Weekend Steam

This week's steam photo is taken from the September-October 1968 Iron Men Album Magazine. Bridges were a common problem for heavy equipment in the good old days, and there were a lot of fatalities in accidents like this one.

I can make an enthusiastic endorsement of Kester's who I mentioned earlier this week. I called them around noon Monday and ordered a model for a relative who turned 5 on Friday. The model arrived in the mail on Thursday, and I can report that we have a very happy 5 year old! The full size engine on the cover is Mr. Kester's portable Russell engine.

Crankin' It Up

I found the Alma Gluck recording of Carry Me Back To Old Virginny, so this week you get to hear two Crank-Ups. This song might make you misty, so have a hanky handy.

Crankin' It Up

With all of the snow north of me, the tornadoes south of me, and the approaching cold front that will keep me indoors this weekend, I put on a search for one of my all time favorite recordings. The great comedian Harry Lauder was loved by all who listened to his records or saw him perform live 90 plus years ago. He is still fun today, and this song is appropriate for the season.

Wish List Time

If you despair of ever finding an American made toy for your child, grandchild, neice or nephew, you can rejoice; your search is over! Kester's Old Time Collectibles, PO Box 571, Grant Park, IL 60940; 708 672-6883, is manufacturing first rate cast aluminum farm toys that will bring out the kid in anyone. Dial up Mr. Kester and he will help you select a toy over the phone, or have him send one of his fliers to you with pictures of his wares. If you have the time, Mr. Kester will tell you about his collection of full size steam and gas engines.

Weekend Steam

This weekend's photo is a scan from the November-December 1957 issue of the Iron Men Album Magazine. Ray Ernst has been mentioned here before. He helped found the Midwest Settlers and Threshers Association at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. He told me in 1965 that "Kids today couldn't build a fire in a cook stove!" Thanks to Ray and his associates, kids today are still learning those old skills.

Crankin' It Up

Tonight's selection is one of Alma Gluck's acoustic recordings for the Victor Talking Machine Company. Alma began recording for Victor in 1911, and was the first classical artist to have a million seller, with Carry Me Back To Old Virginny. I also have that one in my stack of shellac, and I will share it as soon as I can find it. Sadly, Alma lost her singing voice before better recording methods were invented, so we can only glimpse the greatness of her singing ability. Be sure to look her up on the internet. There are several sites with good articles about Alma and there are even CDs of her recordings out there. Alma was the mother of Efrem Zimbalist Jr., who I remember on the TV show "77 Sunset Strip", a long, long time ago.

Groundhog Eve

Global Warming Update

1936

1959

Click on photos to enlarge.

2008: The major differences are high efficiency furnaces, insulation, heated car seats, Gore-Tex.....Wait, where is Al Gore? I think he must be cozied up by a fire to keep warm. If the current trend continues we may have a white Ground Hog Day!

Poets' Corner

The selection for today is taken from 'mehitabel meets an affinity', by archy the cockroach. Archy and mehitabel are in paris, and mehitabel has found a boyfriend.

"mehitabel meets an affinity"

(archy writes)
"paris france
mehitabel the cat
has been passing her
time in the dubious
company of
a ragged eared tomcat
with one mean
eye and the other
eye missing whom
she calls francy
he has been the hero
or the victim of
many desperate encounters
for part of his tail
has been removed
and his back has been chewed
to the spine
one can see at a glance
that he is a sneak thief
and an apache
a bandit with long
curved claws
you see his likes hanging
about the outdoor markets
here in paris waiting
their chance to sneak
a fish or a bit
of unregarded meat".......

(Francy Speaks)
"tame cats on a web of the persian woof
may lick their coats and purr for cream
but i am a tougher kind of goof
scheming a freer kind of scheme
daily i climb where the pigeons gleam
over the gargoyles of notre dame
robbing their nests to hear them scream
for i am a cat of the devil i am

i ll tell the world i m a hard boiled oeuf
i rend the clouds when i let off steam
to the orderly life i cry pouf pouf
it is worth far less than the bourgeois deem
my life is a dance on the edge de 1 abime
and i am the singer you d love to slam
who murders the midnight anonyme
for i am a cat of the devil i am

when the ribald moon leers over the roof
and the mist reeks up from the chuckling stream
i pad the quais on a silent hoof
dreaming the vagabond s ancient dream
where the piebald toms of the quartier teem
and fight for a fish or a mouldy clam
my rival i rip and his guts unseam
for i am a cat of the devil i am".......

That is one bad boy of a kitty. One of his kind showed up at our house last year, and I managed to catch him. We doctored his wounds and our veterinarian performed an attitude adjustment on him for a reasonable fee. He is now part of the family, and follows me around like a lost pup. We contemplated names like Nitro and Taz, but settled on Brat.

Excerpts are from "mehitabel meets an affinity", "the lives and times of archy & mehitabel" by don marquis, doubleday doran & co. inc. garden city, new york

Weekend Steam

These photos are by E.L.Stock, McCracken, Kansas. The home belongs to H.Gilbert. This family lived at Rosetta, IL; Macon, Kansas; and Washington, Iowa. The girl on the far right is Fannie Gilbert, a lady I knew when I was a child. Her sister Rose is on the other side of their mother. They are buried at Washington with several family members. The engine appears to be a Russell from the shape of the smokestack, the rear mounted crankshaft and the lugs. I welcome any comments with more information on these photos.

Marine Ad, Extended Version

This is the Marine ad which made the news a while back when San Francisco refused to allow filming there. I picked up the link over at Grouchy Old Cripple. Thank You, GOC for posting it.

Susan's father served in the Marines during WWII. He worked on the CB&Q railroad, and probably could have served there throughout the war, but he went to a recruiting station with a couple of buddies. The buddies were turned down, but my future father in law was made of good stuff and served in several island campaigns in the Pacific. Three of his brothers also served in the Pacific. One was a Sea Bee, and two were in the Navy. Brother Lloyd was mortally wounded on the Colorado during the shelling of Tinian while my father in law was fighting on Guam.

Activism

One year old bottomland hardwood planting project.

A similar project; ten years later.

Spring planting season is almost upon us. Order your trees now!