Articles that Ben has written have been covered on CNN, Popular Mechanics, Smithsonian Magazine, Road & Track Magazine, the official Pinterest blog, the official eBay Motors blog, BuzzFeed, Autoweek Magazine, Wired Magazine, Autoblog, Gear Patrol, Jalopnik, The Verge, and many more. Silodrome was founded by Ben back in 2010, in the years since the site has grown to become a world leader in the alternative and vintage motoring sector, with well over a million monthly readers from around the world and many hundreds of thousands of followers on social media.
Ben Branch -
Gringo Helmet by Biltwell
This is the Gringo Helmet by Biltwell Inc, it’s a retro full face helmet with full DOT-certification and we’ve been waiting for it with bated breath for months.
1963 Aston Martin DB4 ‘Series V’ Vantage
When it comes to project cars, you’ll be hard pressed find one more promising than this 1963 Aston Martin DB4 ‘Series V’ Vantage. In some respects, the ‘Series V’ Vantage was actually the beta version of the DB5 – the styling was carried over almost unchanged – which leads many people (including me on occasion) to confuse the DB4 Series ‘V’ with the DB5.
Vintage Edison Industrial Lamp
The Edison light globes, with their glowing filaments, have always fascinated me. Modern, energy efficient lighting with LED or fluorescent bulbs are useful for the garage or bathroom but when it comes to a desktop lamp, I think we need something a little cooler.
1934 Crocker Speedway Racer
This is one of those bikes that instantly sets off a huge amount of want in almost all who see it, it’s an original 1934 Crocker Speedway Racer and it’s one of only 30 that were ever made.
Deus X Santalum Boots
These motorcycle boots by Deus Ex Machina are amongst the toughest boots we’ve come across recently. They’re made from 2.00 – 2.20mm rough-out Buffalo hide, they have a handmade Goodyear-welted sole with double-row stitchdown and a USA-made steel toe up front.
1933 MG K3 Magnette
The MG K3 Magnette is quite a remarkable motor car, this example actually won the Mille Miglia in 1933 in the hands of the capable racing driver Earl Howe. The Earl is also largely responsible for the model’s existence as he pressured the MG factory to build it, even going so far as to underwrite the development costs.
Spitfire Wallpaper
This beautiful image shows a WWII era Spitfire starting its V-12, 27-litre (1,650 cubic inch) Merlin engine. The Merlin was (arguably) the most successful aircraft engine of World War II…
The Subculture Of Barbershops
This film, “The Subculture Of Barbershops”, is an interesting look into the world of the traditional men’s barber.
Everyday Carry Brass Compass Keyring
These Everyday Carry Brass Compass Keyrings are made in Minnesota and come with an unlimited, lifetime warranty. Which is not something you hear all that often in today’s world of flimsy plastic nonsense. Each of the compasses are waterproof, weatherproof and made from solid brass.
The Motorcycles of Chicara Nagata
Chicara Nagata is one of those Da Vinci types who’ll never be a household name because instead of painting moderately attractive smirking Italian housewives he builds motorcycles, and sadly that just doesn’t have the same mainstream, Louvre-friendly appeal.
Wheelmen & Co. Merchant Daypack
This is the Merchant Daypack by Wheelmen & Co., it’s designed as an alternative to all the polyester bags that seem both incredibly popular and hideously ugly.
A 1993 Jaguar XJ220
The Jaguar XJ220 is one of those cars that helped define a decade, it was first shown to the general public in 1988 at the Birmingham Motor Show where it lit up the automotive press from England to New Zealand.