Old So What

  (Stanley Steamer, as in the car, not the cleaning company, Stanley Steemer.) The Stanley Motor Carriage Company was an American manufacturer of cars—steam cars—from 1902 to 1924. The first model was produced in 1897; the inventors were twin brothers Francis and Freelan. At one time the steam-powered passenger car was extremely popular.   It was clean, powerful, attractive and fast, but very complicated to drive. It took 17 steps to start the car, and wait for the steam pressure to build up.   The traveling speed was 35 to 45 miles per hour, and it had a 28-gallon tank, which was heated with vaporized kerosene. Unfortunately, these cars fell victim to the superiority of the internal combustion vehicles, which had improved quickly, even using an electric starter instead of the original crank, notorious for actually injuring the operator. With the use of the self-starter and the end of the hand crank, gasoline-fueled cars became the obvious winner, being so much ...

  Apparently on my car, for example, if the steering wheel is not left in the straight position , when the ignition is turned off, the car may refuse to start.  The key will not even go all the way into the ignition which seems locked. To remedy this occurrence should it happen to you, just try to turn the steering wheel.   It may not appear to move but the attempt, the pushing back and forth on the wheel, will solve the problem; the key will go in and the car will start. I learned this on the phone from a very knowledgeable agent at AAA! Followed up by the confirmation of the head mechanic at my car dealership.

  A long time ago, I had a niece with a car.   It was dark blue, a very nice model… But it got old as cars do. It could only run for a short period of time before it stopped dead. Now my niece had a trade in lined up with the car dealer.   Not wishing to miss this opportunity, she had the car towed to the hill just behind the car dealer, released the brake, and let gravity take its course. At this point only steering and the brake were required. Down the hill the blue car flew. The car dealer got in, and off the blue car zoomed for a very brief, but satisfying trip of a couple of feet to the show room. This was my niece with a face of an angel, and her brief criminal career.  

  before we bought everything on-line (as we do now). On one of the most sweltering days of the year… My mom-in-law, my husband and I set out to buy a new car. It was not one of our better ideas. We went to a lot of new car dealers, and wore ourselves out. We were dripping with sweat and generally just frazzled. My husband sat in the front seat of what we hoped was our last stop. And, my mother-in-law and I climbed into the back seat. Suddenly the salesman blurted out, “I know just what you need.” And he reached from outside, down into the car… and turned on the radio.