I just awoke as the Kat was having a fit! 18 inches new snow and he wanted to go out and Preen on the porch for his fans. He has been wonderful since I retrieved his Contact under the Fridge, cleaned it, and put it beside his dish at supper on a nice piece of Satin from my Mother's sewing kit.
He actually stopped stuffing his face, and came over and rubbed against my leg and purred Thank You, then let me warm his tummy on my lap, wriggling around for comfort, His.
Anyway.
I miss the No Draft window, too, and side windows that were vertical so drops of rain won't fall on your arm at stop lites. Also miss those air vent doors down by clutch and psgrs feet that could be opened to let in fresh air by the TON.
Regular and High Test gas, and the pumps that went 'Ding' with every gallon pumped. The old air stand at service stations, some were illuminated, and had crank on side for pressure and went 'Ding' 'til pressure equalized in tire.
Hose you drove over, went 'Ding' inside.
No Power Brakes and 20 million turns lock to lock, parking. Not so fun.
Parallel parking uphill backwards at night w clutch and manual steering.
Vacuum wipers SUCKED on hills.
DC Generators and Regulators let lights go brite and dim if heavy load from idle.
You could remove battery caps and add distilled water. Batteries WILL explode WITH VIOLENCE when gassing by sparks from jumpers, as O2 and Hydrogen present. Been there, done that, ruined coat. Snow handy to apply to face.
Had to crank many old trucks I had to get them to start if battery low. Some old equipment had 800 cu in engines and a Mag. No Starter, and a Crank, Retarded spark to start, manually. and choked engine pulling crank thru to inhale gas for start.
Fairmont Motor Cars Crank Start, engine reversible, and the real old ones had spark coils w/vibrating points and drycells for power.
Point ignition sucked, on cars and trucks, but, the later Magnetic rotor type worked great, and was simple to repair if that source coil around distributor shaft 'Opened' 50 Ohms was the value, I think??? on GM 350s. Distributor was at rear of engine against firewall and fun to get at on a rainy night.
Truly old Ford V8s had distributor on front of engine just above crankshaft pulley.
Always carried a spare distributor cap and wires, old Rotor, and point set w/ condenser and the little screw. Ditto fan belts, and a quart of oil and a funnel, box of bulbs and fuses. The oil in ALL TIN cans, not the cardboard ones!
Remember the Choke, when starting in the cold.
Most trucks could be repaired and serviced with Wal Mart tools, or those plastic ones from Fisher Price, and 1/2 and 9/16. Labour Free. A headlight could be changed in a few minutes for less than five dollars, and the Sixties cars had four, smaller.
I find it hard to believe there are men in their Forties that can not drive Standard! Back in the day one HAD to take the Driving Test on Standard on Three on the Tree, or Four on the Floor.
No teen would be CAUGHT DEAD driving automatic, unless car was free, or the option was NO car.
Now I suppose Texting takes up dexterity rather than double-clutching? and defines Manhood thru Apps. and paddle shifts or a big stupid lift kit Black Diesel Ego truck owned by the bank and has more chips than a Big Mac with fries, and smokes like a PA leaving Albany.
4 Whl Drive had a myriad of levers on floor and a PTO, at times. Had to get out to lock in hubs as you left pavement, and unlock them going out, and set transfer case for 2 High. The often was a Neutral position to run a PTO as in Farm Service. If in 4 wheel drive on pavement with hubs cut in, the truck would bind and hop around curves and eventually break something as drive train wrapped up. On dirt there was enough slippage.
On GMs there was a Constant Velocity Joint just ahead of Transfer Case that HAD to be greased, and a hollow needle for grease gun to do the job.
Putting on tire chains for snow or mud, and their rubber straps. More fun if already STUCK. The chains could also be used on front wheels to improve steering on dicey roads.
Sliding downhill backwards with all wheels going frontwards is scary, esp in high Mtns with drop offs.
I Aced the local Air Brake Exam w/100%. Tractor Protection Valve, low air semaphore, split rim wheels that would kill you. Ditto Spring Brake if opened. Adjusting S Cams
Eyesight going, and I no longer feel confident behind the wheel.
One day, just that fast, I lost all interest in Monkey Wrenching. and draining Main Reservoirs, and pushing soot thru boiler tubes from Firebox end on an Oil Burner. Black Flour that went everywhere!
The Politics and Egos helped that decision, White Hard Hats or no. Black fingernails above and below a pain.
Let the young do it.
Bit by Pit Bull the other day.
Direct Deposits and Obits and Starbucks, and the Kat, now.
Thank You.
