Alternate History Nuka Tonic (2021 SI to 1936)

[Evilutionary]

As a non-FDR I'm not sure if I'm interested.
Death by a Thousand Details - how is the car taking to leaded gasoline?

1961 corvette. He regularly (or likely) puts in a lead additive to prevent the engine from locking up (hardened valve seats were used @'71 or so until then leaded gasoline or an additive should prolly be used or you'll find the valves sinking into the heads somewhere between 10,000 to 100,000 miles). But anyway the lead is a lubricant that the insert no longer has to worry about.

Edit- Granted, the car could have been converted with hardened seals by now.

 

[Buba]

1961 corvette. He regularly (or likely) puts in a lead additive to prevent the engine from locking up (hardened valve seats were used @'71 or so until then leaded gasoline or an additive should prolly be used or you'll find the valves sinking into the heads somewhere between 10,000 to 100,000 miles). But anyway the lead is a lubricant that the insert no longer has to worry about.

I can't say that I understand much of what you wrote, but it looks scientific! And here I - the simpleton - thought that lead was used for anti-knock efects, not as some sort of sealant! Thanks!
But I think I made a boo-boo - was gasoline leaded in 1936 to begin with?

 

[Evilutionary]

I can't say that I understand much of what you wrote, but it looks scientific! And here I - the simpleton - thought that lead was used for anti-knock efects, not as some sort of sealant! Thanks!
But I think I made a boo-boo - was gasoline leaded in 1936 to begin with?

1920 or so iirc. Was fully banned in the mid-90s but still used for farm equipment & some aircraft.

But it's primarily a lubricant. Now if he had a modern car and tried to use leaded gasoline he'd pretty much trash his catalytic converter right away (and have a zero emission vehicle afterwards;-).

 

[The Unicorn]

His paper money would not 'feel' right (different blend)

While the blend has changed several times, I'm not sure the change would significantly affect how it feels.

Pennies are pretty useless as most of his would be Lincoln Memorial pennies which were first minted in 1959 (unlikely he has Lincoln wheat pennies in his pocket\car). Um....Jefferson nickels were first minted in 1938 (again doubtful he has Indian Heads)....dimes well he probably isn't carrying Liberty's but instead Roosevelts (heh).

Point, but I still think it's possible and plausabile that the clerk not notice the coins are wrong as long as they're the right size, shape and color.

1.Trocky had no supporters in soviets except gulags,so no
2.Ford supported republican and loved cars.You gave him technology and knowledge how democrats fucked USA.And how he could help Republicans win.
3.Yes,they have.Soviets relied on oil from Baku - one B.29 visit and they would fight on feet.Their air forces sucked,so their army would be massacred any time when they try attack.And it was slave army,so they surrender when they understandt that their masters are loosing.
Not mention - once Sralin die,their state would cease to exist.

1. I don't think you're right about that, and more importantly Stalin didn't think so.
2. Assuming he agreed with your interpretation, and you had such knowledge and could convince him you were telling the truth, and for that matter knew where he was. Finding the white house is easy, finding Ford? Well depends on what information you remember.
3. The US in 1945 did not agree, that is in fact why the war ended then.

 

[Evilutionary]

While the blend has changed several times, I'm not sure the change would significantly affect how it feels.
Point, but I still think it's possible and plausabile that the clerk not notice the coins are wrong as long as they're the right size, shape and color.

It feels significantly different (it's an anti-counterfeiting measure in itself). If anything folks in the time period are even more aware and on the look out for funny money and if you handle money all day (like a cashier) you are going to pick up on that and take a closer look. But regardless, one look at a modern US bill will tell you right away...the portraits are huge. Nobody is going to take a bill and not look at it for the amount (and if you can't spot the difference between a modern US dollar vs old one you are blind).

 

[The Unicorn]

It feels significantly different (it's an anti-counterfeiting measure in itself).

I'll take your word for it. So he has no cash (I'm taking back my earlier point about coins - that was my thinking about paying in bills with a couple of coins included), although I suppose he might be able to sell a couple of coins or stamps he might have.
I'd expect any jeweler at the time would be willing to buy odd coins, not sure where he'd find someone to pay for non-standard stamps.

 

[Evilutionary]

I'll take your word for it. So he has no cash (I'm taking back my earlier point about coins - that was my thinking about paying in bills with a couple of coins included), although I suppose he might be able to sell a couple of coins or stamps he might have.
I'd expect any jeweler at the time would be willing to buy odd coins, not sure where he'd find someone to pay for non-standard stamps.

