that shot down on the 4 Strombergs is a classic, Ralph used that as his avatar. the linkage hookup would boggle most peoples minds, but Tom was a genius with that sort of thing....
It’s an aircraft carburetor, maybe Stromberg or Pratt & Whitney but I don’t know for sure….. looks like Mark answered the question while I was googling and typing up my response.
I was intrigued by that carburetor myself. Here's one a little closer to what it appears to be in the picture. Definitely military aircraft.
This is in no way meant to slight the accomplishments of Tom Cobbs but I have to ask, which came first? Here are photos of Barney Navarro’s four Stromberg installation, so did Barney get the carb adapter and linkage layout from Tom or vice versa?
I’ve got a handful of favorites from this batch... too many, really... and I can’t pick the one. But if I had to lean in a direction, it’s this big bastard right here: I’m guessing Bob D’Olivo shot it, same session as the other we’ve talked about. You can tell it lived a hard life - thumbtacked to some shop wall for decades... but holy hell, it might be the sharpest early photo I’ve ever seen. Just look at that blower: That level of detail is criminal. It’s driven me halfway insane. My first thought was, “I need a large format camera.” Then I saw the prices and the mountain of technique I’d have to climb just to load the damn thing. So, I bailed... straight into another rabbit hole. I bought an old digital medium format rig, tore it apart, and decided to “modernize” it. I haven’t skipped the learning curve - just changed the flavor of the pain. But at least it’s cheaper. Samples coming soon.
That is incredible footage in imagery...wow. You know that saying here that Hambers say I'm stealing your idea... the 4carbs was mentioned with Barney...how about Gene Winfield's coupe with the aero slope and Tom's removable sloper...these guys knew one another they just did stuff over sharing time at the track, in the shop, on the phone, in the service...I guess aviation fuel and aircraft carbs made easy options for experimentation on automobile engines...then there was Jot Horne...oh yeah the Deuce Roadster with the jet engine...sorry I'm all over the place with the years but they were all Hamb Friendly ones. Tom did a truck with a top like the Roadster too but a little more refined... Thanks for sharing...I truly enjoyed that...this stuff couldn't have been given to a more deserving Hotrodder. Tom's cracking a smile up there...
https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc279533/m1/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pratt_&_Whitney_R-1830_Twin_Wasp
Paging @alanp561...I was just thinking maybe you might have some input on Tom Cobbs Carburetor choice on his Roadster that Ryan shared pics of...a few of us dug up some possibilities...maybe it was off a Military Douglas C4... Pretty awesome pics from the archives of boxes tucked away like time capsules only these survived and didn't end up like the buried Plymouth...
Damn! One of the best single photo displays I have seen in 18+ years on the HAMB. Outstanding in numerous ways, not the least of which is the absolute Real-ness and Analog-ness and Authentic-ness that he captured and preserved, a sharp-focused look into a rapidly disappearing world. A world where there was never any question that what you were looking at was real. This is as real as it gets. Thank you Ryan for keeping it real! Levers, knobs, toggle switches, foot pedals, cables, B&W prints, analog gauges . . . home. I agree, absolutely surreal, something really special.
You could buy a Lancaster Bomber for $750.00 Canadian after the war so I suppose those carbs and other Aircraft surplus south of the border could be had for giveaway prices and that coupled with the skills learned by those returning from the war made for upgrades to go fast from many directions.... ...I was off a little...farmers bought them just for the fuel in many cases... Quoted... "You could buy a Lancaster with all four Merlins for just $250.00 to $350.00. The lucky ones, more than 70 in all, would be selected for new roles as anti-submarine patrol aircraft, ice reconnaissance or photographic mapping. In these new roles, they flourished, becoming part of the rich history of the RCAF." https://www.vintagewings.ca/stories/last-call-for-lancasters#:~:text=You could buy a Lancaster with all,of the rich history of the RCAF.
I went through the photos 3 times before I realized I had seen them already. Each time took me down a different mental pathway. Insane. Thank you for the journey.
Aside from the great pics, just amazed to see qty 3 and qty 4 V-belts being used to drive those blowers! Would certainly enjoy a coffee table book of B&W photos of the salt flat racing era of the 40s through the 50s.
I've wondered the same. I sure I've seen a third person/version at some point. As has already been mentioned these guys were around each other and ideas would naturally get bounced around. The Nararro set-up was a little slicker as his was drilled internally to supply fuel. Cobbs was plumbed externally.
That Chandler-Evans carb will supply enough air-fuel mixture for 1830 cu. in. at around 2700 rpm, so it might just have been overkill for a blown flathead. Still, that is a cool picture!
The Jalopy Journal
