Old Machines - Loved and Used

Old machines were built to last.  Just add oil to preserve the bearings, change the belts once a decade, and they will serve well.  This mill and box factory in Oak Run, CA has been in operation and the family since 1897.  I note that they have had to resort to a conservation easement and a trust to preserve the family business, which probably would have been lost to our draconian inheritance taxes long ago.

- HSG Single cylinder side-valve steam engine

- Big heavy pulley systems

- 100-year old band saws

- A boiler that needs new firebrick

- Hand lubed bearings

HSG = Houston Stanwood Gamble – made in Cincinnati.   There’s one for sale in Virginia 

Virginia HSG for sale 

Neat website for steam engines:  Classic Steam Engineering

I also note some new machines and vacuum system in the background.

Machines like these were the life blood of manufacturing in the 19th and 29th centuries.  They were made in places like Groton, CT, Boston, MA, places along the Hudson Rriver, Allentown, PA, Sacramento, CA, etc.  The factories are all gone.

I love the automatic brander.

Nice to see some of the craftsmanship is still around.  And not in China or Indonesia.

Phillips Bros. Mill, Oak Run, CA – Since 1897

See the mill website at:  www.phillipsbrosmill.com

See the mill operating to make boxes on this great video:  Phillips Brothers Mill video

 

CA Ammo Tax - One More Insult

Once again the law-abiding are insulted.  We get to pay for the criminals.   This is a 10% tax.   There is another bill to tax each round or each component at 5 cents each.  Thus a 500 round box of .22 LR that is now $20 will cost $45.

See here:  california-approves-92m-ammo-tax-combat-gun-violence

Of course, none of this will stop any violence.

Are All Handguns Now Outlawed in California?

Not quite yet, but they may all be sold pretty soon and not very replaceable. 

AG Kamala Harris and her DOJ have done a new study and now determine that micro-stamping is available from more than one vendor.

(My opinion is that Kamala Harris is a freedom hating socialist and loves big government tyranny.)

The press release says micro-stamping is in immediate effect.  Handguns currently on the "safe" list are grandfathered.

I predict much confusion will result because of this.  It could mean no new guns are approved for sale in CA.  It could mean no imports of used handguns from other states via FFL transfers.  It will certainly mean many manufacturers will not be able to comply or wish to comply. 

Consider:  Micro-stamping puts small print on cartridge cases or primers by imprinting from the chamber wall or the firing pin.  The obvious flaw is that anyone can easily polish the tip of a firing pin or a chamber wall to remove the impressions.  Criminals will also go to ranges to pick up spent brass that they can scatter at their crime scenes and thus implicate innocent people.

THE GUN HATERS ARE WINNING!

Colorado Sheriffs Challenge Anti-Gun Laws

54 of 63 Sheriffs in CO have filed suit to get an injunction against the background checks law that outlaw some temporary transfers of firearms.and the magazine ban law recently enacted in Colorado.  The Sheriffs are joined by NSSF, Young Coloradans Outdoors, the Colorado Farm Bureau, disabled citizens, hunting guides, Women for Concealed Carry, and other plaintiffs.

These laws were passed by narrow margins principally because of money support by Michael Bloomberg and the White House. 


Update June 4:  The state Senate leader who championed the gun control bills is now facing a recall election after 16000 people signed a petition.  Only 7500 names were needed.

Bob Wills from Turkey, Texas

Do you know Bob Wills? Are you older than 50? Then you might have heard of Bob Wills. 

A country music superstar in the 40s, 50, 60, 70s, Wills toured in a bus with his band the Texas Playboys, He lived in California and Texas. I rode through Turkey, TX two weeks ago and got these pictures. They have a Bob Wills Day every year. 

The Bob wills web site for the annual festival has a lot of neat content. Watch the video to see huge crowds in this tiny town (maybe 20 years ago?).

