Category:
Hobbies and DIY
Hobbies and DIY
Tiny Town, PA
Homepage here.
News article here.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Dec 24, 2016 -
Comments (1)
Category: Eccentrics, Hobbies and DIY, Outsider Art, 1930s
Least-Authentic Native-American Motifs Ever
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Oct 17, 2016 -
Comments (2)
Category: Art, Fashion, Hobbies and DIY, 1970s, Native Americans
Destination Atlantis
Auto mechanic Frank Russell of Biggleswade, England spent two years building a submarine in his backyard. He did it, he said, so that he could find the "lost city" of Atlantis. He described the construction of the sub in an article distributed by International News Service (Dec 1949):My job is that of a motor mechanic and these craft that I build are purely a spare time hobby. Thus I have to get on with their construction as I can afford it; a few shillings or a pound or so at a time. Believe me, this method is exasperating and heartbreaking.
Practically all the parts have been cut, filed and even some of the holes drilled with ordinary hand tools, though I did manage on several occasions to borrow an oxy-acetylene cutter and an electric drill.
I have built this craft entirely by myself except for some of the more tricky points of welding on the hull. This was done by a friend, who is a highly skilled factory welder.
This submarine has been built entirely out of second-hand steel plates and scrap from local yards. Oxygen cylinders, motors, batteries, and the like are all from government surplus sales. The only new items are the glass observation ports and some rivets and bolts.
Practically all the parts have been cut, filed and even some of the holes drilled with ordinary hand tools, though I did manage on several occasions to borrow an oxy-acetylene cutter and an electric drill.
I have built this craft entirely by myself except for some of the more tricky points of welding on the hull. This was done by a friend, who is a highly skilled factory welder.
This submarine has been built entirely out of second-hand steel plates and scrap from local yards. Oxygen cylinders, motors, batteries, and the like are all from government surplus sales. The only new items are the glass observation ports and some rivets and bolts.
The launch date for his sub was November 4, 1950. Unfortunately, I can't find any reports about the launch, but I'm assuming he didn't find Atlantis.
And I'm guessing he may have been pulling everyone's leg about wanting to search for Atlantis, because eight years later he was back in the news as the perpetrator of an elaborate UFO hoax involving a "do-it-yourself space ship made of wire, silver paper, clockwork and a couple of flashlights." So it seems that he was a bit of a practical joker.
The Eagle (Bryan, Texas) - Nov 8, 1950
New Castle News - Oct 7, 1949
The Decatur Herald - May 28, 1958
Posted By: Alex - Tue Oct 11, 2016 -
Comments (2)
Category: Boats, Hobbies and DIY, 1950s
Nude Birdwatching World Record
In Boobies, Peckers, and Tits Olaf Danielson documents his quest to obtain the world record for nude birdwatching. He managed to see 594 North American species in one year, while in his birthday suit.It doesn't seem that there was a world record for this activity before Danielson decided to obtain it. So he had to invent his own official rules, which include the following.
- You have to be nude to count the bird. Hats and footwear are fine but nothing else.
- You have to had left naked to go birding (or for another nude activity) to count the bird. Seeing a turkey vulture while playing nude volleyball is acceptable, while driving along in a car or walking textile, seeing a bird, and then slipping off your clothing does not count. In fact, being in car doesn’t count ever. To count a bird, you will have to go back to car, or house, undress and then return unclothed. For legality reasons, leaving a car walking around a corner and disrobing is acceptable, as long as it wasn’t because you saw a new bird.
- You cannot be inside an enclosed boat, house, or car/ truck for it to count. A bird blind must be open to a degree any birder would consider it open. Being naked on an ATV if you left naked on an ATV or even a snowmobile (burr!) is acceptable.
Posted By: Alex - Wed Sep 21, 2016 -
Comments (2)
Category: Hobbies and DIY, World Records
Bensen Gyrocopters
Aren't drones a little wimpy, when you could be flying your own Bensen Gyrocopter?
Original ad here.
Heck, even Batman had one!
Posted By: Paul - Tue Aug 23, 2016 -
Comments (10)
Category: Hobbies and DIY, Comics, Air Travel and Airlines, 1960s
Byron Randall, collector of potato mashers
Byron Randall (1918-1999) was an American West Coast artist, but he also received recognition as a collector of potato mashers.
He told a UPI reporter in 1984 that he started his collection not because of any special connection to potato mashers, but simply because he wanted to have a "unique collection." But he gave a more detailed explanation of the origin of his hobby in an interview with Wesley Joost and Jon Randall:
One of my skills is cooking so I had a normal interest in potato mashers as a tool. Every one was different in some way, and they were all designed by someone who had a different idea about what was the best way to arrange the wire striking face and wooden handle. That intrigued me. When I was furnishing the guest house I frequented the markets and Salvation Army. Nearly all of them would have some kitchen gear. I was attracted to them because they were all beautifully functional and simple and never had been standardized like the Dover Eggbeater.
Randall also admitted that he didn't like potatoes themselves — just the mashers.
As of 1984, he had collected 384 mashers. I don't know how many he owned by the time he died. But he claimed that this was the biggest collection of potato mashers in the world.
The Idaho Potato Museum also has a large potato masher collection, which they acquired as a result of a Boy Scout's Eagle Project. So I emailed them to ask how big their collection is. A representative (Tish Dahmen) responded that they have "280 mashers on display then another box full."
She reckons that Randall's collection was larger, and unfortunately she has no idea what became of his mashers. But she added: "if you discover its whereabouts, please know that we’d be happy to house and exhibit it if his family or estate wants to donate to us … we will be happy to accept it!"
Finding a permanent home for a potato masher collection seems like a worthy project, so I'm working on it. There was once a Byron Randall Museum in Tomales, CA, where Randall lived and ran a bed-and-breakfast. Perhaps the museum acquired his collection. However, the museum doesn't have a website. So I don't know if it's still in existence.
I've contacted the Tomales Regional History Center to ask if they know where Randall's potato mashers are.
Idaho Potato Museum Masher Collection — via California or Bust!
Milwaukee Sentinel - May 4, 1984
The Pittsburgh Press - May 3, 1984
Posted By: Alex - Tue Aug 16, 2016 -
Comments (6)
Category: Hobbies and DIY, Collectors
Co-Star Records
There were fifteen of these uniquely bizarre records.
The whole story is here.
Posted By: Paul - Mon May 30, 2016 -
Comments (2)
Category: Amateurs and Fans, Celebrities, Hobbies and DIY, 1960s
Hawk Model Kits
Original ad here.
It might not be 1965 any longer, but thanks to a revival at Hawk Model Kits, you can get these wacky figurines new again.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Apr 19, 2016 -
Comments (6)
Category: Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Hobbies and DIY, Bohemians, Beatniks, Hippies and Slackers, 1960s
Know Your Missiles!
[Click to enlarge]
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Apr 10, 2016 -
Comments (17)
Category: Hobbies and DIY, Children, 1950s, Weapons
John Q Public, Movie Mogul
Wow, imagine if you had to go thru all this to create a cat video for YouTube!
Posted By: Paul - Fri Oct 30, 2015 -
Comments (3)
Category: Hobbies and DIY, Movies, 1950s
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| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Contact Us |