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Wabasha Street: 1905
... be to the left of the turning streetcar. St. Paul bike law St. Paul's leaders had not banned bicycles from city street, so ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/13/2022 - 6:51pm -

St. Paul, Minnesota, circa 1905. "Wabasha Street." One dog and one boy, ready for adventures! 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Starchy? Strict?What on earth does "Stern Tailoring" involve? All life is here, the respectable family outside the bakery, the shady looking boys outside a shop selling drugs, two people playing chicken with a tram. And the dog, is he about to give the photographer a nip or a wet leg? ["Stern Tailors -- Clothing with a severe cut." - Dave] Meet me for lungh at the WabashaWell,it looks like a "G" to me. Nothing LeftJudging by the street address on the left - 377 - the photograph appears to be the view from 5th Street. If so, nothing is left from this view. Meet Me in the MorningMeet me in the morning, 56th and Wabasha Meet me in the morning, 56th and Wabasha Honey, we could be in Kansas By time the snow begins to thaw. Bob Dylan, 1974 Sakes BeThere doesn't appear to be a bicycle in sight! Could the city fathers have banned them? The sole of honor!now who wouldn't be proud to put that on their feet. One left.If you continue north in the current view to 7th street, you will see the Fitzpatrick Building. Built in 1890 and listed on the National Register. In the 1905 photo, this would be to the left of the turning streetcar. St. Paul bike lawSt. Paul's leaders had not banned bicycles from city street, so long as they did not go too fast: Independent Order of Odd FellowsI searched the 'net quite a while to understand the meaning of both the handshake and the animal heads over the doorway between Allen's Bakery and Parker Drugs. I also searched quite a bit to discern the obscured letters in the acronym above them. I was also inquisitive about the tall box near the curb with its electric or phone wires that lead to the same doorway. After overlooking them, I finally noticed the three rings painted on the tall box and that gave me the clue that the acronym undoubtedly refers to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Being a fraternal organization, the handshake symbolism is self-evident. I still don't know what the animal heads represent. An old newspaper notice informs that Allen's Bakery was located at 368 Wabasha. The current resident at 370 Wabasha is a company called Ecolab. I could not find a citation for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at this location. Here's the shotLook it's a drug store! Quick let's take a picture. Seems so many of these street shots contain a drug store on the corner. Is that because they were always on the main street? The DoggieI hope that poor dog made it home okay. I also see that they hadn't gotten around to cleaning up the horse flop in front of Stern's Tailoring yet. And what was it with hats in those days? Everybody's wearing one, even though the weather looks fine. I'm 70 and I've never even owned a hat like that. Ball caps, sure. But an actual, you know, hat? The struggle is realI'm having trouble reconciling the woman walking past Allen's Bakery on the right-hand side of the photo, past the dapper slender man using a toothpick and his female companion with flowers on her hat, a big bow at her neck, and the get-off-my-lawn look on her face, with the lady whose back is reflected in the bakery window behind aforesaid toothpicking man. The angle seems all wrong and yet there is her receding figure and outfit -- tiny white-belted waist, white blouse, chignon, straw hat with the brim slightly dented in back, right arm bent at the elbow. Somebody help me. [Angle of Incidence = Angle of Reflection. - Dave] Stern Tailoring IndeedI am struck by how well-dressed everybody is: all of the men are wearing suits with ties and hats, including the boy in the street & all of the women are well-dressed and wearing hats. I know that it was the style of the day to wear hats but I am struck by the fact that there is not a single person in the frame that is not well-dressed. There do not appear to be any signs of poverty in this photo, nobody in threadbare clothing or shoes with holes in them. It is is impressive. That kid's pantsWhy does that kid have on long pants. I thought kids that age back then wore short pants. Or has he just reached long-pants age? Length(y) CommentThat boy looks too young to be wearing long pants. I've always seen boys that age (10? 11?) wearing knickers, up until around the age of 13 or 14. Perhaps he's in his Sunday best, in the suit he got from Mr. Stern. Superman vision wantedThat large building on the left is - was - Schuneman's Department Store, and I believe that from the beginning (1890ish) it occupied the whole building; so I'm curious why there's signage at the fourth floor that ends in "PAPER" ... wonder what the first words were. [FURNITURE, CARPETS, DRAPERIES and WALL. - Dave] Thanks, Clark! I was thinking something along the lines of "Paint and wallpaper" - i.e. a listing of their goods -- a rather old-fashioned approach to retailing: I believe the buidling was later "cleaned up" ... as befitted its role as StP's leading store. (The Gallery, Dogs, DPC, Kids, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Streetcars)
Instant Messenger: 1913
... The bicycle's tires look to be skinny like modern day bike tires are. I guess the big balloon tires as used on the Schwinns that I remember came later. Bike to the Future The cars from 1913 have hardly any resemblance to the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/28/2014 - 7:41pm -

November 1913. Shreveport, Louisiana. "Western Union messenger No. 2, fourteen years old. Says he goes to the Red Light district all the time." Glass negative by Lewis Wickes Hine for the National Child Labor Committee. View full size. Telegram for Miss ScarletAs pointed out in another photo's comment, Mr. L. W. Hine seems to have had a broad assortment of moral axes to grind. I'd be surprised if prostitutes were really frequent recipients of Western Union Telegrams. The bicycle's tires look to be skinny like modern day bike tires are. I guess the big balloon tires as used on the Schwinns that I remember came later. Bike to the FutureThe cars from 1913 have hardly any resemblance to the ones made these days other than having four wheels and a body, but this bike is within a few percent of a modern coaster brake bike. Sure, a few subtle details are different, but wheels and the drive train could have been made last week. Red LightMy question has always been with regards to this "red light district" line that Hine usually put with his messenger photos is, are the prostitutes ordering "drugs" and abusing them? Were the drug stores not under strict scrutiny like today? I imagine this to be true. Anyone else out there have any knowledge of this being the case? [If you were in that line of work, there's one item in particular you might need plenty of that comes from a drugstore. And it's not drugs. - Dave] SchwinnishIt might actually be a Schwinn. The circles within a circle pattern in the front sprocket is definitely a pattern that later Schwinns used. And if you look at the shadow you can see that it is a skip-link. On modern bikes the teeth on the sprockets are right next to each other. But on this bike, there is a large gap between the teeth. This is due to the way the chain was made. On modern chains the pattern is hinge, hole for the gear tooth, hinge (ASCII art: *-*-*-). On old bikes the pattern was hinge, hinge, hole for the gear tooth, hinge, hinge (**-**-**-), so there needed to be a big gap between the teeth on the gears. This concludes Hank's obscure bike trivia lesson. [Click below to enlarge. - Dave] Midnight SpecialFrom 1903 till 1917 Shreveport had legalized prostitution confined to a designated Red Light district. This was an area near Fannin street in the St. Paul Bottoms area. The area was named after a nearby church and the low lying area. St. Paul Bottoms was recently renamed Ledbetter Heights in honor of blues singer Huddie Ledbetter, Lead Belly, who honed his style playing the Bottoms' brothels, saloons, and dance halls. Midnight Special is one of his most famous songs. Maybe Messenger #2 heard Lead Belly play Fannin Street! Selected Lyrics: My mama told me My sister too Said, 'The Shreveport women, son, Will be the death of you' Said to my mama, 'Mama, you don't know If the Fannin Street women gonna kill me Well, you might as well let me go' I got a woman Lives back of the jail Makes an honest livin' By the wigglin' of her tail Even after the optimistic name change the area is still referred to as The Bottoms by many locals and remains one of the poorest downtrodden sections of town. (The Gallery, Bicycles, Kids, Lewis Hine)
Modern Dentistry: 1901
... with considerable amusement, that the woman parking her bike in front of the shoe store wasn't buying the hype about "bicycle face". ... are (against curbs, lampposts, etc.) because there's no bike rack and they don't have kickstands. - Dave] Reeves' counter ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/07/2023 - 9:35am -

Washington, D.C., circa 1901. "View of F Street N.W., north side between 12th & 13th, showing various businesses." 5x7 inch glass negative, D.C. Street Survey Collection. View full size. Narrow vertical display on rightOn the far right of the photo, to the right of the Schneider display window with the electrical fans, I see a tall vertical display of nine white squares with black figures on them. What in the world is that? Egg salad sandwich and pieHow great to see Reeves being built. It remained, until at least the 1960s, a favorite of DC shoppers. I still remember my awe at how fast the restaurant would serve your order, seeming only seconds after it was taken by the server. Wow, who does the woman with bicycle look like --Miss Gulch? Parallel parkingI always find it entertaining, in fin de siècle photos, to see bicycles parked below the curb, as if they were either horses or motor vehicles, though this convention is not strictly observed here. I will also observe, with considerable amusement, that the woman parking her bike in front of the shoe store wasn't buying the hype about "bicycle face". [They're parked they way they are (against curbs, lampposts, etc.) because there's no bike rack and they don't have kickstands. - Dave] Reeves' counter revolutionThis photo captures a turning point in one of the longest-living restaurants in the District. What began around 1887 as a grocery store at 1209 F Street N.W. became Reeves in the late nineteenth century when Sewell Reeves took ownership. According to a history of District restaurants, "by 1902 he had enlarged the building with the bakery and candy departments occupying the second and third floors and the lunch counter lengthened to seat 150." Known for that lunch counter, it would remain in place until the 1980s, reopening after a 1984 fire, until it was displaced from F to G Streets by redevelopment of this site. The pie was strawberryReeves was on F Street well into the 1980s, closed for a bit and then reopened on G Street for a while. They were famous for their strawberry pie. Remarkable bike parkingFrom the modern point of view, what is the most striking about the way the bicycles are parked is that not one of them appears to be locked to anything. When apostrophes were used correctly.And periods were used indiscriminately. (The Gallery, Bicycles, D.C., D.C. Street Survey, Stores & Markets)
Bike Registration: 1954
Third in a series of bicycle-themed photos from Lafayette, Indiana. Check out that police car! View full size. Studebaker The police car is a c.1954 Studebaker Starliner coupe, a rather interesting and unusual choice for law enforcemen ... 
 
