Retro Cool

[boofredlay]

Post up your retro coolness. I found this earlier today...

The Dynosphere 1932.

[boofredlay]

Tetrahedral Kites by Alexander Graham Bell, 1898-1912

[andybot]

The Dynosphere 1932.

How do you brake in that thing

[boofredlay]

Indeed.

The Octoauto was an eight wheel car created by Milton O. Reeves, using a 1910 Overland and four more guncart-style wheel. Over 20 feet long, Reeves claimed that by having eight tires, each tire lasted longer.

[boofredlay]

These photos have been seen more often but I still think they are cool.

War Tubas

The war tuba is a colloquial name sometimes applied to Imperial Japanese Army acoustic locators due to the visual resemblance to the musical tuba

[vicspa]

Indeed.

The Octoauto was an eight wheel car created by Milton O. Reeves, using a 1910 Overland and four more guncart-style wheel. Over 20 feet long, Reeves claimed that by having eight tires, each tire lasted longer.

do you have to carry 2 spares???

[boofredlay]

I guess so

These photographs have been unveiled after a stash of hundred-year-old photos were found in a skip. The pictures were retrieved by a caretaker who was looking after a building being turned into flats in 2006 and have spent the last five years in a carrier bag underneath his bed.
- Daily Telegraph

1886-1894

[boofredlay]

The Cadillac Cyclone is a concept car built in 1959 by the Cadillac Division of General Motors. The Cyclone was never mass-produced as a production model.

[vicspa]

The Cyclone was never mass-produced as a production model.

And slow moving pedestrians were relieved to hear this news.

[boofredlay]

I used to have one of these bad boys.

[Dave R]

I want a Dynosphere. The tower bridge construction photos are pretty cool as are the others. thanks, Eric.

So what did the Bigtrak do?

[boofredlay]

You program turns and durations of straight line travel. After messing about for a bit you could make it navigate the whole house. Good toy for 30 years ago.

[IdahoJ]

I've always loved the "Age of Steam" for locomotive technology. Especially the 30's and 40's before the diesels took over the lines ...

In 1934, J1E Hudson 5344 was the world's first streamlined locomotive.

This steamer is just cool. Even as massive as it is though, the 4-8-4's were larger still.

{Perhaps an interesting study for an SU project? )

[boofredlay]

Very cool Jeff.

Persu Streamliner, 1923

Aurel Persu (1890–1977) was a Romanian engineer, and the first to apply aerodynamics principles to automobiles. He came to the conclusion that the perfectly aerodynamic automobile has the shape of a falling water-drop.

‘Persu implemented his idea in 1922–1923 in Berlin, building an automobile that could reach very high speeds for that time, and it could take curves at up to 60 km/h. It was the first car to have the wheels inside its aerodynamic line, which we take for granted today.
- Wikipedia

[IdahoJ]

Nice find! It's interesting that research on aerodynamics from the 20's and 30's found it's way not only into aircraft design, but cars, trains and even houses.

Got me thinking about Buckminster Fuller's Dymaxion creations. Amongst which was this:

The Dymaxion Car.

For those that haven't heard of it, the Dymaxion Car was a teardrop-shaped (least air resistance), 3-wheeled, rear-wheel (single) steering, 20 foot long, Aluminum bodied auto, designed by Buckminster Fuller in 1933 to achieve maximum output and service with minimum material input. It was about 6 feet tall (kinda like a big van), seated the driver and 10 passengers, weighed around 1600 lbs., went 120 miles/hr on a 90 horsepower engine, and got as much as 30 miles to the gallon of gas.

Ugly but efficient!

[Alan Fraser]

British streamlining, also from the mid 30's. Coronation class loco, now in the National Railway Museum in York.

Also, bang up to date retro chic.

[boofredlay]

That locomotive is magnificent! Thanks for posting. I have been threatening my wife with a teardrop trailer for years. However I want a Jeep too so this is the combination I am going for (kit for the teardrop of course).

[boofredlay]

Nuclear Toys.

Atomic-Energy-Lab-ca.-1960.jpg

4627942828_25af312d45.jpg

Uranium-Rush-Board-Game-ca.-1955-520x348.jpg

Uranium-Board-Game-ca.-mid-1950s-520x487.jpg

Gilbert-U-239-Geiger-Counter-ca.-1950s-520x377.jpg

Atomic-Train-ca.-1950s-520x275.jpg

[IdahoJ]

Wow, very cool engine Alan. It wonderful that some of those steamer engines are still around and have been restored ...

Here's my pick for a retro camper, the Grumman 2, circa 1939 or so:

My wife and I are actually building one, but with marine plywood sides, from the plans on this site: http://www.angib.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/t ... tear55.htm to be pulled behind our '94 Jeep Cherokee ... (It's part of my future retirement plans ... )

Cheers.

[boofredlay]

Spacelander electric bicycle, 1946

British born Benjamin Bowden originally designed the futurist Spacelander bicycle for the “Britain Can Make It” exhibition in 1946. Conceived in aluminum, the dynamic form featured a direct drive hub dynamo that stored the downhill energy and released it on uphill runs. The originally prototype for the exhibit was hand-made by the MG Auto Company. Due to the expense of manufacture, the bike did not go into production until 1960, when Bomard Industries of Grand Haven, Michigan contracted with Bowden to create the finished product. The final design was produced in fiberglass and built-in headlight and taillights were added. Ultimately, Bomard Industries went of business and only 522 examples were ever produced.

[solo]

$4100.00 in 1946!

[boofredlay]

Designed by Jean Pierre Ponthieu. in the 1970s. The Pussycar Automodule was created as a promotional vehicle. Described as ‘The Car of the Year 2000′, its rear wheel was powered by a 250cc single cylinder engine.

[boofredlay]

USS Macon (ZRS-5) was an airship built and operated by the United States Navy for scouting. She served as a ”flying aircraft carrier”, launching Curtiss F9C Sparrowhawk biplane fighters. In service for less than two years, in 1935 Macon was damaged in a storm and lost off California’s Big Sur coast.

[David_H]

British streamlining, also from the mid 30's. Coronation class loco, now in the National Railway Museum in York.

Been there! Seen it! I love York! or Yarvik as it was know by them Vikings!

And. . . I have always loved airships. . .(I relate on a very personal level to big slow lumbering objects that are mostly gas)

See my post from Speedchallenge #3. USS Akron

[Starling75]

http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2007/06 ... rvels.html

[IdahoJ]

Starlings75's vid reminded me of the Tucker, and while researching it, I ran across this:

The man who built in also worked with Tucker on his car. Here's a link to more information:

http://www.kustomrama.com/index.php?tit ... ck_Special

I was just thinking how straightforward it would be to use a Volks bus chassis with a few mods, fiberglass body some louvers in the rear deck for cooling, hmmm ...

Cheers.

[solo]

What a Duesy!!

Duesenberg (often nicknamed "Duesy") was an Auburn, Indiana based American luxury automobile company active in various forms from 1913 to 1937, most famous for its high-quality passenger cars and record-breaking racing cars.

[TomDC]

I relate on a very personal level to big slow lumbering objects that are mostly gas

Well put, mr. H., well put.

[Starling75]

Our masspoduced streamlined Albatros jet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aero_L-39_Albatros
history
This one belongs to Mr Elon Musk

[boofredlay]

Leyat was a French automobile manufacturer established in 1919. Its first model was called Hélica, also known as ‘The plane without wings’. The vehicle was powered by a giant propeller. In 1927, a Hélica reached the speed of 106 mph. Between 1919 and 1925, Leyat managed to sell 30 vehicles.

What, before they started chopping people to bits on the motorway? I still like it though.