#35, aka "The Munro Special"
Imagine a curtain fronting a presentation, or veil over a statue. This post will be updated 26 August 2017, a very special anniversary.
No spoilers! Maybe OK to peek...
50 years ago:
On August 26, 1967 one of New Zealand’s favorite sons decimated former Land Speed Record for displacements under 1000cc at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA.
68 year old Burt Munro, of Invercargill, astride his 1920 750cc Indian Scout, timed (averaged of two) pass was 183.586 MPH, or 295.453 KPH. Better calculations corrected it later at 184.087, or 296.259 KPH. The unofficial top speed was 205.67 MPH, equaling 330.993 KPH.
His modifications and engineering savvy raised the motorcycle’s advertised top speed nearly 130mph over stock. It is worth noting he bought the Indian new and commenced steady experimentation.
Bystander: [punning on "State of the Art" to describe Burt's 1920 Indian Scout motorbike] Straight out of the Ark.
Burt Munro: Don't be so cheeky.
His feats are documented in “Offerings to the God of Speed” by Roger Donaldson 1971; and theatrically by Donaldson in 2006, starring none other than Sir Anthony Hopkins. Interestingly, Hopkins declares this, “The World’s Fastest Indian”, his favorite of all roles.
I recommend any persons who love “...things that roll and go”, make definite efforts to watch a copy uninterrupted.
Not only for entertainment, but admiration of those singular persons that grasp what many would say is beyond reach.
I’m certain riders among us will watch over and over again.
And the most stunning revelation of all, 50 years later, Munro’s record still stands.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burt_Munro
"Honey-Do", even on my birthday!
...by none other than the imaginative Mr. John Fogerty.
Not to mention greatest perspective and illustration of an age-old issue. Females, but we love them none the less, and owe more than we can ever re-pay. Plus Civilization and Gravity, important too!
"Honey Do"
[Chorus:]
Honey do this
Honey do that
Work all day in The Honey Do Patch
Woman oh woman
What's a-wrong with you
I can't get away from The Honey Do
Well way back in history
About a half million years
Back in the cradle of civilized fear
Saturday morning the cave man's wife
First spoke the words to make a grown man cry
[Chorus]
Well the weekend's here
And it's time to relax
Kick up my feet in the shade out back
But i must-a been thinking
About some other guy
'cause here comes The Warden
With a look in her eye
[Chorus]
Well I dreamed I died
And went up to heaven
No more weedin', mashin' and shovelin'
I'm standing in line at the old Pearly Gates
Up steps the woman
And hands me a rake
[Chorus]
What's that?
Yes dear
Alright honey
Away scoundrels, leave my iron be!
In reference to post on decorating living spaces with machine components.
Leave us imagine most of the outlay is by bean-counters, eager for material to BE the Jones'es, not merely keep up with them.
http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/i...os-video-63061
I started buying tooling in the early 70's. Indexers, collets, toolposts and holders, rotary tables...knowing I'll remain in the trade forever. Observed, but did not purchase items that required specific mates; like lathe chucks. While cam pin (D) spindles were already my favorite, cash and space for a lathe was years off; who knew, I might fall for an A mount or long taple spindle. As it turns out, NOT!
Over the years and every shop I worked, naturally became attached to particular tooling through setup and using machines that I fit.
Not a typo, equipment is something you fit, not other way round. And I fit them ALL.
Ran 48" Monarchs. 30' Gray Planers. 30" Shapers. 144" Niles VTL, Lucas HBM, all kinds of K&T/ P&W/ and Cincinnati's, monstrous radial and box column drills, tiny (#1 or 2's) horizontal mills, 6' surface grinders, 60ish Blanchard's...then came demise of US & continental machine tools.
We've all heard the reasoning, excuses, and explanations. NEVER the justification. "We want a service economy; sure we'll retrain you. Trust us."
Disliked Asian imports very soon, well before the general public even barely aware their influx.
I'm not a big guy, but if I can't shift levers, turn handwheels, or avoid general knucklebusting on poorly designed controls, something is wrong. My spread little finger to thumb is just over 8"; elsewhere Frank S pictures his, over 10"!
So despite years of experience it continues. Last employer had mostly Asian machine tools; plus a Leblond and two Clausing lathes. Exclusive to those three, never an issue, even on fast-paced efforts. The Asians? Different story, shift lever tips that contact each other, insufficient clearance for palm or fingers. How is a 5" lever correct when a Monarch is closer to 10"? Maybe cause innards are diminutive too? Chip guards obscuring decent grip angle on carriage wheel, usually too small a diameter for leverage or finite control. Short, small diameter handles on tailstock wheels, unreliable pressed fits that loosen. Casting flash, small corner radii, pointy mill crank handles, everything necessary pared a shade under acceptable, or mere comfort, or undisturbed work pleasure.
Don't know who to throttle first; price point marketing accountants or inconsiderate designers.