Tin Sign Info

Chrysler’s recent bankruptcy filing has left some of its current products exposed, including the iconic Dodge Viper sports car. That vehicle, first rolled out in 1992, is a halo car one that was created to advance the image of the company’s Dodge division.

A handcrafted vehicle, the Dodge Viper has always been sold in low numbers, only selling its 25,000th copy in 2008. Last year, Chrysler LLC announced that they would try to sell the Viper in a bid to raise much needed funds for the company, but that announcement didn’t bring forth a serious buyer and now, with the bankruptcy in place, the factory producing the Viper has been shut down.

Several Factories Closed, Not Part Of The Fiat Deal

Eight Chrysler factories are being left in bankruptcy which means that Fiat SpA, the buyer of Chrysler, can pick which assets it wants. The Viper assembly plant in Detroit was not included, meaning that support for the sportscar has ended at least for now.

Though the Dodge Viper will likely not emerge as part of the newly restructured Chrysler entity, there is a possibility that a new buyer could step forth to claim the car. Back in the 1960s when Studebaker went out of business, a pair of former Studebaker dealers purchased the rights to the Avanti, the company’s forward looking model introduced just a few years before. For the next two decades the timeless Avanti was built and sold to devotees.

Taking Its Cues From The Avanti

Like the Avanti, the Viper could be produced by just about anyone as the buyer of the car would gain rights to the name, body molds, parts, tools and everything related to the car. The new buyer would also assume responsibility of furnishing replacement parts for existing Vipers and would probably strike a warranty agreement with Chrysler to cover cars built when the Viper was under the Dodge umbrella. That agreement could be backed up by the federal government which has a similar plan already in place for Chrysler.

Thus, if the Viper does continue to live on, its new owner may have nothing to do with building cars, although my personal speculation is that an existing manufacturer will acquire full rights to the Viper and produce the car themselves. After all, a halo car is just that – one that bolsters the image of a brand, something that the V-10, 600 horsepower, 560 lb.-ft of torque Viper has done successfully for Dodge.

For any of the car buffs you can have the Viper license plate tin sign or give as a gift.

 Many women prefer to own a gun. What advice people have for a first time handgun for a woman, who is not a big fan of revolvers, so something in the semi-automatic category?

Be aware that some of the wannabe swat-types and other video game playing types will tell you to buy some artillery piece. Disregard them and do a little homework. The .22LR cal. is the way to go for a first gun. When and if woman gets comfortable with it and can hit the target, then she could move up to a bigger caliber.

Try searching for Smith & Wesson (or get a catalog at a local gun shop). Go to a local shooting range and rent or borrow a couple of different ones to get used to. The one near me let’s you borrow their pistol if you buy a bag of their ammo. Start with .22 cal, and then if the woman can handle it OK, try the .38 Spcl. Ask one of the range guys to instruct you.

Try the revolver; it is still the most goof-proof weapon. No decocking lever, safeties, no lost-the-magazine (when you need it the most), no “rack the slide” at 0300 when her palms are sweaty, and it doesn’t need to be kept as clean as a “self loader”.

Avoid off-brand and chippo priced guns. Remember the saying: You get what you pay for. The suggestion is to stick with S&W, Colt or Ruger. If you really need a handgun, you want one that goes bang when you pull the trigger. I think the Lady Smiths are the same as the other “J” frames, with a bit of extra engraving and for a bit more money, of course. Rossi makes good firearms too, which will cost less the S&Ws, Rugers, Colts, etc.

Ruger Standard .22 auto is easy to learn on, next to no recoil, great accuracy, used from plinking to small game hunting, can be used in a pinch for defense…which beats a phone call not made to 911.

If she is gun savvy at all, then a 1911A1. Recoil is not excessive (my daughter regularly shoots mine, as do the many thousands of female IPSC competitors). Obviously, quite good for defense targets, small game hunting, plinking, and competition. However, unless her hands are on the large side, a 1911A1 style handgun may be a bit big.

Smith and Wesson .22 auto mag for the same reasons S&B noted but with more “knock down” power for self defense. Load it with hollow points and it is the best home defense weapon for more petite people. The ammo is very cheap so it allows for a lot of range time. For the gun fans here’s a Smith & Wesson tin sign for you or give as a gift.

