Crankin' It Up

We are recycling one this week that we played three years ago. This was one of my Aunt Bessye's records. Arthur Collins recorded this amusing little number July 28, 1911.

Learn From The Champs!

 Mr. Completely, NotClauswitz, and KeeWee

One of the benefits of attending the Gun Blogger Rendezvous is learning better shooting techniques from world class shooters. Both Mr. Completely and KeeWee are champions in the world of Steel Challenge. Mr. C brought home the Gold from the European Steel Challenge this year, and he and KeeWee recently brought home the top honors from Piru, California (CLICK).  Nobody can shoot steel plates faster than these two in their age class. 

Here is a brief demonstration of their techniques at GBR two years ago.



The Rendezvous starts September 5, so contact Mr. Completely, book a room, and head to Reno. CLICK HERE to go to the GBR SITE.

How Many Rugers Does One Person Need? Improve Your Minimum Ruger Requirement At Reno!

I bought my first Ruger thirty eight years ago, and recent history demonstrates that I'm not done yet. Mom got a late start, but she is catching up fast with me; and as for how many Rugers a person should have, we both say...

...just one more! TWO new Rugers are among the prizes that will go to GBR raffle winners, and there is no reason that you shouldn't be one of the lucky ones. The Rendezvous is just one week away, and it's not too late to reserve a room and head to Reno. If you haven't already registered, do so right away and reserve a room at the Silver Legacy. You are running out of time, so you should probably e-mail Mr. C (blog [at] whidbey [dot] com) to let him know you are coming. You can register when you get to Reno if you go that route.

Mom and I won't be attending this year. She isn't quite up to extended travel yet, so I am going to visit over Labor Day and we will have a few range trips close to home.

That's all the more reason for you to head to Reno and attend the Rendezvous! We won't be there to win all the great raffle prizes this year. Derek, take lots of pictures! We sure will miss seeing everyone this September.

CLICK HERE to see the previous Gun Blogger Rendezvous posts, which are loaded with information about this wonderful annual event. 

Nothing New Under The Sun

This homemade go-buggy is an interesting little study.  It looks very much like early experimental and homemade tractors from the early Twentieth Century.  A good percentage of the parts probably were made before 1925, and it is reassuring to see that folks in farm country still have the ingenuity to assemble unrelated parts into a new creation.

The problem I see with this machine is that the belt pulley is inaccesible for running buzz saws, washing machines, and other important farm machines.  No Problem really, because both flywheels are drilled for mounting a belt pulley.  I bet the owner locates one and makes this baby go to work.

Those Wonderful Gun Blogger Rendezvous Supporters

News keeps coming in from Mr. Completely's blog about the Rendezvous, so this little slide show will probably be out of date in a day or two. No worries; I have saved the project and will update the video on YouTube and this post as needed.

One of the really neat items this year is SIG SAUER'S Adaptive Carbine Platform. Click Here to go to SIG SAUER'S website and learn all about it.

We are down to just a week and a half to the Rendezvous!  It's not too late to sign up and attend, so go to the Rendezvous site and get registered!  You do not have to be a blogger to attend;  blog readers and shooting enthusiasts are welcome!

Ever Had A Monday Like This?

Back To The Old Grind!

Not My Victrola

Pax41 shares an late 1920's play list from his collection.

Weekend Steam: Midwest Old Threshers Annual Reunion Begins Thursday, August 30, 2012!

Old Threshers is an annual five day show, ending on Labor Day. They have a brand-new-to Mt. Pleasant-locomotive, just in from the Georgetown Loop (Click) for your railroading pleasure. Veterans get in the gate for half price, and also get to ride the train free of charge on Thursday August 30.



You will see steam engines big and small, antique gas engines, old cars, draft horses, old fashioned entertainment, and you will generally have a great time in the family friendly atmosphere.

Lots of steam engines...

...really nice old cars...

...how'd he get into the race?

They let this thing in the gate?  Oh well, they are having fun, and you will too.

Load up and head to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.  Click Here for the Old Threshers website.  Click Here for the Midwest Central Railroad.

Ruger: A Phenomenal Supporter Of Soldiers' Angels and Project Valour-IT

 What has Williams(TM) Fiber Optic Sights...

 ...Hardwood Gunfighter Grips...

 ...and TEN cylinder latch cut outs?

