Thursday, July 31, 2008

The first electric cars...

I apologize for not posting yesterday. A fierce thunderstorm knocked out our Internet - I'm posting from the local library today...

With all the interest these days in electric cars, I found it fascinating to learn that our forefathers had already created them over a century ago! Apparently because fancy ladies didn't appreciate getting their dresses dirty and smelly. ;-)

1904 Baker (car on left)
Model: Electric
Body Style: Stanhope
Chassis & Body by: The Baker Motor Vehicle Company of Cleveland, Ohio
Motor: 20 Volt Elwell-Parker
"This car has a top speed of 17 miles per hour and will travel 40 miles on one charge of the battery system."

1914 Baker
Model: WB
Body Style: Roadster
Chassis & Body by: The Baker Motor Vehicle Company of Cleveland, Ohio
Motor: 48 Volt General Electric 1.75 hp

Here you can see the battery inside the 1904 model...

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Horseless Carriage


We were told that this is the most difficult 'car' to drive in the entire collection. The steering is almost impossible to manuever. Good thing it can't go very fast!

1906 Success

Model: A

Body Style: Auto Buggy

Chassis & Body by: Success Auto-Buggy Manufacturing Company of St. Louis, Missouri

Engine: 17.8 cid air cooled single cylinder 2 hp

This primitive chain-drive high-wheeler sold for $250 new.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

"Frankly, my dear...."


I have another movie reference for you all today. This time I can say that I not only have seen it, but it's one of my all-time favorites and the book is a favorite too! Because carriages were the predecessors of cars, this amazing collection has a few of them on display. This is my favorite carriage!! It appeared in the movie "Gone with the Wind" starring Clark Gable and Vivian Leigh! In coming days I'll show you a few of the very first cars, which were basically carriages with engines put into them.

Circa 1885 Skeleton Boot Victoria

Manufacturer: Studebaker Brothers of Chicago, Illinois

In the first picture, taken a couple of weeks ago, you can see my boys with the carriage. The photo below shows them when we first saw this collection, 2 years ago...boy, haven't they grown!!

Monday, July 28, 2008

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang


Here is a famous car that some of you might recognize! Who has seen this movie? I regretfully admit that I never have, but it's now on my list of 'must see' movies.

From the placard:
1921 Mercedes/Benz
Model: 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang II'
Body Style: Tourer
Chassis: circa 1910 Mercedes
Body by: Bligh Brothers
Engine: circa 1915 18,882 ccd (1152.25cid!) Benz BZ-IV aero in-line 6 - 230 hp
Vehicle Conceptualized and Built by: Count Louis Zborowski of Higham, England

This is the only remaining one of 3 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' cars built by Count Louis Zborowdki from 1921 to 1924. This car raced at Brooklands and was clocked at 108.27 mph! Count Zborowski and his creations were immortalized by the children's book and subsequent movie entitled 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'.

We even got to hear it run! You might recognize my son in the crowd. He has his hands over his ears - it was pretty loud! He was thrilled though!!

Sunday, July 27, 2008

1967 Jaguar


This one is for my aunt. I'm not sure how much she likes jags, but I do know this is her very favorite color!

We had a wonderful family reunion at her house today. Thanks again, Auntie M!!

Saturday, July 26, 2008

I found a horse!


There aren't any Mustangs in this collection, but I suppose this one will do... ;-)
This detail is from a 1961 Ferrari 250GT Cabriolet. Now, this is a car that I can see myself tooling around town in...it's even in my color! If you enlarge the first photo, you can see that someone did, indeed, drive it recently - YUCK!!

Friday, July 25, 2008

Luxury


I'm posting more than one photo of this car, because I want to show you some of the details...

Here are the specs:
1940 Brewster Buick
Model: 90 Limited
Body Style: Town Car
Chassis by: Buick Motor Division - General Motors Sales Corp. of Flint, Michigan
Custom Body by: The Brewster Company, Inc. of New York, New York
Engine: 320.2 cid valve-in-head straight 8 - 141 hp

"This is the only Brewster known to exist on a 1940 Buick chassis and is likely to be the last of the 'heart radiator' cars. The car was built at a supposed cost of $18,000 for Mrs. Richard Whitney, wife of the former president of the New York Stock Exchange. The rear compartment contains 2 crystal bud vases, a vanity compartment on each side, 2 fold-up jump seats and is fitted with a polar bear rug."

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Indy car


I wish that with yesterday's photo, I could also have posted the sound that we were hearing as we walked down those steps...because this car was running and boy, doesn't it sound good! So powerful that you can feel the rumble in your chest. Pretty incredible for a 4-cylinder! Here are the specs from the placard in front of the car:
1961 Ewing
Model: Dean Van Lines Special
Body Style: Indy Roadster
Chassis & Body by: Wayne Ewing working for A.J. Watson of Indianapolis, Indiana
Engine: 255 cid Offenhauser dual overhead cam inline 4 - 400 hp

"This car was built in late 1959 and raced in the Indianapolis 500 in 1960, 1961, 1962 & 1963, qualifying for the pole position in both '60 & '61. Qualifying speed in 1960 was a track record of 146.521 mph. Its best finish was 2nd place in 1961 with Eddie Sachs coming in 8 seconds behind A.J. Foyt. The car is restored to that 1961 configuration."
They still take it to the track to run during antique shows. Wouldn't that be something to see?!

