Can You Say Indian….. Well Indian Drifter

Posted on June 7, 2010 by Webmaster

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I have driven motorcycles for most of my life and have had many over the years both English (Triumph, BSA and Norton) and also Harleys and I never thought I would go Japanese but that day has arrived.

I sold the 1948 Harley Pan Head that I restored about 6 years ago and since then every spring I have had the itch. I kept looking at the 1999-2001 Indian Chief because it was crafted using an S&S engine which can be serviced anywhere but the price tags on these bikes have not come down and still command upwards of 15K for a really nice machine. The brand new Indians are over 30K in price.

In my search for an Indian this past week I came upon the Indian Drifter made by Kawasaki and I found the bike that filled my bill. It is a full size ride with a 90 cubic inch engine, 1500 ccs, but it is shaft drive, fuel injected and water cooled. So this work of art has the best of both worlds, the look of a 1940’s Indian Chief and reliability of the Kawasaki Motorcycle Co.

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The pictures you see are of the Indian Drifter I have just purchased. It is a 1999 with just over 7000 miles. It looks as if it were hermetically sealed and just today opened today after 11 years. It is virtually brand new. Still has the little nubs on the tires. Not a scratch anywhere on this machine. If I didn;t tell you it is eleven years old you would swear it just arrived from the factory. It is amazing.

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Here is the history of this bike which was designed by an American team for Kawasaki. I thought you may enjoy reading this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawasaki_Vulcan_1500_Drifter

Also for your enjoyment is the original commercial for this motorcycle from 1999 by Kawasaki.

 

<a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=Mrbs10YiXDc">http://youtube.com/watch?v=Mrbs10YiXDc</a>

 

 

I am a very happy motorcyclist again with a very nice bike which fits all my criteria and I didn’t have to take a second mortgage to purchase it.

Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com

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Dan Willinger is a ventriloquism enthusiast and ventriloquist figure collector. He has been collecting for over 25 years. He created the Ventriloquist Central Collection. It now has over 100 ventriloquist figures and over 50 of them are Frank Marshall figures. Because of his love for the art of ventriloquism, Mr. Willinger created the website Ventriloquist Central. For more information about the website, go to: http://www.ventriloquistcentral.com

Copyright 2010 by Dan Willinger

NOTE: You may use this blog article provided you run it with the bio box intact. Please email a copy of your publication with the blog article in it to: webmaster@ventriloquistcentral.com

Posted in Personal, Ventriloquist Central | 3 Comments

Guest Blog – Pastor Scott Bryte

Posted on June 6, 2010 by Webmaster

pastorscottbryte

My lovely wife and I will be celebrating our 25th anniversary this summer, and decided to commemorate that great and joyful milestone by taking our grown son and daughter and our son’s fiancee’ on a cruise to Bermuda.

As soon as we figured out the we would be taking a cruise that sailed out of Boston, I called Dan Willinger who graciously invited us to visit Ventriloquist Central.

I wouldn’t want to get into trouble with my family by saying that a billiard room filled with 150 painted wooden faces was the highlight of my vacation. Maybe I should only say that is was A highlight (a major highlight)..

It was a humbling experince as a dummy carver to be surrounded by the masterful work of Theodore and Charles Mack, Frank Marshall, the legendary McElroy brothers, Gilmer, Guyll, Insull, Isaacson, Hamilton, Brown, Spencer and so many others.

I felt like I was in the Louvre with all the ropes down. It was a treat beyond describing to be able to handle a McElroy, look inside wooden heads to see mechanics from breath-takingly simple to the staggeringly complex, and to examine minutely the brilliant knife work on some unfinished Frank Marshall marionettes!

My deepest thanks to Dan and Helen for their generous hospitality, and to their magician son Jason for his amazing up-close slight-of-hand card demonstration.

Scott Bryte

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Scott, it was out pleasure.

 

Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com

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Dan Willinger is a ventriloquism enthusiast and ventriloquist figure collector. He has been collecting for over 25 years. He created the Ventriloquist Central Collection. It now has over 100 ventriloquist figures and over 50 of them are Frank Marshall figures. Because of his love for the art of ventriloquism, Mr. Willinger created the website Ventriloquist Central. For more information about the website, go to: http://www.ventriloquistcentral.com

Copyright 2010 by Dan Willinger

NOTE: You may use this blog article provided you run it with the bio box intact. Please email a copy of your publication with the blog article in it to: webmaster@ventriloquistcentral.com

Posted in Scott Bryte, Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central, Ventriloquist Figure (Dummy) Makers, Ventriloquist Figure Building, Ventriloquist Figures | Leave a comment

Pastor Scott Bryte's Sparky Ventriloquist Figure

Posted on June 5, 2010 by Webmaster

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It was my pleasure to have Pastor Scott come to see the Ventriloquist Central Collection. He had a wonderful time seeing the figures and actually looking at some of the mechanics in the figures of the past. He told me he was very impressed with the simplicity of some of the movements and how they has stood the test of time. He planned on incorporating some that he had seen into his own work.

