u/JStevenYork

Does this nice little compass/divider that I found in a thrift store ring any bells for anyone? It came in a plastic clamshell for a Uchida KD-Type .05 microsharp compass, which is certainly is not. It's quite solid and well constructed, very satisfying to hold. No maker's mark or country of origin. No logos. Nothing stamped or engraved on it at all. Image searches on Google and Ebay find tons of wrong (often spectacularly wrong) matches, but I haven't see one yet with a similar lock/release mechanism. The lobed plate jutting out from the hub has a spring under the wide end, that when compressed with your thumb lifts the other end, which acts as a brake against the hub. Push it down and you can move it freely. Release, and it rigidly holds its position.

I kind of suspect it might actually be a hand/machinist made one-off, but if so, the execution is excellent. Unless somebody recognizes the design, it might even be a prototype or a patent model, but that's just wild speculation based on not much of anything. Any information would be appreciated.

Okay, I've heard you folks raving about Ionna, but it's not a local option for me. There are only, I think, three Rechargeries within 100 miles of my home, none remotely close or along my regular routes. But to get ourselves educated and ready for longer road-trips, we decided to have a quick overnight get-away down to a casino hotel in southern Oregon, allowing us an exercise trip planning apps (especially ABRP) and what the charging situation is along that stretch of I-5 which we travel multiple times a year down to visit friends/family in central California and in Las Vegas. As a bonus, I realized there was an Ionna Rechargery in Creswell Oregon that I was eager to check out.

As I've seen people say, ABRP can be a real pain as a navigation app, and I was fighting with the program and interface constantly. In particular, I couldn't convince it to change the charging stop from something else (Electrify America) farther south. We finally just side-navigated there on my wife's phone and charged the Ioniq 5 back to 80%. But this threw the state of charge on ABRP off for the rest of the trip south, which was annoying. (On the way back, I was able to set the Creswell Rechargery as a favorite, and then could insert it was an added stop easily.)

Anyhow, I see why you like Ionna. Because of the direction of sun, the shelter wasn't much use to us, but it's nice to have. The chargers worked great, and the longer cables made it easy to reach the Ioniq charge port easily, unlike a lot of chargers I've used. There was a dog walk station for pet owners, and windshield washers (though the water was quite dirty, it was still a lot better than nothing). A gas station adjacent to the Rechargery had big clean restrooms, a mini-mart, and a breakfast food option inside. There were several other eating and shopping locations within a block. And the charging was WAY cheaper than any of the brand-X chargers I've used. So nice. I will seek these out in our travels.

BTW, we enjoyed the free, type 2 destination chargers at our hotel, and I recharged to 90% on arrival while we ate dinner and spent a couple hours bumming around the casino playing penny slots.

Anyway, we had no problems, and arrived home with a charge somewhere in the mid 40s. The Ioniq 5 just really seems to be a joy as a trip car. So comfortable and easy to drive. The adaptive cruise and lane-assist really make the driving less tiring. (Though both my wife and I agree that the lane-assist pulls to the right and is sometimes untrustworthy. Thought it was less sophisticated, the one on the Kia Optima we replaced was much smoother and dependable in most situations.)

The next morning through, I went to top-up to my usual 80% at the Rivian station a quarter mile away, and the whole station was down! Did my errands, came home, and plugged in the type 1 changer. Rivian is back today, but the type one currently has me closing in on 80%, and the Ioniq 5 will probably will be back to 90 percent before I drive it again tomorrow (I bumped the max-charge up to 90 for the trip, and I'll put it back to my usual 80 after this little charging experiment is complete). I'm amazed at how well home, type 1 charging it working for us. I rarely need to visit a fast charger on a day-to-day basis.

This is in my late father's shop. I'd love to bring it home, but it's in Alabama and I'm in Oregon. Plus I have no space or use for something that big. But I've loved it since he got it from his dad when I was a little kid (I just turned 69), hauling it home from Michigan in pieces in our old VW bus. I was fascinated with the bucket full of HUGE drill bits.

I'm thinking it was originally made to run from an overhead leather belt in a shop or factory. That's a literal car transmission in the top! I seem to recall hearing it's from an early Cadillac (1912?). The plate on it is from the E.L. Essley Company, but they apparently were just a reseller, not a manufacturer. Based on the shape of the frame, I'm thinking it might be from the W.F. & John Barnes company. Anybody else have any thoughts or insights here?

Tried out the new adapter at a Supercharger today. Worked fine. A quick 11 minute top up (to 80%) before heading home. Notice all the "Tesla vehicle charging only" signs. "Not any more Bae-bee!"

Seen at a different Habitat store this week, a Sears branded 6 1/2" circular saw, I think from the early 60s. Said to be tested and working. I really dug the deco inspired design of the heavy, cast-metal casing. $15 and theoretically tested and working. Also that it was branded Sears and not Craftsman. I was tempted a little, but I've got no use for it and no place to put it.

Diamond Calk Horseshoe Co. 6" adjustable wrench, picked up at a Habit Store last week. From the late 30s early 40s I think. They started out making actual horseshoes with a "calk" that cushioned the hooves or was non-slip or some such, then pivoted to tools. Think I paid a buck or two for it.

Spotted this cute little adjustable wrench today in a Habitat for Humanity store, and grabbed it on a hunch (and also because it was only 50 cents!). Did a double take when I read the manufacturer: Diamond Calk Horseshoe Co.! Apparently they started in 1908 making horseshoes and pivoted to tools later. This one is from the 1940s I'm pretty sure. I love an old wrench from an obscure brand.