Posted by ZebraMan - 09/27/2013 - 7:19pm -

Third in a series of bicycle-themed photos from Lafayette, Indiana. Check out that police car! View full size. StudebakerThe police car is a c.1954 Studebaker Starliner coupe, a rather interesting and unusual choice for law enforcement. Undoubtedly the Indiana State Patrol chose Studebaker in order to support their fellow Hoosiers. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Fixing Up Li'l Sister's Bike
Polishing the chrome. Mid-60s, Ohio. View full size. Turtle Wax I recognize that green bottle by the front tire, having used a bit of the stuff myself, helping my dad polish the family car in the 60s. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery) ... 
 
Posted by Zone47 - 04/24/2015 - 7:25pm -

Polishing the chrome. Mid-60s, Ohio. View full size. Turtle WaxI recognize that green bottle by the front tire, having used a bit of the stuff myself, helping my dad polish the family car in the 60s. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Little Miss on a Big Bike: 1929
My mother tries out my grandfather's bicycle for size, around 1929. The photo was at my mother's insistence. My grandfather sports the popular mustache of the day, "The Toothbrush". Heaven knows why it was so popular. Mother appears to have alread ... 
 
Posted by Mudhooks - 01/28/2010 - 8:59am -

My mother tries out my grandfather's bicycle for size, around 1929. The photo was at my mother's insistence. My grandfather sports the popular mustache of the day, "The Toothbrush". Heaven knows why it was so popular. Mother appears to have already skinned her knee. View full size. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Tower of the Press: 1905
... Parking problems. Hopefully they'll install the bike racks soon. Time was Beautiful ornate buildings and no locks on the ... happened, America? [Someone eventually invented the bike lock. - Dave] Connections I am looking at the connection to the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/24/2016 - 12:10pm -

Binghamton, New York, circa 1905. "Kilmer Building, Chenango Street." Also known as the Press Building, this was headquarters of patent-medicine magnate Willis Kilmer's newspaper. 8x10 inch glass negative. View full size. I Don't Blame HerI wouldn't want to be pulled into the surf either when wearing a wristwatch and in shoes with high heels (Cuban heels?) [Which window is that? - Dave] RemodelingLooking through the lobby windows and the debris outside it appears to look like the lobby is being remodeled. [Actually they're building the building. - Dave] Parking problems.Hopefully they'll install the bike racks soon. Time wasBeautiful ornate buildings and no locks on the bicycles. What happened, America? [Someone eventually invented the bike lock. - Dave] ConnectionsI am looking at the connection to the other building on the right and wondering if that is part of the construction or is the tall one an add-on? But will there be bike racks?Some good news about this building. (The Gallery, Bicycles, DPC)
Bike and Sidecar
Jack Riley and friend in Centennial Park, Paddington. View full size. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery) ... 
 
Posted by KJ - 08/22/2011 - 1:31pm -

Jack Riley and friend in Centennial Park, Paddington. View full size. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Dirt Bike Riding: 1983
Red River Texas; what a blast that place was. 3,000 acres. View full size. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery) ... 
 
Posted by Zone47 - 06/05/2015 - 7:35pm -

Red River Texas; what a blast that place was. 3,000 acres. View full size. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Pedal-Pushers: 1942
... August 2017, Dallas joined the inspired world of dockless bike-sharing. Sponsoring companies promised it would come at no cost to taxpayers. The app-controlled feature allowed bike-share companies to distribute their dockless fleets wherever they wanted. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/22/2022 - 2:41pm -

June 1942. Washington, D.C. "A bicycle rental shop on 22nd Street, near Virginia Avenue N.W., on Sunday." Acetate negative by Marjory Collins, Farm Security Administration. View full size. Been there, done thatIn August 2017, Dallas joined the inspired world of dockless bike-sharing. Sponsoring companies promised it would come at no cost to taxpayers. The app-controlled feature allowed bike-share companies to distribute their dockless fleets wherever they wanted. By February 2018, five bike share companies transformed Dallas from the largest American city without a bike-share system to the city with the largest fleet in North America. That's right, everything is bigger in Texas. At our peak we had 18,000 bicycles scattered all over our fair city. And I do mean scattered. By comparison, New York City had only 12,000 bicycles and weak sister Seattle only 10,000. D(allas) Magazine warned “Let’s not screw this up.” But, we did screw it up. By August 2018, it was all over. And guess who had to pay to clean up the mess. The more things changeCapital Bikeshare 2022. One hour for $4 (more than 26 times the 1942 rate), though you can get membership rates and passes. PricingSo it’s 15 cents an hour during the day, Monday to Friday, but 25 cents for the whole evening or, even better, the whole weekend? I’ll take the weekend, please. The girls are wearing the same shoes, as girls are wont to do. They both look great, really strong, especially the one on the right. I’d vote for her for President. Wonderful title, Dave! Price Is About the SameThe Bureau of Labor Statistics online inflation calculator says 15 cents in June 1942 is equivalent to $2.74 today and 25 cents is equivalent to $4.57. Capital Bikeshare's 2022 rates are more or less the same as the 1942 rental rates in real terms. Hey, that's my bike!That dude in the doorway is more concerned about his bike being stolen than he is with the fine pairs of departing legs. Prime Time25 cents an hour, evenings and weekends seems logical to me. (The Gallery, Bicycles, D.C., Marjory Collins)
Parting Glances: 1920
... into a past long gone. Ahead of the times Like the bike propped against the building. Owner has his bars flipped and his seat laid ... housepainter that I did. Bicycle Brakes The bike leaning against the Murray/McGregor office shows no evidence of brakes, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2023 - 3:25pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1920. "729 12th St., Washington Times." Various shades of Twelfth Street. 8x6 inch glass negative, National Photo Company Collection. View full size. Wall BetweenI would hazard a guess that there is a wall between the woman and young boy. If you follow the line between "painted" and "unpainted" you will see that the width between the windows is farther apart. Also the chimney above, and the two stores below suggest some sort of support wall that would have to go all the way up. MessengersBicycles, a motorcycle and a messenger office. Pure chance, or a cunning business plan? Cleveland MotorcycleThat's a production motorcycle from the Cleveland Motorcycle Co. Questions indeedIs that young blurry boy only wearing one roller skate? Is the other young child telling the headless phantom motorcycle rider to shush? Must say I love the "lace" and tassels on the Shade shop. Possible SlumlordAndrew Murray the builder doesn't take very good care of his property. Window on my WorldBuster Brown in the window above the deli seems to be looking at the motorcycle. Wondering if he is related to the woman in the window next to him, or if there is a wall between them and they are in different apartments. So many questions, so little timeAre the shutters seen on some of the buildings actually used? Or are they just decorative as are modern shutters are? Why don't the brick stone buildings have shutters? Is that some sort of prototype motorcycle? Are the people in the windows family members of the proprietors of the businesses below? Is the boy in front of the messenger service an employee? BTW, I just love photos like this; an honest and unfettered look into a past long gone. Ahead of the timesLike the bike propped against the building. Owner has his bars flipped and his seat laid back -- cutting edge! Tri-LevelWhat a mesmerizing photo; one can conjure up at least three scenarios that fit what we see here. The pride of the gentleman inside the Builder's office watching his son leave; the parting of two friends (or lovers); is the rider embarking on a grand adventure; who is the rider, really? The more you look the deeper the stories become. Olde photos are magic. Ghost RiderTenants checking out the ghost on the motorcyle seems to be the most likely scenario. The Phantom PhootSo what's that disembodied upside-down foot above the third floor windows of #731? Taken for a ride in another senseI suspect that the owner of 729 hired the same Washington housepainter that I did. Bicycle BrakesThe bike leaning against the Murray/McGregor office shows no evidence of brakes, coaster or hand. When did bicycles begin to have braking systems (other than putting your feet down)?....some Shorpyite out there knows..... King Cola, the Royal DrinkNot much you can find about this brand, except that it was sued to death by the Coca-Cola Company for its use of the word "cola." How did Pepsi ever survive the same predicament? [The defendant's sin was not the use of the word "cola" but rather its Spencerian-script logo (below), which was a frank imitation of the Coca-Cola trademark. Coca-Cola's legal blitzkrieg also took aim at Koke, Cold-Cola, Koca-Nola and Ko-Kola. - Dave] Dividing lineI love that only half of the building has been freshly painted. The other half - the builder's half does not instill confidence in his work. Looks like the kid on one roller skate leaped from his ghost position to where he is now. Boys and bikesYou can tell by his blurry foot that the driver is kickstarting his bike. This is an activity that always attracts kids. There's something irresistible about the roar of the engine. The little boy standing behind the bike is thinking, "Someday I'm gonna get me one of those..." I've seen this happen a million times. My Side versus Your SideIt is pretty clear that the owners of 729 and 731 have a different philosophy of exterior maintenance. What a geometrically precise paint line between them. One SkateI bet the other roller skate is on the ghost of a kid spinning just on front of the steps. The rider is a blur because he's trying to kick start the bike. Upstairs grumpy, and the two men are much more interested in the photographer. These are really neat old photos, I'm glad I found the web site. Honesty of Purpose Washington Post, April 8, 1911. Special Notices Announcement. The family of the late John McGregor, builder, of 729 Twelfth street northwest, desire to inform the public that the business will be carried on by his successor, Mr. Andrew Murray, who has been with Mr. McGregor for the past thirteen years. They trust that the same patronage extended to the late Mr. McGregror will continue to be shown to Mr. Murray. In reference to the above, I hope, by strict attention to business and the same honesty of purpose that characterized Mr. McGregror's work, to merit the confidence and patronage of his friends and the public generally. Respectfully, Andrew Murray, 729 Twelfth street northwest. Shannon & LuchsHoly cow! The Shannon & Luchs For Sale sign on 731 caught my eye. They were the dominant real estate company in Fairfax County, Virginia, when I was growing up there in the 1980s and '90s. I still remember their radio jingle: "It takes more than luck / it takes Shannon & Luchs." I had no idea they had this long a history. They seem to have been acquired by Polinger in 1993, but I know they were still going by the S&L name at least until the late '90s. Cleveland motorcycleThe motorcycle in the photo is a Cleveland A2, which was manufactured by the Cleveland Motorcycle Manufacturing Company, located in the Ohio city of the same name between 1915 and 1925. The A2 was powered by a 220cc two-stroke engine mounted transversely in the frame, with a worm drive to power the countershaft sprocket for final chain drive. The shaft exited the two-speed gearbox and extended past the rear downtube to drive the the magneto, hung just forward of the rear wheel. In 1920 the A2 grew larger, adding footboards, incorporated fuel/oil tank and wider fenders. The weight increased in 1921 with a larger fuel/oil tank and seat and a battery. To offset the additional weight, engine capacity was increased to 270cc. In 1923 a sportier model was offered - the Model E, which featured a battery and electric lights. Although the Cleveland looked flimsy compared to the big V-twins offered by other US manufacturers, their light weight (68 kg) and moderate power (3.5 bhp and 30 mph top speed) combined for easy riding. The main market of the A2 were students, women and businesses who employed couriers and light delivery riders. The low price ($150) was cheaper than comparative bikes offered by other manufacturers. The A2 was replaced in 1925 by the 350cc Model F. (The Gallery, Bicycles, D.C., Motorcycles, Natl Photo, Stores & Markets)
Old Ferry Lane: 1910
... Bicycle tracks? It looks like there are more bike tire tracks on that road than anything else. [Um, those are wagon ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/21/2023 - 4:51pm -

