automotive : steam powered

Showing posts with label steam powered. Show all posts

Disneyland has steam locomotives, some built for the park, and an 1894 engine from a Louisianna sugar plantation

The video is narrated by the above experts, and below is the Fred Gurley, the 1894 plantation train

there are 5 in the Disneyland park,

the Desert Classic, 1908-1914... the Los Angeles to Pheonix race

old US 80 started its life as the course of the wild 1913 Great Desert Race from Los Angeles to Phoenix. In preparation for the race, Locke took Barney Oldfield over the road to show him how to navigate rough desert terrain.

Front page news, as so many publicity stunt car races were, imagine what passed for news in 1908-1914... not much. Publicity garnered by car companies getting stunts accomplished by the hardy and stamina having tough bastards that could hang in through exposure to all sorts of weather (open cars with no tops) and no roads, well this was nearly hero stuff in that age, and heroes making their way across your country is heady stuff that sold papers... everyone came out a winner. The drivers made a couple thousand per win.

That is why the 1908 New York to San Fran, the Paris to Peking, and the New York to Paris were etched in the cultural knowledge... new things that cars were, plus publicity, added to entertainment and a competition.. it's about as close to amazing as it got in 1908-1914. The times were full of historical firsts, heroes, and miracles. The first human flight in an airplane, the first roads, the first cars, etc etc

The first race was won by a steam powered White. The vehicles White made were so good, one was bought by the White House for President Taft's limo, and Buffalo Bill had one also.

above on the far right is Barney Oldfield, and he is driving the car he took to 4th place in the Indy 500 just months before. He won the Desert Classic with it.

for more about this, see http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2012/06/june-21st-6pm-san-diego-auto-museum-is.html

Mario De Biasi, Il Gamba de legn, Milano, 1951

found on http://timtimtim.tumblr.com/

If the look of a 100 year old car doesn't entrance you...., you might not be a car guy

This time warp Stanley was originally purchased by a manufacturer of roller skates. It was used in business until replaced by another vehicle, then stored away in a barn.
Discovered many years later, it was purchased by a series of collectors through 1981. Virtually unchanged since it was built, the car has been considered “too good to restore” by many enthusiasts and has served as an authentic reference for restoration of many other cars.

The car is all in original condition, with vestigial hints of the original green paint visible on the wood body. The fenders are thin strips of bent wood, and are unmarred. The black leather seats are entirely original and well preserved, with the exception of the bottom front cushions, which have been covered to prevent further deterioration. The brass lighting is all correct and unblemished, though tarnished.

It was put into running order by replacing the boiler with a modern reproduction, although the original is included with the car. The burner was rebuilt and the car has participated in several high-profile events, including the centennial observance of F.O. Stanley’s first ascent of Mt. Washington in 1999. It served as the model for Ken Dallison artwork on a 12-cent U.S. postage stamp issued in 1985. It also was featured at the 2006 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, where it proved a spectators’ favorite, particularly on the Friday tour for steam cars.

To see what it would look like restored: http://www.saratogaautomuseum.com/exhibits.php?CID=73 and a gallery of similar pre-ww1 cool old cars