He probably has a few things he can convert to cash without too much trouble. Besides any jewelry he might be wearing, he might have a watch. Even an el cheapo digital one is going to raise eyebrows (I'd go person to person sale rather than the pawn shop with that). He's driving around a classic car...most owners I know of keep a tool box in the trunk. A good set of (non-metric fortunately) tools would be worth a bit if he wants to risk parting with it.

Other odds and ends could be in the car as well. A modern tennis racket or set of golf clubs wouldn't be too hard to sell to an interested party (after a bit of demonstration). Sneakers from a gym bag likely an okay sale. Though a lot of this depends on what the Insert/OP supplies him.

He could pass some of his UT coins by putting them into a stamp vending machine and then selling/exchanging the stamps (at a slight loss) to someone (after a semi-sob story;-). The big problem with that one is his money is basically already a big federal crime if he's caught with it (again counterfeiting...even possession of money that presents itself as legal tender is a crime whether you try to pass it or not). Putting UT coins to buy US stamps would probably attract the wrong sort of attention (and add some charges if they do find him).

He has the fastest car on the road as well (in 1936 the Rolls Royce Phantom III clocks a 0-60 time at 16.5 seconds...his Corvette should be around 6.6 secs). He could offer rides for a nickel or find a race.

 

[Buba]

Finding the white house is easy, finding Ford? Well depends on what information you remember.

I'd start sniffing around Detroit

 

[The Unicorn]

Besides any jewelry he might be wearing, he might have a watch. Even an el cheapo digital one is going to raise eyebrows (I'd go person to person sale rather than the pawn shop with that).

Yah it would rais eybrows, but I don't think he could sell it very easily, it's too different and odd. There are people who would buy it, and for a sizable chunck of money, but not most people he could find on the street, or even in a clock maker's shop. Also he doesn't need to raise a lot of money, just enough to get to Washington with a bit to spare.

He could pass some of his UT coins by putting them into a stamp vending machine and then selling/exchanging the stamps (at a slight loss) to someone (after a semi-sob story;-).

Not a slight loss, a HUGE loss.
Any one of his coins is a nearly unique coins with obvious signs of wear on them, but in reasonably good shape. With no providence he could get really high but he could probably get a dollar or two per coin, with the pennies probably being the most valuable.
Also, I doubt the coins he has would work for any vending machines in 1936 - their weight would be wrong and I believe that was the first test for fake coins that was added to vending machines.

The big problem with that one is his money is basically already a big federal crime if he's caught with it (again counterfeiting...even possession of money that presents itself as legal tender is a crime whether you try to pass it or not).

That's more of an issue with the bills than coins as long as he doesn't pass them around except as odd collector's items he found.

He has the fastest car on the road as well (in 1936 the Rolls Royce Phantom III clocks a 0-60 time at 16.5 seconds...his Corvette should be around 6.6 secs). He could offer rides for a nickel or find a race.

Good point.

I'd start sniffing around Detroit

Henry Ford might be there, or he might be in Washington DC(He was involved in politics and by this point was not involved in the day-to-day operation of his company), or in Dearborn Michigan (Ford had a large factory complex there), or any number of locations including various vacation spots around the world. But even if you know what city to look for him in, that still doesn't tell you where to actually find him.

 

[Lokiwerk]

I know ur already planning a re-write but I'm really not a huge fan of the second chapter. I'd rather you really explore day-to-day life during this time period and work your way up the totem pole through wealth and politics. I'm not a huge fan of the SI revealing he's from the future either. But aside from that you’ve got something really interesting brewing and I'm excited to see where you take it

 

[The Unicorn]

I know ur already planning a re-write but I'm really not a huge fan of the second chapter. I'd rather you really explore day-to-day life during this time period and work your way up the totem pole through wealth and politics. I'm not a huge fan of the SI revealing he's from the future either. But aside from that you’ve got something really interesting brewing and I'm excited to see where you take it

The issue is, If you show up in early 20th century there really isn't any justification for NOT going straight to the top if you can. There are too many things on a national or global scale that could have turned out so much better if only people had some information, and on the other hand, you're not going to have an easy time building up capital and influence on your own.

Depending on what exactly the time traveler knows and where/when they show up it would make sense for them to approach different movers and shakers (for example, if they showed up in Detroit and knew some personal information about Henry or Edsel Ford then approaching Ford instead of FDR would make sense). But keeping the information secret does not.

 

[Lokiwerk]

The issue is, If you show up in early 20th century there really isn't any justification for NOT going straight to the top if you can. There are too many things on a national or global scale that could have turned out so much better if only people had some information, and on the other hand, you're not going to have an easy time building up capital and influence on your own.

