MAY CONTAIN NUTS
HOME
Home

Search Shorpy

SEARCH TIP: Click the tags above a photo to find more of same:
Mandatory field.

Search results -- 30 results per page

Tackle HQ: 1942
... I hope that the Princess is air conditioned. From the bikes parked out front, I'm guessing Saturday afternoon, kids' matinee. "Down ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/03/2023 - 9:07pm -

July 1942. "Decatur, Alabama. War production center (Ingalls Shipbuilding Co.) on the Tennessee River." Acetate negative by Jack Delano, Office of War Information. View full size. July in DecaturI hope that the Princess is air conditioned. From the bikes parked out front, I'm guessing Saturday afternoon, kids' matinee. "Down Texas Way" sounds like good matinee fare. The Princess Theater is Still ThereLoyd's Drug Store is gone. You can get Mellow Mushrooms on your pizza instead. Down Texas WayThe sixth film of Monogram's eight-film series "The Rough Riders" has U. S. Marshals Buck Roberts (Buck Jones) and Tim McCall (Tim McCoy) coming to a Texas town to visit their friend, U.S. Marshal Sandy Hopkins (Raymond Hatton), only to learn that he has disappeared, and is suspected of the murder of John Dodge (Jack Daley), owner of practically the whole town, except the hotel Sandy owns and runs when he isn't on an assignment as a Marshal. Remnants remain 2nd Ave NE and E Moulton StreetBelow is the Street view today, looking north along 2nd Ave NE from the intersection at E Moulton. The Princess Theater is still there, at 112 2nd Ave NE, as is the small, two story building just this side of it. The building which housed Loyd's Drug Store is gone, replaced by new buildings containing two eateries and an architecture firm. In 1942 there was a barber shop on either side of the Princess, but none now. The theater is still thereBut the rest of that corner has changed a bit. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Jack Delano, Small Towns, Stores & Markets)
The Nasby: 1905
... did a number on that place. Geez. A safer time for bikes Not a bike lock in sight. Nooks and Crannies What I wouldn't ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2013 - 3:39pm -

Toledo, Ohio, circa 1905. "Nasby Building." An architectural confection needing only a bride and groom stuck on top. Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. Still Standing -- But The Nasby building was constructed between 1891 and 1895 for Horace Walbridge as the tallest skyscraper in Toledo. It was named after the character Petroleum V. Nasby in David Ross Locke’s famous Civil War essays and was modeled after the Giraldo Tower in Seville, Spain. In 1934 the tower top of the Nasby building was removed, supposedly for safety reasons. However, as the building had long since dwarfed the other structures on Madison Avenue, the removal of the tower was largely unnoticed and "unlamented." In 1964, a steel frame and metal panels were placed over the brick and stone facades and the building was renamed the Madison. Glimpses of the building's beautiful façade can be seen where a few panels have been removed. In 2001, the Madison’s roof was repaired by the city for $205,000 so that continued deterioration would not occur. In 2003, attempts by Detroit developers to convert the building into a $16 million residential, office, and retail center failed. A barbershop is the building's only remaining tenant at present. Many developers stayed away from the site, as renovations were costly and would require rents too high for the area. The market could not afford renovations in 2004, so the city mothballed the structure until the site becomes more desirable through street improvements on Madison Avenue. -- From Lost and Found: The Process of Historic Preservation in Lucas County, Ohio, a 2004 thesis by Jennifer Michelle Oberlin View Larger Map Underground utilitiesThere seems to be a significant lack of electric poles on the street compared to other photos from the era. The one streetlamp seems to have the wire coming from inside the post. MetamorphosisTwo more photos. What's in a name?I would bet that during the time the Nasby Building went by that name, it was often called something else that was very similar in sound. Toledo's TallestThe Nasby building was built in 1893. When it was new, it took the phrase "eclectic architecture" to new heights. Its design was a mixture of Romanesque influences, like the arches and elaborate terra cotta decoration, with Spanish elements that made it resemble a wider version of the Giralda tower in Seville. It was also Toledo's first skyscraper. The base of nine stories was topped by a narrower four-story tower. There was a sort of cupola on top of that. It was impressive. Toledo architect E.O. Fallis, whose Valentine Theater was the subject of a recent post, was the architect. He liked the place so much that he had his offices in the cupola for years. His clients, the Walbridge family, had told him to build something distinctive that would serve as a symbol of Toledo for years to come. To back up the symbolic nature of the idea they named the structure in honor of Petroleum Vesuvius Nasby. Who's that? He was a famous fictional character, the alter ego of Toledo's David Ross Locke. But the tower started giving them problems. They removed it long ago. Then came the trend toward simple, boring, buildings with blank walls so they covered the whole thing with blank, flat panels. Now it's just another big box. Two whole floors of dentists!Over to the right, in the Dollar Savings building. Also, a barbershop in the basement. I'll always know Ohioby the haze in the air. Ohio, my sinuses salute you! Talk about "remuddled"They really did a number on that place. Geez. A safer time for bikesNot a bike lock in sight. Nooks and CranniesWhat I wouldn't give to explore the upper parts of this building. (The Gallery, Bicycles, DPC, Toledo)
Rockaway Bungalows: 1910
... memories. We played board games and cards and rode our bikes. The guys played baseball in the parking lot adjacent to the Palace ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/04/2012 - 3:56am -

