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 -
Chuck Yeager
This is a shot of Chuck Yeager climbing out of the Bell X-1 in 1949, Chuck was first human to break the sound barrier on October 14, 1947 sitting in the cockpit of this very plane.
1948 Norton ES2
This 1948 Norton 490cc ES2 is one of those timeless, classic motorcycles that I could actually afford. This leaves me in the precarious position of having to explain to the Mrs why this would be a good purchase…
Wood & Faulk Northwesterner Bag
We’ve featured Wood & Faulk in the past, every time I go back to their website I find new gear and invariably want to feature all of it. This is their Northwesterner Bag, it’s designed to be the perfect size for carrying onto a plane…
Merlin Engine Mechanics
This is a WWII ear photograph of trainee aircraft mechanics being trained in the finer details of Merlin engine maintenance.
730hp BMW Isetta “Whatta Drag”
I think it’s delightfully insane that someone thought it a good idea to take a slightly offbeat Hot Wheels model and make it a fire-breathing 730hp super-charged reality.
Folded iPhone Carry
This leather iPhone case by Apogee is the most tasteful case design I think I’ve ever seen, it’s made of a single piece of stone-oiled leather and is completely stitchless. It’s held together by 3 folds and one tuck and is said to develop its own unique patina over time.
Rally Ferrari
The cojones it would take to climb into a Ferrari, take it off the tarmac and start sliding it around on the gravel in the company of cars like the Audi Quattro and the Lancia Stratos defies description.
Roof Boxer V8 Helmet
The helmet designs from French company Roof are nothing if not unique, the Boxer V8 is a full-face helmet with a flip-up front that swivels around to the rear, allowing the wearer to choose between 3/4 face or full depending on weather and riding conditions.
B17 Fuselage Workers
This colour photograph from October 1942 looks like it was taken yesterday, its official title is “Workers installing fixtures and assemblies in the tail section of a B-17F bomber at the Douglas Aircraft Company plant in Long Beach, California.”
Datsun 240Z
The Datsun 240Z is one of those iconic automobiles that almost every man I know, at some point, has wanted to own. Unlike the Ferraris, Astons and Jaguars of the world, the 240Z is a feasible, realistic dream for almost anyone and…
Intelligentsia Coffee Set
The Intelligentsia Coffee Set by Le Creuset is the toughest coffee kit we’ve seen in some time, it contains 2 cups, a coffee plunger (French Press) and a coffee container with an air-tight seal.
Motorcycle Skis
These motorcycle skis are attached on each side of the bike using springs that allow them to move up and down to absorb bumps, the motorcycle’s wheels are slightly lower than the skis allowing you propulsion and some steering capability.