I say low-tech but really mean non-electric or preindustrial as this craft certainly involves a lot of technology, perfected through generations of trial-and-error. This little documentary is beautifully put together and show some amazing skill using simple tools.
Basketmaker-Anasazi sandals
Bring an older Primitive Technology post back up to the front.
These are sandals constructed from the narrow-leaf yucca. These designs are based on specimens preserved in caves. These might not be much to look at but they are remarkably impervious to the many sines, spikes, and other poky things found in the deserts of the west. These are two and four warp designs and the yucca is only slightly processed. The leaves should be dried prior to use and then re-wetted just before weaving. This prevents the normal loosening associated with shrinkage during drying.
These are being diplayed at the Blackwater Draw atlatl and Primitive Technology day 2008.
I intend to continue to research these and will try to compare types through use.
A Classic Sheep Wagon in a Modern Setting
I love these old sheep camps. There are many on ranches from New Mexico to Idaho and beyond in old sheep and cattle country. They aren’t highway capable but it seems they could provide a real housing alternative for low-income minimalists. For many of us, living this way would be far better than a housing complex or apartment.
I took a fair amount of design inspiration from these wagons but added a bit of class along the way. I wouldn’t mind having a cook stove like this one though.
Off-the-shelf or build it yourself? I love these details in hand-built structures. This stove pipe cap has a classy look.
A short piece about Lorna’s wagon can be found here on the Tiny House Blog.
More Classic Camp Gear from the American West
I have no information about this image as it was one of those random internet finds. The gear looks to be from about the turn of the 19th-20th Century and supplies the basics for an American or Canadian outdoorsman. This would all apply to Mexico as well but as it’s not written in Spanish I think that rules out our southern neighbor as the source.
1, Sleeping Pocket; 2, Compass and pin; 3, Camping mattress; 4, 5, 6, Folding camp furniture; 7, Sleeping bag; 8, Folding baker; 9, Folding canvas cupboard; 10, Vacuum bottle; 11, Waterproof matchbox 12, 13, 14, 15, Canvas water pails; 16, Army (mess) kit; 17, Axe with folding guard; 18, First aid kit; 19, Metal tent peg; 20, Folding lantern; 21, Kerosene stove; 22, Folding grate; 23, Cook kit; 24, Folding baker, canvas case.
The Munro Bagpiper
Since it has been some time since my last bagpiper post I thought this one was in perfect order. A piper standing under the great Saltire in the sky. Enjoy!
Sheepherders’ Camps
Here are a few classic Sheep Camps from the Wyoming Tales and Trails webpage. There are some great photos and some good information on their web page. I personally took a lot of inspiration from these resourceful and low-cost housing solutions.
There’s a lot of other information and photos of western history here too. Have a look around.
Vintage Calvin Humor: The Record Player
I love the “ah hah!” moments of childhood. Why I do what I do. Thanks to Musclehead for this one.
Luigi Prina: A Fantasy Artist of Straight Out of My Dream World
I was thinking last night about a remarkable artist I first read about in The Blinking City, Luigi Prina. I posted about him before but his work never ceases to amaze me. Mr. Prina has been an architect for over 50 years but his model building is a real combination of inspired art and fantasy. He’s been building flying models from paper and balsa wood since he was very young shows his amazing and artistic genius.
Many look like images from Leonardo DaVinci’s workshop and are beautiful to look at, much less to see fly.
Have a look at the article (I’ve reprinted some of the images below) and watch the short video of this remarkable Maker of dreams. The Blinking City has a load of other great articles very worth reading.
And click this link to see even more: Luigi Prina
Maid of Dreams
A Big Traveling Beauty
Truly a road gypsy dreamhouse.
I won’t even try to describe this big beauty. See the write up from the Bedford Rally here on the Flying Tortoise.
Have a Look at the Racy “Waverley Belle” Velocipede
Are you aware, gentle reader, that the bicycle is closely associated with women’s liberation, the suffragettes, and other forms of late 19th century promiscuity and other offensive behaviors among the fair sex? Or that a truly rideable modern velocipede machine post-dates practical flying machines? Warning – a little tasteful nudity ahead.
Bicycling was the final straw, so to speak, giving women the excuse to wear (godforbid) trousers, freedom to travel, shop, and generally sever the ties that kept them at home in a modern world. I am digressing and that will require and entirely separate post, but to the wonderful Waverley Belle…
The following immensely popular sales announcement (to judge by the frequency with which it is displayed) is from a different era of madmen advertisers. I suspect this titillating placard was intended for a gentleman’s magazine; to be perused at the club or in the office, out of sight from young, impressionable eyes. I mean, who wants their kid lusting after a seductive beauty at this price? This ad is clearly appealing to those who are looking get a well-built machine under them with the intent to while away a glorious afternoon.
Go away kids, get your own toys.
She is certainly a superbly constructed beauty comprised of artistic lines and I suspect, is a wonderful ride indeed. The Victorians clearly appreciated a larger, sturdy frame. Of course, this one is mostly obscured by the lovely lady acting as a prop (these high-wheelers often had no kickstand you see).
Waverly (of the Indiana Bicycle Company) seems to have been a high-end and innovative company venturing into automobiles in the heady days of innovation before the Great War in Europe.
These Indiana boys were not just catering to the men. In fact, it seems they seem to be early schemers in the arena of target marketing; catering to the tastes of ladies and gentlemen alike from Indianapolis, Indiana to Medford, Oregon and beyond (e.g., France). These high-end beauties are a bit on the light-heavyweight side compared to our current tastes but are remarkably robust machines offering sturdiness and a joyful ride for a new and modern age.
Innovation was the by-word in Industrialized America and Waverley was in the game. Here’s a couple other, family oriented offerings they produced; not bicycles though.
Anyway, I needed to get some of this curated artwork out into the world and my love of cycling has grown inversely to the amount that my current living situation allows it to actually happen without misery, pain, or more likely death.
Below are some gratuitous images of the state of the world once women gain their mobility, trousers, and the right to vote. Bicycles have been associate with modern thinking, fun, liberation, and even sexual freedom for a long time now. Enjoy these immodest pictures.
And finally, while doing a bit of late-night image research to establish a firm date for the ad above, I came across the original image used for the Waverley Poster:
It doesn’t appear to be a particularly practical outfit for cycling. Must be French. I hope to get a load of other images from the era posted in the near future.
Interesting submissions are always welcome
I am pining for the day soon ahead when the freedom of cycling will be back in my life.
Preindustrial Craftsmanship 