tour Of Britain on CL

2010-03-28T16:38:00.006-06:00

$1350 on San Francisco CL

Eames Cloud backdrop

2010-03-24T22:28:00.008-06:00

The cloud backdrop is an iconic image utilized by the Eames Office for various projects including photo shoots and films. This example was created for the 1976 exhibition Connections: The Work of Charles and Ray Eames.

USA, 1976

acrylic on canvas with dowel supports
181.5 w x 119.5 h inches

Est. $5,000 to $7,000

@Wright

Bicycle Building pt.2

2010-03-20T12:59:00.003-06:00

*Handlebar not to any kind of scale, just for ref.

Sorry for the lack of information on the first bicycle building post. I had just gone on a long ride and didn't feel very talkative (typative?). I am building up a frame for a tour I will be taking in the late summer from Milan to Rome. I'm going to be riding with friends on their fancy Titanium Lightspeed and Serotta, and I'll need something a little lighter and more responsive than my Surly Long Haul Trucker if I want to keep up. I'll be robbing parts from the Surly for this bike such as the front crankset and wheel set, which aren't light, but are geared to climb up vertical walls. The geometry is a bit more sporty than the surly, which handles like a pickup truck.

The tube set is fairly light weight double butted crmo steel.

I have made quite a bit more progress since I took these photos. The bike is about
ready to braze together. I just need some gas, and Ill be ready to get it going.

Land Subsidence in San Joaquin Valley, California

2010-03-13T13:32:00.003-07:00

Caused by many water wells.

Via Here

Bicycle Building. Pt.1

2010-03-12T22:46:00.004-07:00

Just got a frame set in.

The diamond pattern on the fork crown had to be partially filled with brass then filed out. It still needs a bit of work.

Profile of lugs was changed slightly.

Grinnel Giggers - Plow Boy Hop

2010-03-04T16:25:00.008-07:00

"The Grinnell Giggers were from the area around the Missouri-Arkansas bootheel, near an inlet from the Mississippi River named Big Lake. In fact, the band took its name from a type of fishing done in the area; in the spring of the year, the river would flood, leaving large ponds of backwater. Locals would find in these pools a "trash fish" called grinnel, and they would catch them with old-time three-pronged forks -- a practice known as gigging. The term "grinnel giggers" was thus a phrase that had about the same meaning as "Skillet Lickers." It was not an image, though; most members of the band were cotton farmers and fishermen who had actually done such gigging."

Download Here

Information From Here

Electra Ticino Crankset

2010-02-12T14:59:00.004-07:00

Electra just put this bike out a few months ago. As usual with Electra, it has many pleasing components wrapped around a hideous frame. The ladies mixte is nice to look at though.

What really caught my eye are the vintage TA lookalike crankset. I was told by a local dealer that you should be able to buy pieces and parts from these, so I'm crossing my fingers that the double crankset as well as the fenders will be reasonably priced.

Image Source

Army In England

2010-02-05T19:55:00.006-07:00

"Daughter of English Lord & speaking w. an American Lieut.
of Gen. Mark Clark's staff in heavily censored photo (background
shows grounds of a medieval castle being used as Army HQ for command
staff of the U.S. Ground Forces in Europe)"

United Kingdom
Sept. 1942
Margaret Bourke-White

@ Life

Kuba Komet Ad

2010-02-05T12:44:00.002-07:00

White Tower Diner Toledo Ohio

2010-02-05T12:12:00.004-07:00

As far as I can tell this building was slated to be knocked down sometime last year if it wasn't moved. Does anybody have any idea if it still stands?

I hope someone at least saved the porcelain siding and fixtures.

It would make for a hell of a bicycle shop.

I emailed some folks asking weather it is still there or not. I will update you when and if I get a reply.

More photos and info on Flickr

another long gone White Tower

Win a private tour of the Eames House

2010-02-04T17:07:00.004-07:00

@ House

Katahdin Iron Works Engineer Boots

2010-02-04T15:22:00.005-07:00

My old Doc Martins are nearing the end of their lives, as the soft gummy soles don't hold up very well in the welding shop.

These look like a fine replacement. I hope size 14 really means size 14.

*Edit: "Still made by the Chippewa Factory in Carthage, Missouri"

$159.00 @ L.L. Bean

The Big Green House

2010-02-04T14:01:00.011-07:00

I grew up on a street called Uranium Drive, which was in a subdivision largely built in the late 40's and 50's. The city built its economy in the space age on plutonium, and an endless effort to convert the abundant oil shale on which the city sat into something more useful than the stuff that holds the hills up (they never did).

