Showing posts with label steam powered. Show all posts
Showing posts with label steam powered. Show all posts

Saturday, January 22, 2011

The Bi-Valve lnterior Combustion Twice-Exhausted Bi-Axle Nitro-Cycle, from the steampunk focused movie, Wild Wild West





If you are also a Kevin Kline, Selma Hayek, and Will Smith fan... or love steam and diesel punk, you'll love this 1999 movie.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

1926 Foden 6 ton...

barely an evolutionary step past the first steam tractor, this is some early iron! Wow, how did this survive the last 84 years and still operate?
For some more photos of this and similar great old steam powered tractors: http://ccmv.fotopic.net/p63383593.html

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

The Thew model O steam shovel from about 1898, self propelled and steered (all others were limited to working from railroads)


Above from Shorpy




Back in the 1890s, Thew, captain of an ore-carrying boat on the Great Lakes, often encountered the problem of handling iron ore once it was deposited on the docks. At that time, such work was done with "railroad-type" steam shovels that traveled on railroad tracks. They were heavy, cumbersome, and could only swing their booms from side to side in a half-circle. Much hand work was required to clean areas beyond the shovel's reach and also to frequently reposition the railroad tracks.

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

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

If the look of a 100 year old car doesn't entrance you...., you might not be a car guy




This time warp Stanley was originally purchased by a manufacturer of roller skates. It was used in business until replaced by another vehicle, then stored away in a barn.
Discovered many years later, it was purchased by a series of collectors through 1981. Virtually unchanged since it was built, the car has been considered “too good to restore” by many enthusiasts and has served as an authentic reference for restoration of many other cars.

The car is all in original condition, with vestigial hints of the original green paint visible on the wood body. The fenders are thin strips of bent wood, and are unmarred. The black leather seats are entirely original and well preserved, with the exception of the bottom front cushions, which have been covered to prevent further deterioration. The brass lighting is all correct and unblemished, though tarnished.

It was put into running order by replacing the boiler with a modern reproduction, although the original is included with the car. The burner was rebuilt and the car has participated in several high-profile events, including the centennial observance of F.O. Stanley’s first ascent of Mt. Washington in 1999. It served as the model for Ken Dallison artwork on a 12-cent U.S. postage stamp issued in 1985. It also was featured at the 2006 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, where it proved a spectators’ favorite, particularly on the Friday tour for steam cars.
To see what it would look like restored: http://www.saratogaautomuseum.com/exhibits.php?CID=73 and a gallery of similar pre-ww1 cool old cars