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March 14, 2014
The Government-Surplus Machines That Power a Cutting-Edge Science Museum
It had a two-cycle engine whose crankshaft bearings were worn out, so it wouldn’t run. So we took it, machined up some brass bearings, bored out the babbitt bearings, got it up and running, gave it a coat of red spray paint, fixed the wooden frame that had kind of rotted, and gave that a spray-can paint job, too. Then we sawed a piece of eucalyptus with it and put it out on the floor. Eventually the guy came back, saw what we had done, and said, ‘You just destroyed a valuable antique!’ And I said, ‘Well, that’s sort of what we do.’” - - Collectors Weekly
Posted by gerardvanderleun at March 14, 2014 10:48 AM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.
Your Say
"‘You just destroyed a valuable antique!"
Because nothing says conspicuous consumption like owning something that doesn't work, takes up (micro)real estate, and provides nothing practical or utile.
Kinda' like an Andy Warhol painting.
"...bored out the babbitt bearings..."
Gosh, "you COULDA'"(I know, I know) melted them out, repoured them, scraped them, and added oil grooves, you know...like "they" used to!
(most certainly a marriage of art, and craft)
But that's just me.
ALWAYS like to see the ol' reliable stuff brought back to life. ESPECIALLY if the profit potential FAR outweighs the "Oh look, isn't that a quaint antique" value.
Posted by: CaptDMO at March 15, 2014 7:36 AM
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browser because I've had this happen previously.
Appreciate it
Posted by: www.nicedir.co.uk at March 29, 2014 12:47 AM