Up the street from us lived the Ommundsen's. I spent a very good portion of my childhood at the Ommundson house, as my best friend growing up was a member of their family. They were all tall, good looking, blond, blue eyed people of Norwegian descent. The parents, who were like my aunt and uncle, were both biologists. The father specialized in river fish, and the mother focused on local avian varieties.

Bill, the father, drove a rusted to bajesus 1971 Hemi Orange Dodge Duster. He had two large mason jars of ancient Marijuana sitting on the garage shelves next to cans of shellac and linseed oil, and seemed to have an endless supply of vintage corduroy pants and Hawaiian shirts (which were almost always left open). He would always keep us well stocked with fireworks, and would watch us blow things up with them from the large dinning room window, where he could be seen with a tumbler of amber liquid in his hand.

Their house was just about as perfect as a house could be. It was a large two story built in 1954 (If I remember correctly) that was painted seafoam green and cream. The backyard overlooked the gunnison river, the front yard sloped down to the street with curving cinder block walls. Two vintage orange International Scouts sat in the front yard, the wagon driven by the wife, the pickup used by Bill for working.

The house was full of wonderful things. It was always a cluttered mess. Nearly all of the furniture in the house was vintage Stickley, or mid-century bent plywood. A big record player sitting on a Stickley desk was the entertainment center. Bill had wired up speakers throughout the house. The kitchen had vintage chrome appliances on the counters, glossy pine cabinets, and a full set of medium green 40's era fiesta ware, largely piled in the sink.

Artifacts were packed into corners, overflowing from shelves and desks, and shoved into large closets. I remember coming across a huge collection of carved birds, pinned and preserved insects, and maybe 100 60's-70's Greatfull Dead and Jefferson Airplane posters in the basement.

The chairs in the house had patched upholstery and vintage pendelton blankets thrown over the arms. A hedgehog and a huge iguana could be heard rusting around down the hall. I suppose this house was the house that got me interested in things of interest. Thanks Ommundsons!

P.S. I didn't use their real names.

Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 Fixed Gear

2010-01-31T14:51:00.006-07:00

After messing with all of the broken and worn out components on the Schwinn for a month or two, I realized that it needed a new

Front derailleur
Rear derailleur
Cables
Headset
Rear Hub
and
Rear Cassette

Mostly due to the previous owners overzealous efforts at home bicycle maintenance.

So, being on a shoestring budget, I stuck the free fixed rear wheel I got from a friend on it.
I also gave the handlebars the cotton tape and shellac treatment.
A new headset is soon to come.
The yellow velocity rim is a bit obnoxious, but you cant complain about free.

Thanks Ish for the wheel, and for letting me defile your copy of Greys Anatomy!

Westinghouse Stationary

2010-01-28T15:34:00.001-07:00

Via Amass

Eames Chair

2010-01-27T19:57:00.003-07:00

Pulled from a rubbish heap with a friend a few years ago.

Vintage Arc Welder

2010-01-27T19:33:00.005-07:00

Seems like it might make stick welding enjoyable.
Until then I will avoid the practice as much as possible.

@
www.twentygauge.com

1950 Rene Herse Modified Cyclo Derailleur

2010-01-27T19:15:00.005-07:00

Via Cooper Technica

January in Fort Collins

2010-01-26T23:29:00.004-07:00

In this town in the winter

People settle in.

First Edition Dust Cover, The Fountainhead

2010-01-26T14:31:00.008-07:00

I found an early edition of this same design in a bookstore downtown a few months ago. It was in near mint condition tagged with a price of $20. It was parked next to a first edition of The Monkey Wrench Gang.

I didn't buy either.

I don't think the shopkeeper really planned on selling them.

$7,500 @ Royal Books

Factory Floor Issue Longhand Set, Draplin Design

2010-01-26T14:24:00.002-07:00

$20 @ DDC

Rehab Vintage in LA

2010-01-26T14:02:00.003-07:00

Vacuum Lamp
Gym Lamp
Bowling Lane Table

Rehab Vintage, Los Angeles

cup of coffee

2010-01-26T13:51:00.006-07:00

Espresso from Fiery Furnace Coffee in Moab Utah.
These beans have been in the back of my fridge for months

and they still taste good.

Ray Ban marcelle and UNIVIS Brownwood glasses

2010-01-19T19:41:00.005-07:00

£ 125 at www.klasik.org

£ 105 at www.klasik.org

Michigan Central Station

2010-01-19T19:08:00.006-07:00

Michigan Central Station was built on the outskirts of Detroit as the hub for passenger rail in the state. At the time of construction in 1913 it was the tallest train station in the world. It was made with much vacant space, with the expectation that as Detroit grew, the space would be filled up. It never reached capicity, and was finaly closed in 1988 after Amtrak pulled out. Recently the city councel ruled to have the building knocked down, but the date of demolition is unsure as a certain resident of Detroit is suing the city for demolishing a building on the National Historic Register.

