Steam-mench Jay Leno's 1909 Stanley
For our next instalment of Jay Leno Wednesday here at the Steampunk Workshop we have Jay stepping us through the start-up procedure for a 1909 Stanley and then giving us a ride. Well worth the watch if only for the part where Jay burns all of the hair off his forearms! He handles the explosion like a true mad scientist!
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Comments
It looks like pure death to use....
It certainly has the look.. but I like last weeks much better... just from how relativity simple it actually was to run... well compared to the Stanley ...
The way things are going
The way things are going right now, you're looking at the vehicle of the future.
My favorite thing about Jay
My favorite thing about Jay is, if he owns it, he will drive it. Even better, he knows how to work on it. I like the later steamer Jay has. I forget the brand, it looks like a Packard Twin 6, or Caddy, but it is an "instant" driver. The boiler uses gasoline, and when you turn the key, in the time it took him to describe the start methods and noises to Dennis "Mustache" Gage(My Classic Car host), the car was ready to drive. It still required a blow down though.
Not that I'm a die hard Steam punk myself, but I'd love a Cyclone style engine for my Nissan 4x4 or in a light buggy style car (think Lotus 7 or a VW rail frame dune buggy streeterised), or one of their planned propane fueled mini set ups on an old Schwinn Excelsior as a moped.
If only I had a full machine shop. . .
(edit) I finally got last weeks to load. For some reason my old laptop just won't load that one. The Doble was the car I was referring to. Cyclones use a similar boiler design but improved the efficiency with modern metals and bearings in the engines.
Stanley Steamer Sighting
While visiting the Mystic Seaport Museum (Mystic, CT) on 8/9/08 I had the great fortune of spotting a 1910 Stanley Steamer (Model 70). Must give the owner credit for taking such a treasure out in public. Despite numerous 'Do NOT Touch" signs people still felt compelled to poke and prod. These days when someone says "hot car!" they mean style. When he told me the car was "hot" he meant it literally. The front end radiates some serious BTUs. In addition to it's brilliant engineering and stunning good looks - the car runs virtually silent.
(some shots on my Flickr photostream here
Who knew
Now I find my self liking Jay Leno. I don't know how to feel.
Edwardian automobiles
Jay has some wonderful automobiles in his collection and it's fun to watch his videos but if you want to be up close and personal with the real thing, come and visit the Seal Cove Auto Museum located on Mount Desert Island, Maine. Like steam? The Museum has a 1900 Locomobile, a 1909 White, and four Stanley Steamers dating from 1903 to 1914. What about electrics? Yup, the only surviving Kimball (1913) and a perfect 1908 Rauch & Lang. Totally over the top gas put puts; an 1899 De Dion Bouton Vis-A-Vis and a 1913 Peugeot mahogany bodied Skiff that would send any Steampunk into raptures. Some 48 automobiles dating from 1886 and 12 vintage motorcyles... Ever see a Flying Merkel? The Museum opens May 1 and closes on Oct 31. Let your friends hike Acadia National Park, search for Martha Stewart, and shop in Bar Harbor... you will drive out to the middle of nowhere, on the 'quiet side' of the Island and discover the finest collection of brass era automobiles in the USA. Have a peek at www.sealcoveautomuseum.org
I was there this past August
I was there this past August and have a bunch of pictures I'll be posting soon - it really is a wonderful and special place!
Maybe steam can make a comeback.
Jay's video on the delay and hazard of classic steam has been an inspiration for a new air steam hybrid in development. Check out www.brashengines.com for more info.