Circa 1910. "Old Ferry Lane -- Kittery Point, Maine." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Kittery in railroad loreRailroad fans know of Kittery because it is home to the least active rail line in the country. The line goes to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and averages two trains, of just a few cars each, per year. Rumor has it that they carry radioactive waste from submarines to disposal sites in Idaho, but the Navy won't say. A Nice WalkFound the spot the photo was taken! Looks like the house is still there as of 2017. Just love this old photo, makes me want to walk down that dirt road on a nice summer day with my dog. Kittery Shipyard rail moveThey did a move to the yard back in September. Here is a video from a rail move last year: There's a signpost up aheadWe see the small sign, Old Ferry Lane, at right. But, past the branches, there is another sign for those headed in this direction. It's a much longer sign. I wonder what it says? ["I'M ACTUALLY A FENCE"? - Dave] This could be the house. The trail of evidence suggests ...This view seems to be close to the spot in the original image. The stone wall in the original has been lowered and smoothed over in the current view. But the mall cape in the distance has the same dormers looking out over the roofline, and the outcrop of stones along the edge of the driveway today is also present in the original image. Sure does seem like the spot. I've commented earlier that "things don't change much in New England." Even more of a truism in coastal Maine. Bicycle tracks?It looks like there are more bike tire tracks on that road than anything else. [Um, those are wagon tracks. - Dave] The Box on the Pole:What is the box used for? Just local messages to people in the neighborhood? Box on the pole:Judging by the porcelain knob and electrical wires running to the box, my guess is there's a switch in the box to turn on a light at the top of the pole. That box is wiredIn addition to being padlocked, the box on the pole has two wire connected to it. One passing around a ceramic insulator and then goes up the pole passing yet another insulator. Another goes straight down to the ground from the bottom of the box. I'd guess this means it's its power and the box may be a junction box or fuse box. Re: Box on poleThat appears to be a single wire telephone. The wire coming down the pole goes into the phone while the wire at the bottom completes the circuit using earth return. OK for short hauls but the noise level increases rapidly with distance. Probably a dedicated service customer protected with padlock. The WallInstead of the stone wall having been shortened, I'd think the more likely scenario is that the level of the road has been graded and raised, obscuring the lower portion of that cement capped stone wall. Great photos. (The Gallery, DPC, Landscapes)
The Prize: 1921
... subscription-selling contest and his prize, a Mead Ranger bike. More here and here . National Photo glass negative. View full ... My only other bicycle noisemaker is a St. Christoper bike bell inscribed in Latin. Alas, St. Christoper has been relegated to ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2013 - 3:40pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1921. "Times boy and bicycle." One of the winners of a Washington Times subscription-selling contest and his prize, a Mead Ranger bike. More here and here. National Photo glass negative. View full size. You'll Hear Him ComingI picked one of those klaxon-style horns up decades ago at an antique store. It's heavy and requires that you put your weight on it when you blow it, but it will easily launch a sleeping cat or dog into low earth orbit. My only other bicycle noisemaker is a St. Christoper bike bell inscribed in Latin. Alas, St. Christoper has been relegated to civilian status. In the late 1950s I lusted for a chrome-plated bicycle siren that mounted on the front fork. You pulled a chain which moved the siren shaft to rub on the front tire creating a real siren wail. So realistic that the City of Detroit banned them. The second noisemaker of choice was baseball cards clothespinned to the bike tubing so the cards would flap against the spokes creating a motorbike sound, or so we thought. Maybe if your bike is cool enough,your prize is standing in the doorway. HeadlampThat's a very electric headlamp. I'd guess that there's a no. 6 Ignitor dry cell in that can under the top tube. Boss Man.He looks like a future CEO. The real prizeis the young woman standing in the doorway. Lucky for us that the lens captured her beauty forever. Now all the has to do is - remove the kickstand (too heavy). - throw away the light and battery (so kids with rocks and the coppers can't see you at night). - ditch the tire pump (weight again). - blacken the whitewalls (sissy stuff). - bend the handlebars outward and down (just because). - get rid of the fenders (macho mud splatters on clothes). - paint flames on the frame (coolness factor). - tie raccoon tail to back rack (ditto). - buy pilot's leather helmet and goggles (if you can't pedal fast at least you can look like you are). WowWhat a handsome and dashing young man. (The Gallery, Bicycles, D.C., Natl Photo)
Raymond Bykes: 1911
... in a 100 years. pedal as kick stand Note how the bike in the middle is being held upright by leaning on a pedal -- I remember ... for hours, trying to position the pedal just right so the bike would do that. Where I lived in the 1950's, it wasn't cool to use a kick ... 
 
Posted by Ken - 08/13/2013 - 3:37pm -

Raymond Bykes, Western Union No. 23, Norfolk Va. Said he was fourteen. Works until after one a.m. every night. He is precocious and not a little "tough." Has been here at this office for only three months, but he already knows the Red Light District thoroughly and goes there constantly. He told me he often sleeps down at the Bay Line boat docks all night. Several times I saw his mother hanging around the office, but she seemed more concerned about getting his pay envelope than anything else. Photo by Lewis Wickes Hine, 1911. View full size The BicycleBicycle design and geometry hasn't changed much in a 100 years. pedal as kick standNote how the bike in the middle is being held upright by leaning on a pedal -- I remember practicing for hours, trying to position the pedal just right so the bike would do that. Where I lived in the 1950's, it wasn't cool to use a kick stand. What to people use now? pedal/kick standWe do the same thing now with the pedals on the curb. For utilitarian bikes kickstands are also back in favor. Bykes?Why do I get the impression that "Bykes" is not the kid's real name? re: pedal as kick standIn my country, locks are necessary. Things have changed for the better. Short inseam, big bikeCheck his inseam vs the distance from the pedals to the top tube. Deux FixiesI think both the bikes are fixed gears. Note the lack of rim brakes or a reaction arm for a coaster brake. Fixies are much easier to prop against a curb using the pedal because the wheel and pedal are locked together. When one turns, the other does, too. No coasting! People generally just lean the bike against a wall or lay it on the ground these days. (The Gallery, Bicycles, Kids, Lewis Hine, Norfolk)
Suburban Cowboy: 1963
... are all things I remember. The easy days of riding your bike up and down the neighborhood with your friends, not a care in the world. ... 
 