   This invention is a revolver that can shoot repeatedly without reloading, and in a matter of seconds. The volcanic repeating revolver proved to be reliable, rugged and easy to handle, even by those not used to firearms. This invention was also dangerous as well.   It killed thousands of innocent people in the 1800′s, not including those who were involved in the War of the West.
History:
    Before the Winchester volcanic repeating rifle was invented, the original handgun had to be invented by Samuel Colt.  Then there was the tubular magazine, which was invented in 1849 by Walter Hunt. After the tubular magazine was invented, the improved action lever for the hunt rifle was created by Lewis Jennings that same year. Daniel B. Wesson invented the the rim fine cartridge, one of  the guns that made modern weapons possible. When Oliver Fisher Winchester bought the Volcanic Arms Company, he changed the name to Winchester Repeating Arms Company in 1866.
This invention changed people’s lives in many ways. Some were seriously injured or killed with Winchester Guns. The war of the West was won by using the Winchester Volcanic Repeating Rifle. Many famous people used Winchester rifles including Buffalo Bill and Theodore Roosevelt. Buffalo Bill reported that a bear had been charging him from 30 yards away, and by the time it reached him, it had eleven bullets in his stomach. Theodore Roosevelt was also known to bring Winchester rifles with him on his famous Africa expeditions. Indians avoided white men with the new lever action repeating Winchester guns
    Volcanic Arms Co. Pistols used self-contained cartridges and loaded by a cocking lever incorporated into the trigger guard. this was an excellent design, yet poor cartridges destroyed performance. All Winchester guns are based in previous designs. Daniel Wesson and B. Tyler Henry invented the rim fire fine cartridge, one of the guns that led to modern day machine guns.
    The name Winchester also has a more creepy background. Many of you may have heard of the Winchester Mystery House. It was said that Sarah Winchester, the wife of the son of Oliver Winchester, was haunted by the ghosts of all the people who had been killed with a Winchester rifle. She was haunted by these ghosts until she received orders by a Boston Spiritualist to build a house for all of the restless spirits. This house is full of stairways leading to nowhere, doors on the ceiling, and quite a number of 13th rooms. The Winchester Mystery House is very peculiar, and many people still visit it today. You can have you own tin sign  of winchester rifles to proudly hang on the wall or give a gift.

Samuel Colt invented the first revolver, a gun named after its inventor “Colt”, and after its revolving cylinder “revolver”. In 1836, Samuel Colt was granted a U.S. patent for the Colt revolver, which was equipped with a revolving cylinder containing five or six bullets and an innovative cocking device.
Before the Colt revolver only one and two-barrel flintlock pistols had been invented for hand held use. Colt revolvers were all based on cap-and-ball technology until the Smith and Wesson license on the bored-through cylinder (bought from Rollin White) expired around 1869.
According to www.midwestgunshows.com: “Horace Smith & Daniel Wesson formed their second partnership (S&W) in 1856 for the development and manufacture of a revolver chambered for a self contained metallic cartridge. During this development period, while researching existing patents, it was found that a Rollin White had patented a bored through cylinder for a paper cartridge some time earlier.”
A licensing agreement was arranged between Smith and Wesson and Rollin White. In 1855, Rollin White patented the bored-through cylinder.
According to www.armchairgunshow.com: “The Rollin White patent covered the right to make a revolver cylinder bored-through end to end – an obvious requirement for an effective cartridge revolver. This fact didn’t slow down some firms, who proceeded to make the highly popular cartridge style revolvers. Some used their own designs, and some just produced outright copies of the Smith and Wesson pattern. Smith and Wesson pursued redress in court, resulting in several US makers being required to mark “Made for S&W” or words to that effect on their revolvers.”  For the gun collector know you can have your very own colt tin sign