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Are you ready?


Here we are, walking down to one of the garages. Consider this your first taste of all those wonderful old vehicles. Do you see any of your favorites? More details to come...

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Golf-Cart


If you would prefer to ride, this kind lady would be glad to take you down the hill to see the cars...

Monday, July 21, 2008

30th Annual Paris Hill Founders' Day


Saturday we drove 4 miles up the road to Paris Hill. It is a beautiful village that we always recommend that visitors drive through on the way to our house (you can avoid it, but who would want to?) because it is a beautiful old neighborhood filled with antique and well-maintained homes. Paris Hill was the county seat in the early days of Oxford County, so there is a lot of history there. There is even a famous son - Hannibal Hamlin, vice-president of President Abraham Lincoln. Pictured here is his boyhood home/mansion. It features an incredible view of the White Mountains, although it was too hazy to enjoy during this visit. Currently is is the vacation home of our local billionaire, and the home of his world renowned classic car collection. The collection is open for viewing on this one day each year, and people from all over the country travel here to see it - maybe you will want to next year! Mark your calendar!! Over the next few days I will be showing you some of my favorites, but first I had to show the horses that were giving wagon tours around the village....if I didn't start with the horses, you might think there was something wrong with me, wouldn't you? Hee hee!



The best part of the day is following the caretaker (not the owner) of all these vehicles around and listening to him tell about the cars. They are his pride and joy and he is meticulous about restoring them to their original condition, and in some cases, maintaining them in their original condition. He has loads of stories to tell - some of which I will be sharing with you during the coming days...



On a more personal note, when we first met him a few years ago, we discovered that we had purchased our home out from under him, without realizing he was the other buyer interested in the property. The reason being that our home came with a 7-bay garage, plus there were 8 more garage bays in our basement (which has since been renovated into an in-law apartment.). He, of course, wanted all that garage space for his personal car collection. We, of course, use it for our horses. When he learned that, I thought he was going to cry. To each, his own, I guess... ;-)

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Down Main Street, literally!


Looking down at Main Street, I can pick out a couple of things that I have featured in previous posts - the New England Farm House and the bridge over the Little Androscoggin River. Do you see any others?

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Friday, July 18, 2008

My guys!


Can't you tell our youngest was thrilled to pose with Dad?

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Yoda?


The boys are all Star Wars fans, of course. It looked like Yoda was peeking over his shoulder and taking in the scenery...

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Peeking through the trees...


From this angle you can see Route 219 heading to Greenwood...

While I was over on this side of the cliffs, I made an interesting discovery - deer droppings! Do you suppose they enjoy the view like we do? There certainly isn't much grazing up there on the rocks, so I don't know why else they would be out there...

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

West Paris Village


Here is one of my favorite shots of the village...The square yellow building is the Legion Memorial School building, which houses the kindergarten and first grades....just behind it is the town hall, which has the big sand pile and red municipal storage building behind it...the soapbox derby hill is just to the left of that, although you can't see the hill very well from this angle.....let me know if you can pick out the blue house...

Monday, July 14, 2008

The surrounding hills...


Looking beyond town at High Street as it heads over the hills to Norway and South Paris...

Sunday, July 13, 2008

It's right there...


One of the boys helps his friends locate a familiar landmark. Everything looks different from up here! ;-)

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Friday, July 11, 2008

Zoom...


Peeking through the trees at some of the homes on Route 219 and watching a red car zoom North on Route 26...

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Hiking


Here are a few of the items that a 2nd Grade teacher might take on a hike with her class: guidebooks to help identify items they might find along the trail and a measuring device to see how long the trail is. Those books sure came in handy and the kids all fought over who got to use the measuring wheel. I can't remember how far we hiked, but they wrote it down and applied it to their math lessons in the classroom...



Last month we hiked up Berry's Ledge with the 2nd grade class. This was a wonderful opportunity to show you my town from above. Keep checking back over the next few days for more scenes of West Paris...

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Maine State Flag Carrier


Okay, this is the last photo from last weekend's CMTPA Team Penning and Ranch Sorting Extravaganza! If you would like to see more, please check out my Morning Call Ranch Photography website - there is a link over there on the right. Tomorrow we'll head back to West Paris! Wait 'til you see what I have in store for you... ;-)
I just had to share this image with you - I don't know what it is about this photo, but it really intrigues me. The angle...the lighting...the wind...her expression...something...I'm anxious to read your comments...or maybe it's just me?