Vacation bungalow colony at Rockaway, Queens, c. 1910. View full size. George Grantham Bain Collection. Note "front yards" of sand decorated with seashells. Sand in QueensI wonder if any of the buildings are still standing. Since they are tract of small bungalows, I wonder what company supplied that lot for workers to live in. Sand in...Queens?! Wow. [Never heard of Rockaway Beach? - Dave] BungalowsWere these for living or vacation rentals? They sure are cute. Does anyone know how far from the water they were? Rockaway[Never heard of Rockaway Beach? - Dave] Well I've heard of Rockaway Beach here in Oregon. :) Re: BungalowsThe were seasonal at first. More info at the Beachside Bungalow Preservation Association: By the 1920s, Rockaway Beach was the poor man's Riviera. It had a six-mile long boardwalk lined with amusements, and thousands flocked to the beach every summer weekend. Many families rented tents for the entire season, while those a little more affluent rented small bungalows. The concept of the bungalow in America was well established by this time as they were built for summer communities on both coasts. The plans could be purchased from catalogues and were designed in numerous styles. This last remaining bungalow colony was built by Richard Bainbridge in the 1920s. The one and a half story houses all have front porches and pitched roofs. The design and style vary from street to street. Some of the bungalows are in a Spanish Revival style of stucco with wood trim and green the roofs, and others are in an English Tudor of brick. Lacking heat, they were closed for the winter months. The lanes leading to the beach have permanent easements for common access. As development pressures change the Rockaways, this small district has become endangered. But it would be appropriate to preserve and restore this remnant of past summer amusements. The yards are super.The yards are super. Send the kids down to the beach to bring back sea shells to decorate with! Talk about a family project. Rockaway BungalowsI'm pretty sure these are not there anymore. In fact Rockaway Beach today is quite run-down. If you take the A Train out there, these must have been between the tracks and the water, where there are now streets with no houses. Only weeds. Sadly, most of theseSadly, most of these bungalows are gone, as Doug points out above. There are only a few left, and they face demolition by developers who want to turn the Rockaways into yet another bland housing development. These were vacation homes for folks in Manhattan and the other boros, not company houses for factory workers. How close were they to the beach? How does less than a city block sound? In the Rockaways, as at Coney, Manhattan, Brighton, and other New York City beaches, the streets are set up perpendicular to the beach and are only a few blocks long. The last block actually ends at the boardwalk. Across the boardwalk is the beach. The Ramones were from the Rockaways. Beach 29th streetMy family rented a bungalow on Beach 29th street until I was around 12 years old. As soon as school was over, my parents would pack up a van and off we went until Labor Day. It was the most amazing summers of my life. No locks on doors, showers in the backyard, fireworks Wednesday nights. My parents belonged to a group called FROGS- Far Rockaway Ocean Goers. The Bungalow owners, Mr. and Mrs. Herman, would let my Dad come before the season to fish. The last time I was there was about 36 years ago. It was so sad to see the destruction of these amazing bungalows. Ours was white and green, and all the furniture inside was painted a sticky tacky gray. My Grandma and Nana lived a few blocks up in a rooming house. It was very sad to watch as these homes burned to the ground. Such a day-gone-by era. Beach 29th StreetHi! I am very curious exactly where on 29th Street the bungalow was. I lived on 29th just off Seagirt Blvd. It was a year 'round dwelling. The area was VERY crowded during the summer and VERY empty from after Labor Day until Memorial Day. Do you have any pictures from there? I would love to see them! Thanks, Marc Far Rockaway refugee now living in Bayside, NY Rockaway BungalowsThere was nothing better than spending the summer in Rockaway. Most of your family members rented bungalows in the court. Everyone was out every night. The beach was just a few steps away. Fathers came out only for the weekends, even if you lived in Queens... Beach 107 StreetMy aunts, grandmother and uncle would whisk us away to Rockaway the minute school closed for the summer. We would stop at Weiss's for fish and chips, then drive over the old Cross Bay Boulevard bridge and see the top of the roller coaster and the ocean beyond. In a few minutes we would be at our bungelow in Highland Court, the second one in. We thought we had arrived since we had a hot water heater. It was a great place for kids to grow up. Every day my sister and I would open the window with the sun shining down on us. We would get into our bathing suits and run to the beach, riding the waves until we were dragged out by our relatives. Beach 106 StreetBetween 1951 and 1958 or so I stayed with my good friend Donald Sullivan and his family in bungalows on Beach 106 Street. I don't remember the court name - if it had one. I do seem to remember Highland Court but this was centuries ago and memory may play tricks. Sand in QueensA similar group of bungalows still exists in the Breezy Point Coop and Roxbury in Queens. Many have been expanded and converted to year round use now, though some are still used only for the season. They refer to Breezy Point and Roxbury as the "Irish Riviera" due to the strong Irish presence. B. 29th bungalowsI know EXACTLY where you were. My grandmother too had a bungalow, about 5-6 before the boardwalk ramp. They were on the left side, because on the right side was a parking lot or a building (I can't remember it exactly). But up the block was two hotels - the Regency and another one. They were both owned by the same people - Mr. and Mrs. Hecht, german/lithuanian-jewish folks. If you remember, there was a wooden bridge that connected the two buildings, and the courtyard was shared by the two. The showers were both underneath the front of the buildings behind the, lattice and then common showers/bathrooms in the hallways. There was one public phone on each floor and a television on each floor. When my grandmother could no longer stay in the bungalow (either they were sold, torn down or condemned), she