Strange and Unique
Welcome to the archives.
When you work in the weird and wonderful world of science, you find you collect the weird and wonderful items as well. Welcome to the warehouse of the odd!
1911 Pyrene Fire extinguisher
As I carefully refurbished the carbon tetrachloride Pyrene fire extinguisher, I marveled at its design and the science behind its…
Collection Connections.
From Beginning to End: The Fascinating Journey of Two WWII Relics In the vast tapestry of history, certain artifacts possess…
1892 H.K. Porter Bolt cutter restoration.
1892 H.K. Porter Bolt cutters, they where invented by H.K Porter in 1888 for blacksmiths to cut off stock quickly.…
E.S. Ritchie & Sons Boston Nautical Ship Compass 1926 – Restoration
Recently picked up this compass for the collection. Let me take you through my process of the restoration. Here is…
1890’s Torsion balance
This very unique style of balance scale was found in very bad shape as parts, I set out to bring…
1955 Stereo-Matic 500 3D slide projector
The View-Master “Stereo-matic 500” Projector was initially introduced in 1953. Lots of information on its history here: https://archivesusie3d.wixsite.com/3-dlegends/karl-kurz As a…
1950’s MasterGuard Wind up fire alarm.
The actual name for this cool unit, is a MASTERGUARD Single Station Heat Detector MODEL: MG 40 FT. I picked…
1947 General Electric Vortalex fan-Full restoration
I could not pass up a chance to get one of these art deco fans from the 40’s This one…
1924 Super Marvel, Violet Ray
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violet_ray Wiki had a great excerpt on this unique device I linked above. What a history! The unit I picked…
Rare Westinghouse clear demo Florescent bulb
I have a few rare clear demo bulbs made without the usual phosphor coating, to show how they work on…
Very unique Ricoh expandable Camera flash
What a cool piece of history for the collection, and expandable angled parabolic reflector for a camera flash bulb! https://youtu.be/3OrQnkYVTm8
1920’s Fuse block
I found this old beat up Power distribution block from an old house main panel. This unit was in rough…
Weston 271 Pyrometer
Recent addition to the collection is the New old stock Weston 271 Thermometer ( Pyrometer ) This meter had never…
1950’s Ohmer Taxi Fare Meter
Such a rare find this was! An old 1950’s Taxi meter made by Ohmer. This one was serviced by the…
1941 Underwood model ‘S’
Found this S-Model Underwood in almost mint condition, and had to add this 32lb amazing typewriter to my collection. It…
Mueller Centurion Fire Hydrant restoration.
Recently picked up one of those items we have all seen but few of us own! A Fire Hydrant! An…
Inside a Torque converter
Here is a rare glimpse into an automotive torque converter before it was finished being built or coated. https://youtu.be/1tp1BpFxlAI Here…
<strong>RC Allen Model 85 Figuring Machine</strong>
Recent addition to the collection is this 1940’s RC Allen Model 85 Figuring Machine. A fully mechanical adding machine with…
Solid Aluminum Light bulb
Recently added to the collection, is a very rare solid cast aluminum light bulb. This video will explain more. https://youtu.be/DxX9cK8j1xM
Rare 1940’s “Star Pointer”
Items like this where needed before the prevalence of laser pointers we have today, these are mini handheld projectors, with…
Collection management
As my collection expanded in size and diversity, I found it necessary to implement a systematic method for inventorying and…
Monroe LA5-160 mechanical Calculator
I recently picked up this broken Monroe LA5-160 Calculator for the collection, it was cheap for it had no power…
How a Gas pump nozzle works
Every want to know how a gas pump nozzle works? how it knows when to shut off? In the process…
A Pyranograph ( Solar output meter )
Recently added to the collection is an old 1970’s Weather Measure Corp, Solar radiation recorder ( Pyranograph )How it works,…
1829 Henry Troemner No. 80 scale
Just in to the collection is a 1829 Henry Troemner solution scale Model 80-B Almost 200 years old! https://youtu.be/YadgWsSxijc The…
Massive Screw head
Found this recently on a bike ride in the woods, any idea what it may be? It is a heavy…
Worlds first magic marker?
