[SEL] Memories !!! (a bit O.T.)

[David Rotigel]

Hi Jerry, I know it's NOT the same, but see: http://www.popularmechanics.com/
	Dave
PS, You can't go back home!

On Dec 10, 2009, at 3:33 PM, Jerry Evans wrote:

> Hi All,
>         I just picked up a United States Motors Corp. Genset.
> Unfortunately the motor itself is past saving. Someone in it's past
> stripped everything out of it and just used the crankcase, bearings  
> and
> crankshaft. A "Vee belt" pulley was fitted in place of the flywheel  
> and it
> was then belted to a small Lister to provide the power.
>
>         The genny itself as well as the electrical control board  
> appears
> to be complete so I will have to find something to drive it. It's a 36
> volt/42 (or maybe 4.2 I cannot see a "point" on the plate) amp @ 2600
> R.P.M. unit. Beautiful etched brass plate painted in 2 colours but  
> more of
> the genny later. Pics will follow soon.
>
>         Anyway, the subject line says "Memories". While "Googling" for
> info I came across this page from Google books - Popular Science  
> 1951 which
> carries an advert for United States Motors Corp.
>
>         <http://www.google.co.za/#hl=en&q=%22United+states+motors+corp.%22+oshkosh&start=10&sa=N&fp=aef3ef553a1223ca 
> >
>
>         This brought back so many memories of childhood - I used to  
> read
> "Popular Mechanics" and the part I remember most was all the fantastic
> adverts for such "cool stuff" at such affordable prices - "army  
> surplus" -
> "electric motors" - "build it yourself plans" etc.
>
>         How I dreamt of living in the USA and being able to buy some  
> of
> those things!! Of course, in those days it was not as easy as today to
> order via the Internet. Buying (or importing) something from a  
> magazine
> advert was just unheard of. I used to spend hours reading the  
> adverts and
> dreaming what I could do with some of the great stuff advertised  
> there.
> Everything was so cheap (in those days our currency was equal to the
> dollar)and prices were about 1/4 of what we would have to pay  
> locally. Of
> course I had no money in those days but that was never a reason not  
> to dream!
>
>         I am sure that I enjoyed the adverts more than I enjoyed the
> actual articles. They certainly provided me with many hours of  
> pleasurable
> dreaming !!
>
>         Many years passed after I'd left home (without "Popular  
> Mechanics"
> - my Dad used to buy them) and the local currency became weak  
> against the
> US$ making the magazine a luxury which I could not afford. Then one  
> day,
> probably about 15 years ago I came across them on the bookstore  
> shelves
> again, but now as a "South African edition" and affordable. My heart  
> jumped
> for joy and I bought one and rushed home to read it (actually I  
> probably
> read it in my car outside the bookstore). What a disappointment - it  
> never
> had all those great adverts anymore - no more 'bargains" - no more  
> "army
> surplus" - no more "build it yourself plans" !! Just the same old  
> adverts
> that all our other local mags had. I remember feeling devastated and  
> "let
> down". That was the last "Popular Mechanics" I ever bought - I do  
> not even
> know if there is a local edition anymore.
>
>         O.K. that's enough rambling and memories - more about the  
> genset
> later.
>
>
> Keep the revs up (or down)
> Jerry Evans
> Near Johannesburg in Sunny South Africa.
> Etched Brass Engine Plates made to order:
> <www.oldengine.org/members/evans/plates/index.htm>
>
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