Illinois Engine Guy's IHC Titan Rebuild

Gary Bahre called last week and invited me to stop by his shop to see his progress on the engines he bought last December. The Titan engine is ALMOST done. He has all of the parts put together, but it won't run because the rings leak too much. An engine with good piston rings will bounce back when you roll it over to the compression stroke, but the IHC can be heard making rude noises as the air escapes past the piston. Oh Well. Gary will be ordering new rings, and fitting them to the cylinder, but he won't have this project ready in time for Pinckneyville in August. It's not the end of the world, it's just a bump in the road for an engine hobbyist. Stay tuned to this blog for the engine Gary WILL be bringing to the American Thresherman Show next month.

Stay Tuned

Gary Bahre called and asked me to stop by his shop if I was in the neighborhood.  I was, I did; and I have pictures.   More later.

The Weekend's Gone

Back To The Old Grind!

Crankin' It Up

State Street Blues by the Cotton Pickers, 1922 by TrueBlueSam

The Cotton Pickers recorded this wonderful fox-trot in July, 1922. Played on the old 1920's Brunswick phonograph, just for authenticity.

Weekend Steam: Light 'er Up!

Uploaded by leadingtruck on Sep 15, 2009

Going through the raising steam process on Ja1271 at Steam Inc, Paekakariki a day before an excursion.

When I watch something like this, I think, "Why did I go into forestry?" I was born 100 years too late; that's why.

Not My Victrola: An Old Time Double

Uploaded by edmundusrex on Apr 3, 2009

"Elsie West Baker (Sept.27,1886 Philadelphia, PA - April 28,1958 Manhattan, NY)

She began her recording career by making cylinders for several companies. Somethimes she recorded under the names of Edna Brown, Nora Watson and Mabel West. She recorded most often for the Victor label and became one of the companies most successful contraltos on the black as well the blue labels.

She was also a successful recitalist, traveling widely to give performances."



Uploaded by fuzzbear6240 on Sep 9, 2007

"Columbia A5838 (48828) "The Missouri Waltz" (Arr. by Logan) Played by Prince's Orchestra (Under the supervision of G. Hepburn Wilson). First issued circa late 1922. Played on my VV-VIa.

I dedicate this version of Truman's favorite song to him and his bride."

One Of The Fascinating Machines You Can Watch At Boonville, Indiana

This big Fairbanks engine is just one of a minor multitude of gas and steam engines you can see this weekend, July 26-28, 2013, at The Antique Steam and Gas Engine Club's 50th annual show, just north of Boonville, Indiana. Click For More Information.   The Fall 2012 show is scheduled for October 11-13, 2012.

Take It Out!

Hollow silver maple, a few feet from a house; the homeowner wants it down.  One problem.

Honeybees.  Nobody wants to stick a saw into a tree full of bees, and you don't want to be around a bee tree if it hits the ground.  Removing the bees is not difficult if you have a few weeks.  A cone made of screen wire has to be fastened over the entrance to the wild hive.  The cone lets workers leave, but keeps them from returning home.  A hive with bees, a caged queen, a few frames of brood, and honey is set up next to the cone so the excluded bees will have a new place to call home.  It takes two or three weeks for all the workers, and newly hatched bees to make the move, and it is actually an easy operation for beekeeping hobbyists.

Travel To The Gun Blogger Rendezvous On The Amtrak Zephyr!

Silver Legacy and Reno Amtrak Station (Click photo to enlarge.)

I'm not going to attend the Rendezvous this year, but looking ahead to future years, I think I know how I am going to travel to Reno.  One way from Chicago to Reno on the California Zephyr costs only $140 dollars, which is a substantial savings over airline travel, and I don't think you have to be groped by the TSA to travel by train.  The trip takes a lot more time on the train, so you have to block out more days on the calendar, and you have to carefully choose which station you will use to board.  Checked baggage on the Zephyr is available at Chicago, Omaha, Lincoln, Hastings, Denver, Glenwood Springs, Grand Jucnction, Salt Lake City, and Reno.  You must check your bags if you are traveling with firearms and ammo to the Rendezvous, so you must plan your trip around one of these stations.  You can also check baggage at four stations in California if you are coming from the west;  Emeryville, Martinez, Davis, and Sacramento.

I am going to stick my neck out and recommend that you do not try to check firearms and ammo at Union Station in Chicago.  Union Station is in the 'Belly of the Beast" of unfriendly gun laws, and I don't know what type of scrutiny travellers might have to endure from Chicago police.  Chicago laws can be looked up on the internet, and what I have read makes me very wary of having unknown people inspecting my cargo. 

If you live in Iowa, Nebraska, Northern Missouri, Colorado, or Utah, Amtrak may be the way to go for you to get to Reno.  Go to the Amtrak website to make reservations and read all the rules.  You must call ahead before you travel with firearms, but the process appears to be relatively easy.

The Rendezvous is only six weeks away, so get busy.  You need to register with Mr. Completely, make your hotel reservations,  and travel plans, and start packing.

UPDATE: Please note that you MUST call Amtrak more than 24 hours before you travel to make a reservation for each firearm, and the ammunition you are taking,, From the Amtrak site: "Notification that the passenger will be checking firearms/ammunition must be made no later than 24 hours before train departure by calling Amtrak at 800-USA-RAIL. Online reservations for firearms/ammunition are not accepted."  Your firearm reservations are handled separately from your personal reservations, and cannot be done at the same time.  Some travellers have found out the hard way that they cannot check firearms for their trip if they have missed the firearm reservation deadline.  Amtrak's website recommends that you arrive 1/2 hour early, but travellers have shared online that you should allow at least an hour, and carry a printed copy of Amtrak's firearm policy with you.

The Cob Speaks

No Corn For You!