went into the Regency Hotel. She was in the basement which was very cool in the summer. They dodn't need air conditioning. The last party of the season was Mardi Gras. My grandmother, being on the heavy side, loved to wear blackface makeup and put her hair up with a tied kerchief - she was "Aunt Jemima." I only wish I had a place like 29th street to bring up my children in the summers. We ended up renting cabanas in Atlantic Beach from when they were little, then moved to Atlantic Beach, but retained memberships at the beach club. We can't get the sand out of our shoes! Belle Harbor's Bungalows I was searching for a picture of Weiss's Restaurant and stumbled across this site. I found one taken before the war, but was hoping to find one more recently, like late 1950s or early 60s. Looking at the group of bungalows, there were similar ones along the beach 2 rows deep at B129th Street in Belle Harbor, Rockaway. They looked very similar to the ones in the pics if memory serves. I was there last year and although they still occupy the same footprint, most have either been completely reconstructed or torn down and replaced with more modern ones. I recall every summer going to the beach and seeking out the "city" kids here for a few weeks. We made lots of new friends every summer. Then there were the bungalows out on RockyPoint/BreezyPoint. My mother spent her childhood summers, probably right there in that picture. Her parents owned their own bungalow. I have a picture of it from around 1941. Mom's 83 and I'll have to print this off and show it to her. Maple Court, Beach 28th st.I've been searching for info on Far Rockaway. I've been strolling down memory lane thinking about my wonderful summers there. My family rented, and we stayed for a total of five summers. The last two were in Maple Court, which, I believe, was on beach 26th or 28th Street. Before that we were in B Court and A Court on 28th. I agree with the posters who spoke of these summers as paradise! I felt truly free there. And yes, nothing was locked up. There was no schedule to keep. Just pure fun. My last summer there was in 1969. I remember this because of the moon landing. We returned home from the fireworks display on the beach and watched it on TV. My grandparents owned a fruit store on the main street, and they stayed at a wonderful hotel called the Manor. My happiest memories from my childhood are from Far Rockaway. Maple Court bungalowMy family purchased a bungalow at 29 Maple Court in 1969 when I was 9 years old. I too had the greatest memories there. We took so much for granted thinking everyone lived as we did. Now I realize how lucky we were back then. Being able to stroll down the street to the boardwalk, watching the fireworks Wednesday nights, and winning prizes at the arcade games are fond memories. Do you remember the pizza shop on the corner? Because the bungalows were so small and cozy, to this day I prefer smaller spaces. Thanks for letting me relive those memories for just a short time. The EmbassyWe stayed in the Embassy on 29th Street (right next to the ramp to the beach). Many of my friends were in the bungalow courts between 28th and 29th. We stopped going in 1967 but those were the best times -- those summers were magical. My husband and I went back in 1998. There is a school where the Embassy used to be and nothing much else. I went down to the beach and I cried. Who were your grandparents?Carolyn, my parents owned the Manor at 2400 Seagirt Blvd (beach 24st). My last summer on Rockaway Beach was 1967 just before I entered the Army. My parents and I moved to South Florida shortly there after. I was 6 miles from the DMZ in Vietnam when we landed on the moon. Fruit storeCarolyn, if memory serves (pretty fuzzy by now), your grandparents were the Lebowitzes. The fruit store was on Edgemere Avenue just off Beach 24 next to Willy's Market. If I am right, I am amazed. The EmbassyMy family had a bungalow on B29th Street on "the ramp" from the 1950s until around 1970. I got thrown out of the Embassy by the owner because we didn't live there. I bought ice cream at the candy store under the porch of the hotel. I saw the school, it was a bummer. I remember Lenny's, skee ball, Jerry's knishes, Sally & Larry's pizza, movies on the boardwalk, Dugan the baker, softball games, basketball in the parking lot. I used to sell lemonade to the ball players on hot days. Memories ... I remember a girl named Cherie or Sherry. She had a boyfriend, Arnie. I used to hang out with Arnie's brother Marvin. lmc2222@aol.com Far RockawayI also have childhood reminiscences of Far Rockaway. My family lived in a small bungalow rented for a group of Russians in 1970s (yep, I am Russian, living in Moscow now). I was 3 or 4 years old at that time, so I do not remember much. What I know is that these are one of the brightest memories of my early childhood. My pa said the house was really small. I do not know what street it was on, or if it still exists. What matters are the snapshots of my memory: me sitting on a porch on a rocking chair, and the arches of the porches, of the same form and shape, go all the way down to the ocean. Me playing in sand, building garages for toy trucks, with other children running from waves that seemed - wow - so really huge. And above all and around all, the salty smell of Atlantic, which is different from any other seaside smell. Great pity the place is devastated today. Hope that everyone who has ever had good times in Far Rock keeps his own memory snapshots of the place, where it looks as it really should. Fruit StorePeter, you have an incredible memory! My grandparents were the Leibowitzes. That's such a specific memory. Did you know them personally? I would love to hear about any memories you have of them or the store. Were you a child at the time? The EmbassyCheri, I can understand your crying. I went back many years ago and was also upset to see the area so demolished. At that time, it seemed the only bungalow left standing belonged to a lady we were all so afraid of on Maple court. She seemed to hate kids (probably we just annoyed her mercilessly!). But going back as an adult, I saw her situation quite differently. The bungalow was all she had, and so she stayed there while everything around her seemed to be destroyed. Maple