The Lugzsonian - A Virtual Tour

[Private Lugnutz]

Just a minute now, is Alaska right next to Russia or is it waaayyy over there?

'Zackly!

 

[Old Radar]

"1925 to 1940." 1934 to 1959, traffic in 1937, the 1940's and 50's, peculiar. But not as odd as inverse space geometry which flips the Euclidean plane inside out, uniformly. Circles, spheres hyperboloids, lines and angles not contravening each other.

The Lincoln Tunnel toy is not depicting the Lincoln Tunnel itself. It is depicting the concept of the Lincoln Tunnel, the idea of any tunnel, but, oddly, inverted.

cars, trucks, and busses - travelling, directionally, on the wrong side are not traveling inside the tunnel. They are actually travelling in a very weird geographic space, outside the tunnel, but occupied by New York and New Jerey, at the same time!

It gets worse.

vehicles disappear loop right back but are inverted.

when you are going into the imaginary, implied tunnel, the tin section connecting the two ends doesn't exist. There is no tunnel. The tunnel itself is actually not part of the toy. But even that implication of the invisible tunnel is not linear, like a tunnel. It would have to loop around like an ouroboros. ouroboros ouroboros ouroboros ouroboros ouroboros ouroboro

You Are Poindexter!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Snerk. Maybe. Funny thing is, not so much when we were young. We were repressed by working class anti-intellectual peer pressure. In all seriousness, we feel like this is the best neurological period in our life. A lifetime of reading, current reading, and unfettered thought, as yet unaffected by old age.

Back to the toy, though, if you haven't been following the news, NYC just instituted a severe "Congestion Toll" (went into effect at 0001 hrs today) that has been planned for a couple years. Daily fees on top of regular bridge and tunnel tolls, intended to cut congestion and smog, and also raise some cash for future transportation-centric infrastructure and planning. It was a total coincidence that we just recently found the toy. But the toy is really racking up some infinite loop tolls!

 

[Old Radar]

In all seriousness, we feel like this is the best neurological period in our life.

...says the single sentient entity!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Well, the Acquisitions Dept thinks he is as smart as the Curator and we didn't want to be rude.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Longtime followers are probably well aware of our funny bone for utility knives and the like, the different the better, no matter how goofyass, and, if not, see CC#8: Utility Knives, Update #1, Update #2, and Update #3. Much to the delight of the Curator, the Acquisitions Dept came back from the flea market this morning with this categorically related vintage "MARVEL" razor blade scraper from A.F. DORMEYER, a Chicago mfgr known more for its kitchen items like electric mixers and such. We did not take photos of it apart, but as you can tell from the spacing of those nubs sticking out and the screw in the middle, it is literally designed to hold an old-fashioned razor blade. The find was worth it for us just as a prompt for the research revealing how many Marvel-ous products there were in 1943.

 

[Outlawmws]

You know, when I glanced at the markings pic, I first read Dorkmeyer" and I would have bought it just for that!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

For those of you who thought we had gone out of business (no posts in two months!), a reminder that it's baseball season and one of the Curator's side hustles is HS and college umpiring, a full schedule that tends to affect everything else, too. (The Acquisition Dept has bad knees and sometimes wishes he would give it up already.)

Speaking of the Acquisitions Dept, he picked up a 60's era snake bite kit this morning, an interesting amalgamation of the Curator's fascination with survivalism and gimmickry. This one is from Cutter Labs in Berkeley, CA. We had guessed it might contain a vial of antivenom (having examples like it from Dudley or Bullard around here somewhere...) and were a little disappointed with the antiseptic. But it is complete!

Wethinks that one of the grandboys will probably get a kick out of it one day.

(EDIT: Aargh! This site! The photos are being displayed in the reverse order that we loaded them, unfortunately.)

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here are the instructions, should any of our followers be curious, and a typical ad. These kits, and others like it, were also advertised in Back Pack, Field & Stream, and other outdoorsy magazines in that era through the early 1970s.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Here are the instructions, should any of our followers be curious, and a typical ad. These kits, and others like it, were also advertised in Back Pack, Field & Stream, and other outdoorsy magazines in that era through the early 1970s.

I carried one of those in my backpack in Scouts back in the 90’s. The one I had was yellow in color.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Fun times!

 

[Outlawmws]

I do still have our original sort of red kit just like that in a shadow box of other camp related stuff in the hall. There is a more recent but still ancient green one floating somewhere around here too. It was in my dad's fishing box for as long as I can remember, hence the early 60's or so I mentioned, in the GS thread.

Cutter definitely sold them for decades. Most I see in Yard sales are hard to the point of crumbling apart.

 

[Beerhippie]

I carried one of those in my backpack in Scouts back in the 90’s. The one I had was yellow in color.

I carried one just like Lugz's in the '60-'70s. They were very effective at convincing you NOT to get bitten.