It's a Ruger Single-Ten!  Lori Petoske of Ruger has been working out arrangements with Engineering Johnson, and there will be two Ruger single action revolvers in the Project Valour-IT raffle at the Gun Blogger Rendezvous.  We recently reported that there would be a Ruger Vaquero, and now EJ has confirmed that the second firearm is a Single-Ten.  Ruger is donating this fine piece of firearm craftsmanship in honor of Bea, a dyed-in-the-wool Ruger fan, and ardent supporter of Soldiers' Angels.  Click Here to read more of the details on Engineering Johnson.

Molly was the winner of the Ruger Convertible Blackhawk in September 2011, and you could be the one with the big smile this year, IF you attend the Rendezvous, and are present at the raffle on Saturday night.  You must be registered and be present to win.  Don't delay!  The Rendezvous is a fundraiser for wounded warriors, and just about the most fun you will ever have on a short vacation.  Click Here for details, Register with Mr. Completely, and head to Reno.  The Rendezvous is now only two weeks away, so do not delay!

Footnote:  Ruger is doing more than donating to the Rendezvous;  Check This Out!

What's Wrong With This Picture?

I knew an old boy who mounted a barrel behind the axle on his old Farmall so he could take his kid to the field with him and not worry about losing him to a tragic run-over accident. I bet he knew someone who lost a child that way. When riding the fender, axle, or a parent's lap, a kid can fall forward and be run over by the rear wheel of a tractor. It does happen! Passengers should not be riding on tractors unless modifiations are added to make it safe. Families never really recover from tragedies that kill their kids, and the emergency personnel that have to clean up the aftermath carry those images in their heads, too. Kids are precious, and can't be replaced, so don't do what this guy is doing, and that goes for your riding lawnmower, too.

Don't Rock Your Saw!

 Last week we had to break down and hire a guy with a bucket truck to take down a couple of bad trees next to the house, and I started cleaning them up over the weekend.  Working around a home with a chainsaw can be a bit more hazardous to your saw than working in the woods.  Metal in trees is pretty common, and I checked these for mineral stain as I worked my way down.  They had no wire, which was a surprise.  In this photo you can see concrete and metal grating, both of which have to be worked around very carefully.

 So far, so good.

 Now, to work on the smaller parts from the top of the tree.  Working without a swamper, all the wood piled in close to the stump, lots of twigs and leaves...

...but, hiding under one of the pieces was a Danville paving brick, the vitrified kind.  The Carlton chain took it pretty well, but some filing is in order.  Besides working alone, I couldn't see where the saw was going in the piled up pieces.  When you work on a pile like this, break it down and spread it out if you can.  Besides the danger of rocking your saw like I did, a pile of wood like this one enhances your chances of having a kickback if the tip of your saw runs into something unexpected.  It's good to reflect on these things while you work with your file to fix your mistakes.

Wonderful Things

I saw and heard many good things during a brief visit to the American Thresherman Show in Pinckneyville during the weekend. Here is a small sampling of the John Deeres that were a focal point of the show. There were two of the big R's running around. I visited with the owner of the shiny one; he bought it used in 1970, and farmed with it until recently when it needed new tires. He gave it a first class paint job, new rubber, but the engine has never been touched. It still runs like a new one.

Be Sharp This Week

Back To The Old Grind!

Not My Victrola

Edison disc of one of the best show tunes ever. Push the furniture back to the walls.

Published on Aug 15, 2012 by victrolaman

Here from 1924 is the Green Bros. Novelty Band playing "Tea for Two" composed by Ceaser & Youmans and featured on an Edison Diamond Disc Record, and played on an Edison Model D-25 (Jacobean) Disc Phonograph.

Weekend Steam: Let's Climb Up In The Cab!

Uploaded by bbundridge on Jun 22, 2010
Rikki takes her turn at practicing running the #15 and making a joint to the coaches.

Check out the Chehalis and Centralia Railroad at http://www.steamtrainride.com



Uploaded by bbundridge on Jun 22, 2010
Rikki running the #15 and got her first chance to "highball" the Hwy 6 crossing. Practice makes perfect! Listen to the convo between her and her dad on advice on how to set the train up for the run.