See: http://www.bobwillsday.com/vnews/display.v/ART/515dcb7bbd447 and http://www.bobwills.com/history.html

For some more good Texas bands, check out the list on this page:  Links to bands on Bob Wills site  
Check the Texas Gypsies for some superb steel guitar (try I Will Survive).  Also try the River Road Boys.

Liberty Loss - One More Little Piece with Vehicle Data Loggers

From the American Motorcyclist Association comes this warning.  Did you know that event data loggers (black boxes) will likely be on all new vehicles after Sept 1, 2014?   When a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is announced, it is often unlikely that it will be shot down, unless strong public reaction is expressed.

Data loggers allow police and manufacturers and probably insurers to see the data on how you were driving (speed, swerving, braking, location, etc.).  This information can be used to refuse insurance coverage, to prove you were speeding or recklessly driving, to show you were visiting your mistress, just like Bay Area FASTRAK devices have been used.

Protect your privacy from event data recorders

U.S. Reps. Mike Capuano (D-Mass.) and Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) will introduce the Black Box Privacy Protection Act soon and are currently seeking to add original cosponsors. The bill will protect motorcyclists’ rights by requiring dealers to prominently disclose to consumers if an event data recorder, known as a black box, is installed in their motorcycle, the data collection capabilities of such a device, and how such data may be used. The bill clarifies that the owner of the motorcycle owns the data and it may not be accessed without the permission of the owner. Furthermore, this bill requires that manufacturers provide consumers with the option of controlling the recording function in future automobiles or motorcycles that are equipped with black boxes. In other words, the ability to turn the black box on or off. Currently, no federal law exists that clarifies the rights of vehicle owners to ownership of the recorded data. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking requiring black boxes in all cars manufactured after Sept. 1, 2014. The NHTSA already has disclosure requirements, but the Black Box Privacy Protection Act would make the disclosure more prominent and give consumers even greater choice and privacy protections. The American Motorcyclist Association protects motorcyclists’ freedom to ride and we support this bipartisan bill. If you are worried that your insurer will use data from a black box to increase your rates or have the ability to record data that can be used against you in a civil or criminal proceeding, then you—the motorcyclist—should urge your representative to become an original cosponsor to the Black Box Privacy Protection Act. Just follow the "Take Action" option to send a pre-written email directly to your representative. See here:  AMA Alert on Black Box Privacy

Texas Ride: By the Heart

My companion article explains the numbers involved in my Texas trip.  But what was the real reason to go?  And how did my heart fair?

In January I realized the NRA would be having the Annual Meeting in Houston.  I also subconsciously realized that I needed some seat time on the back of Big Red, my 1995 R1100GS.  All of the work Jeanne and I had done for a year was mostly done, and a little play time was needed for balance.  So a plan was hatched and eventually executed.  

During my Chevron career, I had spent more nights in Houston than I can count.  I have had a love/hate relationship with the place.  It is at once frenetic and dynamic, especially the oil business side.  It can also be ugly and traffic packed and frustrating.  But it is never boring.  And the seafood is excellent.

It has been almost 5 years since I was there, so I wanted to see some friends and what had changed.  And the NRA's wonderful firearms and equipment show is worth seeing periodically.

I also wanted to see more of Texas.  I've been to College Station (A&M), San Antonio, Austin and Midland-Odessa for work.  But what did the rest of the place look like?  Now I have seen NW Texas (flat) and the Hill Country (lumpy) and the ranching middle near Dallas and the SW mountains of Big Bend Park.  I learned there are places to miss and places to see again.  Big Bend Park and the Hill Country are worth a repeat.  And I saw for myself the stark and wild lands along the Mexican border on the River Road.  I always thought a "fence" was a good idea.  Now I know how simplistic that idea really is and how big the challenge is faced by the Border Patrol.

I made new friends of like persuasion in the hotel.  I strolled with a target shooting friend from Livermore at the NRA show.  I had dinner with a Chevron friend.  I struck up instant conversations with many people during the week, each special and fulfilling.  And I scored some good swag.

I saw a lot of new country in TX, AZ, and NM.  I drove a lot of Interstate but enough of the best back roads too.  I recommend the McDonald Observatory near Fort Davis in Texas and the roads to it are high desert mountain splendor.

