Shorpy and His Friends

What is he holding?

[An oil can. - Dave]

I don't think his arms are "permanently out away from his body." I think that the thing he's counterbalancing the weight of that thing he's holding. His arms do look weird though.

We sons of coal miners can only reflect on what might have been if born a 100 years ago. Now I know why my parents were stalwart Democrats . . : >)

And what an amazing bunch of young fellows.

I found your site via Thomas Hawk's blog and I love it. This one is my favorite photo of Shorpy.

[Thanks! And thanks to Thomas Hawk. - Dave]

Your site is perfect!

[Aw shucks. You are most perceptive! - Dave]

Thanks for that.

Those are lamp holders.

http://www.shorpy.com/files/images/01076u.jpg

Any idea what the cards or ?? are on the front of the caps?

[Lamp holders - Dave]

They all look set with grim determination. It's a character asset that not many of today's youth share. Considering what people went through back then I would wonder if it's even appropriate to call them "kids". Pictures like this really make me consider that ... Thanks for posting these!

The crop looks good. The other boys look like Shorpy's posse, and Shorpy is the greasiest of them all.

[The white kid on the far right is Dave, also pictured here. - Other Dave]

Sure looks like he got more oil on him than on or in the equipment. Good quality on the resolution.

Notice how even in the photos where he's not carrying buckets his arms are permanently out away from his body?

How sad for those kids back then.

But sadder today that kids have gone so far the other direction that they consider setting the table & cleaning their rooms a form of child abuse!!

To make Shorpy stand out more.

Can I ask why you cropped the photo?