It will be a sad day if it is knocked down.

Photos (where you can find interior pictures) from www.photographyserved.com

William Gedney collection at the Duke Libarary website

2010-01-19T17:43:00.004-07:00

"The 50,000 item collection documents Gedney's work from the 1950s to 1989. Subjects include photographs of cross country road trips; rural New York; Manhattan; Brooklyn; rural Kentucky; Hippies in San Francisco; composers; gay rallies and demonstrations; St. Joseph's School for the Deaf; India; England; Ireland; France; and, a large number of nocturnal pictures."

William Gedney was born in 1932 in Albany, NY. He began his photography career in about 1955 after college. Gedney worked on and off as a graphic designer and freelance photographer. He kept notes on much of his work, and the experiences around it. He was largely unknown until after his death in 1989 of AIDS. His collection is an expansive look at American life from the 50's up to the late 80's.

Link to the collection at the Duke library

Ernest Csuka, last of the classic French constructeurs still working, dies at 81

2009-12-29T13:59:00.003-07:00

Ernest started his career at the Singer shop in 1944, and has worked there since. He took over Alex Singer in 1964. Csuka's bicycle are widely accepted as being some of the finest hand made bicycles. His machines are rarely available for sale, not because he didn't make many, but because when you get a Singer, you never want to let it go. They really are the Steinway of bicycles.

He died on December 22 at age 81. His son Olivier is taking over frame building at the Singer shop.

Photos of vintage Singer machines here

Link to Alex Singer website

Alex Singer Porteur drawing from 1949 catalog

2009-11-02T20:27:00.007-07:00

From blackbirdsf

Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota bicycle advocacy posters

2009-11-02T20:18:00.007-07:00

Via Cage Design's website

New Bicycle, 1982 Schwinn Voyageur 11.8

2009-10-20T12:22:00.005-06:00

My first job was in a bicycle shop when I was 11.

That's where I started picking up bikes
as well as a love for them.

Before that I pretty much stuck to the 1948 Hawthorne my dad helped me build for my birthday.

1982 Schwinn Voyageur 11.8.

New Bike from Craigslist.

It was in storage for 20 years in the mid west.
He wanted to sell it in a few weeks, or make it a fixed gear.

I decided to give it a shot, and keep the gears.

It has a cheap-o everything but the frame.

It wa$ a few tanks of gas worth.

1949 Willys Jeepster Shrine Club Car On Craigslist

2009-10-13T09:38:00.004-06:00

$3495, and I'll bet the graphics are hand lettered.

Link

Former Transportation, 1958 Raleigh Lenton Grand Prix

2009-10-02T14:55:00.004-06:00

Frame: Raleigh Reg Harris
Front Derailleur: Cyclo Benelux
Rear Derailleur: Campagnolo Gran Sport
Crank/chainrings: Williams, Raleigh
Hubs: Racelight
Saddle: Very worn Brooks B17
Fenders: Bluemels Populars
Weight: 2 tons

Transportation, Surly Long Haul Trucker

2009-10-02T13:51:00.012-06:00

Noisy West Photostream

Find Issue 1: Sprayit Air compressor

2009-09-17T19:46:00.011-06:00

I can confidently say that this is in the top three handsomest tools in or near the kitchen/workshop. I did a trial run of the thing by screwing it loosely to a board. It will air up a bike tire to 25 psi before the belt starts slipping. Looks like this one will be pretty strictly be used to power a paint gun.

More photos of another here

I will post original patent info soon.

Mafac Guidonnet Levers

2009-09-11T12:11:00.007-06:00

As earlier promised in the post about The Dia Compe Guidonnet levers, here are some pictures of the Mafacs on a local 1948 Alphonse Thoman. Sorry for the odd angle.

MAP Bicycles

2009-09-10T19:28:00.004-06:00

Map Bicycles, Portland

Images from MAP Cycles, and Brad Q. of Urban Velo Magazine.

Lily's Bicycle, Buffalo Cycles Fleetwing

2009-09-10T18:20:00.005-06:00

Coworker's Bicycle. Late 19th Century Buffalo Cycle Co.

Fort Collins Art Deco

2009-09-10T14:33:00.004-06:00

For the past 35 years City Drug has been in the old Poudre National Bank building, which for the last 35 years has appeared to be a large sand stone and granite cube. There were traces of its art deco past, such as the ceiling in the drug store, and the side entrance to the building, but apparently the facade was pretty much forgotten. This may be because it was covered by the huge tin CITY DRUG sign.

