Old Tech thread

Sorry, farntfar, already (genuinely) been patented... TV control device

52923
 
Sorry, farntfar, already (genuinely) been patented... TV control device

It was definitely before 1976 when your patent was filed, and it was in England.

It wasn't his only invention either.
Most of them were, of course, rubbish, but if he'd only taken a copyright on saying "This time next year we could be millionnaires." before Del Boy stole it, he might really have been. :)
 
Given the lack of gearing and the absence of obvious brakes, perhaps braking required using the pedals to stop the wheels going round.
 
Anyone notice the distinct absence of brakes on that bike. Eeeek!

It I suspect uses "coaster brakes.' By turning the peddles backwards just slightly and applying pressure, an internal drum on the rear wheel about the axle is the break. They're actually very effective.

Zi786.jpg


K2
 
So I'm going to mention something that is actually old technology that most folks will never even know exists, but, most people will make use of them at one time or another. It's called a 'sprag clutch.' A guy here turned me on to these due to their ingenious but simplistic design. The backlash, how much the cone rotates before the clutch engages, is virtually nill/zero/imperceptible. It really is an amazing piece of engineering.


I believe (yet can't confirm), that this is a Formsprag Co. design from WWII. There are other types using springs and so on, yet nothing else works quite so well, so simply, yet amazingly due to the ingenious shape of the sprag. History of Formsprag Clutch

K2
 
More Art Deco tech - a 1930s custom KJ Henderson motorbike...

52961


And a late 30's GM Futureliner truck, more a concept vehicle than a production item:

52962
 
Oh Wow! @pyan that morocycle is to die for! I'll bet it's worth a mint! The camper? panel truck? bus? is pretty cool too.
 
The Atom's Power for Peace: Diagrammatic drawings of a locomotive train, a power house and an ocean liner.

View attachment 52964
There was a nuclear powered passenger/ cargo ship built: the NS (Nuclear Ship) Savannah, back in the late Fifties. She was decommissioned in 1971, and is now a museum ship in Baltimore.

52984


NS Savannah Virtual Tour
 
There was a nuclear powered passenger/ cargo ship built: the NS (Nuclear Ship) Savannah, back in the late Fifties. She was decommissioned in 1971, and is now a museum ship in Baltimore.

NS Savannah Virtual Tour

I wonder if a nuclear ship with a Thorium molten salt design would make more sense.
 
It's surprising how so many people 40 and under have no idea what these amazing pieces of technology are:

vacuum%2Btubes.jpg

tworks_fig3[1].jpg
vacuum-drawing-tube.gif


@ctg ; I think I found your grand-dad

d7wajim-217d373a-d7f1-416b-9486-b166c8e4cbfd.jpg


K2

Anyone who has every played guitar in a semi-serious way lusts after the warm overdriven tones of a tube amp.
marshall-jcm800-head-cab-1988-cons-full-front.jpg


and my grandparents had one of these (well similar):
mid-century-media-console-before-victrola.jpg


The sound was astounding.
 
Anyone who has every played guitar in a semi-serious way lusts after the warm overdriven tones of a tube amp.
marshall-jcm800-head-cab-1988-cons-full-front.jpg


and my grandparents had one of these (well similar):
mid-century-media-console-before-victrola.jpg


The sound was astounding.
Yep all guitarists really want the warm sound of 'tube amplifiers and the smoothness of analogue effects pedals. Probably. If they can afford it. (In their defence Digital racks of effects are pretty cheap and do tons of stuff.)

At least I do.
 

Back
Top