Mr. Completely's September e-Postal Contest Is Just A Bit Nutty

You're out on a weekend woods walk with your trusty .22 pistol on your hip, and you lean back against a tree to take a rest, and maybe catch a nap. Looking up, you see an entire crown full of perfect plinking targets, because you happened to sit down under a black walnut tree. You have twenty rounds and you decide to try to knock out ten nuts, and maybe have a little ammo left over.

Here are your rules: Pistols at 21 to 30 feet; rifles at 40 to 50 feet.
Any rest you can utilize for this contest is OK!
Try to tag all ten of the walnuts; hits at the junctions will score two nuts.
You may take up to twenty shots. Each walnut tagged counts as ten points; leftover ammo also counts for ten points each. A perfect run will have a score of 250.

CLICK HERE to print the target pdf, shoot whatever firearms you want to shoot, and fill in the necessary info on the target.  Scan or photograph your targets and send them to truebluetravelinman (at) gmail (dot) com.  The name you put on the target will be the name I post in the results. 

Larger calibers and steady nerves will have a distinct advantage, but this contest is really made for enhancing your .22 plinking time.  Submit your targets by the end of September, and I will post the results early in October.

PS:  The first target line at the Washoe Shooting Range is forty feet from the benches, so Gun Bloggers should plan on shooting this contest at the Rendezvous with whatever rifles are at hand on the first range day.

Carrying Off Body, In A Purse; Courtesy of Ruger Firearms

Ruger's Notes: "Gunsite Range Master Instructor Il Ling New and Ruger's Lori Petoske team up once again to bring you a new series of videos focusing on concealed carry for women. This episode demonstrates how to carry/conceal a gun in your purse, and how to draw from it."

Especially note how Lori rotates her body to the gun, rather than sweeping the gun side to side. This is an important skill for the range and any other time you are handling firearms. The muzzle must always be pointing downrange in a safe direction; so it's your body that you turn, not the gun.

What Is There To Do At The Gun Blogger Rendezvous?

Well, there is a whole lot of what you see in the video; but there is also making new friends, Show and Tell, speakers from Soldiers' Angels, the NRA, the Second Amendment Foundation, and the National Shooting Sports Foundation; plus the NSSF Pizza Feed and the Project Valour-IT Raffle. Click over to the Gun Blogger Rendezvous site and register right away if you haven't already done so.  Use the GBLOG12 code to get a discount on your room at the Silver Legacy, and make your travel arrangements.  The Reno Amtrak station is only two blocks from the hotel, so train travel is a good option for travelers from Iowa to California; or just drive and avoid hassles with the TSA.  

Click Here or on the Gun Blogger Rendezvous label at the end of this post to see previous posts related to the Rondy.

Updated Video of Last Week's Grinder

Here is a little more video showing the engine pulling the bur mill in last week's Grinder post. This Witte engine is throttle governed, and the part I liked best is the noise that the intake restrictor makes on every intake stroke. Snort, Snort.

Double Down This Week

Back To The Old Grind!

Not My Victrola: A Brand New Old Favorite

Ukulele Lady has been one of my favorite songs ever since I heard it on Arlo Guthrie's album, Hobo's Lullaby. Since then, I have also heard it by Paul Whiteman and Vaughn DeLeath on old 78's. Here it is again, performed by Lee Morse, who had one of the best singing voices of the 1920's, and continued to perform into the 1950's.

Uploaded by Warholsoup100.

Weekend Steam: American Thresherman Show; August 15-19, 2012

 

Click Poster To Enlarge

The American Thresherman Show at Pinckneyville, Illinois (Click to go to the Thresherman website.) is coming up next week!
Here is some of what you can see there.

The Power of the Dog

There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie--
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart to a dog to tear.

When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,
And the vet's unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find--it's your own affair--
But ... you've given your heart to a dog to tear.

When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!)
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone--wherever it goes--for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear.

We've sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we've kept 'em, the more do we grieve:
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-term loan is as bad as a long--
So why in--Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

by
Rudyard Kipling

New Snake Bite Kits!

Our old Cutter Snake Bite Kits have lasted many years, but I have been looking for replacements before the rubber goes bad.  I finally located new ones at the Coralville Scheel's store in Iowa.  We use these little suction devices frequently to pull wasp and bee venom out of our skin, and we have found that they are effective for spider bites, too.  Medical folks have bad words for these devices, but we have had good luck using them to pull out insect and spider venom.  They don't pull nearly all of the venom out of snake bites, but I figure that if you pull out any venom while on the way to the E. R., it's a good thing.