So, was the trip successful?  Yes, indeed!  Heart fulfilled.

Texas Ride: By the Numbers

I left Mariposa on April 26, bound for Houston, Texas.  My goal was exploration and camaraderie.  I used the NRA Annual Meeting and Show as my excuse to go.   I achieved both goals.  This article is a recounting of the trip, by the numbers.

Total days = 16.  Riding days = 10.  Total miles = 4662 BMW odo miles.  The GPS miles are different but I lost some tracks.  Gallons of gas consumed = 108.6.  Cheapest gas = $3.29.  Average mileage = 43.  Worst = 40 mph on fast headwind freeway.  Oil inserted in bike, 1/2 liter.  Oil sprayed on my left leg, 1/4 liter.  Max speed = 85 mph.  Max moving average speed = 65.5 mph = boogity, boogity!.

Totals riding hours = XX.  Fastest moving average day = 65 MPH.  Slowest day = 0 MPH of course.

Most expensive motel was the Days Inn Flagstaff at $169 plus $30 taxes.  Tip, in May check if the city you are passing through will be holding university graduation that weekend. 

Highest elevation of 8550 feet near Alpine, AZ.  Also lowest temperature at 40 F.  Highest temperature in Rio Grande canyon near Presidio, TX at 95 F.

Birds killed = 2.  Bugs dispatched = uncountable.  Rain days = zero!

Small towns seen = many, each unique.  Big cities bypassed = many, less unique.  Best instant detour was Sunday morning in Albuquerque, NM when I dived off I40 at the Historic Downtown sign.  The square block town center came complete with trees and gazebo and 100 singing parishioners of the Catholic Church next door.  Special moment!

Small towns in Texas with Dairy Queen, seems like every one.  Days with DQ Crispy Chicken Salad for lunch = 8.

Best hotel, Hampton Inn Westchase, Houston. Cheapest hotel, Buck Owens Best Western in Bakersfield; also best courtyard and pool.  Best hotel not stayed in: Hilton Americas in Houston next to the George R. Brown Convention center.  Do it if you can afford it - my uncle Chevron ain't paying no more.  Best motel not expected:  Leakey Inn cabins in Hill Country.  Miss Dallas, the new owner, is a delight and very motorcyclist oriented.

Best TX roads:  Highways 39, 335, 336, 337 near Leakey, TX, are called The Three sisters.  39 is a bonus along the Guadalupe River out of Kerrville.  All have real turns and twists.

Best discovery, Big Bend National Park.  It looks like Nevada at first, and then startles you with a unique mountain setting.  Second best was the McDonald observatory – see next article.

People attending the NRA Annual Meeting, over 70,000.  Zero arguments.  Best speaker at NRA convention, Glen Beck.  Best comedian Frank Caliendo (www.frankcaliendo.com )  Best Mr. Lover-of-life:  Ted Nugent.  Houses given away to veterans at Ted's event:  two.

Close calls of the safety kind - one.  A poorly thinking gentleman of about my age, riding a blue K1600 BMW managed to place himself between me and a Honda CRV that I had just about passed.  I didn't know he was there until he was 5 feet away beside me.  This was classic lane splitting, but considering we were at 75 MPH and the only three vehicles on an otherwise empty Mojave desert freeway, this close call pass was startling, foolish and unsafe.  I spent the next 25 miles composing the things I would like to say to him.  Amazingly, I got the chance at the Dairy Queen in Ludlow, CA.  His defensive response was that it was lane splitting and implied everyone did it.  You can all imagine my comebacks to that.  The man needs an Advanced Rider Course if anyone ever did.

New friends made from WY, MN, IL, FL, TX, OK.  You meet the nicest people at "redneck" get togethers and on motorcycles.  My wife can expect some visitors she has never met.

Best money spent was a deal on a new Vortex rifle scope with stunning optics.  Worst money spent was Chinese food in Flagstaff.