I was thrilled because Scott decided to donate his Sparky character to the Ventriloquist Central Collection. So that this figure can be seen by everyone I have taken these pictures for you and they will be on the site under Ventriloquist Central Collection, maker Pastor Scott Bryte.

This figure is the largest figure in the collection standing over five feet tall. His head is carved out of pine and so are his hands. The figure has side to side self centering eyes, slot jaw and blinkers. His head opens in the front so that you can place ideas in his head and it also lights up. The back of his head opens fully to access the mechanics which I also must say are beautiful. The hands are removable from the body and are held on with locks. The body has a rocking clavicle (think Foy Brown) so that Sparky can look straight down when he is seated or in standing position.

 

Click here to see Pastor Scott Bryte’s Sparky Ventriloquist Figure

Paster Scott is a great carver and if you want a figure carved in wood he can make you just about anything and he also loves to do caricature carvings. He will carve a face to look like your own. This is a great talent for sure. He does sell figures and we have a few of his smaller figures listed on the Ventriloquist Central Marketplace or you can certainly contact him and discuss your needs.

You can get his contact information on the “Hard Figure Makers” page.

 

Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com

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Dan Willinger is a ventriloquism enthusiast and ventriloquist figure collector. He has been collecting for over 25 years. He created the Ventriloquist Central Collection. It now has over 100 ventriloquist figures and over 50 of them are Frank Marshall figures. Because of his love for the art of ventriloquism, Mr. Willinger created the website Ventriloquist Central. For more information about the website, go to: http://www.ventriloquistcentral.com

Copyright 2010 by Dan Willinger

NOTE: You may use this blog article provided you run it with the bio box intact. Please email a copy of your publication with the blog article in it to: webmaster@ventriloquistcentral.com

Posted in Dummy Collecting, Scott Bryte, Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central, Ventriloquist Figure (Dummy) Makers, Ventriloquist Figure Building, Ventriloquist Figures | 1 Comment

Hugo and VentriloquistCentral.com T-Shirts

Posted on June 4, 2010 by Webmaster

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In yesterday’s blog, I wrote about Ed Thomas and his Ford commercial. I didn’t want “Hugo” to feel left out so today I’m posting a picture of him with his VentriloquistCentral.com t-shirt.

These t-shirts are selling better than we thought, in fact I just got another batch yesterday. So if you have already placed your order, it will be going out today.

If you haven’t ordered…..WHY NOT???

Here are a couple of comments:

“Got the shirt today!
Great quality!
I shall wear it proudly.”
Eddie Garland

 

“Thanks, Dan. Love my new VentriloquistCentral.com T-shirt. My little friend Chester the Fireman likes it, too!

Hey, folks! Order yours today!”
Kenny Croes
http://ventintothemic.blogspot.com/

 

So, what are you waiting for??? To quote Kenny Croes, “Hey, folks! Order yours today!”

Click here for more information about the VentriloquistCentral.com t-shirts

 

 

Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com

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Dan Willinger is a ventriloquism enthusiast and ventriloquist figure collector. He has been collecting for over 25 years. He created the Ventriloquist Central Collection. It now has over 100 ventriloquist figures and over 50 of them are Frank Marshall figures. Because of his love for the art of ventriloquism, Mr. Willinger created the website Ventriloquist Central. For more information about the website, go to: http://www.ventriloquistcentral.com

Copyright 2010 by Dan Willinger

NOTE: You may use this blog article provided you run it with the bio box intact. Please email a copy of your publication with the blog article in it to: webmaster@ventriloquistcentral.com

Posted in Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central | Leave a comment

Ed Thomas and Hugo Make the Big Time…Well Ed Does

Posted on June 3, 2010 by Webmaster

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Ed Thomas & Hugo

One of our good friends, Ed Thomas, of Ed Thomas and Hugo fame has become a sponsor for Ford.

He had to leave his wooden partner at home as this gig called for only one of them. Hugo told Ed he would not work unless they both were called but Ed told Hugo too bad he was taking the gig.

I think this was a good choice. Enjoy the video!!!

 

<a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=Qb1-lgQbQqc">http://youtube.com/watch?v=Qb1-lgQbQqc</a>

 

So, what do you think?

 

Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com

***************************************************

Dan Willinger is a ventriloquism enthusiast and ventriloquist figure collector. He has been collecting for over 25 years. He created the Ventriloquist Central Collection. It now has over 100 ventriloquist figures and over 50 of them are Frank Marshall figures. Because of his love for the art of ventriloquism, Mr. Willinger created the website Ventriloquist Central. For more information about the website, go to: http://www.ventriloquistcentral.com

Copyright 2010 by Dan Willinger

NOTE: You may use this blog article provided you run it with the bio box intact. Please email a copy of your publication with the blog article in it to: webmaster@ventriloquistcentral.com

Posted in Ventriloquism/Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Central, Ventriloquist Videos | 1 Comment