Posted by tterrace - 03/03/2023 - 12:57am -

I just started scanning my sister's photos of her kids from the 1960s. Here's why she was smart to have saved the negatives. Back in 1963, they lived in South Gate, California, in a neighborhood full of classic cars, it seems. My nephew Jimmy in a 2¼-inch square Kodacolor negative. View full size. The clouded crystal ballJimmy (now James) tells me that three years later and a block away from this idyllic scene, there were the Watts riots. Color SaturationI can't help but wonder if most of us who grew up in the middle-class or upper-middle class white America of the 60's and 70's see our childhood memories in lavish Kodacolor. When I was this boy's age, there were the Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy assassinations, coming almost one right after the other. I knew that the grown-ups were very worried, but I wasn't sure just why. Later, I figured out that the only thing that Westchester had in common with Watts was that both names begin with a W. The innocence of childhood is fleeting, indeed. She squealed with delightwhen she saw this photo! Where to begin? The lights integrated with the porch railing are fascinating. Like the house itself, they have a very 1930s art deco flavor. Little Red WagonAlmost everyone can remember having one when they were a kid. I bet this photo makes us all just a little nostalgic. Thank you for sharing all of these great photos with us, tterrace! Blue skiesI see why now people continue to believe in "the good old days." The color saturation, blue skies, happy, smiling kid -- looks like nothing would ever go wrong in this place, doesn't it? Old RedThat Radio Flyer sure brings back memories. Thanks. South Gate StreetviewThe cars were better-looking in 1963. Particularly the Buick next door. View Larger Map Street View! Street View!Can you give an address so we can see how the neighborhood has fared? Ouch!!The beautiful '56 Ford at the left has been tagged but you can see that it did naught but bend the bumper! It didn't disturb the paint! The good old days indeed! Today, that'd be a $3000 repair! Great PictureLove that "Jimmy" has been written on the back of the Radio Flyer! South Gate!I grew up in the neighboring city of Downey and I would LOVE to see more pics of the South Gate area if you would be so kind as to post them! THANKS! Wouldn't you really rather have a Buick?There's another classic Buick in this shot, the white one in the distance, straddling the sidewalk. There's not enough detail for me to tell, but it appears to be a '55 or '56 Roadmaster. I'm sure that if anyone (visiting from the future) had told the owners of these Buicks that GM would be a tottering financial wreck in 2009, they'd never have believed it. Sign of the times...Any idea what the sign posted on your sis's house says? Just so IdealI have to agree with the comments made under the heading Colour Saturation. I recently have been looking at photos of me and my family in our house as I was growing up and you know I don't remember that the carpet was threadbare -- yet it was. I don't remember that we had a broken down car in our backyard -- yet we did. I don't remember that our lounge suite was old and we needed a new one -- but we did. All I remember is that it was a safe, happy and fun place to grow up in and I had a great time. So yeah I think we all of us remember the good and not so much the bad, and isnt that the way it should be. The high, fine, sky of awhile agoIt doesn't happen as much as it seemed to 40 years ago when I was a kid, but every now and then, usually on a quiet Sunday morning or a Tuesday off from work, the sky will have that same tall, bright, look; gently spotted with clouds and a blue turning from light to dark off into space and there will be a slightly warm breeze and everything will seem clean and new and full of possibility. And you can take a deep breath and smell the trees and maybe some creosote from a power pole, and it's 1967 again. A lovely day in this beautywood Love those Mr. Roger's blue tennis shoes. You could buy them at any Alpha Beta grocery store for $1.98. I grew up in a similar Southern California community around the same era. The loppy sidewalks remind me of the joyous hours I spent on roller skates with a skate key on a string around my neck. Were those times so much better or is it that we were just innocent kids? I had a car that was built there!I used to have a '68 Pontiac Bonneville that was built at the South Gate GM plant. It was a great car, very well screwed together. Kodacolor wonderlandDon't you wish you could reprogram your brain to "see" full-time in Kodacolor? The world would be such a cheery place! Was the big warehouse in the current Street View next door in 1963? It seems so out of place. Martini LaneIt's Mad Men! Odd porch lightsThose garden lights were very common in our nearby suburb. They were mostly used along driveways, paths, or planters. This is a most unusual installation. And they are still there. I might give this place a drive-by at lunchtime. American IronI really enjoy the look of these old cars - especially the 1959 Pontiac ahead of the Ford. It's probably a Catalina. Many of these cars had a space age theme to their design. By the hour?It's worse than a warehouse next door. It's a skeezy motel. And it looks like it's been there since the '60s. 2819 Willow PlaceIt looks like the place might be for rent, $895 a month. ColorI think two things contribute to the burst of color. One is that color film is much richer than the digital stuff we have now. And, secondly, the cars WERE much more colorful then than the drab vehicles we see now. Unfortunately, I think some of the color has gone from our lives in many ways since then. P.S. - From the glimpse of the back wheel well in the car in the distance, I can't help but wonder if it might not be an Olds instead. Beautiful streetMy children lived this kind of life on a street like this in the early 1950s in Detroit as hard as that is to believe. You want sunshine-- on a cloudy day? Some readers spoke about the past as always being bright and sunny like this picture. During a bout of temporary insanity many moons ago, I took leave of my senses and purchased yellow-lens prescription glasses. It did make every day sunny and the world brightened when you put them on. Or you can look just look through a colored cellophane candy wrapper and get the same effect. Just trying to be helpful. South Gate street view 1961Here's 2819 Willow Place, along with the ugly building next door, a couple years earlier. Jimmy playing with a neighbor's puppy, and a selection of early-50s cars. Yes, those are different lamps on the railings. The Salmon DeSotoI know what you mean about auto paint being brighter back then. My guess is that paint trends were still built more around primary colors than the more subtle and "nuanced" tints and shades of today. I remember there was a year or two that featured flamingo pink, black, and white as a trio. Knocked your eyes for a loop. Especially on the big fin cars. Dad was looking at one, but ended up going with the pale blue. Too much pink for a man from the Ozarks, I guess, looking back on it. How did Jimmy turn outWhat is he, about 48 years old today? Had I only known..Geez.. had I known I was a branding opportunity, I'd have taken advantage of it a long time ago. I don't think I've been that cool since that day -- red wagon, cowboy, riding a possible Radio Flyer tricycle as well (I'm sure someone will sort out the logo, maybe it was Royce Union). Funny thing about that pic. Those years I only have memories of things in black and white. Maybe I only remember those years from pictures which were mostly black and white, I guess. Obviously there was color. My memories of color start about 1967, yet every television event memory I have was black and white until about 1970. Apparently we got a color TV then? So what the hell happened to Jimmy? Well, without getting too personal and please forgive the third person narrative, here ya go. After leaving Los Angeles in 1971, the family moved to Marin County. Jimmy decided he was going to be a rock and roll star and started a metal rock band in the early 80's. The day Nirvana hit the charts, he knew that the music he was good at was no longer popular, so he joined a Southern rock tribute act and toured the Bay Area for 10 years. He then decided to get back to the original reason why he started playing music in the first place, for fun, and only plays local gigs, usually benefits. During this time he also got married and had two children. He is now a media personality in Wine Country and owns his own web consulting firm. He also writes for several Wine country publications and does "flavorful" wine industry videos. If you're ever in Sonoma Valley, you may even run into him. Though he goes by James now. A note from Jimmy's MomThis part of South Gate was a blue collar area, consisting of single family homes, and "court" apartments. The lots there were fairly deep, and so people would put in two rows of four apartments, usually single story, with the garage or carport at the rear with the laundry room and clotheslines. The "court" was the central walkway between the two buildings where the entrances were, except for the front apartments. Just behind Willow Place was Firestone Boulevard, a heavy industrial area at the time. The big Firestone plant was there, and other manufacturing plants. Often in the evening, strange smells would fill the air. This era was also what I call "between the smogs." They had banned outdoor burning of leaves and trash in the Los Angeles Basin in the late 1950s, and the air was fairly clear most of the time. But with increased population, and the increase of jet travel, the smog was back by 1964. The only real clear air days were when the Santa Ana winds blew. The ugly building next door contained a restaurant as I remember, in its one-story days. It may have also been a small motel. We moved to our first home in Diamond Bar, in the eastern part of the L.A. basin, in 1963. The red wagon makes an appearance there with Jimmy pulling his little sister in Little Red Wagons elsewhere on Shorpy. The South Gate apartment was the inspiration for the Salmon Kitchen, also seen elsewhere on Shorpy. Our landlady developed a blend of paint that she used on all her kitchens. As I remember, it was part peach, part mushroom and some kind of off white. She said it didn't yellow, and when the tenant moved out there wouldn't be any shadows on the walls from where the clock or the calendar had hung. So she would not have to repaint every time, just have the walls washed. Our dad and mom liked this idea, and so was born the salmon kitchen in Larkspur. Jimmy's Mom Just fabulous!Saw this link from Instapundit. What a fabulous photo! I love the comments, too, and the Google maps link. InstacowboyForty-six years later, Jimmy's 15 minutes of fame in the blogosphere have arrived. Now the top link on Instapundit. 9I was 9 years old in another part of California, but I had that tricycle and a similar little red wagon. My parents had a Ford Crown Victoria, my father worked, my mother stayed at home to raise me and the world I grew up in was truly both wonderful and wondrous. Even with the duck-and-cover exercises in school. LampsI believe the lamps were replaced during the time we were there.. Look at those in the background then look at the pic above. I dare say they're different. Status symbolsFor the younger Shorpyites that might not remember the 1960s, most working or middle class families had only one car (if they had one at all). It was a point of pride to park your car either directly in front of your house or prominently displayed in the driveway. The more obvious the better; bright colors helped even more. Take that, you Joneses! Also, you scored big status points with of those gangly omnidirectional TV antennas on your roof as seen in the background. Indoor "rabbit ear" antennas just had no class. Nirvana vs. Marshall TuckerJust my opinion, Real Jimmy, but at least you were paying tribute to music that deserved it. I really hope there won't be any grunge tribute bands in the future. Status SymbolsWe started with one car in 1960 but had to have another since we both worked. Then, we had a teenager and, then, another. Soooo -- 4 cars. Walk? Bicycle? Ha! Not in California. Now, it is a nationwide problem. Thanks for reminding me. Cool Hat, KidLove the photo. I had a had just like that as a kid and think I have photo somewhere of me wearing it while sitting on a pony at a neighborhood birthday party. Takes me back...I think THIS is the turning point. This photo captures the apex of our society. I see the dreams of so many families right here. A house of your own. A clean street. Meticulously maintained homes. The kids free to play in the neighborhood. A perfect blue sky. This photo makes me cry. Grew up nearbyI grew up in the SF Valley in the same era, that photo takes me back. I also watch the TV series "Mad Men" and the cars, furniture, fashion etc. are all things I remember. The easy days of riding your bike up and down the neighborhood with your friends, not a care in the world. Sigh. Pure EvilNo helmet, knee pads or elbow pads denote a neglectful lack of regard for poor Jimmy by his mother. That hat no doubt contains lead-based pigments; clear evidence of child abuse. And what's this?? A toy GUN??? That poor child's evil, troglodyte mother should be thrown in jail for creating another gun-crazed criminal!!!!elevnty1!! (/nanny-state nutjob) Great pic. It reminds me of my own childhood, before childhood was destroyed by the culture of fear we have today. Dang, That Could Have Been ME!Boy, does that look familiar. My grandparents had a house in South Gate, at Tweedy Boulevard and San Luis Street. I was even born about the same time. And I had my trusty steed "Tricycle" and my Mattel Fanner 50! The Melting PotOh yes, I remember the days when all the kids in the suburbs had Anglo names like Will, Paul, and Rosemary. Today we have a much more diverse society. Suburban namesNo, they had names like Jimmy, Mary and Davy. Their Mom Some things aren't so differentMy childhood was like this in northern Illinois. However, there are still some pockets of America like this. In my subdivision outside of Denver, small children play up and down the street just like Jimmy. If you look around, you can provide a life like this for your children Same hereMy mother and I watch Mad Men and love it. But she'll always point things out while we're watching and say "My parents had those! And those, and those!!!" "I remember using that!" Apparently they get everything "down to the t" when it comes to the setting. Re Pure Evil by Random Numbers Random Numbers said: Great pic. It reminds me of my own childhood, before childhood was destroyed by the culture of fear we have today. The irony I see in Random Numbers' remarks is that this kind of negativity sounds just as whiny as today’s “nanny state," and serves the unintentional purpose of proving that life--or at least People--haven't changed much at all since the 1960's--when grumpy old people even then lamented how much better (more real, more sincere, etc.) things were when THEY were children. Anyway, I trust that Random Numbers and his like-minded baby boomer peers are “keeping it real” by not giving in to today’s "culture of fear" paranoia and availing themselves of the myriad medical advancements and pharmaceuticals that have increased well-being and longevity by decades as compared to those fun and free “good old days” when people routinely died in their 60s! (--Wouldn’t want to be a hypocrite.) p.s. tterrace your photos are WONDERFUL! Cowboy Jimmy Honest to Abe, this is one of my favorite pictures of yours! South Gate memoriesMy folks had a house on Kauffman Avenue until 1968, when they bought their house in Downey. It was very close to the old South Gate water tower, near South Gate park. I'm sure you remember the area. I only have vague memories, as I was just a toddler when we lived there. I should see if I can find some of the photos my folks took during the time they lived on Kauffman. I'm sure they look very much like these! "Just a snapshot "As beautiful as any William Eggleston photo I've ever seen, and I consider him a genius in the world of photography. This is just utterly enchanting -- I can't take my eyes off it. (Same is true for the photo you posted a while back of the young man in a sea of blacklight posters.) This is just the best website ever! South Gate kidI grew up in South Gate in the 70's and 80's. This picture looks very much like my grandparents street. They moved to South Gate after WWII ended and lived and worked there for the rest of their lives. It was a wonderful & diverse city at that time. I was wondering what street this picture was on. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, Kids, tterrapix)
Caffeine Warehouse: 1935
... the stairs aren't dangerous before that point. The Bike Early Grub Hub vehicle? Have a Nice Trip -- That first step at ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/05/2023 - 3:38pm -

