Owl Head Transportation Museum
02-05-11, 03:22 PM
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Owl Head Transportation Museum
Visited one of my favorite places in Maine yesterday and they now have a number of antique bicycles added to their collection of old planes and cars.
Next time you are up near the Penobscot Bay area check it out.
The motor bike behind the penny farthing was steam operated. Imagine straddling a steam boiler!
The level of craftsmanship and quality of materials is evident in the closeup of the penny farthing.
Next time you are up near the Penobscot Bay area check it out.
The motor bike behind the penny farthing was steam operated. Imagine straddling a steam boiler!
The level of craftsmanship and quality of materials is evident in the closeup of the penny farthing.
02-05-11, 04:22 PM
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+1. I was up there a few years ago and was very impressed. They've got a great collection of early airplanes and if you get there on a day when they're working in the restoration shops you can walk in and talk to the guys who are doing the restorations. I've never gotten that close to a dismantled WWI biplane. The craftsmanship (both original and restored) was impressive.
02-05-11, 10:52 PM
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Ah. yes, here's the pictures I was looking for. They have this embarassment stashed in a corner (they also have several early experamental airplanes that didn't work, I love that kind of stuff).
It's a 22' long, 6000 lb V 8 3 passenger motorcycle. The little training wheels raise up when you get to the right speed. The guy spent $20,000 on the project. He never got the front suspension geometry right. Supposedly the first time anybody ever put the horn button on the steering wheel, too.
My memory has probably exaggerated the numbers a little but not a lot.
https://www.ohtm.org/edu_col.html
It's a 22' long, 6000 lb V 8 3 passenger motorcycle. The little training wheels raise up when you get to the right speed. The guy spent $20,000 on the project. He never got the front suspension geometry right. Supposedly the first time anybody ever put the horn button on the steering wheel, too.
My memory has probably exaggerated the numbers a little but not a lot.
https://www.ohtm.org/edu_col.html
02-05-11, 11:29 PM
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Did a quick fact check. Weight, only 3200 lbs, cost $2500, length, 15'. They might have taken it to the Petersen Museum in LA.
02-06-11, 08:35 AM
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One of the other things I missed while there (this is really getting OT but,oh well) was a plane built by a 16 year old mechanic that made a short flight/crash at Old Orchard Beach; the "Milliken" was the name. Used to enjoy looking at it hanging from the rafters. Maybe it's in storage, too.
Anyhow I hope they continue to increase their bicycle collection.
Anyhow I hope they continue to increase their bicycle collection.
02-06-11, 08:41 AM
#10
Death fork? Naaaah!!
The Trek Across Maine wound up there a few years back. Place was jammed with a couple of thousand tired cyclists.
Top
Top
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You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
02-06-11, 10:42 AM
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It was in the restoration shop when I was there, spring '07. Can you believe his parents let him do this?
02-06-11, 11:18 AM
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Top506: When my wife and I were there Friday we were the only visitors. It was wonderful. Just like the old days when we would visit a museum in New York City and actually have a chance to get close to the paintings.
sailorbenjamin: There it is! Thanks for posting the picture. Yes, it's hard to equate the kind of parents that would allow that with modern parents who are often over-protective. But I think it speaks well for the spirit of creativity and adventure that we all need, regardless of our age.
sailorbenjamin: There it is! Thanks for posting the picture. Yes, it's hard to equate the kind of parents that would allow that with modern parents who are often over-protective. But I think it speaks well for the spirit of creativity and adventure that we all need, regardless of our age.
02-06-11, 11:43 AM
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Some day, if I ever get to Maine, this looks like a great stop!
02-06-11, 04:01 PM
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It is a great place. Last time I was there, I spent a lot of time looking over the engines that were on display.
I'm lucky in the fact that my daughter and her family are less than 30 minutes away from Owls' Head. When the granddaughter is a bit older, methinks her and grandpa will be spending quite a bit of time there.
I'm lucky in the fact that my daughter and her family are less than 30 minutes away from Owls' Head. When the granddaughter is a bit older, methinks her and grandpa will be spending quite a bit of time there.
02-06-11, 07:05 PM
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It's not steam, that's the radiator! It's got an aluminum block V-8. There's a lot of alloy in it. I was reading up on it last night. It's the first automobile to be built in Detroit with a V-8! and it seems like a pretty advanced one, too. The guy was a bit of a genius. The thing actually worked and performed quite well but the steering was really heavy and the "training wheels" were awkward to get up and down while also trying to drive. This guy also invented cable operated hood and trunk releases and was the first to use hidden door hinges. He had a list of firsts and inventions that I don't recall and made a fair number of really fast little 4 wheel cars. Eventually he sold out to GM who used his name for a few years before blending the product line in with Cheverolet.
02-07-11, 08:19 AM
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It's not steam, that's the radiator! It's got an aluminum block V-8. There's a lot of alloy in it. I was reading up on it last night. It's the first automobile to be built in Detroit with a V-8! and it seems like a pretty advanced one, too. The guy was a bit of a genius. The thing actually worked and performed quite well but the steering was really heavy and the "training wheels" were awkward to get up and down while also trying to drive. This guy also invented cable operated hood and trunk releases and was the first to use hidden door hinges. He had a list of firsts and inventions that I don't recall and made a fair number of really fast little 4 wheel cars. Eventually he sold out to GM who used his name for a few years before blending the product line in with Cheverolet.
02-07-11, 09:25 AM
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That is a great museum. Great to see it mentioned here. I have been there several times. We have been going to the car auction in August for years. August is the time to visit, as the weather just cannot be beat.
02-07-11, 10:12 AM
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The Scripps Biautogo (2-wheeled car) is awesome. If power steering and good retractable landing gear had been invented a bit earlier, this is how the sports car may have evolved.
02-07-11, 06:17 PM
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Yes I think you are right. Did you get the designer's/builder's name? I can't find that one on the website. I don't know how comfortable I'd be with a boiler between my legs but i suppose I'd get used to it. So many fascinating machines there.
