Month: January 2017

1920 Ford Model T Touring Car – Grandpa’s First?

On By mvschulzeIn Automobile, Car, Curiosities, History, Model T, New jersey, New York, Photography, Road trip7 Comments

 

1921-00-00-004

1921-09-00-002-trip-to-%22suffern-road%22-in-model-t-touring-marie-curt-erna-elsa

1921-00-00-005ABOVE: My grandfather was the photographer, likely in the fall of 1921 near Suffern, New York, as he took his family out for a Sunday drive. That morning started closer to home in Guttenberg, NJ, as seen in the lower picture. Grandma, my father, (age about 11,) and his sisters, (8 1/2 and 7,) were the passengers.

Below: I suspect the “Kerosene oil  carriage side lights” were an option, a nice touch.

screen-shot-2017-01-16-at-5-53-52-pm

The image above is from the internet and, as a antique, selling for about $70 today. The entire cost of the new car, was about $325. A similar restored version is pictured below.

screen-shot-2017-01-15-at-8-39-46-am 

Thanks for viewing. Comments are always welcome. M 🙂

(Feature image tonight:  remembering Gene Cernan from the last lunar landing mission)

1958 Thunderbird – This Guy’s First Car

On By mvschulzeIn 1950's, 1960's, Automobile, Car, Curiosities, Exploring, History, Home, New jersey, Photography, Pondering10 Comments

05-01-65-new-milford-cars-in-driveway-date-approx-3-version-2

Seventeen came with the privilege to drive –  a legal license for  liberation, freedom, wondrous opportunities to explore with friends or a date, and a major lifestyle advantage. But it would take 20 months before I would actually buy my very own car, a  1958 Thunderbird.

Unfortunatly with this particular great looking coupe, I had quickly become owner of an aging, poorly maintined chasis with unsettling grinding sounds, clunks and bumps and  serious (expensive) mechanical failures deemed likely. Bought relativelty inexpensively  for $500, partly financed by my older brother, I parted unscathed with a slight profit a month later.

 But for those few springtime days of happily cleaning and waxing …while ambitious aspirations and fanciful daydreams played along with its radio, this beautiful classic car was mine.

 I wish I had it today.     

As usual, click on the image for a closer look, and thanks for viewing. Comments are always welcome. M 🙂

“Great Scott!” er… SPOT – Jupiter Collides with EARTH!

On By mvschulzeIn Astronomy, Buildings, Curiosities, humor, New jersey, Photography, Power grids, Science, sunset7 Comments

I dreamed that the Earth was being threatened by Jupiter’s “Great Red Spot!” 

dsc_0089

…No, that’s not really true, not even the dream part.  BUT, the clouds above do look a little like planet Jupiter’s atmosphere with its “Great ‘Red’ Spot,” just above and behind the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant here in New Jersey! Furthermore, the smokestack may be attempting to suck power out of the “spot,” as JCP&L investigates more sustainable energy sources; similar to my previous suggestion raised  about New York’s Con Ed last year,  here,  

For reference, here is the real thing: (Stock photo from Wikipedia.)

screen-shot-2016-12-06-at-1-42-13-pm

And below, my younger day’s attempt at “astrophotography.”
1-077-6-27-62-bergenfield-jupite-with-great-red-spot-through-8-in-telescope-version-2

Jupiter and its “Great Red Spot” (8″ f/12 reflector, 75x; EXA 35  mm SLR, 1/25th sec. Tri-X B&W film,) captured a long, long time ago in my parents back yard, way before digital imaging, and by today’s standards – pretty meager!  

Thanks for viewing. Click on or finger stretch images for increased detail, and comments are always welcome: M 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treasure in Manhattan – Morgan Library & Museum

On By mvschulzeIn Art, Buildings, Curiosities, Explore, History, New York, New York City, Photography, Pondering, Science8 Comments

 

dsc_0134

Located on Madison Ave at E. 36th street,  The Morgan Museum and Research Library containing the private holdings of financier J.P Morgan and other benefactors,  is an incomparable collection of original manuscripts, books, paintings, sculptures, cylinder seals and other fine works of literary and imaginary art, accessible to the public in its grandiose historic setting. 

dsc_0152
From the Rotunda, one enters the three-story Morgan Library, as also seen above.

dsc_0142
dsc_0143Thousands of books in pristine condition, date back centuries. One section contains tens of massive bibles, including the Gutenberg. 

dsc_0140
Apparently no expense was spared, as attested in the detail of the ceiling and skylight of this 1906 Manhattan treasure chest.

Below: A large collection of “Cylindrical Seals” are on display, dating back thousands of years. The cylinder, meticulously engraved, would render a relief image when impressed in a soft medium.

dsc_0144

dsc_0145

We enjoyed visiting this museum while in “The City”  last week.

As usual, click on the image for a closer look, and thanks for viewing. Comments are always welcome. M 🙂