“The history of Remington “The history of Remington Arms Company, Inc. mirrors the history of America. From the moment that Eliphalet Remington II forged his first gun barrel, Remington firearms became the symbol of quality, accuracy and dur4ability in firearms, traits that continue to this very day. Tradition has it that in 1816, twenty-three years old Eliphalet spent a number of off-hours fabricating a gun barrel in his father’s iron working forge. Realizing that it would make a truly accurate piece only if it were rifled, he carried it to nearby Utica New York, possibly to the gun shop of Riley Rogers. Completing the rifle, young Eliphalet was soon pressed to make barrels for those who wanted a gun that shot where it was aimed. Soon he and his father were in the barrel making business. While The exact number of complete rifles made by the father and son team is unknown, Remington barrels became most sought after by New England gunsmiths. By 1828, the company had grown sufficiently enough that land was purchased adjoining the newly completed Erie Canal, in a place that would later be called Ilion. Soon after, the elderly father died while clearing the land for construction of a factory to produce both barrels and complete firearms. In July 1845, E. Remington and Son accepted its first contract to manufacture weapons in quantity-5, 000 U.S. Model 1841-percussion rifles, also known as Mississippi Rifles. The Army Ordnance Department was so impressed with the workmanship of the Remington rifles that they extended the contract to a total of 20,000 arms. All were delivered prior to 1855. 
In 1846, the Remington armory entered into another government contract to manufacture 1,000 Jenks breechloading carbines with Maynard tape-primers for the Navy Bureau of Ordnance. It was clear that a sound business could be built manufacturing quality arms for the government, and additional contracts followed during the 1850′s. The Civil War brought undreamed of prosperity to the company. Numerous contracts for percussion revolvers, rifle-muskets and muzzleloading rigles kept the factory busy morning and night. Eliphalet II did not live to see this growth, as he passed away in July 1861. His sons, Philo, Samuel and Eliphalet then ran the company: E. Remington & Sons, of Ilion, New York. The Civil War was the catalyst for military inventions of every description. Remington stayed on the leading edge of technological innovation by designing breechloading carbines to replace the Federal Government’s array of antiquated muzzleloading arms. Thus, E.

For the gun enthusiast you can have your very own Remington license plate tin sign to put on your vechile.

In 1953 Chevrolet renamed its series and the Bel Air name was applied to the premium model range. Two lower series, the 150 and 210, also emerged.

The 1953 Chevrolet was advertised as “Entirely New Through and Through,” due to the restyled body panels, front and rear ends. However, essentially these Chevys had the same frame and mechanicals as the 1949-52 cars. The Bel Air series featured a wide chrome strip of molding from the rear fender bulge, to the rear bumper. The inside of this stripe was painted a coordinating color with the outside body color, and “Bel Air” scripts were added inside the strip. Lesser models had no model designation anywhere on the car, only having a Chevy crest on the hood and trunk. Bel Air interiors for 1953 had a massive expanse of chrome across the lower part of the dashboard, along with a de luxe Bel Air steering wheel with full chrome horn ring. Carpeting and full wheel covers rounded out Bel Air standard equipment. For ’54, the Bel Air stayed essentially the same, except for a revised grille and taillights. During these years, there were two engine choices, depending on the transmission ordered. Both engines were “Blue Flame” inline six cylinder OHV engines. featuring hydraulic valve lifters and aluminum pistons. The 115 hp (86 kW) engine was standard on stickshift models, with solid lifters and splash plus pressure lubrication. Powerglide cars got a 125 hp (93 kW) version which had hydraulic lifters and full pressure lubrication. ’54 cars with stick shift got the 1953 Powerglide engine. During 1953-54, Bel Airs could be ordered in convertible, hardtop coupe, 2- and 4-door sedans, and, for 1954, the Beauville station wagon which featured woodgrain trim around the side windows. Power steering was optional for 1953; 1954 added power brakes, power seat positioner and power front windows.

In 1955, Chevrolets gained a V8 engine option. The new 265 cubic-inch V8 featured a modern, overhead valve high-compression, short stroke design that was so good that it remained in production in various forms, for many decades. The base V8 had a two-barrel carburetor and was rated at 162 horsepower (121 kW), and the “Power Pack” option featured a four-barrel carburetor and other upgrades, yielding 180 brake horsepower (130 kW). Later in the year, a “Super Power Pack” option added high compression and a further 15 brake horsepower (11 kW). Most enthusiasts today associate the Bel Air and the V8 together, even though neither was dependent on the other. That year, Chevrolet’s full-size model received new styling that earned it the “Hot One” designation by enthusiasts. Unlike Ford and Plymouth, Chevrolet’s styling was considered crisp and clean. Bel Airs came with features found on cars in the lower models ranges plus interior carpet, chrome headliner bands on hardtops, chrome spears on front fenders, chrome window moldings, and full wheel covers. Models were further distinguished by the Bel Air name script in gold lettering.