I get that but there's a better way to do it than straight up having your SI break in to the White House. I'm sorry but it's completely unrealistic even for 1936 and feels super cheap. Have your SI do something of significance that gets him a visit to the White House and a chance to tell FDR his knowledge. You could have your SI invent something than patent it get a good amount of money and buy cheap land in places you know oil is that hasn't been discovered yet

 

[The Unicorn]

I get that but there's a better way to do it than straight up having your SI break in to the White House.

There are a hundred better ways, but having the SI do things the best way all the time is bad writing.

I'm sorry but it's completely unrealistic even for 1936 and feels super cheap.

While the way he broke in might not have been very belivable, breaking into the white house to see the president is actually a workable strategy, especially if the character actually knows about security at the time and how things were arranged before 1952.

Have your SI do something of significance that gets him a visit to the White House and a chance to tell FDR his knowledge. You could have your SI invent something than patent it get a good amount of money and buy cheap land in places you know oil is that hasn't been discovered yet

That is completely unbelievable and impossible.
For that matter if it was possible it would take many years to acomplish.

 

[Lokiwerk]

There are a hundred better ways, but having the SI do things the best way all the time is bad writing.

While the way he broke in might not have been very belivable, breaking into the white house to see the president is actually a workable strategy, especially if the character actually knows about security at the time and how things were arranged before 1952

It's about the SI thinking like a rational human being with a brain. I don't care how familiar you are with White House security breaking in is literally a death sentence. I'm sorry but it's just not realistic

That is completely unbelievable and impossible.
For that matter if it was possible it would take many years to acomplish.

dude the snuggies invention sold like $40M in it's first year selling. There's plenty of simple inventions the SI could make bank on like the smiley face, hula hoop, post it notes, universal product code, rubic cube, etc. He doesn't have to build them he just has to get a patent on them and go to a bank and pitch them. They go viral and you make a ton of money and use it to buy land where you know oil is. I'm sure FDR would be curious to meet a guy who's gotten rich off with these a strange inventions who also somehow knows where a bunch of undiscovered oil is in the US.

 

[The Unicorn]

It's about the SI thinking like a rational human being with a brain. I don't care how familiar you are with White House security breaking in is literally a death sentence. I'm sorry but it's just not realistic

You seem to be thinking about 21st century white house, in 1936 it's quite plausible to break in to the white house in 1936. Heck, given that public access to the white house was only discontinues during WWII I'm not sure he'd need to break in.

dude the snuggies invention sold like $40M in it's first year selling.

And there are thousands of similar "inventions" that didn't make a cent. More importantly, it's a marketing success not some huge invention and in 1936 trademarke and patent laws were much more restrictive in what priviliges they granted the first to file than they are today after decades of the big corporations grabbing more and more priviliges so something like that wouldn't work.

Then there's the question of how much it would cost to set up a shop making it...

There's plenty of simple inventions the SI could make bank on like the smiley face, hula hoop, post it notes, universal product code, rubic cube, etc.

Yup, and he won't make any money of most of them even if he had the money to market all these things, which is a problem - he doesn't have the money or contacts to make and market these things and these are not the sort of thing you can sell to another company for any significant sum of money.

They go viral and you make a ton of money and use it to buy land where you know oil is.

No, they don't go viral, and if they do you then buy land where you know there's oil and go bankrupt trying to find the oil. A difference of even 50 meters in where you drill can be the different between a gusher and a dry well, the SI is not going to have exact locations or the geology expertise to figure out where to drill.

 

[Lokiwerk]

You seem to be thinking about 21st century white house, in 1936 it's quite plausible to break in to the white house in 1936. Heck, given that public access to the white house was only discontinues during WWII I'm not sure he'd need to break in.

Public access was allowed on the lawn and outside the White House it was not granted inside at all. You couldn't just walk in without some kind of permission. The secret service very much existed then and I guarantee you anyone trying to get in the White House would get a very rude awakening

And there are thousands of similar "inventions" that didn't make a cent. More importantly, it's a marketing success not some huge invention and in 1936 trademarke and patent laws were much more restrictive in what priviliges they granted the first to file than they are today after decades of the big corporations grabbing more and more priviliges so something like that wouldn't work.

Then there's the question of how much it would cost to set up a shop making it...

Yup, and he won't make any money of most of them even if he had the money to market all these things, which is a problem - he doesn't have the money or contacts to make and market these things and these are not the sort of thing you can sell to another company for any significant sum of money.

