The advantage two-strokes had over four-strokes was that they completed their power cycle in half the time of a four stroke engine. This meant they could rev very fast, so ‘Das Kleine Wunder’ (the little marvel) was the perfect engine for DKW’s new range of motorcycles. 1928 was a bumper year for DKW. Thousands of motorcycles, all powered by their new engine, practically raced off their production line and year on year sales just keep increasing.

Motorcycle production peaked at 55,000 in 1937 making DKW the largest and most successful motorcycle company in the world.

Text and image from Project Heinkel

Portrait of Gloria Dawn

Original to the left

Same Photoshop procedure as with
the two posted yesterday, but with
the colours a bit more down toned
this time – Ted

Image found on Casa di Ricardo

….. a bunch of society women have stolen Grandma Duck’s car.

Image found on Hagley Transportation Museum

Although both the babe and the car is very interesting, the most interesting thing in the photography is the restaurant; The Ekeberg Restaurant in Oslo. The restaurant has a marvellous view of Oslo city and the hills surrounding it and it is one of the most famous buildings from it’s period in Europe.

Topimage found on citroenladies

One of aunt Mabel’s greatest fears is loosing the feeling in her hands and arms so she has just in case it should ever happen started training on how to still manage to  keep up her steady drinking.

Those of you who has been following the life and times of aunt Mabel for some time should know that exercising and training is far from her favourite pastime. It does after all require some sort of effort, but as we all know, fear is a mighty driving force.

On a whole, as the pictures clearly show, I think our Mabel will be able to knock down more than a few whatever happens to her hands and arms ;-)

Image found on gentlecar

Image found on Hagley Transportation Museum

…… he doesn’t look ridiculous enough in that knitted crap alone, let’s make him carry a dead hen.

Claude Henry Buckle R.I., R.S.M.A. (1905–1973) was an English painter well known for railway posters and carriage prints and also for very fine oil and watercolour paintings.

Life and work

Claude Buckle had from an early age an enormous interest in art. He attended Grammar school in Wolverhampton and on leaving in 1922 joined Fry’s Chocolates in Bristol as an assistant architect. During his time with Fry’s he was involved in the building of J. S. Fry & Sons factory at Keynsham Somerdale and was supported by Fry’s to study Architecture at Bristol University. He lived at Keynsham and Kent Road Bishopston in Bristol.

In 1926 Claude moved to London aged 21 and joined Wallis, Gilbert and Partners responsible for building the Ford factories at Dagenham.

He also painted in his spare time and became one of the youngest amateur members of the British Savages Art Group^[1] based in Bristol in 1930 after submitting four drawings. He contributed to the yearly exhibition until 1934. He found time to travel in France, Spain and North Africa using Tramp Steamers recording scenes that later formed many of the ideas for his water colours paintings.

At the age of 26 he left full-time employment to concentrate his efforts as a professional freelance commercial artist. He undertook commissions including hotel brochures and book illustrations.

One year later in 1932 he obtained his first railway poster commission at the Southern Railway HQ at Waterloo station from a Mr Beaumont and later other commissions through the publicity offices of the Southern Region under the P.R.O Don Falkner.

This was Buckle’s big break and during the pre-war years and after the war until 1963 Buckle produced some estimated 85 posters and 25 carriage prints for the railways making him one of the most prolific and recognised railway poster artists. He was a close friend of Terence Cuneo whom he met frequently on travels around England recording scenes for the railway posters that were a common site on railway station platforms and booking halls. Both Artists have surviving artwork in the National Railway Museum NRM. However when the work started to dry up in 1963, following the Beeching Axe, Buckle relied more and more on the private market place to earn a living. On the advice of Terence Cuneo, he moved away almost entirely from oil painting to concentrate his efforts on watercolours.

During the war years, he worked as an architect with the Bomb disposal and rescue unit based at Old Kent Road. Like many others, he witnessed terrible scenes of death and destruction in bombed London. Buckle spent the last years of the war in Northern Ireland producing architectural plan and supervising the construction of aerodromes for American bombers.