Carry Options Courtesy Of Ruger

Lori and Il Ling show a couple of options that you may not have heard about. The belly band might be a good option in wintertime, but I think it would be mighty uncomfortable during a Midwest summer. The Flashbang holster seems to be attracting lots of favorable attention, and it looks like a good option for carrying a small handgun.

Cranking Up an Associated Engine

Some of the action we saw at Evansville in June.

Just One Month Until The Rendezvous!

Photo show from GBR-V, in 2010; photos courtesy of The Packing Rat.

Time's a-wasting folks, and you need to sign up with Mr. Completely to attend Gun Blogger Rendezvous VII. The Rendezvous supports a good cause, you will make many new friends, and you will have a great time. Click over to the Gun Blogger site to download your registration form, and get in touch with Mr. C.  Call the Silver Legacy to make your room reservations; be sure to give them the Gun Blogger Rendezvous code (GBLOG12) for a discount on your room.

Plugging Away

Back To The Old Grind!

My Life, In Rags

One of the relics of our ancestors residing in a china cabinet is this souvenir plate from the St. Louis World's Fair of 1904.  Susan's great grandparents, Green and Cora, boarded the train at Dahlgren and took their kids to see the wonderful spectacle, and that was a big journey for a farm family in the first part of the Twentieth Century.  The central feature of this plate is the Cascade Fountain, which has fascinated me for decades because of the Scott Joplin rag, Cascades, which he wrote to celebrate the fountain.

Bach Scholar does an incredible job performing this rag, and I hope that you can see the water cascading and tumbling down as he plays.

Weekend Steam

One of my nephews just had a birthday, and he is approaching an age where he won't want toys anymore, so I splurged and bought him the deluxe Case Steam Roller from George Kester, of Kester Collectables.

George creates little works of art with these engines, and they are something that kids (or adults)  will treasure the rest of their lives.  I'm a little worried about the future of George's little engine business, because he doesn't sell many nowadays.  He tells me that most of the money he makes is spent paying for advertising, and he doesn't make very many sales unless he gets out to the engine shows in the Midwest.

Anyhow, if you have any kids in your family who are overloaded with Chinese junk meant to amuse them, give George a call and order one of these gems.  They are real American made toys that will last a lifetime.

Disclaimer:  True Blue Sam receives no discounts or pay for plugging Kester's Collectables.  I keep George's business listed in the sidebar because I like him and the products he sells; and kids need toys like these.

Here's How To Shoot The e-Postal Match

We have a very light turnout for the monthly e-Postal match, and I'm going to allow another day or two before I post the results, just in case someone else wants to enter.  Check out this example of the right way to nail a squirrel with an open-sighted S & W.

 That makes me downright envious, especially since my targets often look like this:

The eye doctor says that my eyes aren't bad enough for cataract surgery yet, but he's not seeing things from my perspective.

You can shoot the e-Postal with anything you want to enter, and we will sort it out to a suitable class.  I prefer to use mostly rimfire guns, mainly to keep the expense down while I am having fun.  You sure don't need anything fancy just to bag squirrels.  An old friend of ours was born in Tennessee, and he tells about a neighbor family that used a muzzleloader to put squirrels on the table.  Being poor and frugal, they used as little powder as possible to bring down the little rodents.  Well, one of the boys accidentally shot himself in the foot.  The bullet didn't get through his shoe leather, but hurt an awful lot.  I figure they had to finish off the squirrels with a club when they fell.

Journey Of The 8 HP Novo

This is an 8 HP Novo engine we bought in Eastern Kentucky many years ago, and stored away, down on the farm in Southern Illinois. Gary Bahre bought this, and other engines from us in December of 2011, and he has been very busy restoring the old iron ever since.

This project involved difficulties that neither Gary nor I could see coming. There is a crack inside the water hopper that allowed exhaust to blow out into the hopper. Gary tried to weld it by reaching through the top of the hopper, but that didn't work, so he cut an access port in the hopper, performed the necessary repair, then closed the port by welding in the metal he had cut out. Gary will be rebuilding the Hercules water pump that came with this engine, remounting the engine and pump on their base, then putting wheels under the assembly to make this rare beast easier to show.

See Gary's Novo run at the American Thresherman Show in Pinckneyville, Illinois in August 2012.