Worlds first magic marker, predates the sharpie! This marker was designed by Sidney Rosenthal, more on that amazing history here:…
Electromechanical Aperture
What a cool device, I explain more in detail in the video how something like this works, and is used…
OTTO BERNZ Vintage Blow torch Restoration
Been trying to find one of these cheap for some time, was able to hunt this one down with no…
Powhatan Type 250 Fire Hose Nozzle
Picked this up for the lab, was a fun restoration. After a clean and blasting, it looks like this, now…
VINTAGE 1932 EIFEL GEARED PLIERENCH
What an amazingly useful tool! Got a chance to clean them up and do a quick polish, what a difference!…
1930’s Marchant “ACRM” Calculator
I picked up this complete 1930’s full mechanical calculator, with power drive. Sadly even with many years of effort, I…
Antique Detroit Shears 1909 restoration.
Recent restoration of a 100+ year old tool. The compound lever was cutting edge tech for ‘cutting edge’ tools ha!…
Vintage truck gauges
These are the gauges pulled from my 51 project. Cleaned them up and now have them as part of the…
No.80 Westcott Locomotive wrench
What a unique wrench! Picked this up as a well warn rusty wrench, and brought new life back to it!…
Anti tank, bazooka ammunition crate
A Friend donated this to the lab, yes it is real, no it is empty! Just some photos of what…
1,500 Watt Lamp
Recently picked up a 1,500 watt incandescent lamp. This is an old projector bulb. Connected it up to my massive…
Terracotta Army artifact
https://youtu.be/DzhBwmgbwlY This is the image the artifact is based,
Rare TAG Heuer Sag watch
The coolest ‘watch’ you never heard of before. https://youtu.be/5t-e-oLkXBM Upon close inspection I was able to determine it is a…
Exploded view of Gas meter
Setup to come up with a way to display the internals of the gas meter, I used some colored pencils,…
Duboscq Colorimeter
A Bausch & Lomb Duboscq type colorimeter. Recent adition to the collection, longer more detailed video up soon.
Autoclave
What is a lab without an Autoclave, this one was a scrap pile rescue, will update with rebuild photos and…
Gas Meter
The inner workings of a natural gas meter are very unique, there is allot going on inside that keeps accurate…
Parking meter
The inside of a parking meter is something to behold! The old analog meters are all mech logic, no power,…
Vacuum tube tesla coil.
This was an amazing donation to the lab, a working vacuum tube tesla coil in a commercial product! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihda-DlhcXs
German auto-luber!
A quick look at a unique device from the collection.
Molecular energy!
Molecular energy demonstration apparatus! This awesome demo, using a piston and ball bearings can visualize a micro event on a…
Inside a Liquid Oxygen tank
Picked up a few Liquid oxygen tanks for lab projects.
WHEATSTONE BRIDGE
LEEDS & NORTHRUP WHEATSTONE BRIDGE
ANTIQUE EIFEL GEAR PLIERENCH
Take the best of a crescent wrench and plyers and combine them, you get a set of paralell jaw plyers!…
Tektronix Type 535-S2 Oscilloscope
Amazing donation to the lab, they do not make them like this any more!
Paraboloid Mirror
How a Reflecting telescope works!This mirror was used in my Schlerin Effect video!
CTI Cryogenics Cryo-Torr
A Very unique vacuum ‘pump’ Big thanks to my amazing friends who help me acquire these items!
Ballistic galvanometer
DC moving coil, reflecting galvanometer, type P https://www2.humboldt.edu/scimus/HSTC.27-35/Descriptions/RefGalvB.htm?fbclid=IwAR2IPw7dKlxKN-FBwevDVcroX0LnhvG8B8yaHM-_ogRAwSIHoL0qV_vZTtc
Rheoscopic fluid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnhc7KZPZyI
DIY COVID Mask Project
Wanted to make my own unique mask so set out and printed and painted my own mask similar to that…
Inside a Hybrid Synergy Drive
Many videos on this amazing device in the works!
Adept SCARA Robot
Much more on this amazing robot soon. This Adept SCARA robot started life as a key sorting robot as part…