December 1935. "Coffee house in Selma, Alabama." The Sadler Grocery Store, purveyor of Kon-Koffee-Kompany's Table Talk and Selma Pride ("Roasted Last Night") as well as Coca-Cola and Dr. Pepper. Nitrate negative by Walker Evans for the Resettlement Admin. View full size. TimingLet's see ... if I can have Dr. Pepper at 10, 2 and 4, that means that at 6 and 8 I can have coffee. At the next 6 and 8, I can have Coca-Cola. Start out with lots of caffeine early on, then taper throughout the day. Of course, I could mix either the Selma Pride or Table Talk with Coke for a really nice caffeine hit late in the day. Then I could stay up all night roasting coffee for the next day. Coffee, White --Subliminal messaging?? We may never know if it was intended, but that name certainly conveys it. Yet history had the last laugh: what was known as Sylvan Street (see marker painted on steps) is now Martin Luther King Street. Nice work by BlantonEspecially finding just the right angle to fit "Selma Pride Coffee" and "Table Talk Coffee" in between the windows. Koffee KornerIf Sylvan Street is now MLK, then this is the corner with Water Avenue today. Kitty-corner is the old railroad depot, now a museum, making this a pretty good location in 1935. Sign Of The TimesI tend to agree there is no hidden message in the sign. 1935 Selma wouldn't bother to be coy about the prevalent attitudes and would feel no reason to hide what was obvious in everyday life to a certain segment of the population. The Hawaiian KIdiosyncratic spelling and alliteration were something of a fad in brand names of the 1920s and '30s, resulting in quite a few "Koffee Kompany" businesses in locales from Tacoma to Indianapolis to Selma, not to mention the Kona Koffee Kids -- a girls' baseball team. Is there trouble brewing in that Kon-Koffee-Ko name? Probably not. Must have been pretty bad coffeeI roast my own coffee and had a laugh when I saw that the company used "Roasted Last Night" as a slogan. Roasted coffee needs to "air out" for 2-3 days before grinding and brewing. The roasted coffee beans release CO2 during the "airing out" time, and if brewed before that happens, the coffee tastes terrible. The first time I roasted coffee, I didn't know that, and wondered why it tasted so bad. Now, I can't drink most coffee made outside my house because it is hard to compare to the quality of home-roasted coffee made from fresh green coffee beans almost straight from a coffee plantation. Koo Koo Ka ChooI am the yeggman Watch Your StepsIt's interesting that the railing only begins about halfway up. I guess the stairs aren't dangerous before that point. The BikeEarly Grub Hub vehicle? Have a Nice Trip --That first step at the bottom is a doozy. The Circus!Three railroad trains, double length! Circus Was HereThank you Paul Schmid for that beautiful circus poster. The remnants of a Cole poster on the side of the grocery store. Feel sorry for those poor animals such as lions and elephants that have no place to be kept in such conditions. (The Gallery, Stores & Markets, Walker Evans)
The Summer of '42
... his overseas service. Sturmey Archer Hub The girl's bike has a Sturmey-Archer 3-speed hub, and is probably a Raleigh. The guy's bike is more used, probably a Schwinn one speed. The live in different towns, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2013 - 3:34pm -

July 1942. "Sunday loungers at Hains Point." Peaceful wartime Washington. Photo by Marjory Collins for the Office of War Information. View full size. WhewI can just feel the stifling heat. Uncle Sam Does't Want YouAt first I wondered why a fellow that age wasn't in uniform given the time period. Then I noticed his spectacles. Maybe defective peepers kept him out of the war? [Not even half of draft-age American men were in military service during the war. The notion that just about any young guy you might see in these WW2-era photos was destined for military service is something of a fallacy. - Dave] Draft AgeInteresting... My grandfather entered WW2 service in 1944 at age 33, much older than many inductees. He was married with 3 children at the time. I've been told the pool of eligible draftees had really dwindled by then, and he may have enlisted to avoid being drafted. He was always very proud of his overseas service. Sturmey Archer HubThe girl's bike has a Sturmey-Archer 3-speed hub, and is probably a Raleigh. The guy's bike is more used, probably a Schwinn one speed. The live in different towns, to judge from the license and lack of one on the two bikes. Catching UpAlong with some relaxation and lunch, looks like they may be catching up on their newspaper reading, most likely war news at the time. Low Hanging FruitI'll take the three easiest cars to I.D. L to R: 1940 Hudson, 1937 Ford, and 1940 Ford Standard. Bike licenseWhat's the story on a "bicycle license"? Theft prevention / proof of ownership? Prosecution of traffic violations? Tax collection? Other? Right now I would put my money on the tax people. Is This Trip Really Necessary?There's a War on, You Know! Apparently neither gas rationing nor those oft-used slogans from the era were on the minds of all those automobile drivers. Or, maybe this was one last chance to get out for a drive before feeling the full effect of restrictions started just a few months earlier. [Nationwide gasoline rationing was 5 months away, starting Dec. 1, 1942. - tterrace] Actually, this may have been photographed at the end of the 'Eastern Seaboard Card Rationing' program that regulated 17 states along the east coast beginning in Feb '42. That program ended July 22nd, after which a 'card rationing' program was instituted which created the famous 'A', 'B', etc rationing coupons. Yes, it was not until December that the rest of the nation was under rationing controls. Been there Done that!My wife and I used to ride our bikes there and later drive that in the early 60s when we were dating. It was also a lovers lane at night. We may have gone that dozens of times. It was a very nice place to go to. Sometimes we would park at the northern end and walk all the way to the tip on one side and back up the other side. And the Spring of '47My dad spent the war years in the Pacific. Mom & Dad were married in May 1947, and I was born 2/21/48 (Dad didn't waste any time!) They honeymooned in Washington, DC - I can't tell you how many pix I have of them in poses similar to this. The War yearsDad spent WWII in the Pacific as well, in the SeaBees. I can't recall when he enlisted, but it was probably '43, when he was 44 years old. (WWI vet, as well; lied about his age to enlist!) Puts me in the near forefront of Boomers, class of '46. Out of state plateThe bike on the left is a Schwinn New World with a fillet-brazed chrome-molybdenum frame and a Hamilton Ohio license tag (it was one step below the top of the line, lugged frame Paramount model). Nice bike! Many localities at the time encouraged/required bicycles to be registered and have metal mini license plates attached because it supposedly greatly increased the chances of getting a bike back if it got lost or stolen, at least that's what we were told by the police who occasionally came to chat about such things at our school assemblies. I shudder to think about what they must talk about now... (The Gallery, Bicycles, D.C., Marjory Collins)
Stadium Parking: 1942
... This picture seems to pack a hole lot of punch. Bike Support I love the old-fashioned kickstands on the bikes. Lifts the ... the two types of stands common then. One could even use a bike so equipped as a kind of exercycle, since the rear wheel was held entirely ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2013 - 3:33pm -