Court BungalowLillian, we must have known each other since we were there at the same time, and we were around the same age. I was in the first bungalow on the right, facing the main street. You might remember the pile of junk in front of the house (left by the owner, which we were waiting for them to take away!) Where in the court were you? I remember a girl named Elena, and a boy everybody had a crush on named Eddie. The ManorWow... your parents owned the Manor! What an interesting and exciting experience that must have been. If I recall correctly, there were an eccentric bunch of characters staying there. Carolyn! What a great happening!Hi Carolyn, Glad you found me on Facebook. Your ability to put me together with my earlier Shorpy post was remarkable, so I am posting this for the benefit of "Shorpy page readers." Your recollections and mine from the 1960's certainly attest to how great having the internet and pages like Shorpy's are. (Shorpy..thank you!) The fact that I remembered your grandparents is somewhat unique cause I can't remember anyone else's grandparents from way back then, other then mine. I must have really liked them and was destined to cross your path again. I remember sitting and talking with them on porch of the Manor in one of those green rocking chairs. They were "grandparent" types, had a European accent like most grandparents back then, and easy to be comfortable with. Just to put things into focus, I am now 63. That was back when I was 16 or 17 and younger, but your grandparents returned to the Manor for quite a few summers in the 1960s. How could I have remembered your grandparents' name? I too am amazed and flabbergasted. Memories of Far RockawayYes, this website is truly wonderful for allowing us to stroll down memory lane and recall the sights, smells and feel of Far Rockaway... and what an extra treat for me to find someone who actually knew my grandparents. Thank you Shorpy's for allowing us this exchange of information and memories... and thank you Peter for your kindness and your very sharp memory! Far RockawayMy sister directed me to this site. We stayed in the Jefferson Hotel, right between Beach 29th and 30th, next to the Frontenac. My good friend Faye's grandparents, the Kratkas, owned the Embassy and both Faye and I worked the concession stand which her parents ran. The memories of the boardwalk are still strong. Not only did we have the luxury of a fantastic beach at our doorstep, we also had nighttime fun. Cruising up and down the boardwalk -- eating pizza at Sally & Larry's, or Takee Cup (originally called Tuckee Cup until the owners got disgusted of painting out the alternate name it always received over the winter months) and listening to Eddie, with his ever-present songbook, sing requests. All added up to good, clean fun. I left in 1968, went back from time to time, but haven't been back in years. Unfortunately, you can see enough from Google Earth. My two auntsMy father's two aunts had a bungalow in Rockaway Beach in the late 50's early 60's. It had flowered wallpaper and a musty smell, but it was the most interesting home I have ever been in. I was allowed to leave and explore without my mother's glare. I cannot tell you what food we ate there. I have no memory of meals which is odd. I do remember being bitten by my aunt's dog, which scared me for a long time. I think their names were Bernice and Ruth Cohan. If you have any thing to share please do. thanks, Mary Donaldson neversynvr@aol.com Twin HousesThe houses with the bridge were known as "the twin houses", possibly the Claremore & Edgewater, both owned by the Hechts. I spent the happiest summers of my life there! Like Cheri, I've wanted to return, but haven't as I know how sad it would be. Better to revisit in memory, sometimes in dreams. I probably know Cheri (from Arnie & the Joey days) and Les rings a bell, as does singing Eddie... Marcy Sand in my shoes on Beach 107thMy mother's family went to Beach 107th in the summers of 1917 through 1929. After the Depression hit they couldn't afford it. I still have photos of that period. In 1951 our family went down to the Rockaways and rented a bungalow for the season. The courts I remember were Almeida and Holmenhurst. My dad came only for the weekends, arriving Friday evening. The first thing he did was put on his trunks and head for the beach with me. When he hit the ocean you could see all his cares and worries leave. At night the parents would gather on the porches and play cards, drink a Tom Collins or have a beer and just have a good time. As a 10-year-old I wondered what was so much fun doing this every weekend. It occurred to me many years ago that boy, did they have it made. Sitting on a porch with a nice summer drink, a cool ocean breeze along with good friends to talk with and play cards with. Life was so laid-back and simple then. Does anyone remember the doughnut shop Brindle's or the bakery Dudie's? What about Nat's Ice cream shop, where you could get a walk-away sundae. Bill's Deli had the best salads and cold cuts. Wonderful summers that will always keep me warm in the winters of my aging mind. Beach 28th Street & A B and C CourtsI too remember the pizzaria on the corner of Beach 28th street. I remember my friends Randy, Shmealy, Risa, Brenda and Jody. I don't remember Shmealy's given name, but I remember he was hyperactive and a lot of fun. Made up a song from the commercials of the time for Halo Shampoo. "Halo Sham-poo poo, Ha-a-lo! Jodi's mom didn't want me hanging around Jody because I blinked my eyes too much. Oh well. HEY: Jody from Beach 29th street who wrote a post here on 11/12/2007 - I wonder if you're the Jody I remember!? I hung around with Risa a lot. I still have a photo of us and my dog Suzie on the porch of my Bungalow. I once disappeared into the Courts of Beach 28th street while walking my dog. I ended up talking to a boy for 2 hours, not knowing my parents had called the police and had an all-out search for me. My father finally found me. I was the talk of the town that day! I hope someone remembers these people or IS one of these people, or remembers the lost girl incident and would like to contact me at orangechickens2@aol.com. It would be wonderful to hear from you!! Anyone remember dogball?My dad wrote about playing dogball