Not My Victrola

From George Ter-Martirosian

Go To The Gun Blogger Rendezvous! It Will Be Bigger And Better Than Ever!!!

Mr. Completely has posted an update on the Rendezvous, and you really need to go read it. There are some exciting new sponsors this year, and new activities that you do not want to miss. Have you ever launched a bowling ball? Trust me, if you don't go to Reno this year, there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Go read Mr. C's update, register, reserve your room, and make your travel arrangements. If you do not want to fly, take the train! The Amtrak station is just a short walk from the Silver Legacy; or you can drive. The Interstate system comes within a few blocks of your hotel and the Rondy. Here is a little video showing the corporate sponsors from the 2012 Rendezvous, and there will be several more this year.

Crankin' It Up With Brat The Cat

Here is a real oldie this week; January 1913!  "Casey Jones Went Down On The Robert E Lee" is an obscure song by Clarence Jones, and performed on Columbia disc A271 by Arthur Collins and Byron Harlan in January, 1913.  The original owners enjoyed this record, judging from the wear.  I played this side with a loud needle, and then with a soft tone needle, which was marginally better.  I kept the loud one for this video, and switched to a soft tone needle for the flip side.

Whistling Jim, by Theodore Morse, is performed by the Peerless Quartet, also during January, 1913.  You can Fox-Trot to this one.

Weekend Steam

Let's stay in Colorado this week, and visit the Georgetown Loop. This one is a bonus for Iowans missing Number 9.

NellyBelle?

I Don't Smell Flowers...

...unless they're on a tree.  I can stand under a persimmon, hawthorn, or basswood (especially basswood) and hyperventilate, but I don't go around sniffing flowers.

It's a stupid prejudice from early in my life.  Flowers like this smell like a funeral home to me.  I'm glad that funeral directors haven't discovered the flowers on trees.

Is Your Old Nu-Tone Fan Running Slow?

These old fans seem to run forever, but eventually you will hear them struggling to come up to speed.  Don't torture these fine little fans by running them on dry bearings; take them down and oil them.  When you take the cover off yourfan, you will find that you unplug the fan and loosen some screws to take it down.

Put a finger over the little washer as you work it off, or you will be looking for it on your shop floor.

It's a brushless motor in a can.

Use a screwdriver and a small hammer to push the indents back.

Pop one of the endplates loose. 

There is a thin washer that goes between the felt and the bearing.  Capture it with a small screwdriver...

...and slip it back over the motor shaft.

Oil the bearing and soak up the wick.  Replace this end and repeat on the other end of the motor.

Put it all back together and test the motor before you stick it back in the ceiling.  Mr. C's Super Sekrit Gun Oil is super slick, and really hangs onto parts.  Use it straight, or add it to your favorite electric motor oil for some Super Sekrit enhancement.

Could You Stand To Blow Your Horn Like That On Monday Morning?

I prefer to slip in quietly. Back To The Old Grind!

Ruger's Auction To Benefit Youth Shooting Sports Alliance

Grit your teeth this week and loosen up those purse strings!  This 1975 production Ruger M77 in .358 Winchester is a rifle that you cannot let slip away.  The .358 is one of those unappreciated calibers that everyone should own.  It uses necked up .308 brass, so anyone who reloads can use this rifle, and this caliber has a better balance of killing power, trajectory, and recoil than any rifle caliber you can think of.  It will take any game animal on this continent, at realistic ranges, and without bruising you to death while you sight it in.  Go read about this great caliber here, and then go place your bid on Ruger's GunBroker page.

100% of the proceeds from this auction go to benefit the Youth Shooting Sports Alliance.