Do You Miss The Nineteenth Century?

Back To The Really Old Grind!

Uploaded by Susan Weiss.

Valentine Countdown: That Big Blond Mama, Al Jolson

Uploaded by CatsPjamas1.

Valentine Countdown: A Couple Tough Breaks by Bobby Bare

Numbers uploaded by Bobby Bare.



Marie Laveau uploaded by Chad Dahlk.

Weekend Steam: Steam Cars

Video by MotorVision.

Valentine Countdown: Hiram Perkins The Lovesick Hick

Valentine Countdown: The Carpenters, Mr. Postman

Uploaded by Kanal von den Hobbylosen.

No Need For A Toothpick; It's Done!

Gary's cart parts disassmbled easily today. Now it's ready for a wire brush, then the sand blaster.

Photo Credit: Gary Bahre

Pistol League Night

We haven't been to Pistol League at the Carmi Rifle Club since before Christmas; partly because of lousy weather, and partly because of dreary, dark winter evenings.  We went tonight and there were more than a dozen people there, for six lanes of shooting.  We did a lot of catching up and had a great time.

 Pattie shot her personal best before Christmas; 439 out of 480. That is 48 shots, 12 from 15 feet, 12 from 30 feet, and 24 from 50 feet.  She was nervous tonight because she hadn't shot in more than a month, but she broke 400 with a score of 417, and that is pretty good for a lady who has suffered a bad stroke. I hope the weather is good again next week so we can go again.

If I Knew You Were Coming

I'd Have Baked A Cart!

Our engine friend Gary Bahre sent us this little update.  He picked up a very rusty cart at an auction that was so encrusted he could not get the wheels off.  The meat should just fall off the bones after this treatment.  I have seen my dad rehab old iron skillets by putting them in a fire, and it works.  Gary said the wheels were glowing, and all the parts should be ready for the sand blaster now.

Photo Credit: Gary Bahre.

One Of A Kind 1913 Elgin Tractor

This unique tractor was on display last summer at the American Thresherman Show at Pinckneyville.  The owner purchased it from the descendants of the original owner and he was careful to put it back in operating condition without hurting the tractor's barn-fresh patina.  The transmission is a friction drive system reminiscent of the Heider Tractor's system, but it is laid out differently.  There are a few Heiders out there in the world, but there is only one Elgin. I hope it is back next August so I can see it operating.



I should have included this photo in the slide show: