Man uses Google Books to build a 1906 Oldsmobile
May 26, 2011 6:22 AM Subscribe
Bob Ferry used Google Books to find old magazines that described mechanics, showed pictures and gave descriptions of a 1906 Oldsmobile Model B Runabout so he could build it 100 years later.
Lots of pics and "how to" info at the article.
The blog posting says he started with plans from a replica car builder and then used the old books and mags to get more detail. That is a big difference from doing it all from the old documents.
But it is really cool.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 7:10 AM on May 26, 2011
But it is really cool.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 7:10 AM on May 26, 2011
The internet is awesome - not just eBooks, but the fact that it supports forums for horseless carriage enthusiasts.
posted by muddgirl at 7:13 AM on May 26, 2011
posted by muddgirl at 7:13 AM on May 26, 2011
"He loaded them up onto his iPad using his Google Books app and got to work."
Cool project & all, but this just screams "make me some kind of poster child for the new technology thingies!" to me.
posted by ShutterBun at 7:17 AM on May 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
Cool project & all, but this just screams "make me some kind of poster child for the new technology thingies!" to me.
posted by ShutterBun at 7:17 AM on May 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
Neat project, but I was disappointed to find out he used a modern lawn mower drivetrain to power the car. I had hoped he had built a replica 1906 engine from scratch; that would have been hardcore.
posted by TedW at 7:50 AM on May 26, 2011
posted by TedW at 7:50 AM on May 26, 2011
Apparently he's thinking about building an engine from scratch for his next project. Wow.
Love that 1906 Olds ad from "The Horseless Age" magazine. "The woman's favorite - because it is as safe and easy to manage as the family horse." ! And all the parts ads; reminds me a bit of late 1990s Computer Shopper magazine.
posted by epersonae at 7:59 AM on May 26, 2011
Love that 1906 Olds ad from "The Horseless Age" magazine. "The woman's favorite - because it is as safe and easy to manage as the family horse." ! And all the parts ads; reminds me a bit of late 1990s Computer Shopper magazine.
posted by epersonae at 7:59 AM on May 26, 2011
Someone needs to sue him before he does this with something more modern. We can't have just anyone replicating our precious technologies!
posted by blue_beetle at 8:04 AM on May 26, 2011
posted by blue_beetle at 8:04 AM on May 26, 2011
Wow, I love that Horseless Age magazine. The previous owners of my house had owned it since 1905 and soon after the grandfather of that family had bought it, he'd build a huge garage in the back to run a small bus company out of. I wonder if the buses looked like this one?
posted by octothorpe at 8:28 AM on May 26, 2011
posted by octothorpe at 8:28 AM on May 26, 2011
We can snark and shit, but... damn... I would LOVE to tool around in something like that.
posted by symbioid at 11:03 AM on May 26, 2011
posted by symbioid at 11:03 AM on May 26, 2011
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posted by Capt. Renault at 6:47 AM on May 26, 2011 [7 favorites]