A Different 45 Magnum

Normally I don't like posting photos from other blogs but you got to see this 45 that's on magnetozoo.com

When was the last time you saw American 12 spokes on a 45?... or at least what started out as a 45.

There's no info on the build so I'm going to guess at a few things. The frame is a WR or has been modified to look like one. Same for the WRTT oil tank. The top end sure looks like it's from a factory overhead hill climber but is likely Sportster with fabed up exposed rockers. I also noticed a small thing. The guy who built it, used chain links for the clips on the exhaust springs. My buddy Ironhead Ron likes to use them in such ways.

Use the link at the top of the post to see more neat details of the bike. Stuff like a Linkert mounted on the left side and a belt drive.

Random Radness

More good stuff from July 71 Choppers Magazine

Young Punk

Ruby Duby Doo! I wasn't aware of this early Hopper film until seeing some images on the Nostalgia on wheels blog. A quick search turned up this cool poster. That's DH on a glide fitted Knuckle.

Finding Ben Hardy's Shop?

After putting up the last post I thought, why not look up the spot where Ben Hardy's shop was located? Could the building somehow still exist?

I knew the address since the article in Roth's Choppers magazine gave it at 1168 E. Florence in Los Angeles. A lot has changed in the last 40 years, but I figured, Google Map it with "satellite view" and see what comes up.

The letter "A" marks the spot, but it didn't look good. It sort of looks like a parking lot. I hoped (as sometimes), Google's addresses are off by a little bit. The place to it's left looked promising, so why not take look with the "Street View" option?


Boy was I surprised when this came up! What I thought was an empty parking lot turned out to be the roof. The place next door has the much lighter roof when seen from above. Ben's old shop's roof is darker but is reflecting the sun at this angle.

This place needs to be declared a National Historical Monument... of the MotorCycle kind.


For kicks, I tweaked it in Photoshop for a side by side comparison.


Afterwards, I looked up another Famous Monument. I erased the street name so as not to give it away too easily. Any guesses? I.R., I'm sure you'll know, and Moldy, If you read this, don't tell.

It's too bad places like these can't somehow be preserved for what they once were.

I wonder, do today's occupants realize their significance?

"Keep on Chuckin"

Big Scott gave me these. They came with the '70 custom dresser he had. To refresh your memory go to:

http://motorcycleart.blogspot.com/2009/05/1970-nok-new-old-kustom.html

Helmet Collector

Robert Williams with some of his collection of WWI Pickelhauben.

The Pickelhaube (plural Pickelhauben; from the old German Pickel = "point" or "pickaxe", and Haube = "bonnet", a general word for headgear) was a spiked helmet worn in the 19th and 20th centuries by German military.


As a kid, I was obsessed with these helmets. I always made sure I saw this one featured in the ending credits of Hogan's Heros. I would still like to have one.

Camo Stahlhelm

Modern Art?
This old WWI helmet's pattern would be cool for an old bob job's paint. The Germans were probably the first to use camouflage. The colors makes me wonder, where were they hiding?