Wednesday 28 November 2012

Swap Meet Buggies


On a previous post I wrote about the good old days [ before Insurance Company Liability ] when the talent and imagination of the Swap Meet Junkie could be displayed at the meeting by way of a motorised shopping trollie / esky on wheels . Who needs a buggie ? you say,  well ,if you find a set of tyres for that Morris Minor or even a bottom end for a Beeza, you are gunna need a buggie of some sort to get the treasure back to the carpark, and that might be a long haul . You could make a couple of trips back to the ute but think of all the rare bits that have been snapped up by dealers and sent overseas while you dither ferrying the gold to the car , you need a buggie to suit you own collecting style and volume , where to start ? Hell we're gunna do what all the bike manufactures did before the design stage , we'll take a good look at whats out there , pick the best points, trash the bad bits, produce an economical prototype and do the on ground testing . John 'O' Groats to Lands End and 50 laps of Brooklands .That should do the trick , now check out the sly pics I took while working under cover at the last Bendigo Swap Meeting around 17 th November so this stuff is state of the art, none of your old technology here . Click on the pics to blow them up


This was the only motorised cart I saw at Bendigo this year and the organisers would only have allowed it because the owner had one prosthetic leg . I can't remember the details of the prime mover but you can see the rear slicks and that the trailer is single axle , what a shame they banned these rigs as they contributed to the feel of the meeting so much .
This guy's in a hurry , basic format is a dragster  typerfied by large slicks at rear, narrow disc wheels on the front , curious transverse front suspension, T model Ford  style and using non stressed mild steel body [ this could lead to failure at extreme speed ] His treasure is a 1950's style radio and some other junk I can't make out .








The most common type of buggie [bag trollie BT ], this one with folding frame finished in red oxide primer [rarely seen these days ] and inflateable tyres ,its got that home made look to it .Note the tub is the type bought at K mart or others ,as in the past the Sherrif  has been patroling the swaps policing the theft of milk crates. I'd like a commission for every record collection that is stored in a milk crate





 This is a blast from the past , not a purpose made ,swap meet buggie {SWB] at all  but is in fact a trailer designed to attach to the carrier of a push bike .
Main construction packing case tray, pram wheels on pram axle and 1/2 inch GWIP drawbar / handle note tray is a stressed member , this unit would be hard work in the loose granitic sand that had been spread over much of the grounds .Looks like he's scored a second WW gerry can and is hiding more stuff under a briquette bag ...
wonder what it is ?


 Another variation of the BT with a different tray , stackable with slots mouled into the sides , perhaps pinched from a greengrocer or a fishmonger .This guy has hooked his backpack on the SWB and is towing rather than pushing, a risky practice as treasure could be borrowed and not returned 








The white paper rectangle displays the price $ 2500.00
 A Tardis [ T ] best way ever to get the parts home











Recycling at its best ,the tips are full of bike parts and these big wheels are just the ticket for soft sand and pot holes













Another BT based cart using a cherry barrel for the tub QD provided by baler twine ligatures and occa strap hold down . This unit is eco friendly [ EF ]and will contain oil spills from gearboxes bottom ends and primary drives .
The writing is on the wall and soon all SWB's will have to be certified as EF







BT  fitted with sturdy home made tray looks like seat height , interesting box, nine out of ten blokes would have the tray side boards horizontal rather than vertical .This is the only SWB that had a lid .











A veritable work of art.... rickshaw standing on rear end , this was parked and although I waited some time did not get a dynanic shot .Note push bike wheels and red and green trim this could indicate traditional Chinese colours or the with Christmas so close the colours of holly








Thinking laterally , double decker stock crate  four wheel unit ,small esky on the bottom in the shade all the junk up top .Lets not kid ourselves this is a laundry cart and would never take the weight of say a GoldWing side cover ,this bloke needs to go back to the shed and take a good look at himself


Note far left   Stolen Milk Crate  SMC  grey plastic property of Polar Milk Company

The low volume of this cart will limit this guy's shopping














This one reminds me of my tool box not sure if you would push this unit or pull it













There you have it ! now you are armed with the design variation and lots background, so get out in that shed get down to the tip" keep your eyes wide the chance won't come again " grab the bits and get welding, Ballarat Swap last weekend in February and don't think you'll get a SWB up and running before Christmas .I want to see more original Stuff out there here's some pearls for free.
Stop lights  Radio  Sunshades   number plates    EPIRB   suspension  brakes   

Next post    Deane rotary valve prototype fitted to a 16H bottom end and mounted in garden gate norton frame      this post will not be a joke

Tuesday 6 November 2012

Lake Goldsmith Steam Rally X 100

The Lake Goldsmith Steam Rally held it 100 th meeting on the weekend of the 4th and 5th of November 2012 .Lake Goldsmith is known more for its Steam Rally, than for its Lake [ usually dry ] its located in Central Victoria, approximately 10 kms South of Beauford and 50 kms West of Ballarat , the Society that run the Rally, stage two meetings per year the November one and again in May, I have a feeling that they have been timed to avoid the use of fires during  the height of the fire season , the area is usually pretty green in those months .Although the meeting is always referred to as a Rally it is staged at a permanent site and has been for about 50 years , the result of this and the nature of the machines means that a small town has grown upon the site . Members, I believe can rent a site ,build some manner of shed and install a large boiler in it, or they can park a travelling hut [ like a gypsy caravan ] live in it for the meetings and whenever they come to work on their machinery . I am led to believe that there are  always people camped in vans there working on the machines and keeping an eye on the stuff that is too big to lock away .
Its not all about steam, the show attracts vintage and veteran cars, trucks and motorcycles ,oil engines  ,military vehicles , earthworks machinery , models of every thing  boats, trains ,aircraft , real aircraft engines and lots more stuff I've forgotten . But the real attraction with this show is that its dynamic  , you would walk down a rutted gravel track and move to the left to alloy a working scale model traction engine to pass , on your left you could see a steam shovel operating a drag line just tip its load on a pile , lots of the sheds that have boilers run pipes out the back as an  exhaust that puff little steam clouds out in the lanes .Steam has an unusual smell with that hint of oil ,steam whistles blow all the time, you can hear the breaking down saw from a working saw mill and in the back ground some sort of fairground music machine ,as you approach the oil engine area the  pop  pop  pop of these engines grow louder and the other noises fade away . The highlight of the show is the grand parade, where everything on wheels does a lap of the oval and the crowd watch as a commentary is broadcast over the PA , its very impressive to see so many of these massive traction engines  gently moving over the ground .
I don't how many times I've been to the Lake, but I think the first time would have been in the late 1960's as my primary interest is motorcycles I wouldn't attend this event every year , but I can highly recommend this show to any one who likes machines , forgot to mention admission $ 15.00, free parking although this year I was in a 50 minute queue [ should have come in on the side road ] all in all I had a great day and caught up with lots of m/c people to top it off .   Here's the pics and some comment   click on the pics to blow them up


 Ex Shire road roller 
Working saw mill











 Steam drag line unloading











People go to great lengths to create the old world charm










Model radial engine just started , a work of art !












Indian , the motorcycle that is












Lovely twin port 500 Norton