on the beach at 110th Street on his blog at willhoppe.com. I'm going to show him all of your comments later tonight. The BungalowsI was born in Far Rockaway in 1942. I lived there for 16 summers. My dad owned a small grocery on B 28th street. It was the best time of my life. Maple Court faced 28th. To me it was a very exotic place. The renters/owners vacationed there, my dad was a workman. We lived in roominghouses with a bath on the floor. One year I begged my dad to live in Maple Court and we got a small apartment in the back of a bungalow there. The bungalows were the BEST. Rockaway native from HammelsBorn in Rockaway in 1941 at Rockway Beach Hospital. Went to PS 44, JHS 198, Class of '59 from Far Rock. Worked as a locker boy at Roche's Beach Club in Far Rockaway. For two summers I worked in Rockaway Playland. I lived on 90th, where my parents rented out the bungalow in the back of our house every summer. My father at the end of his years as a waiter worked in Weiss's dining room, and the Breakers restaurant on 116th Street. I met my wife in 1965 at McNulty's on 108th Street. She was from Woodhaven and Breezy Point. We got married in '68. I am writing this on the back deck as we are still enjoying the summer weather here at Breezy. We both still have sand in our shoes. Our 1940s summersA group of Bronx families spent the summers of the early '40s in a few bungalows. Sundays the working fathers would appear for a community breakfast. We celebrated V-J Day with a parade on the boardwalk. Takee Cup was a part of our diet. A noodle cup to be eaten after the chow mein was devoured. The ultimate hand held food treat. Beach 25th StreetI grew up in Far Rockaway in the 1960s and 70s. We lived in the Bronx and rented every summer on Beach 32nd Street (now two big apartment buildings -- Seaview Towers). When I was 9 or 10, we moved to Beach 25th year-round. The summers were great -- we didn't wear shoes most of the time. Every Friday night, "Bingo Al" held a game in the court behind the bungalows, between 25th and 26th. One summmer he had a "Chinese auction" and dressed up in an oriental robe and Fu Manchu mustache and beard. Many of the residents got seltzer water delivered in bottles at their back porch. They would gather in the evenings out in front of the bungalows and talk and joke. I would lie in my bed, with my ear pressed against the window screen, trying to listen, and also trying to stay cool -- no air conditioning. Sol "The Cantor" Gerb would play his little electric organ as people sipped their drinks, chatted or played cards. It was like a different world from the rest of New York. I read where one commenter talked about the bungalows rented for the Russians. This was on Beach 24th Street. They worked at the United Nations and rented a block of bungalows. Every Monday morning passenger vans would show up to take them to work at the UN. We played with the Russian kids. They were a good bunch. I stayed over at one of their bungalows and we had crepes for breakfast. I had no idea what crepes were! I learned to play chess, as the Russians were crazy about it. I recall one time when members of the Jewish Defense League blew up a small BMW belonging to one of the Russians. The news came out and I was in the background, behind the reporter. A sad time for Far Rockaway. One of the amazing things was the backgrounds of the bungalow residents -- former concentration camp prisoners, Russians, Irish, Jews, some Italians and Greeks, but we all got along so well. A great place to grow up! At the FrontenacMy family spent summers at the Frontenac from the late 40s until 1957. When I describe it to my daughter, I have to confess it was really more like a boardinghouse. My mother, father and I shared a room that was also the kitchen. Bathroom on the floor, showers were out back for when you came back from the beach. It was great community. Juke box for dancing, card room for gin and mah jongg and the television on the porch. I loved Jerry's cherry cheese knishes. I remember the movie theater on the boardwalk in the 30's (it could barely be called indoors) I bought the News and Mirror off the delivery trucks for 2 or 3 cents and sold them for a nickel. My parents would pay the guy who ran the first aid station under the boardwalk to hold our beach chairs overnight so we wouldn't have to "schlep" them back and forth. We played softball on the blacktop parking lot on 29th street right off the boardwalk. My wife, who I did not know then, stayed with a friend's family in a bungalow on 29th street. I think her best memory was playing Fascination. Best summers everI used to stay at my grandmother's bungalow on B 28th st. in the mid to late 60s. Those were the very best summers ever! Walking just a few yards to the boardwalk and beach, pizza from the store on the corner, hanging with Howie and the crowd there. Playing Fascination for a dime, huge french fries in those cone cups. If anyone knows the whereabouts of Howie Young I'd love to get in touch with him. My email is belongtoyou@hotmail.com Hugh McNulty Hotel, Rockaway BeachI am trying to learn about Hugh McNulty's Hotel. I am not sure what street it was on, but there was also a bar in it. Hugh was my mum's uncle and her father came to stay with him and work for him. The time period may have been 1924-1930. I know the hotel was still in operation in 1953, as my grandmother visited him at that time. Any help is appreciated. libtech50@comcast.net Edgemere memoriesMy family lived many places in the Edgemere section of Far Rockaway (I don't know the exact boundaries of Edgemere, if there were any), but my memories centered on Beach 48th Way and Beach 48th Street. Fantastic place to spend the summers and escape the hell of the South Bronx. I had wonderful Jewish friends and I worried that they would go to hell because they weren't Catholic. Now I laugh as such perverted theology, but back then it was serious stuff. I loved the beach, the ocean, the starts, the jetties, playing every group game known to humans, going over the the "bay side" to play softball with the "project people" -- those who lived beyond the marshes and spent the winter there. No doubt about it, the best part of my childhood was Rockaway. Too bad it was taken away from us and to my knowledge, still is just