Crankin' It Up

Ross' Double Shuffle, by "Black Face" Eddie Ross was recorded on July 3, 1922.  The era of the Minstrel Show was over, and this record is a precious glimpse into the tent of a traveling show.  Next week the flip side, if I don't get too much hate mail over this.

Marmon V-16! Seen at Pinckneyville

 This Marmon falls into the category of "That's not a car; THIS is a car!"   This is the first Marmon car that I have seen, although I had heard of them.

 The distributor looks almost as big as the air cleaner.

 A wiring diagram would be helpful, wouldn't it?  I used to pull all the wires on a V-8, just because I could, if someone was watching me change plugs and the distributor cap, but I wouldn''t be that bold on this baby.

Hart Parr

This Hart Parr tractor is a rare old beast. Most of them were used up doing what they were built to do, and ones that weren't in use were recycled during the two World Wars. This is the first one that I have seen in the flesh, and running. It was a rare treat.

Otis Technologies: Another Generous Rendezvous Supporter

 From Mr. Completely:
Otis Technologies, maker of some very fine cleaning kits, will be sponsoring the Saturday breakfast at the Gun Blogger Rendezvous. In addition, they will also be contributing one of their Elite Cleaning Kits to the Project Valour-IT Fund Raising Raffle at the Rendezvous.

The most innovative gun cleaning system in the Otis line of products is the Otis Elite®.

Suitable for an armorer but used by thousands, the Otis Elite® is designed to maintain all rifles .17 to .50 caliber, pistols .17 to .50 caliber, shotguns .410 to 12/10 gauge, and all in-line muzzleloaders. The Otis Elite® contains the world famous item #750 Tactical Cleaning System, and the entire line of bronze bore and chamber cleaning brushes from .17 caliber through 12/10 gauge.

Also included in this extensive cleaning system are six Memory-Flex® cleaning rods, an all purpose nylon receiver brush, a T-handle bar, three slotted tips, obstruction removers, small and large Patch Savers®, a bore reflector/flag safety, small caliber and all-caliber 100% cotton patches, and two .5 oz. tubes of Otis O85® Ultra Bore® Solvent.

All of the components are neatly stored in a black nylon, rust proof case which includes a lock and keys for additional security. The Otis Elite® now includes the brass scraper tool set, optics cleaning gear and an interactive instructional DVD. With over 40 gun cleaning components, detailed gun maintenance guide, and a lifetime warranty, the Otis Elite® is the Hallmark of Excellence in firearm maintenance.

You are coming to Reno, aren't you?  The Rendezvous begins Thursday.  If you haven't registered in advance, I bet that Mr. C will sign you up when you walk in the door.  It's all for a good cause, and you will have the time of your life.

After Thirty-Five, Every Day Is The Best Day Of Your Life!

Today is a big birthday, for me, and even though it isn't sixty-five (as in the poem), that one isn't very many years away.  Big birthdays bring to mind this Robert Service poem that closes out his book, Barroom Ballads, and if I am still blogging in five years, I will post it again, just because I feel like indulging myself a bit on my birthday.

Once more my sheaf of songs I tie,
And bid them gleefully good-bye,
And feel it will not give me pain,
To never look on them again.
With metronomic measure I
Have beat them out beneath the sky.
And though my facile rhyme I curse,
Sometimes I think they might be worse;
But anyhow, as in the past,
I vow that they will be my last.

For I have come to sixty-five,
Content to feel so much alive;
And though grey-haired, I grieve to state
An unrepentant reprobate;
Admiring lads who wench and wine,
But forced, alas! to toe the line;
For I have learnt a thing or two,
As we old coves are bound to do.

I've come to know that storing health
Is better far than storing wealth;
That smug success has little worth
Beside the simple joys of earth;
That fame is but a bubble brief,
And glory vain beyond belief;
That it is good to eat and drink;
That it is bad to over-think;
That only stupid people claim
to take themselves with serious aim;
That laughter is our God's best gift -
So to  God our laughter lift;
Aye, though his wrath the Heavens split,
He grants us Scorn, to laugh at it.

And so, frail creatures of a day,
Let's have a good time while we may,
And do the very best we can
To give one to our fellow man;
Knowing that all will end with Death,
Let's joy with every moment's breath;
And lift our heads like blossoms blithe
To meet at last the Swinging Scythe.

Someone's Going To Have A Happy Monday!

Back To The Old Grind!

Not My Victrola

A couple of Fred Waring sides from the collection of Pax41.

Weekend Steam

People are always drawn to a steam engine pulling a load, even if the load is only a Baker Fan. The Baker Fan is a bit like a jump rope; it works you hard, but you don't accomplish anything other than working up a sweat. It's mighty fine stack music, though.

Crankin' It Up

Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra recorded Valencia (A Song of Spain) on March 30, 1926.

August e-Postal Contest Extended Through Labor Day!

Danno has announced an extended season for the Top-Shot August e-Postal contest. Click Over for the target and rules, and take friends and family shooting this weekend. Every entry in Danno's contest gives you a chance at swag provided by the nice folks at the History Channel and the Top Shot program; the September contest will give you fantastic bragging rights. Bea shot her targets between trips to the hospital for surgeries, so I don't want to hear any excuses! Start Clicking!