Watch this incredible color footage of London in 1927. Filmed by Claude Frisse-Greene, a British filmmaker who was the son of inventor and cinematography pioneer William Friese-Greene, it showcases the cars, buses, boats, parks, monuments, signage, rhythms, style, and the sea of hats that made the London streets during the ’20s. 

More 1920s vids in the archives.

Thanks, @benjohnbarnes.

Spend a minute traveling to delightful music in World of Motion by The Academy’s Colin Hesterly. You might have seen The Academy’s recent work: When I Grow Up.

Watch more vehicles, technology, and animation… 

Around the Corner is a great 1930s video that clearly describes how the differential gear works and why we need them in our cars. Bonus: motorcycles ride in formation to victorious band music. 

h/t Kottke.

From the Marin County Free Library, cars, boats, trains and a motorless gravity car in 1920s California.

The Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods Railroad ran from 1896 until 1929 between downtown Mill Valley to near the summit of Mt. Tamalpais, with a second line descending the West side of Mt. Tamalpais to Muir Woods beginning in 1907. 

The first part of this film from 1926 depicts the journey taken from the San Francisco Ferry Building (notice the cars boarding the ferry), across the bay, to Sausalito. From there, passengers would board a passenger train to Mill Valley. At the Mill Valley depot, an open-aired train traveled up the mountain, on the “Crookedest Railroad in the World.” At the terminus was a tavern; the one pictured here was the third incarnation, rebuilt after a fire in 1913.

The second part of this film begins at the Tavern of Tamalpais where, travelers depart on a motorless gravity car, which traveled down to Muir Woods.

The Nerdy Derby is a miniature car building and racing competition that will be held at the 3rd annual World Maker Faire, September 29 and 30 in New York City (video). The competition is inspired by the Boy Scout Pinewood derby, but unlike the scout event the Nerdy Derby has no rules and stresses ingenuity over speed. The Nerdy Derby is organized by a group of students from New York University’s ITP program.

via Laughing Squid.