I've never heard of one having anti-venom in it. Most anti-venoms require refrigeration and have short shelf lives--and are gawdawful expensive.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

They were very effective at convincing you NOT to get bitten.

Snerk.

I've never heard of one having anti-venom in it. Most anti-venoms require refrigeration and have short shelf lives--and are gawdawful expensive.

Yes. I was thinking of a Wyeth or similar kit from that era, but they were kept in a facility, not portable.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The Acquisitions Dept had a nice find today with this Marble's match safe.



These ingenious unscrew-and-hinge type waterproof cannisters, inspired by shotgun shells, were patented (650944) by Webster Marble on June 5, 1900, and made and advertised for outdoorsmen for decades.



The basic design remained the same, but features changed over the years. Such as the knurling. As @Outlawmws remarked on the GS thread, this ribbed version is not the most commonly seen, and is not the version shown in advertisements as early as 1906. According to a study that someone helpfully posted a Coleman forum, linked here, that he tipped us off to, ours is "somewhat rare," and made sometime between 1928 and 1940.

That's too bad, because we know that Charles Lindberg had a Marble's match safe with him on "The Spirit of St. Louis" in 1927 and we were kind of hoping it was this model!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The Acquisitions Dept came home with a safety blade type scraper this morning, enthused by its folding design, and thinking it worthy of the predilection documented in these posts...

CC#8: Utility Knives/Scrapers, Update #1, Update #2, and Update #3

The Curator is not so sure.

We know enough about the history of the automotive windshield to know it's been laminated with some kind of plastic, in some kind of process, since, oh, say, 1904, improved for many decades, and we know that lately car manufacturers and aftermarket enterprises are doing all kinds of things with hydroponic, hydrophilic, and UV-resistant coatings and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, but we have no idea what the WARNING means, frankly. And we're wondering how old this tool is.

 

[Outlawmws]

Getting back to the snake bite kits:

As I think I mentioned, I had one like Lugs posted growing up, kept in my dads fishing box but also taking hunting. it was in one of the hall shadow box displays:





I recently got what I believe is an older version with a different outside grip pattern shown with a newer one I bought probably in my teen years, which is oval, not round and claim to have "hi suction" and low suction" depending on which direction it was squeezed.

All are "Cutter" brand, the newest one (to me) - none of the paperwork has date markings. The green one has no paperwork at ll the antiseptic vial has a paper sleeve/cover but no instructions.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Did this same issue come up with other products made of "Tenite"?

No idea.

I should qualify that my "study" (as articulated by the "timeline chart") reaches NO general conclusions about which plastic was more or less susceptible to deterioration, offgassing, and stench. It is only Step 1. A reference. It simply documents the type of plastic, by name, used by each mfgr, in each time period, as identified by themselves in their own ads, as found by me in extensive searches of trade mags on Google Books, and/or their own catalogs on IA/ITCL.

Step 2 would be observation and analysis by correlation. If someone notices the signs of their vintage driver or spinner handle experiencing deterioration and offgassing (whitening/molding, crumbling, and often malodorous fumes), and they know when it was made, they could use the chart to identify the likely culprit. With the caveat that not all culprits are doing their insidious work to the same degree, and environmental factors surely also play a role.

The idea was that it could be a tool to identify the cause (composition) of the stinkdrivers by brand and era.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Sounds like an elusive target - apparently influenced greatly by environment (in the drawer, out of the drawer.)

When I came across those two print ads - the fishing rod and the gun - it made me wonder why this situation isn't seen so much on other plastic products produced after WWII. Did we just not notice it? Was it because those items were not stored inside drawers? Or could it simply be a case of disposable items being disposed or replaced?

I know there are probably no definitive answers for any of that, but it is curious (to me) that this issue seems to only affect handles on hand tools.

 

[Provincial]

Wikipedia has a useful entry about Tenite:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenite

Since it was made from wood chips, I wonder if the species of tree has an effect?

 

[leg17]

Similar situation.
I have heard of pocket knife collections affected severely. Blades made from carbon steel being seriously rusted and pitted from the 'de-gassing' of the handles/scales.

 

[four.cycle]

Wikipedia has a useful entry about Tenite:

which notes in article ". Tenite is not a durable plastic. Objects manufactured from Tenite slowly deform and warp over decades, eventually becoming unusable. Some formulations of Tenite are susceptible to surface mold."

Doesn't sound like a wise choice for an item expected to be in service forever.

Makes me even happier that I've managed to peddle off or give away any tools that used that stuff - the last one being a Vaco-made Duro-Chrome nut driver I sent south. Although MY Vaco-made Indestro two-way screwdrivers don't suffer this malady.

 

[Old Radar]

Stinkdrivers are the bane of vintage tool collectors--and knife collectors, as @leg17 points out. Those new to the game and unfamiliar with the issue don't stay that way too long...

