What's in Dave's trunk this week?

[aeoliandave]

To the right of Barbara's Reception Desk is this pink Hoover. and a lonely box...

 

[aeoliandave]

I knew I was in the right place. Would the time be right, to

Gazing down a long hallway I squinted and saw...


 


 

 

[aeoliandave]

I was admitted. met by a young man of 30 or so (who knew very little about the vintage machines but we'll let that pass for what it is).


 


The History Walk is a large inner lobby dimly lit that is at a central office corridor crossing. It seems placed to inspire the office folk and executives to think about why they're here as they pass by.


 


This is the Hoover side

 

[aeoliandave]

The Dirt Devil side with a few vintage Royals thrown in.

 

[aeoliandave]

I stress again that THIS IN NOT A MUSEUM, as such. As the young lad explained, they have many more machines stored in the warehouse and don't know exactly what form the display could eventually take.


 


Ter are some Vault Machines with inventory tags on 'em. I assume these are all from the John Gregory Collection.

 

[aeoliandave]

The lad did not know a thing about the famous Floor Washer so as I explained it's purpose I took the liberty of unlatching the jug to show him the cleverness of it all.

 

[aeoliandave]

Floorwasher Vault Tag. A late Yellow model before the Blue one was introduced.


 


Remeber the first Floorwasher debuted in 1959.

 

[aeoliandave]

Bojack bag on a coffee can upright.

 

[aeoliandave]

The corridor off to the right.

 

[aeoliandave]

The Model O sarcophagus.


 


This is one beautifully preserved machine.

 

[aeoliandave]

top front

 

[aeoliandave]

side

 

[aeoliandave]

Front from another angle

 

[aeoliandave]

Naturally I had my picture taken with it...as usual grinning like a flaky goon.


 


And that was my hour of greatness at TTI. I am thankful and grateful I was allowed to view the History Walk.

 

[aeoliandave]

6:30 Friday night.


In East Erie at a Super8. Had to get off the road from the lake effect snowsqualls. Did some visiting this morning (Tom A) and left North Canton in light dusty snow flake-lets. By the time I reached Cleveland it had turned into heavy slushy snow which pretty much inundated Interstate 90. Whiteout conditions and saw at least 7 cars/suvs off the roads in ditchs and one clearly took the exit ramp too fast and spun & tumbled down and across the ramp gully ending up on its roof. Many flashing blue and red lights racing up the left lanes. Silly drivers. No problem in the Subaru - sticking like glue and slicing through the slush.


 


But it's dark now and best to be off the road. Dinner - I feel like a Prime Rib - then back to this cozy room and more posting, picking up where I left off.


 


Dave

 

[aeoliandave]

And I'm back...

Next stop was the MAPS Air Museum. Housed in a large hanger with a few planes outside on the flightline, on the far north side of the North canton Airfield, it is a humble but comprehensive collection of planes restored and under restoration.


 

 

[aeoliandave]

The flightline

 

[aeoliandave]

With about a dozen aircraft inside, the MAPS Veteran Volunteers - all former WW2, Korean War, Viet Nam and even some Gulf War vets - restore what they have a pay extra attention and displays to fallen or still on patrol  (aka deceased at Pearl Harbour).


 


My guide was Bob, who flew in WW2. A fount of wisdom and experience who quickly realized I wanted to hear his stories.

 

[aeoliandave]

With so many planes to choose from, I will just show pics of the one that got me attention - The Goodyear Blimp.


 


Well, this was an experimental Blimp that has a luxury gondola for 8 and two ducted fans for flying control. Unfortunately, this experimental crashed, MAPS salvaged the wreckage and the project was canceled by Goodyear.


 


Note how the huge plexi windows wrap down and under for super views, also the bubble front which has a clear floor too.

 

[aeoliandave]

Ducted fan. Yes they can rotate 360 for forward, reverse, up & down maneuvering.