Golden Era Things You've Revived Or Repaired For Use

[Mr Oldschool]

Probably just the pills for the day I would guess, although it seems like people take more pills now than they used to.

 

[Shangas]

I finally have a full set of long bobbins for my Singer!! Huzzah!!

 

[Papperskatt]

Really nice collection you've got there, Shangas! I've got an old treadle sewing machine that I plan on restoring. I can't really get to it right now, but it's probably either a Singer or a Husqvarna.

 

[Renault]

but it's probably either a Singer or a Husqvarna.

Husqvarna! What haven't they made?!?!

 

[Shangas]

Husquvarna have made motorcycles and sewing machines...what else?

 

[Renault]

Cool axes, chainsaws, and fine hunting rifles and shotguns!!!

 

[Stanley Doble]

It begs the question though: What were such tiny boxes originally used for? Their capacity is so small. What 'pills' would they have originally held?

Small ones ha ha.

They would be used for a day's supply, only a few pills at a time to be carried in a purse or waistcoat pocket.

 

[Papperskatt]

Husqvarna! What haven't they made?!?!

Husquvarna have made motorcycles and sewing machines...what else?

It's probably easier to make a list of things that they haven't made.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Husqvarna

Husqvarna products that I own/have owned/handled: chain saws, lawn mowers, sewing machines, radios, tvs, stoves, fridges, and a lot more...

 

[Shangas]

Holy crap! Look at that list...

 

[St. Louis]

I'm almost embarrassed to post this, because it really didn't take much effort to revive or repair. One of the best Christmas presents I ever received was this Bissel war-time carpet sweeper. It came to me without a handle, but that was very easy to replace. A short trip to the hardware store later, I had one that fit exactly. Imagine -- there's one standard thing that evidently hasn't been "improved" over the decades: new broomsticks fit old-time tools perfectly. I use this all the time. It's great for picking up cat hair & other lint quickly.

 

[robrinay]

Mono ipod - iphone dock / Up cycled laboratory bench top and old gramophone horn. The sound is better when the iphone is placed inside the horn rather than embedded in a slot in the timber base and of course its much easier to build - no routing out slots and sound channels. There is good resonance from the spun aluminium horn, cast iron bend and Iroko base and as the ipod/iphone fits inside it is compatible with most smartphones.
Rob

 

[jamespowers]

Mono ipod - iphone dock / Up cycled laboratory bench top and old gramophone horn. The sound is better when the iphone is placed inside the horn rather than embedded in a slot in the timber base and of course its much easier to build - no routing out slots and sound channels. There is good resonance from the spun aluminium horn, cast iron bend and Iroko base and as the ipod/iphone fits inside it is compatible with most smartphones.
Rob

Very Steam Punk. I like it.

 

[robrinay]

Thank you James, my next project is to make an English Longbow from Yew. I've asked a local Arboriculuralists to ring me when he finds a suitable yew log. It will be a long term project as the wood will need to be seasoned for a year. I love being retired!
Rob

 

[Brownie]

My latest project, a 1943 O'Keefe and Merritt M-5 generator. It originally powered a 40MM anti-aircraft gun sighting unit for coastal defense. It's a work in progress.
Before:



Currently:




The original logbooks

 

[Brownie]

I also save cast iron. This is a small sample of what I've pulled from yard sales and scrap heaps and restored. It amazes me that people get rid of this stuff when it only needs a good cleaning.
View attachment 19051

 

[LizzieMaine]

That's a mighty impressive generator -- what voltage does it put out?

And cast iron is one of humanity's greatest inventions. You have to be a real boob to throw something like that away.

 

[Brownie]

That's a mighty impressive generator -- what voltage does it put out?

And cast iron is one of humanity's greatest inventions. You have to be a real boob to throw something like that away.

Thanks. It puts out 3 legs of 60v 60hz power, with 120V across any two phases, so it's 3 separate 120V 60HZ circuits. They're hot/hot instead of hot/neutral, similar to shipboard power, and i've tested multiple household 120V loads on it with no problems. It does have to be used as a standalone though, it can't be wired into a panel.

I find a lot of cast iron, it gets so encased in black crud over the years that people who inherit it don't want it, which is a real shame. I soak it in a strong lye solution for a few days and it comes out good as new. Of course, nobody seems to know what lye is anymore either. [huh]

 

[Shangas]

These are considerably older than 'The Golden Era', but I restored these items nonetheless.

My three writing-slopes:

#1. Writing-slope or box-desk. Ca. 1862. Manufactured by Toulmin & Gale (1735-1876) of London.

Sourced...

1. Inkwell-insert.
2. Ruler. Ivory.
3. Pocket dip-pen.
4. Desktop dip-pen (bone. Brass ferrule).
5. Original advertisement from the 1860s.
6. Extra 'Toulmin & Gale'-marked vesta-case.

#2. Ladies' writing-slope & crocheting box. Ca. 1880. Manufacturer unknown.

Repairs:

1. Found operational key for the lock.
2. Repaired the broken storage compartment...

#3. Gentleman's writing-slope/box-desk. Ca. 1870. Manufacturer unknown.

Repairs:

- Cleaned & glued down loose leather.
- Lubricated lock.
- Found period-appropriate pens.
- Created firmer base for the box.
- Replaced damaged paper lining with red velvet fabric (old curtain fabric).
- Found inkwell stand-ins.

Still gotta find:

Key to properly manipulate the lock.
Ivory or bone ruler, page-turner, or letter-opener/paper-knife.

 

[2jakes]

An old receiver which I revived !

Lots of dusting off, rewiring & replacing tired tubes .

And now I can hear the lovely sounds from far away with just enough
"snap, crackle & pop"...just like I remembered as a kid !

 

[tomtom42]

Hi everybody,

only thing I can remember "restoring" is an old Singer sewing machine (model 15, made in 1911).
It did not need much - just a good cleaning and a generous amount of light oil - these were really built to last...

br,
T°M