a bunch of sand with no houses where we used to live, right near the boardwalk. Beach 48th Way, RockawayIn the early 1960s there were two brothers that were lifeguards when my family was there, Dennis and Tom Fulton. Anyone remember them? Also there was a man named Warren who would feed pigeons at the end of the block every day. My parents would rent a bungalow in the summer months to get us out of Brooklyn for awhile. Great memories. Rockaway, a kid's dreamI remember growing up in Rockaway. We had two boarding houses on Beach 114th Street. When my mom was a kid, Carroll O'Connor, his mom and brother Frank stayed with them. He returned to see my parents back in the mid-eighties and I received one of his last e-mails before he died. I worked my way bartending at Fitzgerald's on Beach 108th and Sullivan's on Beach 116th (1967-1970). You could leave the house at 7 years old, walk to the beach without crossing the street and never had to worry one bit. The neighbors looked out for everone's children. Great memories and thanks to Shorpy for an incredible site. Brilliant job! Cohen's CourtThe picture above is very much how I remember the bungalow court where my parents rented in the summers of the early 1950s. I think my mom said it was Cohen's Court. Ours was at the end of the court on the left. I don't remember too much, I was really little. But I think there was a center row of garden where parents hid treats for us to hunt. I remember a corner candy store we kids could walk to and my mom confiscating a tube of plastic bubbles I bought. I guess she thought the fumes would get me high or something. There was a little girl across the court who would stand on her porch in a towel and flash us once in a while. And I have a memory of being on the beach with my parents, I in the sand and my mom in a beach chair, and my dad taking me into the water. I went back with my parents in the early 60s because they were thinking about renting it again. But it was so musty and dirty and ramshackle that they decided against it. I had a girl friend with me and I have to say I was embarrassed about the way the place looked and smelled. Too bad, that bungalow was a great summer getaway for a working class family from Brooklyn. Elisa on B 29thWas your grandma named Bessie? I lived in the Claremar, one of the twin houses, and I remember her. Did you have a brother too? My sister, parents, grandmother and baby brother and I all lived in two rooms in the basement. I remember Crazy Eddie and his huge black book of songs. Tina and Elise ... Elliot ... Donna ... Jackie ... smiling in memory! Palace HotelThe last place my family stayed at for quite a few years was the Palace Hotel on Beach 30th Street right near the boardwalk. Those were the days my friend. All the arcades and food places on the boardwalk, Cinderella Playland for the little kiddies, the Good Humor man , Ralph was his name. Life was simple. No internet, cell phones or video games yet we had great times and wonderful memories. We played board games and cards and rode our bikes. The guys played baseball in the parking lot adjacent to the Palace Hotel. The team was a mix of every race and ethnicity and everyone managed to get along and looked forward to playing together the next Summer. The beach was the best. Dads could go to work and come back every day rather than only on weekends as they do in the Catskills. Such a shame that this no longer exists. The last summer I went there for a few weekends was in 1976. The JeffersonMy grandparents rented a place in the Jefferson for many years. I have great memories of the place, the back stair cases, the porch, and the beach just a short walk away. Does anyone have relatives who stayed there? Rockaway summersI spent virtually every summer till the age of 22 in Rockaway. We stayed on Beach 49th till they knocked them down, then kept moving to the 20's. Best time of my life. My family was unique -- Italians in the Jewish neighborhood and we came in from Jersey! My mom grew up in Brooklyn and her family started coming in the '40s! Wish I could connect with friends from back then. If I sound familiar please let me know. You would be in your mid to late 50s now. Rockaway Beach Bungalows on PBSI received a message, last night, from my girlfriend who stated that "The Bungalows of Rockaway" was on PBS @ 8PM. I started watching at 8:30 and to my surprise I could not stop watching. I was born at Rockaway Beach Hospital and I am a lifer. I never lived in a Bungalow but I have always wanted to purchase one. I was taken aback by the fact that there were at least 6,000 bungalows and now there are approximately 300 (big difference). I also found out in this documentary that there is hope that the bungalows can be landmarked and I hope that it happens. The bungalows are a unique attraction to this area and I hope that the 300 remaining can be preserved. Elisa on B. 29th Street - the hotelsTo Anonymous Tipster on Fri, 08/13/2010 - 3:15am - YES! My grandmother was Bessie. I do remember your family - your grandmother, parents and the little ones. Your mom wore glasses and had blonde hair. She always wore her hair pulled back and up on her head, curlers in the evening. Also, Harry and Dottie lived in a large room in the corner of the basement of the hotel. I have 3 brothers and one sister. My Aunt Rose and Uncle Leo used to come to the hotel as well to visit with Grandma Bessie. Please e-mail me @ medmalnursing@msn.com Sally's Pizza and the Lemon & Orange Ice StandI spent the best summers of my life on Beach 28th Street. Coming from a Bronx apartment, it felt like our own private house. Our own family doctor came out to Rockaway every summer and stayed on Beach 24th Street. I now wonder what happened to his patients during July and August. How come nobody has mentioned Sally's pizza, on the boardwalk around 32nd Street? You couldn't forget Sally-- with her bleached blond hair, tight pants, and backless highheels. Near Sally's was the fresh lemon and orange ice stand with the fruit stacked against the wall. The ices even contained pits. No artificial coloring or corn syrup in those ices. Grandmother's bungalowsMy grandmother owned 10 bungalows on the beach on 35th Street from the 1930s thru the 1950s. They were the ones nearest the water. I loved going