Engine displacement grew to 283 cubic inches (4,638 cc) in 1957, with the “Super Turbo Fire V8″ option producing 283 horsepower (211 kW) with the help of continuous fuel injection. These so-called “fuelie” cars are quite rare, since most Bel Airs were fitted with carburetion.

The ’55, ’56, and especially ’57 Bel Airs are among the most recognizable American cars of all time; well-maintained examples (especially Sport Coupes and convertibles) are highly sought after by enthusiasts. Roomy, fuel-efficient, and with tastefully restrained use of tail fins and chrome, they are seen by many as vastly superior to the oversized and overdecorated full-size models that would roll out of Detroit for the next 20 years. The ’55, ’56, and ’57 Chevrolets are commonly referred to as TriFives.

From 1955–57, production of the two-door Nomad station wagon was assigned to the Bel Air series, although its body and trim were unique to that model. Prior to becoming a regular production model, the Nomad first appeared as a Corvette-based concept vehicle in 1954. Chevrolet has since unveiled two concept cars bearing the Nomad name, most recently in 1999. 1956 saw the introduction of the pillarless four-door model, called Sport Sedan and available in both Bel Air and Two-Ten models. Well for all the auto buffs here is a tin sign for you to hang up with your collection.

Surfing refers to a person or boat riding down a wave and thereby gathering speed from the downward movement. Most commonly, the term is used for a surface water sport in which the person surfing is carried along the face of a breaking ocean wave (the “surf”) standing on a surfboard. Surfboards can also be used on rivers on standing waves. Both are sometimes called stand-up surfing, to distinguish it from bodyboarding, in which the individual riding the wave does not stand up on the board, and only partly raises his upper body from the board.

Two major subdivisions within contemporary stand-up surfing are reflected by the differences in surfboard design and riding style of longboarding and shortboarding. In tow-in surfing (most often, but not exclusively, associated with big wave surfing), a surfer is towed into the wave by a motorized water vehicle, such as a jetski, generally because standard paddling is often ineffective when trying to match a large wave’s higher speed.

For all the surfing fans here is a tin sign for you.

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Competitive skiing event in which contestants ski down a steep ramp that curves upward at the end, or takeoff point. Skiers leap from the end, trying to cover as much horizontal distance in the air as possible. Ski jumping has been included in the Winter Olympics since the 1924 Games in Chamonix, France. Upon addition of a second, much bigger hill to the 1964 Olympics, the event was split, creating large-hill jumping and normal- (or small-) hill jumping. Competitions are held on carefully graded and prepared hills, classed according to the distance from the takeoff point that most skiers could travel and still land safely; most senior international events, including the Olympics, are contested at 120 and 90 m (393.7 and 295.275 ft—large hill and normal hill, respectively). Both individual and team ski-jump events are contested at the Winter Olympics. World championships for ski jumping began in 1925 under the governance of the Fédération Internationale de Ski (FIS), and a World Cup tour was established in 1980. Ski jumping is one of the few sports in which men and women compete in the same events; very few women actually participate in the sport, however, and no woman has ever competed at the Olympic Games in ski jumping.

If your into skiing or now someone that is, this would be the perfect tin sign for them.

The Shelby Mustang is a high performance variant of the Ford Mustang, built by Ford from 1968 through 1970. The 1965, 1966 and 1967 Shelbys were a series of Ford Mustangs which were specially modified by Carroll Shelby’s company and sold under the name Shelby GT with identification badges Shelby Cobra.[ From 1968 the model became the Shelby Cobra GT. The program was factory-sponsored by Ford to compete with the Corvette, also factory-sponsored by Chevrolet, neither of which could be built for the sales price charged. In 2007, following the introduction of the Fifth-generation Ford Mustang the Shelby nameplate was revived for new high performance versions of the Mustang.