Not to hijack the discussion, but...

Buyer took the flex handle out and returned the rest of the set. (Go figure.)

What kind of **** is that??

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Guys, no conversations about eBay selling, sellers, sales, etc, please, and especially not with links to active sales, which is verboten except Classifieds. Wouldn't want to get my thread locked!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The grounds of the Lugzsonian and the Curator's Quarters as well as the Curator's penchant for homemade tarts and crisps all took a hit a few days ago when a Nor'easter snapped the main fruit-bearing branch of our apple tree.



Today we took it down and lopped off what was left of a struggling second branch and removed the third, long dead and hollow. If only to stay in character, so to speak - and give the offspring something to snerk about, we used a 1930's vintage D-95 rip saw with a two-tone composite handle made of Tenite that Disston marketed as Disstonite. "Smooth and steady strokes beats quick and hard," we urged our helper, with no small amount of patience and composure, as he jerked a bend in the end of the blade, "and use the entire length of the saw."



We're not sure what we're going to do with all the immature fruit, a meat grinder chutney perhaps.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

But we did get one idea staring at the Y we left in the ground.

We may have lost an apple tree, but we gained a sort of totem pole for one of the many emblems of our family mascot and spirit animal that was heretofore propped on a pergola on the hidden side of the yard. Finding a suitable Strigiformes topper for the other branch will be a fun flea market quest.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Longtime followers will recognize the significance, and if not, below are a few reminders...

 

[Beerhippie]

Lugz: That tree will grow back from the stobs. Keep it pruned this time around and you'll be able to harvest from a short ladder.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Yeah, it's relentless, been sprouting shoots like hair for the 35 years I've been here. Got lazy and let it go.

 

[RTM]

we used a 1930's vintage D-95 rip saw with a two-tone composite handle made of Tenite that Disston marketed as Disstonite.

Oh no, no offense, but really not the right saw for that job, even for yuks. That one is made for dried lumber. You need a saw with humongous teeth for that wet or green wood. Hope the bend wasn’t permanent.

Here are some examples of more appropriate saws to torture the child with. Top left could be a team effort at 5-6’ long.

 

[Beerhippie]

Oh no, no offense, but really not the right saw for that job, even for yuks. That one is made for dried lumber. You need a saw with humongous teeth for that wet or green wood. Hope the bend wasn’t permanent.

Here are some examples of more appropriate saws to torture the child with. Top left could be a team effort at 5-6’ long.

My favorite style of pruning saw.

 

[RTM]

My favorite style of pruning saw.

I’ve got a Silky that comes out for precision work. Gotta be really careful not to bend that blade, those suckers are pricey. I save that for pruning, not demo.

 

[Beerhippie]

I’ve got a Silky that comes out for precision work. Gotta be really careful not to bend that blade, those suckers are pricey. I save that for pruning, not demo.

? $20 on average, and the brand doesn't seem to matter--they're all the same blade. I have them in eight, twelve and sixteen inchers. The sixteen is fixed.

That Japanese pattern blade rips through green wood and leaves a clean surface on the cut--making it easier for the tree to heal.

 

[Outlawmws]

On the topic of tree pruning I "pruned" three poplar volunteers all the way to the ground or a stump, - soon to be to the ground in the past week...

I used a sawzall with a demo blade with nail cutting capability.

One had a 4 " trunk already and I had to start the first main trunk cut about 9 ft off the ground. otherwise the fall could have damaged stuff.

 

[Beerhippie]

On the topic of tree pruning I "pruned" three poplar volunteers all the way to the ground or a stump, - soon to be to the ground in the past week...

I used a sawzall with a demo blade with nail cutting capability.

One had a 4 " trunk already and I had to strt the first main trunk cut about 9 ft off the ground. otherwise the fall could have damaged stuff.

Paint some herbicide onto those stumps RIGHT NOW! Then they never come back.

If the police want to know why you're running around in the middle of the night in your skivvies with a can of poison and a paintbrush... I'll write you a note.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

No offense taken, @RTM. Of course it's a shop saw. And yes, the blade is fine. I got some exercise using one of the regular bow saws to turn those limbs into future aromatic firepit sections!

 

[Beerhippie]

No offense taken, @RTM. Of course it's a shop saw. And yes, the blade is fine. I got some exercise using one of the regular bow saws to turn those limbs into future aromatic firepit sections!

Excellent smoking wood, too!

 

[leg17]

Excellent smoking wood, too!

What do you roll it in?

 

[Beerhippie]

What do you roll it in?

A good dry rub.

 

[Old Radar]

I got some exercise using one of the regular bow saws to turn those limbs into future aromatic firepit sections!

Sorry about the tree, but if you haven't cut the sections too small, Apple was extensively used for the handles of those vintage saws. And yes, I remember that woodworking is not your forte.