Vintage Seattle is yet another terrific blog featuring rare photos and profiles.  Created by Jess Cliffe, his knack for unearthing interesting Seattle history is something every city needs.  Judging by the official welcome site of the Seattle Government they could use Jess’s graphic design skills.

I just found this bit of aviation history on Jess’s site.  This crazy fella below is Horace Pentecost of Seattle, WA.  He developed the “Hoppicopter” for paratroopers in WWII to use instead of parachutes.  A couple of issues, it was very costly if the soldier were to fall when landing in rough terrain.  But, more importantly, if the soldier did fall the flying debris could have made mince meat out of him.  Imagine the stones you would have to have flying about with this harnessed to your back!  One of the Hoppicopters is hanging at the Pima Air Museum.

At first glimpse his small tie looked to be made from the same material as his shirt.  I don’t even think Thom Browne dared to go that small.

They added landing gear but, it too, did not get that juicy government contract.

Neat write up in the Modern Mechanix Illustrated from 1951 mentioning Horace. “Helicopters for Everyone.”  I seriously doubt the big 3 auto makers were really worried about this but I still bet a few lobbyists got an ear full.

More info on the Hoppicopter HERE and HERE.

The Past……………

The Future…………

Yves Rossy – Jet Man

I just found out about this long standing motorcycle rally called the “Gypsy Tour.” Our friend Dylan came by the studio with his his friend Thomas the other day.  They are both set designers, artists and serious antique/vintage collectors.  I plan on taking photos of Dylan’s collections soon.  He has a treasure trove of vintage moto jackets, antique Americana, military items, art, etc.   Anyways, Thomas had on the below belt with Gypsy Tour belt buckle from 1938 and I was so taken by it that I grabbed a few shots.  The deco design and quality is really amazing.  The leather belt easily shows half a century of wear and is worn into perfection.

In 1916 (The Gypsies) during parades and rides of the pre-World War 1 period mounted the below flag on their handlebars of early Harleys and Indians. The term “Gypsy Tour” arose from these groups of early riders. 1916 was the very first year of the Laconia rally, but it was an unofficial gathering of about 150 riders.

In 1917 the Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM) sanctioned its first official “Gypsy Tour” at Laconia. A Gypsy Tour was an overnight event with organized road rides and other activities of interest to motorcycle enthusiasts. Gypsy Tours were held in various parts of the country, and typically occurred on the same weekend every year.  The photo below shows a group of riders from the Boston area and was taken before the 1917 rally. This rally became known as the “New England Gypsy Tour.”

A couple of early merit awards given out to the riders who completed endurance rides, etc.

Signet ring from 1932

Photo from the start of the 1918 rally in NH.

On August 1, 1924, the AMA (American Motorcycle Association) was officially established. The following year, in 1925, the AMA took over from the M&ATA the sponsorship of the Gypsy Tours, and greatly expanded them, from perhaps a few events to over 200 separate ones. With the exception of the World War II period, the Gypsy Tours were yearly events that continued until the early 1960’s. At that time, even though many of the gatherings that they were based on continued, the term “Gypsy Tour” fell out of favor, and was replaced by the term “Tour and Rally”, as in “New England Tour & Rally”.

In 1991, the term Gypsy Tour was officially revived by the AMA. However, by that time the individual events had all gone their own way in naming themselves. In 1953, or perhaps even earlier, Laconia first called its event ” Motorcycle Week”, and that term has stuck to the current day.

1939 photo.

Mid 1950’s photo of some “Greasers” before the rally.

Ebay usually has a good number of Gypsy Tour items…..This 1950 tour buckle just sold for $35.

This 1942 version went for $38. Pot-metal was used on this one because of WWII.  Note the “V” for victory.

*Gypsy Tour info/photos from Weirs Beach

Some of you may know that JanSport has introduced their Heritage line. Urban Outfitters recently started selling some of them but only a few of the range.

It’s nice to see all these companies that started back in the 60’s and 70’s are catching on that us 30 and 40 somethings have a thing for nostalgia. My school backpack in the early 80’s was a green JanSport. Unfortunately, it fell pray to the annual garage sale.

The Heritage site has some interesting photos and its cool to see the evolution of their brand. Their original logo is simply perfect.

The “Swinger” with brass zippers/hardware is coming soon.

Bag photo from a great blog I frequent called Men and Women of Industry

I have been in England since the 19th with my in-laws. They have called the quaint sea side village of Burnham-on-Crouch home since the early 70’s. My wife grew up here and knows every inch of the country side having had a horse to lumber around on when she was growing up. The River Crouch stretches for miles heading easterly towards the North Sea. The many inlets and coastal river banks around Burnham, Creeksea and Southend make for some terrific trail running. Providing an interesting back drop on a run are the WWII pillboxes (concrete defence bunkers) that dot the landscape. Burnham was in a direct fly route to London (around 45 miles due west) during WWII so there were bombers going over quite regularly and occasionally bombs and parachute mines were dropped especially when a German Heinkel needed to quickly lighten its load. The pillbox below is along the seawall in the Burnham marshes and probably one the biggest around.

8 miles from Burnham-on-Crouch sits St. Peters Chapel, the oldest Christian church in England still in use. Located in Bradwell-on-Sea and overlooking the entrance to the Blackwater Estuary for over 1300 years this remote, beautiful place really evokes a sense of history.

For centuries people have made the long pilgrimage down this very road.

Of course no trip to England is complete without the customary pub crawl. My wife’s friends are now generally well adjusted members of society and gainfully employed but some 6 or 7 years ago it was a different story and at some point during the evening a punch up would ensue and drinks would fly. Now, it is more of a reserved affair with babysitters and decent champagne. It is also a chance for my wife to size up all of her old mates, see who’s gained weight, having marital issues, etc. One old class mate of hers, thoughtfully named, ‘Simple’ got a hand shake and a pat on the back from me. Apparently, when my wife was around 16 she wanted a tattoo on her upper arm and Simple persuaded her not to do it. Not so ’simple’ after all.

All this fresh air and good food has really invigorated me and I am really looking forward to 2009.

Cheerfully yours,

Chris