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Thursday, January 29, 2015

Wish Me Luck!

If the weather is decent, I will participate in my first steel shoot competition this Saturday. My primary goal as always is not to be "That Guy". In other words don't embarrass myself. 

It is supposed to be a bit chilly in the morning. I DETEST cold weather, but as a friend noted, the bad people don't always show up when it is 78 degrees and sunny. 

Here is the course of fire:

20-30 Falling Steel Targets per Stage

4 Stages + Tie Breaker

Stages are shot using Par Time

Score is the number of steel targets that fall between the Start & Stop time


So, lets go get ready for this. 


Again, wish me luck as I know the equipment is better than I.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Yard Sale!

Sorry, I have been remiss here! 

One of the last times I went to visit Mr. and Mrs. Curmudgeon, Mr. was proud to show me what Mrs. picked up at a yard sale. I think she has a good eye! What do you think? I'm in over my head here with this stuff, but it appears to be the real deal. A Union Fork and Hoe Bayonet, scabbard, and some type of shovel. 

I have no idea about any of this. Any help to research this stuff or information you may have would be greatly appreciated! 






Thanks!
 

Monday, January 12, 2015

Thank You Ms. Parrish!

This actress was accomplished with a history of work at that time. Then she met up with some guy named William Ware Theiss, the costume designer for the original Star Trek series. He seemed to enjoy tweaking the NBC Broadcast Standards Department with his work. 

























This was GLUED on to her for over 4 days. In the '60's, the adhesives were a bit more harsh than now. She commented that at the end of the third day, there was not a lot of skin left to glue it back onto. 

Many critics call "Who Mourns for Adonis" one of the most emotional episodes of that series. I agree. A tragic tale, condensed from a huge script of Shakespearean proportions to fit a one week filming schedule and budget. 

Not that there was some levity to be had! 



Thank you Ms. Parrish!       

Friday, January 9, 2015

What Does This Do?

What does this do? 


























It allows you to flip the chassis on one of these to work on it. 





 











































































It is a Firestone 4-A-30 Air Chief. It belonged to my grandparents. I was very simple in my efforts to bring it back to life. I recapped it and restrung the dial cord. The tubes are what they were then.

I remember pushing the buttons on it back in the early '70's even though it was no longer the entertainment/media center of the house then. It was kept and cleaned though, representing the expense of such an item around 1947 for a mill worker. 

For now, it will stay here with me as it was a gift to me from my parents some time ago. When the time comes though it will go back to where it belongs. My Grandparents house being restored by one of my Cousins. 

Aside from the broken bezel and missing pushbuttons, it is in great shape! Anybody know where I can get some?




 
 


Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Not Dead Yet!

Whatever this thing is that has vexed me for several weeks truly sucks. 



I'm feeling a bit better though!

Here. Have a picuture of a Colt 1902 Semi Automatic in .38 Auto. 

Happy New Year everyone!



 

 
 

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Out with the Old

So what was so very important so long ago has faded in time. My Grandparents house in the mountains of Southwest VA used to be heated with at first several fireplaces then these were blocked off and converted to coal stoves. 



Here is one still standing during restoration. Sadly, the coal shed is gone, but I still know where to find some coal from so long ago. I know some others know where this is in the yard. 

What at one time was paramount to the comfort and safety of this home has been passed by with time. The bricks of the chimneys have been removed as well. As they were laid out in the yard I thought about the over 100 year old bricks. I and my Mother picked a couple up. 



My Mother hates the cold. I get that! This house was very cold despite the best efforts to heat it. 

Although I know the new heat pumps and gas packs will do better now, I do miss the warmth and glow of the kitchen wood stove and the coal stoves. I bet very few people now even know that they existed.