In 1946 he married Barbara and found appreciative support and happiness. Two years later, he moved from the outskirts of London to a small hamlet, Vernham Deanin North Hampshire, where his twin children Terence and Barbara were born. He resumed both commercial painting and engineering architectural perspectives as well as fine art oil and watercolour paintings.

During the late 1950s, the main construction contractors to the Atomic Energy Authority commissioned Buckle to paint a series of Oils and watercolours depicting the construction phase and the finished plants of the first emerging atomic power stations. In 1958, the British engineering stand at the Brussels World Fair exhibited his painting in oils depicting the construction of the first commercial atomic power station at Hinkley Point showing Goliath, the largest crane in the world at that time, used to construct the station. The picture measuring 18 feet by 24 feet, took four months to paint.

From 1958 onwards, Buckle concentrated on watercolour particularly water scenes. The Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, the Federation of British Artists, the Marine Society and the London Boat Show exhibited the pictures in their galleries from 1958 onwards. In 1962, Buckle accepted an invitation to become a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (RI) and in 1964 accepted membership of the Royal Society for Marine Artists (RSMA). Buckle also sold many paintings through private galleries and was in demand by private collectors and admirers that included the family. He also allowed printing companies to reproduce certain pictures notably Medici and Royle’s. The full-scale lithographic reproductions were distributed to High Street retailers for example Fenwick. He also held sales of his work in Marlborough, Wiltshire, and London and in his studio at Vernham Dean. He produced an estimated 300 watercolour paintings.

Buckle particularly enjoyed holidays in France and Spain, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of recording French and Spanish scenes that he later completed in the Studio at Vernham Dean. He visited France and Spain nearly every year from 1952 until 1973 which gave him the main source of inspiration for his watercolour paintings. He spent much time during the later years of his life on the Île de Ré at Rivedoux. The pictures depicting the scenes of this area are some of his best watercolours.

In his appreciation to Claude Buckle, Terence Cuneo paid tribute to Buckle’s style of painting. He pointed out that the living world gives enough inspiration on its own to produce a very high quality picture suitable for the living room. Buckle has achieved a top position in British watercolour art and continues to give to this day great delight and pleasure to the many owners of the paintings and inspiration to artists attempting to paint in a traditional manner.

Two locomotives at the heart of a historic preserved railway have been given a secret make-over as the line celebrates its 150th anniversary. The original two engines on the Talyllyn line in Gwynedd are now a striking "Indian Red", as they were in 1865 and 1866. The railway inspired the Rev W Awdry to write Thomas the Tank Engine stories.

The special anniversary year is being marked with a series of events throughout 2015. Photographic archives helped reproduce the original livery for the locomotives, No.1 Talyllyn and No.2 Dolgoch, before the results were unveiled online – grabbing 3,000 ‘likes’ on Facebook within days.

‘World first’

"We were just stunned when the numbers just kept climbing and climbing," said the railway’s general manager, Chris Price.

"What people have also responded to is the quality of the work that has been done with many commenting that the overall finish is amazing."

The railway, running from the coast at Tywyn to Abergynolwyn and Nant Gwernol inland, was built to carry slate. It was saved by volunteers in 1951, making it what they say is the world’s first preserved railway.

Text and images from BBC NEWS North West Wales

An electric tricycle, capable of a top speed of 15 mph, has driven into a safety row on its first day on the road.

The Sinclair C5 – launched by the computer millionaire, Sir Clive Sinclair – is designed for short journeys around town and can be driven by anyone over the age of 14. But the £399 vehicle, driven by a battery-powered motor, only 2 ft. 6 in high and six feet long, has raised safety concerns.

It’s a sort of milk float you’re putting into the traffic stream

Dr Murray MacKay, Birmingham University

The British Safety Council says the vehicle is too close to the ground and the driver has poor visibility in traffic. He sits with his legs outstretched and the controls are beneath his thighs.

With a top speed of only 15 mph, safety experts say the C5 could be vulnerable to knocks from other cars. The vehicle is open-topped and the driver is not obliged to wear a crash helmet or even have a driving licence.