The 1966 was differentiated in body color (non-white versions were introduced — colors included blue, red, green and black, as well as the original white) and trim. The "Le Mans" stripes were continued as an option, as in 1965. It featured special quarter-panel windows and rear air scoops on each side and an optional automatic transmission. A fold-down rear seat was now standard as well. Where early 1965 cars had black engine blocks, 1966 and later cars had the 289 engine painted blue. The first 252 GT-350s for 1966 were "carry-over" cars. They had the 1965 Ford Mustang Bodies and 1965 Ford Mustang serial numbers under their Shelby serial numbers. They had mostly 1965 features including standard Koni shocks and engines painted black. Blue engines did not occur in 1966 until after these 252 "carry-over" models were produced. 1966 production was 1373 fastbacks including two prototypes and four drag cars and 252 "carry-over" models with Ford Mustang 1965 bodies. 1001 Hertz fastbacks were produced, including two prototypes. Four convertibles were also produced, for a total of 2378 units for 1966.

Shelby struck a deal with the Hertz Corporation to produce a special line of GT350s for rent which were subsequently sold to the public after their rental-car lives were finished. These "GT350H" cars are quite rare and sought-after today, with some examples selling for more than $120,000. Shelby produced 1000 of these cars: 800 in Raven Black, and 50 each in Candy Apple Red, Wimbledon White, Sapphire Blue and Ivy Green. All Hertz cars featured gold LeMans stripes and rocker panel stripes. Early "Hertz" cars were available with four-speed manual transmissions until so many cars were returned from rental with burned and broken clutch assemblies that all of the later cars shipped to Hertz were equipped with an automatic transmission.[citation needed] Many were rented to use as production class cars at SCCA events, some were returned with different engines, holes where roll bars had been welded in, and other modifications to legally run on the track.

Production numbers: GT350 — 2,380 units (four were special order convertibles for Carroll Shelby, the rumor is that six were made, but only four VINs have been discovered). The brakes were enlarged because of the extra power. New components such as under-hood suspension bracing were used. Staggered rear shock absorbers prevented wheel hop and axle wind-up. Functional air intake scoops were added to force air to the rear brake pads, helping keep them cool.
[edit] 1967-1968
1967-1968 GT350 & GT500 Production 1967-1968
Assembly Dearborn, Michigan
Body style(s) 2-door fastback
2-door convertible (1968)
Engine(s) 289 cid V8(1967 GT350)
302 cid V8(1968 GT350)
390 cid (Early 68 GT500)
427 cid (early GT 500) 428 cid V8(GT 500)
Transmission(s) 3-speed automatic
4-speed manual
1967 was the last year for the Shelby Cobras. The GT 350 used the high performance 289 with a COBRA aluminum hi-rise and 715 cfm Holley carb, with a Paxton supercharger as an option. The GT 500 known as the Eleanor was equiped with the 428 Police Interceptor, 2 Holley 4 barrel carbs, and headers as an option. 1968 introduced the Shelby Mustang. Power steering, a single carburetor and hydraulic camshaft made this a muscle car for the masses. The Shelby GT350 Mustang sported a 302 cubic-inch V8 while the GT500 came equipped with the 428 cubic-inch Police Interceptor engine. In February 1968, the GT500KR “King of the Road” debuted; under the hood was a 428 cubic-inch Cobra Jet V8 which was conservatively rated at 335 horsepower (250 kW). Due to a production strike, some early 1968 GT500′s had a 390 cubic-inch V8. Also in 1968, production of Shelby Mustangs switched from Shelby’s shop in California to A.O. Smith Company in Michigan.

For all the musle car fans here is a Shelby Mustang tin sign for you to hang up or give as a gift to some musle car fan.

The business of food will always be profitable when it’s approached the right way. Fresh ingredients and friendly service are often enough to set a successful diner apart from the run of the mill. Of course, no traditional diner would be complete without some classic décor. Antique bar stools, a steel counter and a chalk board for listing the day’s specials are basic diner essentials.

Bare walls would never do in a cozy restaurant, and that’s where diner signs become indispensable. Some old-fashioned signs advertise products from a bygone age. Others simply provide a gentle reminder about the wholesome food that awaits eager patrons. Either way, retro signs add an extra element of ambiance to the classic diner experience.