Sometimes change is good. Some times its out with the old, in with the older.

Also worth mentioning, the old Northern Hotel, just down the street.

More photos of both on the Noisy West photostream

1969 Phillips Fixed Gear

2009-09-08T00:39:00.003-06:00

Of the Fort Collins Bicycle Museum.

Tour De Fat 2009

2009-09-08T00:34:00.006-06:00

It was just the most important weekend of the year here in my fair city. Le Tour De Fat. I took a few photos , which can be seen here. Note, I have a good camera for a month or two. Nice.

Dia Compe Guidonnet Brake Levers

2009-08-24T14:55:00.007-06:00

Link to the Levers at V.O.

The Image, and bicycle pictured are those of Flickr user Bicycle Fixation

Vintage Velos Wool Bicycle Jerseys

2009-08-19T19:07:00.008-06:00

That, and the House Industries Jersey looks damn nice.

Link to Vintage Velos

The Noisy West gets a Kenmore Sewing Machine

2009-08-17T13:47:00.007-06:00

Marcel Breuer Wolfson Trailer House, Salt Point, New York

2009-06-16T17:18:00.002-06:00

From www.breuertrailerhouse.com

"Located in Dutchess County, New York, the 10-acre property is an architectural assemblage composed of Marcel Breuer's Wolfson Trailer House and a separate artist's studio. Commissioned and constructed from 1949-1951, the Breuer house surrounds a 1948 Royal Mansion Spartan Trailer. "

Link

Maytag Commander Wringer Washing Machine

2009-06-14T10:23:00.006-06:00

Success! And after such a short time too. Thanks to Craigslist, I found this J2L Commander for the price of a couple of trips to the laundromat. It was in a shed on a race horse ranch.

"Does it work?"

"Oh yes, of course"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, its been in the shed for a while, but it works fine."

It tuns out the hose has a big hole in it, and the motor was seized. When I pulled the motor out, it was crusted with rust, oil, and soap. I was able to fix the hose with a bicycle inner tube, and after oiling up the motor, it now kicks on. You have to convince it to start by giving the pulley a spin by hand, but I'm sure it will loosen up with some use. If not, I have a big 1940's Dunlap motor with oiler caps that's itching to be used.

So far I have done 4 loads, and it sure beats a wash board.

Also, One of these days, Im sure I will get a better camera.

1948 Compact Hoover Wringer Washing Machine

2009-06-11T13:37:00.006-06:00

Lately I have been looking for a wringer washing machine, as they can be very efficient as far as water and energy consumption goes. I find this model particularly attractive, but I think I am going to end up with an old Maytag, as they are the easiest to find and repair.

......

Link

Boards of Ed, and the Disappearence of Hand Lettering

2009-04-03T15:57:00.009-06:00

My father recently recommended this fantastic article from the Torontoist entitled "Boards of Ed."

As he eloquently stated, "Artisans will endeavor to persevere with their antiquated, uneconomical, inconvenient, unconventional puttering."

Hand Lettering is one of our greatest losses to progress. Nearly every sign, on businesses, cars, markets, and construction sites, were hand painted with One Shot and a sturdy Mac brush. Signs were human. They were imperfect, showing mistakes and the style of the hand that created them. Unfortunately I am of the generation that is crushing out public creation, only catching the tail end of a manual era. Maybe one day our gigantic plastic printing machines will grind to a halt, and we will have to dust off those brushes and paint, and do it ourselves. Probably not. This, however, is no reason why you shouldn't start practicing those letters yourself.

Link:"Boards of Ed" in The Torontoist

For those interested in hand lettering, Mac brushes and 1 Shot paint can be found locally at sign shops, art supply stores, or on the net. Remember, your local shops could use the money more than the Internets.

Here is my first attempt at lettering, left for my roommate. I was pretty pleased with the big S.

Work on Bus

2009-03-25T22:39:00.005-06:00

Year:1966
Model:Kombi
Engine:1500cc

-Front end lubrication
-clutch change
-new front engine seal (note giant driveway oil spot)
-new transmission main seal

1940 Colson Scout for sale on The Cabe

2009-03-25T13:42:00.009-06:00

It seems Colson is one of the great unrecognized bicycle companies of the balloon tire era. Their styling was beautiful, often with unusual paint schemes. This particular bicycle, a 1940 Scout, is selling for $950 plus shipping on The Classic and Antique Bicycle Exchange. This may seem quite expensive, but a brand new high end Electra will set you back a cool $600, and it doesn't come with the industrial American styling, worn paint on the tank where riders legs have rubbed it away, a drop stand, or an electric horn.

Link to posting on The Cabe