Dr Murray MacKay head of the Accident Research Unit at Birmingham University said: "It’s a sort of milk float you’re putting into the traffic stream and that sort of dislocation is going to cause conflicts, particularly turning right."

Sir Clive claims his new vehicle will be a perfect runabout: "It’s ideal for shopping, going to the office, going to school, any trip around town."

BBC News asked British motor racing legend, Stirling Moss, to take the C5 for a spin around town. His verdict: "I think it’s safe if you drive it realising it isn’t a car… ride it just like a bicycle and I think you should be alright."

In Context

The Sinclair C5 was a commercial disaster. Only about 12,000 were ever produced. However, it has since achieved cult status and in 2002, a vehicle in mint condition could fetch up to £900 – compared with an original retail price of £399.

Prior to the C5, Sir Clive Sinclair had chalked up significant successes – the first pocket calculator, the first pocket television and the best-selling British computer of all time. He was awarded a knighthood by Margaret Thatcher.

Now in his sixties, Sir Clive still controls Sinclair Research. His recent inventions include a device which propels bicycles without the need for pedalling and a radio the size of a 10p coin, designed to fit in the ear.

Text from BBC’s OnThisDay

I woke up to about a feet of snow, strong winds, stranded trailers and closed airports to day and more of the same in the forecasts so I felt a bit for a little of this – Ted

Let’s see how well you have studied classic celebrity backsides visitors.
The question is simple; Who’s famous ass is this?

Tip: her daughter plays one of the leads in “Special Victims Unit”

And last weeks ass belonged to Diane Webber

Old Spanish book cover from book No 50 in the series La Novela Moderna. English title “Those Who Stay At Home”. And in my eyes it seams like staying home was a rather smashing idea – Ted

Image found on AmericanShaft

The raven is sometimes known as “the wolf-bird.” Ravens, like many other animals, scavenge at wolf kills, but there’s more to it than that.

Both wolves and ravens have the ability to form social attachments and they seem to have evolved over many years to form these attachments with each other, to both species’ benefit.

There are a couple of theories as to why wolves and ravens end up at the same carcasses. One is that because ravens can fly, they are better at finding carcasses than wolves are. But they can’t get to the food once they get there, because they can’t open up the carcass. So they’ll make a lot of noise, and then wolves will come and use their sharp teeth and strong jaws to make the food accessible not just to themselves, but also to the ravens.

Ravens have also been observed circling a sick elk or moose and calling out, possibly alerting wolves to an easy kill. The other theory is that ravens respond to the howls of wolves preparing to hunt (and, for that matter, to human hunters shooting guns). They find out where the wolves are going and following. Both theories may be correct.

Wolves and ravens also play. A raven will sneak up behind a wolf and yank its tail and the wolf will play back. Ravens sometimes respond to wolf howls with calls of their own, resulting in a concert of howls and calls.

Sources: Mind of the Raven; Bernd Heinrich, The American Crow and the Common Raven; Lawrence Kilham

Text and image found on ABSURD THEATRE OF DESIRE

….. that Ovaltine turned him into a girl

Kerstin Anita Marianne Ekberg was a Swedish actress, model, and sex symbol. She is best known for her role as Sylvia in the Federico Fellini film La Dolce Vita (1960), which features a scene of her cavorting in Rome’s Trevi Fountain alongside Marcello Mastroianni.

Early life

Ekberg was born on 29 September 1931, in Malmö, Skåne, the eldest girl and the sixth of eight children. In her teens, she worked as a fashion model. In 1950, Ekberg entered the Miss Malmö competition at her mother’s urging, leading to the Miss Sweden contest which she won. She consequently went to the United States to compete for the Miss Universe 1951 title (an unofficial pageant at that time, the pageant became official in 1952) despite speaking little English.

Early career

Though she did not win Miss Universe, as one of six finalists she did earn a starlet‘s contract with Universal Studios, as was the rule at the time. In America, Ekberg met Howard Hughes, who at the time was producing films and wanted her to change her nose, teeth and name (Hughes said “Ekberg” was too difficult to pronounce). She refused to change her name, saying that if she became famous people would learn to pronounce it, and if she did not become famous it would not matter.