The SI knows what marketing strategies to use because he literally comes from the future. Ur right he doesn't have connections which is exactly why he would go to a bank to pitch his patents to get a head start and be able to reach out to bigger companies to use his patents. He really doesn’t have to start any businesses

No, they don't go viral, and if they do you then buy land where you know there's oil and go bankrupt trying to find the oil. A difference of even 50 meters in where you drill can be the different between a gusher and a dry well, the SI is not going to have exact locations or the geology expertise to figure out where to drill

Even if you don't like my patent and oil idea I don't see how breaking into the White House to confront FDR is a good idea in any rational or reasonable sense. The scenario that's in the second chapter is laughably unrealistic

 

[Evilutionary]

Not a slight loss, a HUGE loss.
Any one of his coins is a nearly unique coins with obvious signs of wear on them, but in reasonably good shape. With no providence he could get really high but he could probably get a dollar or two per coin, with the pennies probably being the most valuable.
Also, I doubt the coins he has would work for any vending machines in 1936 - their weight would be wrong and I believe that was the first test for fake coins that was added to vending machines.

That's more of an issue with the bills than coins as long as he doesn't pass them around except as odd collector's items he found.

A brief note on vending machines... even in the late 1970s I remember blank steel plugs being used to steal plays from arcade machines. I don't know how much weight is needed but pretty sure it isn't an exact one. While there is almost a full gram difference between a DT quarter and a modern one, when it comes to nickels etc you are approximately talking about a 0.25 grams difference. In any case, probably a bad idea considering the best thing to steal would be stamps (since they are essentially money) but would probably get federal attention eventually.

As far as selling his uptime coins to a collector. As mentioned all of his UT US currency is now highly illegal (counterfeit) given it represents itself as US legal tender. Any coin collector will know it and probably show him the door (and hopefully not call the authorities). I'm doubtful he could find anyone that would buy his coinage (at least without running into a lot of trouble first) because at best they are novelty items rather than established collectables (that they could show off to their friends, trade, or sell). Even their metal content is relatively worthless so he even can't get a little for them by melting them down (or rolling them flat via a passing train). They'd be more valuable to prove his story and not worth the trouble anyway.

 

[Lokiwerk]

@VictortheMonarch honestly the best way I see the SI meeting fdr in a realistic way would be for him to actually travel back to 1933. A guy almost killed FDR when he was making a speech in Miami. You could have the SI stop the guy from killing FDR and maybe get injured doing it than I guarantee that the SI could get a meeting with FDR than he can tell him what he knows. It also gives you much more time to help FDR before ww2 begins and dealing with the great depression as the attempt happened 17 days before his inauguration. Also FDR is from a super rich family and to add the president so I'm sure after FDR hears out the SI he could get him significant funds out of appreciation for saving him and the knowledge the SI has.

FDR escapes assassination attempt in Miami

Giuseppe Zangara - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

^here’s two links about it

 

[Evilutionary]

dude the snuggies invention sold like $40M in it's first year selling. There's plenty of simple inventions the SI could make bank on like the smiley face, hula hoop, post it notes, universal product code, rubic cube, etc. He doesn't have to build them he just has to get a patent on them and go to a bank and pitch them. They go viral and you make a ton of money and use it to buy land where you know oil is. I'm sure FDR would be curious to meet a guy who's gotten rich off with these a strange inventions who also somehow knows where a bunch of undiscovered oil is in the US.

While marketing is an issue, I think the bigger one is disposable income. No doubt folks did buy crap they didn't need in 1936 but it still is the Great Depression. He might know something that he could use to start a business or make a living but the OP hasn't hinted at what the SI's skill set might be. Could be just some dudebro with a hot classic car, a worthless education (with the word 'studies' in it), and a trust fund from mommy & daddy;-). I doubt it but...

Oh as an aside, one of the easiest things for him to convert to downtime cash would be his revolver whether going to a pawn shop, gun store, or even person to person point of sale. The question is, does he feel lucky?;-)

As far as 'saving' FDRs life, there's easier methods as I mentioned. Most congress critters aren't especially inaccessible, especially to folks back home that made the effort to come all the way to Washington. Dunno how I feel about the top down, 'I'm from the future' route but not my circus, not my monkeys. I just like to see something with a promising start maintain SoD.

 

[Lokiwerk]

As far as 'saving' FDRs life, there's easier methods as I mentioned. Most congress critters aren't especially inaccessible, especially to folks back home that made the effort to come all the way to Washington. Dunno how I feel about the top down, 'I'm from the future' route but not my circus, not my monkeys. I just like to see something with a promising start maintain SoD.

Ur right however it seems that the author is deadset on meeting FDR as quickly as possible and intends on telling him his knowledge so imo saving his life is probably the fastest way to get that meeting to tell him about you being from the future. I don't like the idea of the SI telling people from the future either. Also what do you think the SI could tell a Congressman to get a meeting with FDR without telling the congressman about u being from the future?