to help her get them ready each spring and clean them up each fall. Playing on that wonderful empty beach at those times of year with no one else in sight. We lived in Far Rockaway at 856 Central Ave., so going to the bungalows was not a long trip. Great memories. Mom's RivieraMy mother loved Rockaway so much that we called it "Mother's Riviera." She couldn't have cared less about the beautiful beaches across the ocean in France or Italy, for Rockaway Beach was her greatest joy. We spent many summers in a bungalow court on 109th Street and my grandmother and her sisters also spent their youthful summer days in Rockaway Beach. So our family goes back generations loving Rockaway. Every Memorial Day the court always had a party to celebrate the beginning of summer and the courtyard inhabitants were usually Irish. The courtyard came alive with Irish songs and jigs and reels. Of course, the people of the courtyard always chipped in for a big keg of beer. It was repeated on Labor Day as we all said our goodbyes to our neighbors and to our beloved Rockaway Beach. Saturday nights in Rockaway were spent at the closest Irish bar and some nights the local boys slept under the boardwalk after having a wild time. They always managed to get themselves together for Sunday Mass or otherwise they would get holy hell from their families. Sands of TimeI spent every summer in the Rockaway bungalows from the fifties until the mid eighties when we were forced to leave because of the deteriorating situation. I was a child on Beach 49th and remember George's candy store where you could get a walkaway sundae for 50 cents. Sue, I remember the Fulton brothers, who were lifeguards. Handsome devils, had a crush on Tom when I was 14. Times were safe. There were a thousand kids to play with. We went from 49th, 40th 39th, 38th, 26th and finally 25th Street with my own kids trying to hold on to that wonderful way of life. Unfortunately it disappeared. Some of the best days of our liveswere spent on Beach 25th. When I was 12 (1936) until I was 17, we stayed every summer at my grandmother's at Beach 66th Street. Those were glorious days on the beach. The boardwalk at night was wonderful, too. We played pinball, and games of skill for 5 cents to collect prizes. Bottled soda and ice cream were 5 cents then, too. We used to run up to the boardwalk to eat the delicious knishes. My summers at Far Rockaway were the most unforgettable of my growing up. Tuna fish and bologna sandwiches on a roll never tasted as good as it did at the waterfront. In 1961, when I was married with children, we rented a bungalow on Beach 25th and loved it! It was a rainy summer and we spent a lot of time in Far Rockaway shopping, eating and going to the movies. Every sunny day, however, we quickly rushed to the beach to enjoy it with family and friends. The Jefferson, Beach 30thI stayed with Grandma and Grandpa every summer for years in a small room at ground level. Grandpa would take me to the beach in the morning, then off to the stores on 24th Street. The back patio was for dancing on Saturday night and the concession inside had bingo. The porch! As I grew up to teenager, I met Ronnie Schenkman and family on the second or third floor (used the back staircase). I don't remember where Eleanor stayed. Crazy Eddie and his songs. Hal and his girl of the night. Warm nights and days. Very sexy! As a working girl I still took the RR to Far Rockaway, then the bus to Edgemere. Took my children to visit Grandma when it was becoming sad looking. Then went to the area years later and found a burnt shell with a wicked fence surrounding it. Took pics and had a good cry. We are all lucky that we were able to experience the wonderful warm sun and sultry nights. Belle Harbor BungalowsI think the two rows of Belle Harbor bungalows on Beach 129th to which another person referred were probably the Ocean Promenade Apartments. I have very happy memories of living there in the mid-i950s in the winter. Beach at 37th streetWhat a trip to see all of the these comments. I grew up and lived year round on Beach 37th until 1950, when we moved to Bayside. Takee Cup was a treat as well as the movie theater on the boardwalk, Italian ices and of course the arcade. For a penny you could get great photos of famous cowboys and movie stars. Rockaway in 1958My family spent the summer in Rockaway in 1958. Most of our friends were in the court, but we were outside it on the main street. I don't remember the street, but I suspect it was around Beach 45th, as the El was right on the corner. We had a bungalow with a porch. I was climbing on the outside of it, fell when I saw a neighbor's dog that I wanted to play with, and broke my wrist on broken concrete. Today, one would sue the owner. Back then, we just made do. Later that same summer, I ran across the street to get Italian ices from the local candy store, but looked the wrong way crossing the one-way street and almost got hit by a car. I didn't think that much of it, but the woman driving was hysterical. I also remember a movie theatre on the Boardwalk. In those days, an 8-year-old (me) could feel safe walking the boardwalk without an adult present. The back of the theater opened up at night so you could sit outside. I saw "The Colossus of New York" there, an incredibly bad "monster" movie. Most of the bungalows in the Rockaways were destroyed by Hurricane Donna in 1960. So-called "urban renewal" took care of the rest. Now some sections of the Rockaways, especially those facing the ocean, are filled with expensive new condos. The Jefferson 1950s I stayed at the Jefferson in the 1950s. It was far far away from the Bronx. Our father worked two, sometimes three jobs, so my brother and I could escape the Bronx and spend each summer --the whole summer-- in Rockaway. Dad took the train to work every day. We turned brown by July 4th; skinny brown kids always running, scheming, cunningly evading the watchful eyes of Jewish mothers. We played softball in the parking lot by the beach in the early mornings before the cars showed up. We played kick the can in the street, ring-o-lerio (sp?), off the stoop. And then there were the long long days on the beach, hopping on hot sand from blanket to shore, waiting the magic 45 minutes to go in the water after eating lim and