Davy Sprocket is on the Road...

[aeoliandave]

As previously exclaimed, the Dolly is one cast piece of hammertoned aluminum!

As well, all the gray rubber trim on tools, motor housing and dolly bumper are perfect in every way. Extraordinary condition for a vacuum as old as I am - 56 years. I just have to smooth and buff out a few shallow dents in the chrome disk ring around the handle plate. Often the motor vents are warped from heat, as they are made of plastic, but these are again...perfect.

The cord is slightly dried out and cracking in a few places and the strain relief collar is split but dang, the cord is supple and has its original plug and red cord clasp.

 

[aeoliandave]

Parked beside my car this morning was this Ford Taurus wagon brush-painted in rubber paint, replete with brushstrokes and drip rivulets. I have no explanation or understanding...

 

[aeoliandave]

It's a choice...

Adequate words escape me...

 

[aeoliandave]

Breakfast Turkey Spinach 3 Egg Omelet at Bob Evans. Dang, this was gooooood!

Crossed the road for two extra large Tim Hortons triple cream coffees and hit 71 south for 70 east to Springfield.

Discovered something on the road. I found I could not get my eyes uncrossed as I drove and was doing it with one eye closed. I hadn't had a cold coffee to microwave as I made the morning preparations, just some fruit juice and a bannana. As soon as I had a slurp of coffee both eyes snapped back to normal. Speaks for itself, I guess.

 

[aeoliandave]

Maybe I should wean back a bit on the coffee...I just have two today andf see how that goes. I do have one in my room now for Monday morning.

 

[aeoliandave]

Oh, almost forgot - the vacuums the Super 8 staff uses. Pretty yellow things.

 

[aeoliandave]

Bet this is a nice place to live for mechanical minded folks. Home of the Mechanicsburger and Urban Fries.

Sorry. :-(

 

[aeoliandave]

This is better. Next exit is Plain City. Can't get much more basic than that. And what could be 'righter' than 'plain'?

They are not kidding - it is sooo flat around here you can see for miles in a straight or bent line.

 

[aeoliandave]

Popped in to a Walmart Super Store looking for Shania Twain's UP!, cause mine went missing and I like it. So there. But they didn't have it. But they did have an enormous Vacuum section.

 

[aeoliandave]

Now enetering Springfield Ohio. The Garmin is taking me to the address I seek.

To finish up tonight's posts here are pictures of 8 large houses (that are NOT by Frank Lloyd Wright) I passed as I approached along High Street. Musta been some prosperous town in it's heyday, eh?

#1

 

[aeoliandave]

#2, next door to #1. That's contrast.

 

[aeoliandave]

#3

 

[aeoliandave]

#4

 

[normvac]

The mystery Guy

That came in just in time for lunch was my friend Gary Moreland. He reads the site, doesn't belong and he is a
closeted Vacuum Buff. Not a collector, as he is very much
a minamulise. So he has only 3 Electrolux (Super J & Silver-
ardo which for sale if anyone is interested. perfect condition) One Gray Tristar, oh and a Royal metal hand vac.
He does have a big soft spot for my Kirby Dual 80.
He's only had 2 in the past and would love to have a 3rd one.
No tools necessary !!! So he says, Oh a buffer for all of his exposed wood floors. In his 1950's modernist Ranch !
Norm

 

[aeoliandave]

#5

 

[aeoliandave]

#6

 

[aeoliandave]

#7

 

[aeoliandave]

and finally, #8.

The Wescott house is two blocks away and I can see it from here just past the cemetery.

 

[aeoliandave]

One more. I think this is the City Hall or some Government building. As striking as the light strings are they put me in mind of Death Rays keeping the citizenry in obedient thrall...

I took this picture on my way north out of Springfield at dusk after spending 4 hours at the Westcott house. I was the only one there other than the reception gal and the lovely older retired gent who was my docent guide on a truly individual no holds barred tour. The man actually lived in the house for 23 years when he was in his 20s to 30s, when the house was split into 4 apartments. The house was restored with ~5 million donated dollars and has been open only 3 years.

 

[crevicetool]

hand brushed, anti-radar stealth paint?

Nice photography as usual Dave!

 

[kirbyotronic]

Wow Dave....

Those are some beautiful houses. I'd start collecting them, but that is obviously not going to happen lol.

Here's one of my favorites listed on craigslist, if only I had the money....

http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/reb/1481187405.html

 

[normvac]

Rick !

You had mentioned earlier in the thread that you might consider a trip to Ohio one day. You are more then welcome,
as is any one else that finds them selves in the area. I am
2.5 hours drive south of N. Canton and the Hoover Historical center
Norm

 

[luxg]

Dave great pictures. Thanks for sharing them. It's almost like we are on the trip with you!! I'm glad you are having such a great time..

Terry

 

[aeoliandave]

A few teaser panoramic shots of the Wescott House, before I hit the Thrifting road back to Stratford with a stop in Sarnia.

The house was commissioned in 1906 and Burton Westcott, his pregnant wife Orpha and their daughter Jeanne moved in in 1908.

This rear view is to the South toward High St as your come up beside the large rear pasture/yard toward the Garage/Stable. On the left hand side is the Springfield Cemetery grounds and so views from the house take in this vista to the east in perpetuity.

 

[aeoliandave]

A panoramic shot taken from the Cemetery hill from the Stable/Garage to the front lawn. The house and plot are raised considerably above sidewalk level and you begin to appreciate the mass of the structure and it's privacy. The side wall along the Pergola is about 15 feet above the sidewalk but from inside the back yard garden lawn one can look out over the wall through the timber screens; the yard grade is raised.

 

[aeoliandave]

Side view panorama facing the Main Entrance through the gates from the sidewalk. This is the only way to enter the main house from the street. As is the Wright way, one enters a compressed space and climbs a short wide staircase where the ceiling opens above you in a light filled Reception Hall. The effect is most uplifting...

 

[aeoliandave]

panorama from the corner of High St showing front wall of windows. the front lawn is only accessable from the front rooms and is very difficult to reach from High Street unless one climbs across the lawns, shrubbery and reflecting pool (between the massive Urns).

 

[aeoliandave]

Front elevation of the house from High St sidewalk. The house is built right up to the property line at left. The house next door was built in 1911 but served most of its time as a Funeral Home; it is now a privately owned residence again. Thus, the Westcott House has no side yardage to speak of.

 

[aeoliandave]

Wright did not approve of eavestrough piping runs and so each eave has simply an opening and the water drops into a grated recptical below in the lawn and the water is carried away in underground channels.

This is my Tour Guide, Jack, who as I said, lived in one of the 7 apartments as a young lad and stayed 17 years. I'm going to guess that he is in his spry mid 70s.

 

[aeoliandave]

Naturally one is not allowed to take photos inside the house but, well, um....

Sideboard in the Dining Room.

Only open to the public for 3 years now they have yet to produce a glossy coffee table book or even a pamphlet with pictures. But I did buy the 2 disk Centenary DVD which will provide all I need. It documents the Family, the decline of the property and the massive effort to restore the home, which took 6 years and $6 million in private donations. The house is owned and operated by Springfield, not the FLW Conservancy in Oak Park. The 45 minute Tour cost a paltry $12. My Private Tour lasted well over 2 hours and then I wandered the grounds and Gift Shop housed in the garage.