July 1942. Washington, D.C. "Spectators at a baseball game: wives, sweethearts and children of the players; passersby and regular fans." Medium format nitrate negative by Marjory Collins for the Office of War Information. View full size. Signs of the Times1942's sign: "Short Cuts Prohibited" Today's sign: "Keep off the field or risk prosecution" El Sol in background?That sure looks like the Sun in the middle of the photo just above the trees but the shadows on the ground don't seem to match the location. re: El Sol in background?You're right. Must be a UFO. Space ships seem to like to visit DC (ala The Day the Earth Stood Still) Or La Luna?Gibbous moon, caught with a long lens, maybe? La LunaIs that La Luna in the background? The shadows and the lack of flair flare in the lens indicate it is not the sun. Maybe it's a home run. [Hint: The answer can be found in any stationery or office supply store. - Dave] Sun + treeIs it not possible that there’s a big tree right behind us, with overarching boughs reaching forward but just out of sight, creating the dappled light at our feet from the low setting sun? [The sun is almost directly overhead - see the shadow of the bicycle. - tterrace] Just a guessThis picture seems to pack a hole lot of punch. Bike SupportI love the old-fashioned kickstands on the bikes. Lifts the whole rear wheel off the ground. Better than the ones on newer bikes. Time Machine & the 10th CommandmentIt's a good thing that 70+ years separate me from those bikes because my inner 9-year-old only wants to take one for a ride, just a short ride, back to my house and then stash it behind the bushes. Answer, pleaseSo is EW3 correct (UFO)? Or Tobacconist (hole punch)? And would Jano be guilty of the 10th commandment (covetousness) or the 8th (theft)? Bicycle StandsThose two bikes sport the more stable of the two types of stands common then. One could even use a bike so equipped as a kind of exercycle, since the rear wheel was held entirely off the ground (no puns, please). Unfortunately, the catch that held the stand out of the way while one was in motion frequently wore out, causing the stand to drag behind the bike and produce a grating noise dear to little boys but the bane of every mother in the neighborhood. Is that?Looks like a hole punch from a 3 ring binder to me, but through plastic and very enlarged. [Diameter is slightly over 5mm on the negative, but it's not a hole; there's film grain visible. Note also that the edges are sharp, but the treeline is blurry. As others have mentioned, this points to a processing artifact. - tterrace] (The Gallery, Bicycles, D.C., Marjory Collins, Sports)
A Boy and His Dogs: 1928
... glass negative -- maybe someone recognizes the boy on the bike, who must have been at least a little newsworthy. View full size. Bike front wheel Could use a little straightening for sure! Wobbly ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/01/2013 - 1:11pm -

August 1928. Washington, D.C., or vicinity. The caption label has come off this Harris & Ewing glass negative -- maybe someone recognizes the boy on the bike, who must have been at least a little newsworthy. View full size. Bike front wheelCould use a little straightening for sure! WobblyWhoever this young lad is, his ride must be a bit wobbly with that, shall we say, less than straight bicycle wheel. I can remember enduring such things when I was young also. Unless it was broken, you used it. WobblyThat s-shaped front wheel must have made that bike a handful to steer! Doggies look as if some roadwork would be the height of their day. Someone with better knowledge of breeds may chime in, but their size makes me think of young greyhounds or whippets. Obscure AwardSurely his name would appear on the BSA's roster of recipients of the Innovative Dog Walking merit badge? Another dad "I told you so" momentI remember Dad telling me that was what would happen if I continued jumping curbs. Because he knew I wouldn't, he gave me a spoke wrench. I'd have been proud to have a front wheel with that little bit of wobble. Forget the BoyThe star of this show is his socks. Teddy III?Theodore Roosevelt IV (grandson of the the former president, son of Ted, thus known as III) would have been fourteen years old in August 1928. While it's hard to find photos of him between this appearance https://www.shorpy.com/node/3558 as a scrawny 10-year-old boxer, and his WWII service as a flier, this looks plausible. (The Gallery, Bicycles, D.C., Dogs, Harris + Ewing)
Alpha Females: 1942
... on those bikes. I know a gal that wears dresses on her bike that has clear skirt guards lashed to her rear fender (mud guard). Biking is not just a sporting event in Minneapolis. I want a bike like that ... thought the little girl to herself with the patriotic ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/24/2015 - 12:19pm -

May 1942. "Southington, Connecticut. Schoolchildren staging a patriotic demonstration." Which includes Synchronized Stationary Bikes. Photo by Fenno Jacobs for the Office of War Information. View full size. Minus bobbysoxToday: Déjà ViewI thought this scene looked vaguely familiar. From a different angle. And in color (even the car with the distinctive chrome on its fenders (a 1942 Buick as identified by Zcarstvnz) can be seen in both shots) - https://www.shorpy.com/node/3473 Now that's a chainguardOne like that would have kept me from going over the handler bars more then a few times on my old Schwinn in the 50's Skirt guardsI love the skirt guards on those bikes. I know a gal that wears dresses on her bike that has clear skirt guards lashed to her rear fender (mud guard). Biking is not just a sporting event in Minneapolis. I want a bike like that... thought the little girl to herself with the patriotic flag blowing in the soft Summer breeze. SibsThe two girls have very similar facial features. I think they may be sisters. I would love to have those bikes! Eat Your Heart Out Pee Wee HermanThe fancy Elgin bicycles the sisters have can be found in a 1938 Sears catalog for $30.95. Nice PairOf fully loaded "pre-war" Elgin bikes. Skip tooth chain and rear mount dropouts. Racks, lights, skirt guards, rear drop stands & tanks. Gearhead in trainingThat boy in the striped shirt is the only person looking directly at the three riding beaus, but is he looking at the riders or their machines? Love that Style I like how many of the design elements on the girls bicycles echo those of the car in the background. Also, saddle shoes in '42? I thought that was a '50s thing. I guess they had a good long run. [Saddle shoes (and bobby-soxers) were a Forties phenomenon that had its genesis in the Thirties. - Dave] ElginsThose nifty bikes were probably purchased just one block down the road at the Western Auto store, right across the street from the movie theatre where I worked as a projectionist. (The Gallery, Bicycles, Fenno Jacobs, Patriotic)
Visitors Welcome: 1906
... Dave] Creepy, but at least there is a place for your bike... I've noticed people frequently commenting on the lack of bike racks in most of these photos, despite the abundance of bicycles. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/14/2012 - 10:47am -

Niagara Falls, New York, circa 1906. "Entrance, Natural Food Conservatory." Breakfast food pioneer Henry Perky's Shredded Wheat factory, a.k.a. "The Palace of Light," was a popular tourist attraction. Bring your appetite, and watch your step. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. They took paradise and put up a parking lot.The "Palace of Light" Shredded Wheat factory was apparently on the north side of the 400 block of Buffalo Avenue in Niagara Falls with a nice unobstructed view of the rapids near the falls. The site is now a vacant lot with a nice view of the Ramada Inn between it and the rapids. "The beautiful structure of The Natural Food Company is located on Buffalo Avenue (occupying ten acres), in the finest residence portion of the city, with a frontage of 900 feet on the Niagara Rapids." Don't look up!I said DON'T look up, there's a guy in the window on the right watching us. Just act cool. 50,000 Vistors Annually! "V"Why is "Natural" spelled with a "V"? Odd. [Classicists will recognize that as a Latin (or Roman) U. - Dave] Creepy, but at least there is a place for your bike...I've noticed people frequently commenting on the lack of bike racks in most of these photos, despite the abundance of bicycles. Well, this place appears to have two! Unfortunately, at least in this photo, it also looks like you might not need to secure your bike. After all, you won't be seeing it, or the light of day, again. The uniforms look likeThey came from West Point, what the cadets wear. Deveaux studentsMy wife grew up across the street from this building. Her brother attended Deveaux School and according to her the uniforms are identical to what the Deveaux students wore. The brother attend the prep school on a scholarship because their father was serving in WWII. The Deveaux school said the school was preparatory for entry into West Point, but few students actually became West Point Cadets. (The Gallery, DPC, Factories)
Look Out World, Here I Come
... 1921. " Times boy and bicycle." Winner of a Mead Ranger bike by virtue of selling 30 newspaper subscriptions. The Ranger contest was a ... excellent velo. just a bit too big for him, is all. Bike! Yes, I too want that bike! Little Rascal It's Weezer! (The ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2013 - 3:45pm -

