HITS AND MISSES
Beginning of the Electronic Device Age
In the early 50’s, my dad gently laid his latest toy, a power drill, in my small, outstretched, pre-teen hands like it was a jeweled crown. I almost dropped it because it weighed so much. Fortunately, a power drill with a plastic case became available in 1957.
During the lifetime of olde goats, the power and convenience of electricity plus the durability and light weight of plastic created the Electronic Device Age generating a wide selection of household and workshop tools from blenders to drills to grease guns to vacuums
In1961, nickel-cadmium batteries began to replace the electric cord for some low-power products. Other tools go both ways, for example, a cordless drill is convenient while the corded tool provides the most power. The recent switch to lithium batteries has increased the power of some cordless tools.
Way Back Story,
The ancient Egyptians created the first power tool.– a bow powered lathe. One would pull the bow to turn the lathe while the other operated it. The bow helped multiply force and get more done.
For an additional information about power tools and their history read:
https://motorheadtools.com/blogs/motorhead-tools/the-history-of-power-tools
Beautiful Antique Manual Drill
SI Swimsuit Edition
The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition
I would bet that 99% of the olde goats have at least taken a peek at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. SI, first published in 1960, and Rolling Stone, first published in 1967, are the best magazines that benchmark our journeys from teenagers and young men to septuagenarians and older.
SI did not make money until after it published the Swimsuit Edition which was reportedly a one-off idea by Managing Editor Andre Laguerre for his annual February “Fun in the Sun” Edition. He told SI fashion reporter Jule Campbell to put a photo of a pretty girl posed in an exotic place on the cover. Campbell picked 22-year-old Babette for a five-page photo spread. Laguerre took his photo editor’s advice to make the 1965 Edition sexier. He promoted Campbell to Swimsuit Edition editor, a job she held for 31 years.
Like the robin’s song and melting ice, the Swimsuit Edition became a sign of the American spring. For some, it displays the styles available for the summer sunning season.
For others, it validates the important changes in the representation of American womanhood since 1964.
Here are a few examples of firsts:
1994 Pregnant women Kathy Ireland and Rachael Hunter
1996 Afro American Tyra Banks
2007 Singer Beyonce
2016 First athlete Rhonda Rousey
2021 Asian Naomi Osaka
2021 Trans Leyna Bloom
2023 Oldest(81) Martha Stewart
And for olde goats, as it always has, the SI Swimsuit Edition represents the opportunity to openly appreciate the beauty of all women.
For additional information about the Swimsuit Edition read:
SI article by Frank Deford, SI staff writer
NYT Obituary of Jule Campbell
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/07/style/jule-campbell-dead.html
BABETTE
rock around the clock
Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley and the Comets - 1954
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eJOJhwgluE
This song, released in 1955, was the first clap of thunder heralding the storm of social change that began in the mid' 50's. Dick Clark labeled it the "Anthem of the Rock and Roll Revolutionl" .It was the first R and R song to top the charts and spent eight weeks at #1 between"Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" and Yellow Rose of Texas"..MGM picked it as the soundtrack for "Blackboard Jungle"' a film that had teenagers dancing in the aisles and educators and parents imagining the worst. Turner Classic Movies selected "Rock Around the Clock" as one of the 15 most influential soundtracts of all time.
For many teenagers, including this boy, it was the song of freedom.
Here is the B trailer for Blackboard Jungle.
'53 'Vette
First Corvette
Chevrolet created one of those products that people loved at the auto show but didn't buy at the dealer. In 1953 300 were built, but only 183 were sold. Reportedly, GM almost closed the project after Year 1. Fortunately, production continued and has continued for 71 years through eight major model changes.
Of the five cars from the '50's on stamps - the 1952 Nash Healey, 1953 Chevrolet Corvette, 1953 Studebaker Starliner, 1954 Kaiser Darrin, and 1955 Ford Thunderbird,- only the Corvette remains in production.
The fiberglass car listed at $3950 with an AM radio and heater as extras. In only came in white with a red interior and a black roof. The plastic window snaped on.
It was powered by a 150 hp six cylinder called a Blue Flame, went from 0 to 60 in a sluggish 11.2 seconds, and topped out at 108 mph.
For more history about "America's Sportscar" visit the Corvette Museum
https://www.corvettemuseum.org/learn/about-corvette/
and
Car and Driver
