Of course we all love a good BBQ, gathering with our friends and family and watching fireworks, but how did the 4th of July start and why do we partake in these things?

When we are in grade school we learn that the 4th of July has something to do with George Washington and the official break of the US colonies from British rule.  And that’s true.  But here’s a little refresher on how our great nation of the United States came to be.

Below info by the author, LB Cobb

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee, a delegate from Virginia, read a resolution before the Continental Congress “that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.

After a few days of debate, on June 11, 1776, the Congress appointed five delegates to draft a resolution that recognized the specific concerns. The “Committee of Five” — John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, Roger Sherman, and Thomas Jefferson — all very eloquent men, went to work. On July 2, the revised “Lee Resolution” was read to the Congress and immediately adopted by 12 of the 13 colonies (New York did not vote). Minor alterations were made on July 2, 3, and the morning of the 4th. Then, late in the afternoon of July 4, the Declaration was officially adopted.

And there you have it.  Once the Declaration of Independence was signed it was time to party.  This letter by John Adams to his wife Abigail sums it up (of course it ended up being the 4th of July but who’s really counting?)

“The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more^.”

**While we all celebrate our independence today let’s remember to tip our hats to the radical Richard Henry Lee.  He was fiercely devoted to the welfare of his country and without his gall, spirit and pride in this great land, our history, most assuredly wouldn’t be the same.

Click HERE for an terrific essay on Richard Henry Lee by Frank Gaylord Cooke that appeared in the 1890 issue of the Atlantic.

Interesting letters by Richard Henry Lee

My friend Paul was in town from Los Angeles recently and one of his main missions was to look for any of the new Mattel Hotwheels Dragstrip Demons that he was missing.  Paul got into these little diecast beauties when his friends son Ziggy showed him one about 6 months ago.  I must admit I was a bit surprised that Paul was into collecting anything called Dragster Demons, much less Hotwheels toy cars.  But once he showed me the Hotwheels site and filled me in with the details I could see what he was talking about.  It really brought me back as I was an avid collector as a lad.

Though the name of the series, Dragster Demons, may suggest some dark, spaced out dragster on steroids that turns into a demon transformer they are actually quite tame.  In fact, they are mini replicas of super stock and funny cars that existed in the NHRA circuit back in the 60’s and 70’s.  Each tiny decal is meticulously added by hand, the wheels are real rubber, and they are true diecast cars without an ounce of plastic.  Once you hold one you can see and feel the quality.  This limited edition series has around 30 models so far with my favorites being the more super stock cars of the 1960’s.

Dave Strickler’s ‘65 Dodge Coronet A/FX

“Dandy” Dick Landy’s ‘65 Dodge Coronet A/FX

Don Prudhomme’s ‘70 Plymouth Baracuda

The Wilshire Shaker ‘63 Chevy Nova

If you are into vintage stock and funny cars here are a few links to check out:

60’s Funny Cars & 70’s Funny Cars has loads of great shots.

Hot Rod has a great article on a man living his dream of having a 1963 Chevy Nova. Photos are sweet.

Jungle Pam is a terrific site dedicated to Jim Liberman “Jungle Jim” arguably the greatest showman in drag racing history.  Be sure to check out “Pix of Pam.” I bet all the wrenches loved her.

Water Winter Wonderland has a pretty interesting section on old dragstrips and what they looked like then and now.

Jalopy Journal has a never ending thread featuring photo after photo of 60’s mopar stock and super stock dragsters.

Artist Wanted just extended the deadline on this competition until midnight June 3rd (most likely because the work thus far is less than stellar) so I thought I would throw it out there.  Two Grand Prize Winners will receive prizes including cash, publicity in Filter Magazine, and either a loaded Mac Book Pro, a vintage Vespa or a trip to London.  Not to mention a reception at the Sky Room in the New Museum.

“What shapes our world more, art or design?  The answer is up to you.

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

This would have been fun to see…….

Via Rolling Stone

P

Photo: Molly Looze

You think you’ve got what it takes? Ralph did and look where it took him.  Even you graphic designers can get in on this one.  The house of Hermès has teamed up with Design Boom for a little tie design competition.  Click HERE for details.

Bicycles have been used in the military since WWI and if anyone has spent anytime at an Army-Navy Surplus you have undoubtedly ran into a couple.  The Japanese, Brits, Italians, Germans, Danes, and Chinese all had airborne bicycle divisions to get troops into enemy territory.  They were cheap, most were foldable, required no fuel and were virtually silent.  However, no military utilized the bicycle more so than the Bicycle Grenediers of the Swiss Army.  They disbanded in 2003 after 100 years of service.   Das Schweizer Militaerfahrrad & Militaer Velo shop has all your Swiss bike needs covered.  Army Bike Carl has some terrific info and photos of Swiss Military bikes as well.