Washington, D.C., 1921. "Times boy and bicycle." Winner of a Mead Ranger bike by virtue of selling 30 newspaper subscriptions. The Ranger contest was a promotion of various papers from about 1917 to 1923. National Photo Co. Collection. View full size. WOWnow that is a most excellent velo. just a bit too big for him, is all. Bike!Yes, I too want that bike! Little RascalIt's Weezer! (The Gallery, Bicycles, D.C., Kids, Natl Photo)
Omar: 1935
... your eye on the sparrow Methinks Robert Blake. The bike! I thought there was a better picture. Where is it? [Two posts ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/09/2011 - 11:03am -

October 1935. A street scene in the mining town of Omar, West Virginia. 35mm negative by Ben Shahn for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. You are in -- The Twilight ZoneThat looks like Rod Serling on the right. [Or Adolf Hitler. - Dave] Keep your eye on the sparrowMethinks Robert Blake. The bike!I thought there was a better picture. Where is it? [Two posts up. Or you can click on the photographer's name above the photo. (Yes, I know I could just link to it right here. But give a man a fish ... ) - Dave] Or Ernest Borgnine!Or Ernest Borgnine! StacheA few years later I bet he shaved that thing off! Adolf Jr.Looks like Little Hitler Mountain HomeThose homes on the mountainside must have been fun to build. Think of what a good rainstorm could do to them? Omar WVI grew up here. Almost every building you see in this picture is now gone, many before the 1960s. When the companies abandoned these towns, the people abandoned them for lack of work. Oh, but the railroad tracks and the roads are still there. The fella in the hat What a looker he is! I agree about the Hitler looking mustache. I wonder what they were discussing. Omar WV MinesMy father (Ervin Sargent) worked at Omar #5 and Stirrat #15. He is now 90 years old and loves talking about "those days." Omar, W.Va.The house behind the man on the right was still standing in the 1970s. My grandfather Dana Moore was a doctor and lived there. We had many a good Christmas, sometimes with snow. Grandpa doctored some of the Hatfields and of course miners. My parents at one time had his birth books, he delivered a lot of babies. My father was born in Stirrat, just down the road. Dr. Dana MooreBlitz...Your grandfather delivered my mother (Erma Crum Sargent) 83 years ago. (The Gallery, Ben Shahn, Mining, Small Towns)
The King and His Castle: 1956
... there are still cars sitting in your front yard. The Bike It's a 56 KH actually, more on it here . Nothing ostentatious ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/12/2013 - 8:22pm -

Elvis Presley, at the love-me-tender age of 21 in 1956, at the house he bought for himself and his parents at 1034 Audubon Drive in Memphis. Cadillacs and Harley sold separately. 35mm negative by Phillip Harrington. View full size. Those CaddiesWeren't always parked in the yard. Here are his Mom and Dad with two and the Harley. A King and a HogHarley Davidson K model. If he had waited another year he could have bought a Sportster, the K's big brother The old Presley placeAs it appears today. Monogrammed awnings! Shade treeLooks like the little sapling in the front yard has flourished throughout the last 57 years. CadillacsI believe all the Cadillacs are 1954 models. From left, a Sedan de Ville (his mom's car), then a slightly beat-up Series 75 Fleetwood limo (did he use this as a tour "bus"?), and a Series 62 convertible with a continental kit. [The car on the left is a 1955 Fleetwood 60 Special. - Dave] You are so right! Good catch, Dave! The King's Short LifeWho then would have thought Elvis' life was already half-lived. You know you're a redneck ifNo matter how successful you are, there are still cars sitting in your front yard. The BikeIt's a 56 KH actually, more on it here. Nothing ostentatious about Elvisor he would have had air conditioning on that convertible too. The sedans both have the optional trunk mounted (until ~1957) air conditioners, as evidenced by the air scoops just forward of the trunk lid upper corners. Pringle of ScotlandArgyle socks! Never out of style since WWI. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Elvis 1956, Memphis, Phillip Harrington)
Motorcycle Cop: 1924
... movie. How about a bit of degreaser? What a filthy bike. Must not have been a requirement to keep it looking presentable. His ... is mechanically actuated by the right foot lever. Nice bike! This bike is a gas! I'm marveling at the Presto-Lite tank ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/06/2013 - 11:52am -

Washington, D.C., 1924. "Roache #5." At the Library of Congress. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Full of awesomeThe tall hat, the robust jacket, those huge, almost superhero gloves, officer barreling hunched over through twinkling city streets as his siren blares and his headlight shines on the getaway car around every curve. I want to see the movie. How about a bit of degreaser?What a filthy bike. Must not have been a requirement to keep it looking presentable. His uniform has got to be ruined after each shift just by sitting on this thing and tooling about for 6-8 hours. [This was taken in February, so most of that is probably slush-related. - Dave] The Gloves Say it ALLOfficer Mad Max must be quite coordinated to work all three levers on the right side (shift check clutch?—maybe and what?—spark advance??) while using his elbow to press on the siren and other had to steer. MANY too many great details in this picture to list. Beautiful shot! Before Chrome?In this amazing photo, the motorcycle policeman is dreaming of the day when DC police motorcycles will be gleaming with chrome and glistening lacquer paint. He hopes that day arrives before his retirement. He's already got the spiffy uniform! Mechanical SimplicityTake a close look at the speedometer and its connection. It is driven of the big gear on the rear wheel opposite the chain drive. Also note that there are no front brakes and the rear drum brake is mechanically actuated by the right foot lever. Nice bike! This bike is a gas!I'm marveling at the Presto-Lite tank spanning the handlebars to power the gas headlamp AND tail lamp. Not the CapitolIt's the Library of Congress. Oh myAs an old bike rider with far too many miles under my belt, I look at this photo and can only imagine a bone shaking ride followed by a bathroom visit. GlovesThe gauntlet style gloves are most practical when riding a motorcycle. They prevent bees, wasps etc from flying up your sleeve. I learned this the hard way last summer (seven stings/bites one fine July day). IndianI think this is a 1918 Indian Powerplus. It isn't all polished, but it looks well-loved. Emergency stops?The only brake is a tiny rear brake and the pedal is at least 6" above the floorboards. This machine was more concerned with going rather than stopping. Those GlovesAlso handy should one wish to take up falconry. (The Gallery, D.C., Motorcycles)
Grant Six: 1920
... Christopher Helin. View full size. Once Rail, Now Bike Trail. Today's bike trail is probably on or near the railbed in the photo. The Golden Gate ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/28/2014 - 12:21pm -

Somewhere around San Francisco in 1920. "Grant Six touring car." Pointed straight into the 20th century, although the Grant brand itself was not long for this world, expiring in 1922. 5x7 glass negative by Christopher Helin. View full size. Once Rail, Now Bike Trail.Today's bike trail is probably on or near the railbed in the photo. The Golden Gate Bridge would be in the distant background today. Golden Gate That certainly appears to be the Marin Headlands to the right of the car's roof. To the left looks like old Fort Winfield Scott (Ft. Point) without the familiar Golden Gate Bridge over it. If so, the only place I remember a railroad track that offered that view would have been on the East Bay, somewhere between El Cerrito and Berkeley. However, one would have needed a telephoto lens to bring in those mountains that high (judging from the Google street view). Angel Island would also have had that view, but no railroad. Here's a view from 1902: NON SKIDWhich tire manufacturer made those treads? You left their advertising copy (backwards, of course) on every dusty or muddy road. In the seventies, there was a curved dash Oldsmobile with those tires, permanently on display at Egizio Chevrolet-Oldsmobile in Naperville, Illinois. Every time my dad would take our '76 Chevy Beauville van in for service, I'd spend ten minutes ogling the new Corvette, and five minutes on the other cars. After that, I was checking out the "merry" Olds. I never got tired of looking at that car. View from Fort MasonMy first posting was a little vague. I believe this was taken in the vicinity of Fort Mason. When last there (2011) I noted some rail still existing in the sidewalk while riding the bike trail along Marina Boulevard. Rail within the fort still exists. The distant hills align quite well with the Shorpy image and Google street views. Grant TinkerersHere are many of the guys who probably built the car. Dealer 24The Grant auto was being sold by the Frank O. Renstrom Company at Van Ness and Golden Gate Avenues in San Francisco. Frank Renstrom immigrated from Sweden with his family in 1883. By 1896 he was working as an apprentice at the Union Iron Works along with his brothers. He became an electrician, and he remained at Union Iron until about 1905. The International Motor Cyclopedia for 1908 states he established his automobile business in March of 1905, and that he incorporated the firm in December 1906. By 1907 he was selling automobiles under his name at 424 Stanyon Street. He later began repairing cars, selling automotive supplies and tires, and also opened a branch in Oakland, California. In 1908 he was selling the Pullman and Pennsylvania marques. In November 1910 the garage that housed his business on Stanyon caught fire, and it was completely destroyed resulting in a $10,000 loss. Before the end of December 1910 Renstrom had established a new presence at the Southeast corner of Van Ness and Golden Gate Avenues which was in the heart of the automobile sales district. A picture of the building from the May 1914 "Pacific Marine Review" trade periodical is below along with a recent Google street view. In addition to the Oakland branch, Renstrom opened additional outlets in Los Angeles and Stockton, California as well as Nevada and Arizona. He handled many different automotive brands over the years including Kline, Regal, Briscoe, Grant, and Premier cars as well as Atterbury Trucks, Grant Trucks, and Twin City Tractors. Renstrom became one of the biggest automobile distributors on the Pacific coast. In September 1923 Renstrom filed for voluntary bankruptcy. He appears to have lost his entire business, and in 1924 he is shown working for H.O. Harrison's Hudson and Essex dealership. Renstrom's former dealership location became the Buick franchise of Charles S. Howard. Renstrom worked for Harrison for a couple of years, but then he started to sell real estate and insurance in 1926. He built up this business which was eventually handed over to his son. Frank Renstrom passed away during April 1947 at the age of 70. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin, San Francisco)
Speed Racer: 1925
... There doesn't seem to be any braking mechanism on his bike. (Unless there is a foot brake that isn't apparent.) Also wondering what ... of the twentieth century. During WWII they made a folding bike for British Airborne paratroopers. After the war production switched to ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2013 - 3:34pm -

