Nautical Lamps

Parts are coming together for a custom nautical style "explosion proof" lamp project. Consider something like this:
Matt's design is simpler, heavier and includes beautiful milk-colored hand blown glass. I spent this week in the machine shop making parts and here is a little progress.

silicon bronze welding on bulb socket holders:

detail for countersinking assembly screws:

result:

Matt and I put our heads together, and he came up with a unique metal spinning set-up on a Logan engine lathe.

The product:


PARTS!

The lamps will be incorporated with original sea-fairing hardware.

More progress coming next week, at the shop of Bobs Welding.

Motor build.

First legit go at it. I have a few skeletons in my closet as far as engine rebuilds go. but this one is for real..

sludge trap bad bad bad, crank needs reground. new pistons found at mid-ohio. new bores thanks to hutch.

this transmission was BAD. main bearings shot. shift forks did not budge. selector plate in rough shape. plunger pitted. the whole nine yards. good replacements found on the internet. sigh of relief.

more progress coming soon.

BACK AT BOBS.

I'm pleased to be (once again) working under the wing of the incomparable Matt Koestner at bob's welding. Years ago Matt took me in from the fog of art school and taught me how to weld, run a lathe, and a Bridgeport. gee thanks Matt!

Rush job for local sculptor: armature for wearable "junk mass"

An afternoon with the roller and mig gun. (four foot sphere in background)

two finished products on our end: armature with backpack 3 ft size sphere.

BOBS WELDING AND FABRICATION.

The Ride.

This is a '67 T100C chopper built by the original owner in the late 60's early 70's. It was parked after the death of the owner, the son held onto it for a little while, then sold it to a dude in western MA. When I dragged it home the pistons were stuck, and the rear tire was flat, but with a little love and some help from the fish, I got the motor free and the tires filled.



I really love the spun aluminum oil tank and matching velocity stack, the bars were funny to me, and the front end seemed wrong at first, But now i'm digging the original stance. Unfortunatley the seat is just too wide for its own good, and really makes the bike look chunky when you walk up to it, but maybe some day i'll trim it down or outfit a classy replica.

This whole thing started in July, and I'm feeling about 50% done right now. as long as the lady's car runs and i have a job, I'll be jammin' in the summer time.

This is me in LA with a bro's bike. He had not ridden it in a while so i gave it a little charge, some air in the tires and some fresh gas and took it for a ride. Plenty of fun. I've never ridden grooved pavement, or anywhere in California for that matter so it was a real treat.

Thanks Owen!

Weekend in Brooklyn

In more moto-related news, I went to down to Brooklyn last Saturday for the first annual Brooklyn Invitational Kustom motorcycle show. We spent a few hours taking in the vibe with a solid line up of bikes outside and a small but impressive gallery of custom scoots inside. It was held at the Autumn Bowl, which is a sick skater-built space, with some very interesting architecture. the pics here aren't so hot, but the photo coverage at hated of the world tell the story well. The rest of my afternoon were spent well on the water with some friends, and taking a solid hike through Williamsburg to the train, and running the gauntlet of Chinatown as well. If I'm in New York and I appear to be anything less than pumped about living, check my pulse, Because I truly love it there.











OH YEAH.

Lars Anderson European motorcycle show

Aaron, and I rode out to the Lars Anderson auto museum and historical grounds for the annual European motorcycle show. There was a full representation of vintage bikes with plenty of modern riders and vendors, including the lusty Ducati test drive. The high pitched spinning of dry clutches followed the riders as they took a short tour through some of the more secluded winding roads of Boston's Brookline neighborhood. So I drooled much, saw some old friends and some new tricks, and once again lit the fire to build myself a more formidable two wheeled motor machine.