Swiss Light Infantry Bicycle 1940’s-1950’s

Swiss Light Infantry Bicycle 1990’s

Apparently, the US military was not as keen on outfitting their airborne troops with bikes strapped to them.  That said, Huffman and Westfield Columbia both made excellent bikes for the US military.  The Westfield Columbia models are the most desirable and are quite rare. These were mainly used to get around the bases, airfields, depots and I suspect a great many beer runs.

WWII Westfield Columbia

McCellan Field, Sacramento, CA in 1942

If you want to learn more about military bicycle history look no further than this thesis by Major Stephan Tate from 1989 on the, “Suitability of using bicycles to enhance the mobility of U.S. light infantry units.”  It will no doubt educate your head off.  188 pages! I noticed this in Stephan’s thesis and it doesn’t surprise me in the least:

“The bicycle’s simplicity may be the reason it has been constantly overlooked by the American military.”

Located in England, Buy Vintage, is a very detailed and thorough site dedicated to buying vintage vehicles.  It’s packed with interesting, rarely seen gas and pedal powered modes of transportation.  I was skimming through it recently and ran across the English company BSA (Birmingham Small Arms Co.) who made airborne bicycles for the British paratroopers.  It turns out they made around 70,000 of these foldies from 1939-1942.  However, by the time the big invasions of 1944 came around the Brits had bigger aircraft than the Hotspur to fly in Jeeps, etc.  Apparently the soldiers disliked the bike intensely and discarded them within a few miles of the beach.  Can you blame them?  Just imagine hitting the beaches of Normandy with Germans firing on you with all that gear + a bike to lug in the deep sand.

British Commandos with BSA Paratroopers Bicycles Preparing for D-Day, June 1944

Enroute to Normandy

Canadian Troops Landing with BSA Airborne Bicycles

BSA Airborne Bicycle. After the war, Hudson Bay & Co. was selling them for around $5US.

More military bike info can be found here:

Strikehold

Kelticklankirk

The Liberator

Bcoy

My daughter, Matilda and I were in NYC a couple of months ago and besides visiting our friends over at Unis and having some rice pudding at, “From Rice to Riches” we stumbled across a photographer named Ramon on Spring Street. He uses an old box camera and developes the image using a wet-plate process.  Matilda’s flowery frock and head band made it look even more like 1969.

I mentioned this to my photographer friend Mikael Kennedy who will be shooting our Spr. 2010 collection and he told me about a woman, named Keliy Anderson-Staley who continues to use this Civil War era style printing process in her Long Island City, NY studio.   She uses wooden view cameras with 19th Century brass lenses.  Mikael and his GF recently sat for her and here are a few of the shots.

It’s that time of the year again, crops are being planted in our fertile Jersey City soil.  We have had decent results in the past.  In fact, one of our Habanero plants yielded over 250 Habaneros last year.  The majority of which are dried and ground up to make spicy seasonings.  This year we are planting:  Tomatoes, Squash, Beans, Parsnips, Carrots,  Habaneros and some assorted herbs.  Now to get Rosie our hen back to laying eggs.  She started molting and thus went on an egg laying hiatus recently.

Speaking of crops……Johnny Cash, “Look at Them Beans” from 1975. Nice watch strap on the album cover.

I’m a tool guy.  I like mine old, drop forged and made in the USA.  There is no doubt that a brand new set of Craftsman or Snap-on tools will do the job but in my eyes there is nothing quite like using my grandfathers old wrenches, folding ruler or Estwing leather wrapped claw hammer.  We use quite a few hand-me-down and flea market found tools at the Billykirk design studio.  One of our larger tools acquisitions is this C. Parker & Co. bench vice.  I pulled this out of the Manischewitz Factory that was across the street from us.  It was covered in flour probably dating back to the 30’s.

Like many nostalgic US made collectibles, the antique tool business isn’t go away anytime soon and as more and more US based tool manufacturers succumb to the Far East and their low prices perhaps these relics are all we’ll have left.

If you are interested in old tools and their provenance Patented Antiques has a great collection to peruse. Everything from levels and chisels to sewing machines and planes.  Speaking of planes, I am reminded of Gustave Caillebotte’s famous painting, The Parquet Floor Polishers, from 1875.  While I truly appreciate the look and feel of a well made antique plane there is something to be said about an electric floor sander.

Kirk is embarking on a solo road trip on 5/4 to East TN to see our Cousin, Natalie, graduate from the UT with a degree in Special Education.  While there he will no doubt get a line or two wet on the Clinch River with our Uncle Buford and eat some terrific southern cuisine.  Besides the graduation festivities and various outdoor pursuits he is also getting my Uncle and Aunts’ leather Herman Miller lounge and ottoman that they bought in the early 70’s and their old Toyota Forerunner.  Not a bad score.

He is hoping to take a lot of back roads on his return and visit some flea markets and thrift shops a long the way.  If you know of any good towns for this sort of rummaging heading North on or near the 81 Freeway back to NYC reply to this posting. He would be much obliged.

Safe travels Bro……