MarrsCars Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 I was visiting the Vista House observation tower in the Columbia River Gorge over the weekend with some folks from out of town and I saw this cool rig that was apparently made to pick up any loose metal debris from the roadways in the 1930's. This would make a lot of sense to have in use today, of course street sweepers can pick up all types of objects but one specifically equipped with a magnet would be useful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 Looks to be about a 1927 Chevrolet with a Model T Ford engine setup in the rear. Hopefully, he has REAL good front tires! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarrsCars Posted July 16, 2013 Author Share Posted July 16, 2013 Hopefully, he has REAL good front tires!GOOD point, perhaps they should have mounted the magnet ahead of the front bumper! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Mellor NJ Posted July 16, 2013 Share Posted July 16, 2013 Odd to see a Chevy carrying a Model T magnet generator Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Layden B Posted July 16, 2013 Share Posted July 16, 2013 The "loose metal debris" was usually from scrap wood being burned in fireplaces and boilers, the ashes were often thrown out in the street and the nails and such became quite a problem. I know many places had ordinances against it. What I don't know is why people threw them in the street. Was it because the rain would cement the ashes into a hard surface and be less dusty? Would have thought ashes would be more dust, anyone know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted July 16, 2013 Share Posted July 16, 2013 Ashes were used where ice and snow were a problem, to combat slipping and sliding. Otherwise disposing of the ashes was a problem. Throwing them in the street was cheaper than having them hauled away. If the road was dirt they would fill in pot holes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Layden B Posted July 16, 2013 Share Posted July 16, 2013 Makes sense that I would not think about ice and snow here in the San Francisco Bay area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Mellor NJ Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 Back when most people burned coal for heat they had to clean out the ashes daily. The most obvious place to dump them was in the driveway. If you didn't have a driveway I suppose they went in the street. Coal doesn't have nails but they might have dumped wood ash by habit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandy Dave Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 Shoed Horses, Oxen, and horse drawn wagons, buggies, and equipment would also loose hardware on the road just about like a rusty old car does today, only worse. Nails also held the shoes on and often they would get lost in the mud. Dandy Dave! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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