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Monday, July 7, 2008

Hay is for horses...


The hay bags are almost as tall as the cowgirl! Can you see how intently the horses are watching her? They are anxiously awaiting her arrival with their snack!!

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Sparkly!!


How does a horse show his American Pride on Independence Day? With a little glitter!

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Another 'Stang...


Okay, I may like this one better than the Dark Horse. It belongs to the husband of one of my team penning friends - he drove it to the penning today and parked it next to my truck!! After I read the license plate, I told him that I just had to take a picture for this blog. He told me that he figured his wife had a "hay-burner", so he wanted one too! ;-)

Friday, July 4, 2008

4th of July Parade


Our team penning club was asked to ride in the Turner (about 1/2 hour East of West Paris) 4th of July Parade. My husband took the camera, so today I get to make a cameo appearance on my blog! Can you pick me out of this group of riders? I was so happy to be there - it has always been one of my dreams to ride in a parade!

Thursday, July 3, 2008

New England Farmhouse


I love these rambling old farmhouses with the barn attached to the house via the shed. Nowadays they are considered a fire hazard and I've been told that some insurance companies won't cover them. After all, barns are thought to be at high risk for fire, and if the home is connected to it, there's a good chance that it would burn too, in the event of a fire. I grew up in one of these farmhouses though, and personally I think it's worth the risk. It's so much more pleasant to have a shed to walk through on your way to tend the animals during a storm...

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Blue House II


I promised you an update on the vines covering the porch on this pretty blue house on Main Street in West Paris. Here it is a few weeks later and the leaves have completely grown in to cover the porch. I'll keep checking on it for you because I'm anxious to find out if there will be flowers later on this summer....

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

July 2008 Theme Day: "No . . ." signs


Too bad he can't read! He might ask his owner to move him...
We had to post this sign up on the show secretary's booth at our team penning events. In the past, riders would lead their horses up to the booth while they were signing up for classes. There would be all these horses and people milling around in a small area. As well-behaved as most of the horses are, it was an accident waiting to happen. At the very least, someone was going to have their foot stepped on by a horse - ouch!
Today you can click on the following link and see "No" signs from all over the world!! Enjoy!!

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Ararat, Australia by freefalling, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Aspen (CO), USA by IamMBB, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Avignon, France by Nathalie, Bandung, Indonesia by Harry Makertia, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Birmingham (AL), USA by VJ, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Brantford (ON), Canada by Nancy, Brighton, UK by Harvey, Brookville (OH), USA by Abraham, Bucaramanga, Colombia by Fernando, Bucharest, Romania by Malpraxis, Budapest, Hungary by agrajag, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cavite, Philippines by Steven Que, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Château-Gontier, France by Laurent, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chennai, India by Shantaram, Chennai, India by Ram N, Chesapeake (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Cincinnati, USA by Erik Laursen, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Corsicana (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Delta (CO), USA by Bill, Duluth (MN), USA by Sun Dog Press, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Edinburgh, UK by Dido, Folkestone, UK by Piskie, Forks (WA), USA by Corinne, Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA by Gigi, Gaia, Portugal by m+p, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Hanoi, Vietnam by Jérôme, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Gerald, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jerusalem, Israel by Esther, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Knoxville (TN), USA by Knoxville Girl, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Lakewood (OH), USA by mouse, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, London, UK by Ham, London, UK by Mo, Lynchburg (VA), USA by Timothy, Mainz, Germany by JB, Melbourne, Australia by John, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Misawa, Japan by misawa mama, Monroe (GA), USA by Tanya, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Munich, Germany by Troy, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Delhi, India by Delhi Photo Diary, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by • Eliane •, Newcastle, Australia by Julia, Newport News (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Ocean Township (NJ), USA by Josy, Oklahoma City (OK), USA by ananda.tashie, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Palos Verdes (CA), USA by tash, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Petoskey (MI), USA by Christie, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Cheryl, Poplar Bluff (MO), USA by Tricia, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Portland (ME), USA by Corey, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Posadas, Argentina by Lega, Pretoria, South Africa by Sam Ruth, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Reykjavik, Iceland by Vírgíll, Riga, Latvia by Riga Photos, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Rouen, France by Bbsato, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by atc, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, San Antonio (TX), USA by Kramer, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, Santa Fe (NM), USA by Randem, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sequim (WA), USA by Norma, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Silver Spring (MD), USA by John, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, Springfield (IL), USA by Aubrey, Stanwood (WA), USA by MaryBeth, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Stratford, Canada by Barb, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Suffolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Ann, Sydney, Australia by Julie, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tamarindo, Costa Rica by David, Tel-Aviv, Israel by Olga, Tempe (AZ), USA by angie, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torun, Poland by Glenn, Toulouse, France by Julia, Trujillo, Peru by Giulianna, Turin, Italy by Livio, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by D.C. Confidential, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Williamsburg (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine,