Left to right
First row, front to back
Volkswagen 1100/1200 (Type 1, Beetle), Opel Rekord (P2), Citroën 2CV, Citroën Ami 6.
Second row, front to back
Chevrolet Bel Air, Volkswagen 1100/1200 (Type 1, Beetle), Volkswagen 1100/1200 (Type 1, Beetle), Simca 1300, Ford Zephyr 4 or 6 (Mk III, 211E or 214E), Vauxhall Victor (F).
Third row, front to back
Vauxhall Velox (EIP), unidentified American car, unidentified car, Opel (Olympia) Rekord (P1), unidentified car, unidentified car, unidentified car, Opel Rekord Caravan (P2), unidentified car, unidentified car, unidentified car, Volvo PV544, Ford Taunus 12M (P4), unidentified car, Opel (Olympia) Rekord (P1), Ford Consul Corsair, Volkswagen Transporter T1 (Type 2), unidentified coach.
Monday, 10 February 2025
1964, Car Spotting: Grote Markt Goes Netherlands
Tuesday, 4 February 2025
1963, Science and Technology: Astro lamp
In 1963, British entrepreneur Edward Craven Walker invented the Astro lamp. His inspiration came from a device he saw in a country pub in Dorset, England, which used two immiscible fluids as an egg timer. While this device was rudimentary, Craven saw its potential and decided to refine the concept and turn it into a lamp. Setting up a laboratory in a small shed, he experimented with different ingredients in various bottles. He discovered that one of the best containers was a Tree Top orange squash bottle, whose shape would go on to define the Astro Baby Lamp, or Astro Mini, as it was initially called. Craven, along with his wife Christine, founded the company Crestworth (later known as Mathmos) to manufacture the lamps. They operated from small buildings in an industrial estate in Poole, Dorset.
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Edward Craven Walker and Christine |
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Astro Lamp_1963 Advert |
The lamp consists of a bolus of specially colored wax inside a glass vessel, which is filled with clear or translucent liquid. The vessel is placed on a base containing an incandescent light bulb, whose heat causes temporary reductions in the wax's density and the liquid's surface tension. As the warmed wax rises through the liquid, it cools, loses its buoyancy, and falls back to the bottom of the vessel.
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Modern Astro Lamp by Mathmos |
Saturday, 1 February 2025
1962, Car Spotting: Septemberplein Eindhoven Netherlands
Front, before the zebra crossing, left to right
First row
Fiat 1800/2100, Opel Olympia Rekord (1953/54).
Second row
Plymouth Cranbrook, Ford Consul (EOTA), Ford Taunus 17M (P2, Baroque Taunus or Flying carpet), Volkswagen 1100/1200 (Type 1, Beetle) and Ford Anglia (105E).
Third row
Fiat 1100, Volkswagen 1100/1200 (Type 1, Beetle), Citroën ID/DS, Ford Taunus 12M (P1, Side-stripes Taunus), Opel Olympia Rekord (1957), Volkswagen Transporter T1 (Type 2), Volkswagen 1100/1200 (Type 1, Beetle) and Ford Anglia (105E).
Back, behind the zebra crossing, left to right
First row
Volkswagen 1100/1200 (Type 1, Beetle), Volkswagen Karmann Ghia (Type 14), Ford Consul (204E), Opel (Olympia) Rekord (P1), Opel Kapitän (P2), unidentified van, unidentified car.
Second row
Ford Taunus 17M (P2, Baroque Taunus or Flying carpet), Ford Taunus 17M (P3, Bathtub Taunus), Ford Galaxie / Fairlane (1959), Austin Cambridge (A40, A50 or A55), Borgward Hansa 1500, Fiat 600, DKW 3=6 (F91), Opel Olympia Rekord Caravan (1955), Volkswagen 1100/1200 (Type 1, Beetle), Ford Anglia (105E), Volkswagen 1100/1200 (Type 1, Beetle), Volkswagen 1100/1200 (Type 1, Beetle), Peugeot 203, Ford Galaxie / Fairlane (1959), DAF 600, Ford Anglia (100E), Citroën ID/DS, Volkswagen 1100/1200 (Type 1, Beetle), Volkswagen 1100/1200 (Type 1, Beetle), DKW 3=6, Peugeot 403, Plymouth (Chrysler) Valiant, Volkswagen 1100/1200 (Type 1, Beetle), unidentified car.
Third row
Unidentified van, Volkswagen Transporter T1 (Type 2), Opel (Olympia) Rekord Caravan (P1).
Fourth row
Unidentified car, unidentified car, unidentified car, Fiat 600, unidentified car, Renault Dauphine, Škoda Octavia, Ford Taunus 17M (P3, Bathtub Taunus), DAF Daffodil, Renault Dauphine, Ford Consul (EOTA), Opel (Olympia) Rekord (P1), 4 unidentified cars, Chevrolet Corvair, Ford Taunus 17M (P2, Baroque Taunus or Flying carpet), unidentified car, Volkswagen 1100/1200 (Type 1, Beetle), Opel Rekord (P2), unidentified car.
Saturday, 25 January 2025
1961, Film: "La Belle Américaine"
The French comedy “La belle américaine” (1961) directed by Robert Dhéry and Pierre Tchernia, was written by Alfred Adam, Robert Dhéry, and Pierre Tchernia. The main cast includes Robert Dhéry as Marcel Perrignon, Colette Brosset as Paulette Perrignon, Christian Marin as Pierrot, Alfred Adam as Alfred, Louis de Funès as the Viralot brothers, and Bernard Lavalette as the Minister of Commerce.
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“La belle américaine” Poster |
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Colette Brosset as Paulette Perrignon and Robert Dhéry as Marcel Perrignon |
Synopsis
Marcel Perrignon (Robert Dhéry) is a factory worker who does tubing in a factory in the Paris suburbs. He lives with his wife, Paulette (Colette Brosset), on a dead-end street in La Plaine Saint-Denis, where his friends run various businesses. Pierrot (Christian Marin), his brother-in-law, sells ice cream and candies from his cart, which Paulette makes. Marcel plans to buy an old motorcycle from his friend Alfred (Alfred Adam), but the bike is in poor condition. Paulette then comes across an ad for an American car being sold for the ridiculously low price of 500 new francs. Marcel goes to Neuilly to meet Madame Lucanzas (Annie Ducaux), who, seeking revenge for her late husband's infidelity, has decided to sell the American car he had promised to Simone (Éliane d'Almeida), his (very close) secretary, at an unbelievably low price…
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Robert Dhéry as Marcel Perrignon |
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Colette Brosset as Paulette Perrignon |
Main cast
- Robert Dhéry as Marcel Perrignon
- Colette Brosset as Paulette Perrignon
- Christian Marin as Pierrot Paulette's brother and ice cream salesman
- Alfred Adam as Alfred the motorbike friend
- Louis de Funès as Les frères Viralot, both the personnel manager and the commissaire (chief inspector)
- Bernard Lavalette as Le ministre du commerce (trade minister)
- Jacques Legras as Riri, cafe owner
- Robert Rollis as the hairdresser
- Annie Ducaux as Mrs Lucanzas
- Éliane d'Almeida as Simone
- Michel Serrault as Chauveau aka Veau-froid, the tramp
- Claude Piéplu as the attorney
- Jacques Fabbri as Le gros
- Jean Lefebvre as Chougnasse, Le chef comptable (chief accountant)
- Jean Richard as the spectacled locksmith
- Pierre Dac as the colonel
- Max Favalelli as the ambassador
- Jacques Balutin as Balutin
- Robert Burnier as Houche
- Bernard Dhéran as M. Jean
- Jean Carmet as the car thief
- Roger Pierre as snob sports car driver
- Jean-Marc Thibaut as the effete man
- Christian Duvaleix as the priest in the night
- Fernand Raynaud as himself in his comedy sketch as La Bougie (on a TV show)
- Pierre Tchernia as himself as TV presenter
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Robert Dhéry as Marcel Perrignon and Louis de Funès as commissaire Viralot |
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Jean Richard as locksmith, Christian Marin as Pierrot and Colette Brosset as Paulette Perrignon |
The car
"La Belle Américaine" referred to as a Cadillac in the film, is actually a 1959 Oldsmobile 98 Convertible, modified by the Pichon-Parat coachbuilders from Sens. On the original model, there are four headlights with turn signals placed between each pair. For the film's needs, Lucas fog lights were installed in place of the turn signals, giving the car a front with six headlights. The grille was modified: a sheet metal piece in the same color as the body, containing a much smaller grille, was mounted to replace the original grille. The rear lights lost their chrome trim. All logos and inscriptions originally present were removed to prevent identification of the model. The bodywork was done by the Pichon-Parat coachbuilders, based on designs by Jacques Dupas.
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1959 Oldsmobile 98 Convertible |
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The film car with Éliane d'Almeida as Simone and Robert Dhéry as Marcel Perrignon |
Trailer
Tuesday, 21 January 2025
1960, Cars: Borgward P100
The Borgward P100 is a large four-door sedan that was first introduced in September 1959 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It was produced by the Bremen-based automaker Carl F. W. Borgward GmbH from January 1960 until July 1961.
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Borgward P100 |
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Predecessor: Borgward Hansa 2400 Pullman |
The P100 adopted a structural approach similar to the existing Borgward Isabella, incorporating an integral chassis. Its 2.24-liter straight-six engine was derived from the one used in earlier Borgward six-cylinder sedans, including the most recent model, the Borgward Hansa 2400 Pullman. Advertised performance figures included a power output of 75 kW and a top speed of around 161 km/h. Contemporary promotional materials emphasized the car's groundbreaking self-leveling air suspension.
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Borgward P100 |
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Borgward P100 |
During its nineteen months of production, the P100 saw over 2,500 units produced, positioning it to outperform earlier six-cylinder Borgward models in the marketplace. However, the bankruptcy of Borgward in August 1961 led to the cessation of P100 production.
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Borgward P100 |
Saturday, 18 January 2025
1977, Sports: Paris-Roubaix
The 75th edition of the Paris-Roubaix cycling race took place on April 17, 1977, and was won by the Belgian Roger De Vlaeminck. With this fourth victory, he remains the most successful rider in the history of the event, tied with Tom Boonen since 2012.
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Roger De Vlaeminck and Freddy Maertens |
This edition is the first to start from Compiègne. The start, which had been in Chantilly since 1966, was moved to bring it closer to the North. The gained kilometers allow for detours to find new cobbled sectors, replacing those that had disappeared, particularly around Templeuve. The finish takes place at the André-Pétrieux Velodrome in Roubaix since 1943.
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Roger De Vlaeminck, Eddy Merckx and Freddy Maertens |
149 riders line up for the race. The main favorites are the Belgians Roger De Vlaeminck, a three-time winner of Paris-Roubaix and already victorious in the early season in Tirreno-Adriatico and the Tour of Flanders, and Freddy Maertens, the reigning world champion and at the "peak" of his career. The third prominent rider at the start of the season is the Dutchman Jan Raas, winner of the Amstel Gold Race and Milan-San Remo. Eddy Merckx, also a three-time Paris-Roubaix winner, is also participating, for the last time. The main outsiders are André Dierickx, Walter Godefroot, Francesco Moser, Roger Rosiers, and Marc Demeyer.
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Roger De Vlaeminck, Dietrich Thurau, Freddy Maertens and Marc Demeyer |
General Classification
1 |
Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL) |
Brooklyn |
6h11'26" |
2 |
Willy Teirlinck (BEL) |
Gitane - Campagnolo |
1'30" |
3 |
Freddy Maertens (BEL) |
Flandria - Velda - Latina |
1'39" |
4 |
Ronald De Witte (BEL) |
Brooklyn |
s.t. |
5 |
Piet Van Katwijk (NED) |
TI - Raleigh |
s.t. |
6 |
Jan Raas (NED) |
Frisol - Gazelle - Thirion |
s.t. |
7 |
Willem Peeters (BEL) |
Ijsboerke - Colnago |
s.t. |
8 |
Dietrich Thurau (GER) |
TI - Raleigh |
s.t. |
9 |
Herman Van Springel (BEL) |
Ijsboerke - Colnago |
s.t. |
10 |
Hennie Kuiper (NED) |
TI - Raleigh |
s.t. |
11 |
Eddy Merckx (BEL) |
FIAT |
s.t. |
12 |
Raymond Poulidor (FRA) |
Miko - Mercier - Hutchinson |
s.t. |
13 |
Francesco Moser (ITA) |
Sanson |
s.t. |
14 |
Marc Demeyer (BEL) |
Flandria - Velda - Latina |
s.t. |
15 |
Walter Godefroot (BEL) |
Ijsboerke - Colnago |
s.t. |
16 |
Jean-luc Vandenbroucke (BEL) |
Peugeot - Esso - Michelin |
s.t. |
17 |
Willy De Geest (BEL) |
Brooklyn |
s.t. |
18 |
André Dierickx (BEL) |
Maes Pils - Mini Flat |
s.t. |
19 |
Michel Pollentier (BEL) |
Flandria - Velda - Latina |
s.t. |
20 |
Jacques Martin (BEL) |
FIAT |
s.t. |
21 |
Joop Zoetemelk (NED) |
Miko - Mercier - Hutchinson |
s.t. |
22 |
Walter Planckaert (BEL) |
Maes Pils - Mini Flat |
5'23" |
23 |
Cees Priem (NED) |
Frisol - Gazelle - Thirion |
s.t. |
24 |
Guido Van Sweevelt (BEL) |
Ijsboerke - Colnago |
s.t. |
25 |
Roger Rosiers (BEL) |
Frisol - Gazelle - Thirion |
s.t. |
26 |
Pol Verschure (BEL) |
|
15'24" |
27 |
Jean-jacques Fussien (FRA) |
F.f.c. |
18'54" |
28 |
Vittorio Algeri (ITA) |
G.b.c. - Itla TV |
19'13" |
29 |
Gérard Simonnot (FRA) |
Peugeot - Esso - Michelin |
s.t. |
30 |
Roy Schuiten (NED) |
Lejeune - BP |
s.t. |
31 |
Ronny Vanmarcke (BEL) |
Carlos - Gipiemme |
19'59" |
32 |
Jöel Hauvieux (FRA) |
|
s.t. |
33 |
Roland Berland (FRA) |
Gitane - Campagnolo |
s.t. |
34 |
Carlos Cuyle (BEL) |
Flandria - Velda - Latina |
s.t. |
35 |
Jean-Pierre Danguillaume (FRA) |
Peugeot - Esso - Michelin |
s.t. |
36 |
André Mollet (FRA) |
Maes Pils - Mini Flat |
s.t. |
37 |
Bernard Draux (BEL) |
FIAT |
26'27" |
38 |
Gregor Braun (GER) |
Peugeot - Esso - Michelin |
s.t. |
39 |
Bruno Vicino (ITA) |
G.b.c. - Itla TV |
35'01" |
40 |
Keith Lambert (GBR) |
Holdsworth - Campagnolo |
s.t. |
41 |
Dirk Baert (BEL) |
Carlos - Gipiemme |
s.t. |
42 |
Geoffrey Wiles (GBR) |
Holdsworth - Campagnolo |
s.t. |
43 |
Phil Corley (GBR) |
Holdsworth - Campagnolo |
s.t. |
Video Clip
Wednesday, 15 January 2025
1976, Car Spotting: Grote Markt Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands
Parked on the left, front to back
Unidentified car, BMW 2000 Touring (02 Series), Peugeot 204, Renault 5 (first generation), Fiat 600, Peugeot 304, Rover 3500 (P6b), unidentified car.
Parked on the Market Place, front to back
First row, left to right
Ford Consul Coupé, Lada 1200 Estate (VAZ-2101).
Second row, left to right
BMW 02 Series, Citroën CX Familiale, Ford Taunus L Coupé (TC), Chrysler 160/180/2 litre, unidentified car probably Opel.
Third row, left to right
Jaguar XJ Series II, Volkswagen 412 (Type 4), Peugeot 504, Fiat 127, Citroën GS, Citroën CX, Datsun 120Y, Ford Taunus (Facelift, TC), Volvo 244, Ford Taunus L (TC), Sunbeam 1250/1500 (Hillman Avenger), Citroën 2CV.
Fourth row, left to right
Peugeot 104, Peugeot 404, Ford Taunus GT (TC), Volkswagen Golf I, Citroën GS, Fiat 131 Mirafiori, Peugeot 504, Ford Taunus (TC2), Austin/Morris Mini, Opel Kadett C, Peugeot 504, Renault 17, Renault 16, Renault 12.
Fifth row, left to right
Fiat 128, unidentified car, Volkswagen 411/412 (Type 4), unidentified car, Simca 1301/1302, Renault 4, unidentified car, Renault 5, unidentified car, Ford Cortina Mk 2, Peugeot 504, unidentified car, unidentified car.
Sixth row
Unidentified American car.