Shaking my head with resignation masquerading as wisdom
I know I’ve cluttered this blog up with a lot of train and car images but why stop now? Having a small son means I often get to ride steam trains and visit transportation museums. I do love old machinery and the many elegant elements that make up the whole.
The title of this post is just put together from the names of the three events I attended recently. I’m too lazy to come up with one that works any better and it does sound kind of important.
The weekend of June 15 this year was a big one for those in the Detroit area who like to bake under the son looking at rare, expensive cars they have no hope of ever owning. If you have stamina, and I just fake that, you could have seen three displays such.
The largest is the weekend-long Motor Muster at the Henry Ford Museum. It’s help all over (was there an inch of open space left?) the Greenfield Village portion of that institution. Hundreds of cars among the examples of old U.S. architecture and life. It was like a parking lot of history. This show really will tired you out if you spend the hours necessary to get a good look at ever car, motorcycle, bus, motor home, military vehicle, and bike there. My feet still hurt.
In serene, green, and wealthy Grosse Pointe Shores is the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House museum. The house and grounds are astounding but for one day they are matched by find examples of important vehicles for Eyes on Design. Its goal is for “members of the transportation design community, collectors, and the general public to celebrate and reflect on design.” Proceeds benefit the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology.
Tied in to the above event is the throwing open of the doors to a private garage. The Lingenfelter Collection is the cars of a wealthy automotive specialty business owner. A lot of rare Italian rolling stock was here to see as well as a nice collection of modern and vintage four wheeled friends.
So, here area few detail shots from my tiring weekend. Now for a foot bath.
Walter P. Chrysler rescued automobile manufacturers before creating his own eponymous dynasty. During his reign Chrysler was known as the “engineer’s automobile”. Often stodgy in style they just as often led the industry in mechanical innovations. Like all long-lived companies there is a lot of history and lore which can be drawn upon to illustrate the path taken in time.
I have a soft spot for Chrysler vehicles since my fond memories of my best friend’s ’69 Roadrunner or my lust for a ’70 Dodge Dart 340 Swinger doesn’t fade away. Now that I live close to the Motor City I was happy to know that the Walter P. Chrysler museum was not far. The reason I learned of this museum was due to the fact it was to close. With that in mind I rushed out to the grounds of the headquarters of Chrysler Corp. to visit before the end came.
My usual batch of close detail photos follow. It really is a nice, small museum that doesn’t overwhelm and entertains even the least car knowledgeable person. Sad to see it go.
Hershey, PA is the land of chocolate or something. Well, not really since nothing seemed to be built with cocoa anywhere within the city limits. I expected something a bit more like this. Still, it was founded on and continues to subsist on the tasty, tasty slopes of chocolate kisses (among other diversified products).
As you can see I’m trying to hide that this post involves more pictures of automobiles by first tempting you with sweets. In fact I attended the very, very large AACA Eastern Division auto show in Hershey. It’s probably the biggest show I’ve ever been to with a dizzying array of autos displayed, for sale, and vendors of automobilia, Of course I got there just late enough to see the procession of cars driving past me on their way home. Still, my tardiness at least allowed me to buck the crowds as I ran about trying to see it all before it vaporized in a plume of blue exhaust.
From brass era to the mediocre cars of the 80s it was all there. You will not be surprised I took some pictures.
A few weeks ago I took my first trip to Philadelphia which isn’t that far from my new digs in Pennsylvania. I went ostensibly for an NAWCC chapter mart where I could look over watches and such for sale. Afterwards I had planned to go to the Simone Foundation Automotive Museum with a fellow horological student. Some of the world’s most famous sports cars are in this facility on display. There are not an overwhelming number of cars (which is good) but they make up for that in beauty. Pre-war Italian, British, French, and American vehicles are in tableaux to show the era they raced. The sensuous curves and touches that are form without function are as lovely as any sculpture.
As I usually do I took some pictures of the details of many cars. Also as usual the endeavor of photographing in available light meant that some images did not turn our even though I take a vast number of exposures. I’m happy the ones below were acceptable to me.
When the temperature is hovering around 100 most people do the sensible thing and stay indoors or at least in the shade with an iced glass of planters’ punch. However, during the heat wave we had this summer I showed my contrarian nature and went out. Possibly the reason for this was just to gather gist for my whine mill as I do love to complain. But the major reason I think was that I get stir crazy in the house and like to wander. Not surprisingly I brought my camera along and managed to keep my sweaty fingers from sliding off the shutter button too often.
I planned to have lunch at a microbrewery housed in a building that has been used as such since the early 19th century. It is located in the town of Mount Joy which neither was elevated nor particularly rapturous but was quaint enough. Upon arrival I found that the main street was cordoned off for an auto show. Since I love anything having to do with autos I wandered up and down the street for a bit under the sun becoming a human puddle with a camera.
After that is was off to Bube’s Brewery (if you think of “boobs” or “pubes” when you see this name keep it to yourself) which is housed in a fascinating old building. Its long history as a brewery means a dark industrial atmosphere with catacombs and a dining/bar area which feels like a cave. Very low and reddish mood lighting doesn’t dissuade that impression of stifling antiquity but that’s part of the charm. Good atmosphere, food, and drink made it a happy respite from the heat.
Lastly I traveled to the Hans Herr House in the Amish country of Lancaster County, PA. Built in 1719 it’s now a nice way so see how those who founded the Amish community first set up shop (or farm).
I went to that farm actually to hear an acquaintance (Oliver Craven) play in the lovely duo The Stray Birds. It was nice to sit in an apple orchard and hear music until a summer thunderstorm came to finally lower the temperature a touch. It was almost worth fleeing for shelter.
What? More pictures of cars? Yes, sorry. Guilty as charged. But I have an excuse: I went to an automotive museum. Near where I live now is Hershey, PA (yes, that’s the place with the candy and amusement park) and the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Museum. I’ve been meaning to visit it and I finally got around to rousing myself to go and play the tourist. It turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable place, well-kept and full of interesting vehicles and displays. What I wound up recording were images reflecting my fascination with small details and not the entire autos. Well, at least I’m not spoiling the museum for you with my microscopic presentation.
Just a friendly reminder: click on the images to enlarge.
Today I went off to a car show in Lancaster, PA. The weather was nice, the show was big, and I wandered. What struck me this time (I do attend quite a few car shows) is how much I enjoy seeing the logotypes, name badges, and other identifications on these cars. While all are indicative of the time they were created some transcend that and become iconic symbols for those past eras. I’m sure people thought I was crazy taking close up images of a fender or a bumper while roaming about and I probably am. So, without further ado, here are some pictures to evaluate my mental health by.
I live near a place that has a big chair. It’s really just that: A big dinning room chair or about 15 feet in height (that’s my estimate since I’m not going to waste time looking that up). Why is it there? I have no idea…it was donated and this area used to make furniture. But like a giant wooden and synthetic upholstery flame it attracts events to it. Once a month when it is warm enough there is a local car show in the vicinity and I happened to go to the last one. I never did take a picture of the big chair so you’ll have to take my word for all that.
