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American Institute N.Y. - Otis Gold Medallion

9/24/2014

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The reverse of the coin is engraved with the following:

'Awarded to the widow of Wm. S. Otis for a steam excavator 1841'

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The American Institute of the City of New York, or, The American Institute of the City of New York for the Encouragement of Science and Invention was a civic organization that existed from ca. 1838 - ca. 1930.

The Institute was an association of inventors. It organized exhibitions, lecture series and radio broadcasts to inform the public about new technologies, and served as a locus for inventors’ professional activities.

At one time "Guldens Mustard" had a copy of The American Gold Medal Award on the jar label. Medals were issued in gold, silver and bronze for more than 150 years.

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The Otis shovel was the world’s first mechanized steam shovel and excavator. Invented by William S. Otis in 1835, it was literally one of the most groundbreaking pieces of equipment to appear in the construction and mining industries. 

The invention came about when Otis, employed by the firm Carmichael & Fairbanks, was working on a contracting position involved in building the American railroad. Working with strict time constraints, the firm would receive bonuses if it could finish the work before assigned deadlines. The excavation process and poor digging tools were delaying the project’s completion. This gave Otis the incentive to seek out a solution, as the current practices used for digging were very arduous and time-consuming. The traditional wagon-mounted graders and horse-drawn dragpans were not efficient enough.

The invention of steam engines became vital to the production of the Otis shovel. Otis figured that it might be possible to produce a machine using steam technology that could be applied to digging earth. With the help of a friend, Charles H. French, he built the first steam shovel in 1835 in Canton, Massachusetts.

He applied for a patent on June 15, 1836. The first patent described his invention as a “crane excavator for excavating and removing earth,” but was destroyed by a fire at the U.S. Patent Office. The second application was filed on October 27, 1838, and it was granted on February 24, 1839 under Patent No. 1089.

It could slew, crowd, and hoist. The wheels were made of cast iron, which meant that mobility was limited, but mounted on rail tracks, it was perfect for the project. It was mounted on a rail for the purpose of rail-building.

First known as the Philadelphia shovel, Otis put it to work on the American Midwest railroad project in Massachusetts.

He patented the shovel in 1839 and it became the first mechanized steam excavator of its kind, using a mechanized boom and a single bucket to remove dry earth.

Otis did not live to see the how much his invention would contribute to society. He died of typhus fever on November 13, 1839, just nine months after his patent was granted.

Otis Steam Shovel History

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His invention did not go to waste, however. After his death, his wife Elizabeth married a good friend of Otis’, Oliver S. Chapman, in 1844. The union led to Elizabeth extending the patent to the late 1870s. Although other manufacturers couldn't use the invention, Chapman could, and did.

In fact, Chapman made some changes and patented them under No. 63857 in 1867. The patent document described the changes as "certain improvements to the Otis shovel.” One of the improvements involved using a chain crowd mechanism to supply force for the bucket. Chapman altered the name and called it the Otis-Chapman steam shovel.

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Tales of Brave Ulysses

9/21/2014

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The classic 1967 album "Disraeli Gears" by the British rock band Cream featured "Tales of Brave Ulysses", a true psychedelic masterpiece. Based on Homer's Odyssey, the lyric and arrangement combine to form an incredible and original song.  The Disraeli Gears cover art was created by Martin Sharp, who wrote the "Tales of Brave Ulysses" lyrics.  



                                                      


Here is the original recording from Disraeli Gears
http://youtu.be/S0vHqWGt4NE



Song Lyrics  

You thought the leaden winter would bring you down forever,
But you rode upon a steamer to the violence of the sun.

And the colors of the sea blind your eyes with trembling mermaids,
And you touch the distant beaches with tales of brave Ulysses:
How his naked ears were tortured by the sirens sweetly singing,
For the sparkling waves are calling you to kiss their white-lace lips.

And you see a girl's brown body dancing through the turquoise,
And her footprints make you follow where the sky loves the sea.
And when your fingers find her, she drowns you in her body,
Carving deep blue ripples in the tissues of your mind.

The tiny purple fishes run laughing through your fingers,
And you want to take her with you to the hard land of the winter.

Her name is Aphrodite and she rides a crimson shell,
And you know you cannot leave her for you touched the distant sands
With the tales of brave Ulysses: how his naked ears were tortured
By the sirens sweetly singing.

The tiny purple fishes run laughing through your fingers,
And you want to take her with you to the hard land of the winter.




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The making of "Tales of Brave Ulysses"

4-minute video clip
http://youtu.be/sNUYuBk7j7k



From Wikipedia

The lyrics were written by artist Martin Sharp, and the music was composed by Eric Clapton. Arranged by Robert Stigwood, the song is featured on Cream's album Disraeli Gears. Sharp had written the words on the back of a beer mat, which he gave to Clapton after a chance meeting. These lyrics were put to a melody inspired by Judy Collins' version of Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne" and chords inspired by The Lovin' Spoonful's "Summer in the City". The music originated from bassist Jack Bruce's ability to match his vocals to the meter of the song to a riff, adding it with his vocals to what had previously been a poem but was then expanded by Clapton into a song.[1] The song is credited on the single to P. Brown, J. Bruce, and E. Clapton.[2] The day before writing the song, Clapton discovered the wah-wah pedal, which augmented the song.



Some live versions worth a listen


Live at the BBC version

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tT1gVjDWos&index=1&list=FLR10m-ogDzQ2MrhyT5C3y1Q   

Great Live recording

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwJkY1KC9eM&index=3&list=FLR10m-ogDzQ2MrhyT5C3y1Q









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Ten Thousand Drips

9/13/2014

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This is a novelty patch from the closing period of the war.  U-Tapao is a large military air base in Thailand. The US Air force ran a lot of their Vietnam War air operations out of U-Tapao.  The famous B-52 aircraft was stationed here and participated in the Arc Light raids, Operation Linebacker and Linebacker II . 

This patch is locally made in Thailand - 4 1/2 inches round in size.  Pictured are syphilis and gonorrhea cartoon characters. The black character is syphilis and has a
spirochete machine embroidered in green.
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1909S VBD Lincoln Cent

9/10/2014

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This is the most famous of all Lincoln wheat pennies.  Designed by Victor David Brenner, the first 484 thousand minted at the San Francisco mint carried his initials on the lower rim of the reverse.  A coin so famous that even non coin collectors seem to know about it. 
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Wheat pennies were made from 1909 thru 1958.  The Lincoln Memorial reverse started production in 1959. 
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US Army 1860 Pattern Staff and Field Sword - With Whistle?

9/10/2014

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This unnamed officer is wearing a Spanish American War period uniform and campaign hat.  The uniform insignia shows he was an infantry officer from Michigan. 

One of the more common 19th century American military swords is the 1860 pattern Staff and Field officer's sword.  Used through the Civil War into the Spanish American War.  A strange variation of this very model came into my shop with a whistle built into the crossguard.  Included was a period cabinet card photograph of the original owner holding this very same sword. 
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The photographer (E.N. Noble) is from Traverse City, Michigan.

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This sword was made by the M.C. Lilley Company of Columbus, Ohio.  You can see the same sword 115 years later, and in color.

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A picture taken from underneath the crossguard clearly shows the whistle. 

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365 First Street Los Altos, California 94022