As a starlet at Universal, Ekberg received lessons in drama, elocution, dancing, horseriding and fencing. She appeared briefly in the 1953 Universal films, Abbott and Costello Go to Mars and The Golden Blade. Ekberg skipped many of her drama lessons, restricting herself to horseriding in the Hollywood Hills. Ekberg later admitted she was spoiled by the studio system and played instead of pursuing bigger film roles.

Mainstream career

The combination of a colourful private life and physique gave her appeal to gossip magazines such as Confidential and to the new type of men’s magazine that proliferated in the 1950s. She soon became a major 1950s pin-up. In addition, Ekberg participated in publicity stunts. Famously, she admitted that an incident where her dress burst open in the lobby of London’s Berkeley Hotel was prearranged with a photographer.

By the mid-1950s, after several modelling jobs, Ekberg finally broke into the film industry. She guest-starred in the short-lived TV series Casablanca (1955) and Private Secretary. She had a small part in the film Blood Alley (1955) starring John Wayne and Lauren Bacall. She appeared alongside the Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis comedy act in Artists and Models (1955) andHollywood or Bust (1956) both for Paramount Pictures. For a while she was publicized as “Paramount’s Marilyn Monroe.”

Paramount cast her in War and Peace (1956) which was shot in Rome, alongside Mel Ferrer and Audrey Hepburn. Meanwhile, RKO gave the actress her first leading role in Back from Eternity (also 1956). Ekberg featured in five films released during 1956, the last two being Man in the Vault and Zarak. These other productions were minor and had a limited impact on her career. In 1957, she starred in the British drama Interpol with Victor Mature and Valerie also in 1957 with Sterling Hayden.

In 1958, she appeared in two high-profile films, where she co-starred with Bob Hope in Paris Holiday and starred with Philip Carey and Gypsy Rose Lee in Screaming Mimi. A European film, Sheba and the Gladiator (1959), followed.

Federico Fellini gave Ekberg her greatest role in La Dolce Vita (1960), in which she played the unattainable “dream woman” of the character played by Marcello Mastroianni. The film has been released in English, French, German and Italian. After this, she accepted a fairly good role in The Dam of the Yellow River in 1960.

She then appeared in Boccaccio ’70 (1962), a film that also featured Sophia Loren and Romy Schneider. Soon thereafter, Ekberg was being considered to play the first Bond girl, Honey Ryder in Dr. No, but the role went to an unknown Ursula Andress. In 1963, Ekberg would go on to costar with Andress, Frank Sinatra, and Dean Martin in the western-comedy 4 for Texas. Fellini would call her back for two more films: I clowns (1972), and Intervista (1987), where she played herself in a reunion scene with Mastroianni.

Personal life

Both Ekberg’s marriages were to actors. She was married to Anthony Steel from 1956 to 1959 and to Rik Van Nutter from 1963 until their divorce in 1975. In one interview, she said she wished she had a child, but stated the opposite on another occasion.

Ekberg was often outspoken in interviews, naming famous people she couldn’t bear. And she was frequently quoted as saying that it was Fellini who owed his success to her, not the other way around. “They would like to keep up the story that Fellini made me famous, Fellini discovered me,” she said in a 1999 interview with The New York Times.

Ekberg did not live in Sweden after the early 1950s and rarely visited the country. However, she welcomed Swedish journalists into her house outside Rome and in 2005 appeared in the popular radio program Sommar, where she talked about her life. She stated in an interview that she would not move back to Sweden before her death since she would be buried there.

On 19 July 2009, she was admitted to the San Giovanni Hospital in Rome after falling ill in her home in Genzano according to a medical official in its neurosurgery department. She had been living in Italy for many years. Despite her condition not being serious, Ekberg was put under observation in the facility.

In December 2011, it was reported that the 80-year-old Ekberg was “destitute” following three months in a hospital with a broken thigh in Rimini, during which her home was robbed and badly damaged in a fire. Ekberg applied for help from the Fellini Foundation, itself in difficult financial straits.

Text from Wikipedia

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