July 18, 1925. Laurel, Maryland. "R.J. O'Connor, inter-city championship bicycle races, Laurel Speedway." National Photo Co. glass negative. View full size. He does."Who wears short shorts?" BrakelessFixed gear -- no freewheeling. Great for fast track and stunt riding. Not so good for stopping. Get it wrong and over the handlebars you go. FixieTrack racing bikes still have no brakes (and no freewheel device). The rider slows down by pedaling slower. They are still raced on wooden tracks, including in the Olympics. The tracks today are generally better finished and polished, since falls are common. Look at those huge splinters! This fixed-geared arrangement has become very trendy lately, to the point it has a cutesy name: "fixie." Handsome BrakelessAlso a handsome rake! No Stopping HimYipes! There doesn't seem to be any braking mechanism on his bike. (Unless there is a foot brake that isn't apparent.) Also wondering what the sprocket lettering represents. [BSA -- Birmingham Small Arms, a British maker of bicycles and motorcycles. - Dave] Other points of interestNote the mold lines on the tires, and the axle hole through the crimped fork ends (rather than a slot). HairodynamicAll that riding has sculpted his hair into a modern 2009 look! BSABirmingham Small Arms, which began as a gun manufacturer, produced bicycles in the first half of the twentieth century. During WWII they made a folding bike for British Airborne paratroopers. After the war production switched to motorcycles, and in the 1950s and '60s "Beezers" were legendary racing bikes. They couldn't keep up with Japanese manufacturers, though, and by the early '70s the company was kaput. Progress of another sortWhat housing block or shopping mall now covers the "Laurel Speedway"? Enquiring minds, etc.! Fixie popularityWhen I was a courier in DC (89 to 97) only riders with major experience and major balls rode track bikes. It takes much more skill to stop quickly. Now every skinny jeans-wearing hipster rides a fixed gear bike, geared to stop easier and usually with a flat handlebar. Of course a lot more people are riding bikes these days. Funny how all it took to get more people in this country to get back on bikes was super expensive gas and a serious recession. Baltimore-Washington Speedwayhttp://www.wheelsofspeed.com/mdhist.html Baltimore-Washington Speedway - Laurel, MD 1.125-mile wood oval (7/11/1925 - 9/25/1926) The track, featuring turns banked at 48 degrees, was built by Jack Price in early 1925. The site is now the property of the Laurel Pines Country Club. Stupid Bike TricksMy dad raced in San Jose in the 1930s. When I was a kid down on the central coast, he had a bike like this that he'd let us use. Long before it became fashionable to do crazy stunts on a bikes, we'd ride hell-bent for leather from the top of our street toward the beach. About halfway down, we'd stand up on the (absurdly skinny) seat. Usually we'd still hold onto the handlebars, but sometimes we'd stand all the way up for part of the ride and then jump back down to stop. It's amazing that any of us made it to adulthood. I Agree WholeheartedlyDefinitely a handsome rake! Pure rideI still have my track bikes from the 70's. Pure ride - who needs 20 gears? Back in the day, our jerseys and chamois were wool, we knew how to repair our own bikes, nailed our cleats on and rode because we loved to. And we laughed at those who spent a fortune on a bike and could not ride a straight line. Even more fun was zipping past some turkey on a road bike while on a track bike and doing it in the hills of the SF Bay Area. (The Gallery, Bicycles, Natl Photo, Sports)
Dad's Indian: 1950s
... I bet the aviator's cap didn't hurt either. Nice bike! That's a nice Indian and your dad must have been popular with the ... 
 
Posted by niceleyj - 11/08/2008 - 11:47pm -

My dad had this awesome Indian motorcycle while he was in high school. He admits it made him popular with the ladies at Maury High in Dandridge, Tennessee. He does, of course, wish he still had it. I do, too! View full size. Just sayin'Tom of Finland would've LOVED this. Gearhead HeadgearI bet the aviator's cap didn't hurt either. Nice bike!That's a nice Indian and your dad must have been popular with the ladies. It's nice to see a picture close to home since Dandridge isn't too far from where I live now. Wow!Hubba Hubba Hubba! It was the whole package that the ladies fell in love with. He should have been in movies! i no im such a grl but...omg he's so hott they dont make guys like that nemore Kenneth Anger Eat Your Heart Out
Edifice Lex: 1908
... at a photograph. Car ID Maxwell circa 1906. Bike Beware Hope the driver of the vehicle doesn't approach from behind and ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/30/2020 - 4:49pm -

Springfield, Massachusetts, circa 1908. "Hampden County Courthouse, Elm Street." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. No betterHeavy stone was the material of choice back then. Glassy, airy building technology had several decades yet to develop. Nice little balcony for the corner office holder. Great ArchitectThis architectural style is called Richardsonian Romanesque and this one was designed by Henry Hobson Richardson himself. I have become a fan of his style because of Shorpy. The building still stands and it is made of grey granite masonry which is as beautiful in colour as it is here in black and white. Btw, does anyone know if that is a Model T? I love the way that car is shown against the backdrop of that courthouse. It has the effect of making me feel like I can experience life in a time before I was even born just by looking at a photograph. Car IDMaxwell circa 1906. Bike BewareHope the driver of the vehicle doesn't approach from behind and not see that bicycle! Not a FordLooks like a 1906 Maxwell. 1907 Maxwell carSo small in front of that massive building, the car is a 1907 Maxwell RS two cylinder runabout. Maxwell was a popular car for many years with an all metal body. Maxwell's slogan was "Simply Perfect - Perfectly Simple". There are still a good number of these early Maxwells on the road today. MaxwellThe future car of radio and TV humorist Jack Benny, who laughed all the way to the bank portraying the cheapest man in the world. I've seen those streetlights beforeMy daughter, who lives in Charlestown, sent a photo the other day of the new streetlights the city was installing. They look a lot like the units seen in this photo. Iron scrollwork brackets, hat on top and bulb (light) hanging out the bottom. What's old is retro I guess. They replace the not-so-old rectangular LED panels probably installed just a few years ago. [The "bulb" here is the globe enclosing a carbon arc lamp. - Dave] Mostly thereThis is now the "Western Housing Court". A front street view is not available as it faces a new Court Square closed off to traffic. Sadly, the gables above the second floor have been removed, probably due to the cost of heating and maintenance. The ceilings and windows up there made for probably the best offices in the building! (The Gallery, Bicycles, Cars, Trucks, Buses, DPC)
Boody House: 1900
... at the top of the tower. Date 1870, simply beautiful. Bike World Before cars took over, bicycles were considered to be a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2012 - 8:18pm -

Circa 1900. "Boody House, Toledo, Ohio." The Boody House hotel at St. Clair and Madison. Dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. TowerGotta love the architecture at the top of the tower. Date 1870, simply beautiful. Bike WorldBefore cars took over, bicycles were considered to be a legitimate mode of transportation. According to the Smithsonian, the first paved roads and first road maps were designed with bikes in mind. Boody Facts "A Toledo landmark for fifty-five years, the Boody House hotel stood at the corner of Madison Avenue and St. Clair Street. The hotel opened in June 1872 with 133 guest rooms, each with its own fireplace. Hot and cold water ran in each room, a novelty for the day. The building was torn down in 1928 to make way for the Ohio Savings Bank and Trust Company." Amazing lightThe low angle light from the left of the frame gives the woman with the netting on and the two guys behind her a startling definition -- almost looks burned in. Bicycles left at the curb and an early version of Cinnabon at the corner. This is a phenomenal photo. WiredShorpy viewers are used to seeing huge numbers of single phone lines on multiple crossbeams in old city photos. The few thick phone lines on these poles indicate that Toledo was progressive in the adoption of fewer, larger cables containing many twisted pairs, each replacing many of the old single wires. Note the many empty crossbars on the phone pole on the corner, with iron junction boxes serving to break out lines to each customer. These early cables were insulated with twisted, tarred paper, resulting in a rather ragged appearance in the foreground. Was bicycle theft a hanging offense?Those bicycles were expensive compared to average wages, but nobody seems to lock them up. Boody House key tagI found a key tag for room 75 in Salem Ohio about 3 years ago. The electric company had put in a new pole and the tag was dug up when they drilled the hole. (The Gallery, DPC, Streetcars, Toledo)
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