Engineering Johnson posted a photo of a World War I biplane engine and a commenter called it a radial engine. It does look like a radial, but radial engines have a rotating crankshaft. The engines on early biplanes were often what is called a rotary engine. The crankshaft is stationary and the engine spins around it. They are a different sort of beast, and they packed a lot of power in a light package. Here are some videos that show a little bit about them. Pilots were subjected to castor oil that exhausted from the engine. The Germans used mineral oil, and that caused fouling problems with the sparkplugs, so they moved away from the rotary designs.
Cover them over with beautiful flowers, Deck them with garlands, those brothers of ours, Lying so silent by night and by day Sleeping the years of their manhood away. Give them the meed they have won in the past; Give them the honors their future forcast; Give them the chaplets they won in the strife; Give them the laurels they lost with their life.
Thank You, Merle! This is a good one to watch if you are thinking about a project like this. Shortcuts will bite you, and sooner than later.
We have been enjoying August Hunicke's videos. He is an arborist out west, and he has great skills, a great crew, and a full complement of equipment. He also sells his own line of arborist rigging at Monkey Beaver. Pour a cup of coffee and watch him take down this ash piece by piece.
We had a pair of barred owls denning in the dog yard, and they disappeared. We have visual confirmation, of the reason, and it is just as we suspected. The U.S. govt. was shooting barred owls out west, because they thought that barred owls were killing spotted owls. My money is on the trash pandas being the problem.
Tjos week's post was suggested by Zeke, who is a lifelong train enthusiast. He wrote, "General Motors filmed this in 37 and released in 38. It has some good shots of streamliners and early switch engines. I think most of the Burlington locos were shot around Chicago as I see the Western Ave coal tower appear in some of the footage. There’s even a cameo by 3007 on a turntable, presumably in Aurora. O.T. rode behind that at least once. It’s preserved at Union IL. Click to video 1. Thanks for the links, Zeke!
This is great news! Many thanks to Merle for spotting this video!
We have a chain link fence to keep the dogs corralled, and to keep predators away from them. Raccoons, though, can go right over a chain link fence. We think a coon was up in the trees hunting a couple nights ago. It might have been a squirrel, but they tend to stay in at night. Maybe it was a feral cat, so I have to keep an eye out. I'm betting on raccoon, though.
...Until It Falls Out Of The Wall? I bet he wishes now that his lucky number hadn't come up.
The Illinois State Police video can't be embedded, so the first slide is a link to the video, and I have posted screen shots of important moments. Note the time in the lower left of the screen shots. Not much happens until 3:30, then things happen rapidly. Stay alert. The officers walked by the perp while he was engaged in escaping and did not realize what they were seeing.
This rarity would be good for hauling in firewood! Great Pick, Merle! Thank You for spotting this one!
...of a cane to wield! First a walker, then a cane, now she's out in the garden battling weeds. Two weeks after getting a new hip. Staples come out tomorrow. Back To The Old Grind!
That's a bunch of little engines, Merle! Thank You!
We posted this little video seven years ago, and it's worth looking at again. The ticks are numerous as they are every spring. Big ones, tiny ones, itchy little biters. Pop them out and give them a ride down the water slide in your bathroom sink, or wrap them up in tape for a quiet nap. Be alert for tick diseases. Watch for a circular rash around the bites, and get antibiotics if that happens.
Did you hear Pelosi say the other day that "We are in it to win it!" We are at war now, whether anybody noticed or not.
is worth a bale of hay. This swarm was in one of the fruit trees yesterday, and today it had moved on. We currently don't have any colonies.
Baby geese are out with the proud parents now. There are four of them this year. We have had a fox hanging around, so I hope the parents keep their guard up.
Do I know a good orthopedic surgeon? These old engine have been known to launch a person, but this seems to be the accepted way to roll over an Oil Pull. Thank You, Merle!
Groundbreaking ceremonies are a hoot. New shiny shovels, and not a person who intends to work with them. WSIL TV3 posted this photo on their website of the ceremony for the new police station in Mt. Vernon, IL. Shovel Man #11 should have checked his equipment!
My planting tools aren't too shiny, but their patina comes from honest work and an occasional rubdown with linseed oil.
