Yesterday, Graverobber took over the reigns for Name That Part, and brought us a lever-arm shock absorber from a ’72 MG. That was nice of him. Congratulations to Armand4 for nailing it, and identifying the part so quickly and efficiently.
On the other hand, Mr. Robber also brought us a heavily-oiled Sylvester Stallone in a thin shirt, with several references to his big strong arms. As if that wasn’t enough, he brought us proof that the horrendously turkey-licious Over The Top was brought to BluRay.
We’ve given Mr. Robber a stern talking-to, and we sincerely apologize.
On to today’s Name That Part!
The period between the end of the First World War and the Wall Street Collapse of 1929 is often called the “Roaring 20s”. It was a period of economic prosperity following the sacrifices of the Great War, and everyone, from the government, to the banks, to the merchants, to the media, to the public themselves were egging it on. New products were everywhere, and everyone had money to buy them with. The media capitalized on this, and magazines like Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue and Glamor appeared, showing their audiences all the latest trends, styles and fashions. The populace ate it up, spending vast sums of money on the latest cool new product.
Of course, it was not to last. The depression of the 1930s brought it all crashing down again until World War II, when the whole cycle began again. By the 1950s, the cycle had begun again, and a new glut of money had led to a new surge of products. And once again, the media fed the craze with enthusiasm, and with new formats to reach their audiences. Not only magazines, but radio, TV and movies all showed their audiences the latest trends, and the latest cool new products.
Then, of course, it all happened again. And again. And again. And now we deal with the fallout of another cycle.
What does all this have to do with today’s Name That Part? That’s for you to figure out.
Tim Odell 
Robert Emslie
Also, the first photo in this post is actually an artist rendering of a typical lunch at the Hooniverse.com offices.
I’m the one way at the back… ‘cuz I’m furthest away.
I think you have finally found the 1930 LaSalle auxiliary left rear blinker fluid pump.
I don’t have a clue.
Ha, ha. Good one, very punny. I know what that is, and even the car it goes onto, but I’m not telling!
For at least three hours….
That’s a helluva casing, I’d say hydraulic pump or BIG steering box of some sort? The keyed shaft looks like a dandy place to hang a pitman arm.
I’m going to hazard a guess that it’s a power steering pump, possibly even recirculating ball.
As far as the car, I have no clue. Maybe a ’51 Chrysler Imperial (first car to have power steering)?
After looking at the picture and reading about “cycles”, I’m un-educationially guessing that it could be a transfer case or a differential of some sort.
A/C Compressor. Looks like a old Ford unit.
Looks like a single cylinder version of the old Mopar v-twin unit.
Can’t recall for sure, but wasn’t there a time when everyone had pretty similar systems slapped haphazardly in the vehicle? Now that you say Mopar I’m thinking along those lines also.
I like the A/C compressor guess, I would say maybe one of the independents. Packard? Studebaker? Rambler? Doesn’t someone on here have a Rambler.
SWAG time: Rambler A/C compressor.
It is a serpentine powered blender used by wealthy industrialists on the go to blend prohibition era drinks. The floozies love those drinks and don’t mind using the wrench to remove the lid. It is only six bolts.
I see a mount for a pulley but no other inputs or outputs, which is confusing. I’m a disadvantage for every part that did not come from a Mk II VW.
Looks like a transfer case. The only reason I say that is because of the piece next to it looks strangely like a clip that fell out of a Blazer I was messing with as a kid.
or it could be a steering box. you know.. same thing.
I wanted to say steering box, but reading “cool new product” got me. I think it’s a Cadillac AC compressor. I’m pretty sure they had the first factory air conditioning, in the thirties, I believe. I’ll go with that.
its a York A/C compressor
Ahem, its a “New” York A/C compressor. Considering these came on everything from Jeeps to Volvos and everything in between I can’t guess at the year or car. Looks to be a short stroke pump though.
Dingdingdingdingding.
Is that the Samoflange?
1977 Gremlin A/C Compressor. A true example of a bad style. I think I even found your photo source.
http://www.americanpartsdepot.com/HeatingAirConditioning2.htm
Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!
You watch Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives too much.
I cannot argue that. However, I blatantly stole it from a blackjack dealer across the state line several years back.
He’s resourceful. Isn’t he.
You did indeed! Hooray for you, and well done!
I’m going with AC compressor, based on the cycle (AC works by compression/evaporation cycles/condensation cycles).
From what car is up to someone else.
Wanna’ know something funny? Check out what other car uses that compressor:
http://www.discountacparts.com/addtocart/1977_Ferrari/308/A-C_Compressor/60-01013.html#
And it only costs about twice the price of the one for the Gremlin.
Don’t be a sore loser. Your answer is still wrong. Don’t try and distort the truth with all your “facts”. Our judges come from your American justice system, and are only too used to completely ignoring trivial things like “facts”, so you’re not putting anything over on anyone.
They put these on everything. A while back I was looking for a high-output version to convert to an air compressor for my old CJ-5. They are a super easy swap as the 360 I had came with the mounting brackets.
Yeah, it’s an A/C compressor. It could almost cool a ’59 Caddy, but could easily chill a mid-size condo or artist’s loft.
I thought it looked a lot like the non-working AC compressor in my old 72 Gremlin. But I read the comments, so I could be lying…
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