sandy salami sandwiches, early versions of body-surfing, acting like we couldn't hear our mothers calling that it was time to come in from the water. Crawling into the cool dark sand under the boardwalk. Some kid named Howie always had a piece of fruit in hand, juice dribbling down his chin. And then there was a kid whose own family called him "Fat Jackie" -- at least that's how I remember it. Once in a while we were treated to Takee cups or lemon Italian ices, and chocolate egg creams. Always sneaking off with so much watermelon that your belly ached, and sand -- always sand -- in your bed. Jumping off the wooden steps to the beach, higher and higher, until you dared to jump from the railings along the boardwalk. I think it was Friday nights we would go to the boardwalk to watch the fireworks display from Playland. Flying kites over the surf when the weather cooled, and sneaking out to the Boardwalk to watch, awestruck, huge summer storms -- was it hurricane Carol? Evenings with men playing pinochle, women playing mah jongg. Ping Pong, hide & seek around the Jefferson. Costume parties with fat hairy men wearing grass skirts and coconut shell brassieres, and mothers with painted mustaches and sideburns, wearing huge hipster hats, chewing cold cigars. Then, dreaded September, back to school and insanely diving under your desk to practice for the upcoming atomic war, or wondering whether you were one of the kids who got the fake Polio vaccine. But somehow, during those summers at the Jefferson, there was nothing to fear. Nothing at all. Beach 45thDoes anyone remember Scott Whitehill or Laird Whitehill? If so, please e-mail me at scott@scottwhitehill.com Moe's Grocery Store on Beach 28thBarbara posted a comment earlier about her dad owning a grocery store on Beach 28th Street. The name of the grocery store was Moe's, and they carried lots of things for a small store. I lived in bungalows on Beach 28th and Beach 29th Street. These were the most memorable times of my life. I only wish that I could go back and see and relive these wonderful times. Beach 49thMy family and many of my relatives owned bungalows on Beach 49th and Beach 48th Street. We spent every summer there until the city condemned the properties. My father brought one of the first surfboards there in the early 60s. I have many fond memories of the beach and the friends I made. (The Gallery, G.G. Bain, NYC, Travel & Vacation)
Three Indians: 1915
... must have kept the lads awake with fear if that lap's bikes had no front brakes either. The first time I drove from Reno to ... out who these men are and see if their families have these bikes behind the barn. Safety first! At least for the fellow with the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/06/2013 - 11:57am -

Washington, D.C., July 1915. "Motorcycle team, relay to Frisco." Frank S. Long, F.L. Leishear (whose Indian store we saw here) and Josiah McL. Seabrook. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. California, screamin'They sure did take a circuitous route (NYC and then way up to Albany). The stretch from Reno down into Sacramento must have kept the lads awake with fear if that lap's bikes had no front brakes either. The first time I drove from Reno to Sacramento - and this was on a road they could not dream of, I-80 - one item that caught my eye was a sign, "Caution. Downgrades next 40 miles." Light fantasticThe one smart enough to put the light on his bike will win it for them. Gold mineThe guys from "Pickers" must be drooling. Maybe they could find out who these men are and see if their families have these bikes behind the barn. Safety first!At least for the fellow with the tossled hair. He has on his protective gloves! Rudimentary brakes.Emergency stops much have been pretty exciting on those old bikes- I don't think they even had front brakes. No stoppies for them! Nice!I've been sitting here soaking up this picture. Just fabulous! Great shot, great clothes, great bikes! Wish I could go for a ride with them. Thanks again Dave. Handsome BravesBeautiful bikes! These have many, many similarities to this amazingly restored model, snapped last spring in Charlotte, North Carolina. They may be a bit newer, with kick starter, no leg-power pedals, skirted fender, hand-grip clutch, an electric headlamp on the rear bike (as opposed to Prest-o-Lite [acetylene]), and "soft-tail" rear suspension. I guess any of this could have been optional equipment. DatingI believe that the date of this photo is probably 1916 and not 1926. The Indians pictured appear to be 1915 models. I believe that 1915 was the last year of the inlet over exhaust engine (which these bikes have)and the first year of the kick starter. [You are close -- the year is 1915. - Dave] World's Fastest IndianWhen you see these bikes it really is incredible that Burt Munro took a similar model, a 1920 Scout, modified it and drove it to several land speed records. In 1967, with his engine punched out to 58 cu.in. (950cc) he set a class record of 183.586 mph. To qualify he made a one-way run of 190.07 mph, the fastest ever officially recorded speed on an Indian. The hogs of their dayLaugh at the funny horn if you like, but those bikes are Indian "standards" with 1,000-cc engines. Too bad they didn't add front brakes until 1928. Murder Inc.Maybe these fellas were part of the traveling team of hit-men for Murder Inc. They sure look like they want to kill something. a-OO-gah!Although the braking wouldn't be the greatest, at least they'd be able to clear a path with a mighty squeeze of the horn. Silent RIt was Shorpy that taught me that these are "Motocycles." 119 Hours to FriscoWashington Post, July 18, 1915. RELAY RACE TOMORROW Motorcyclists to Carry Message From Capital to Pacific. START FROM WHITE HOUSE Three Washington Men Will Cover the First Lap, From This City to Baltimore -- Expect to Make Cross-Continent Run in 119 Hours -- Secretary of War to Start Riders. With all arrangements for the transcontinental motorcycle relay race completed, the riders for the first lap of the long journey await the starter's word. The start will be made from the White House at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning. They will carry a message from the President to the officials of the Panama-Pacific exposition at San Francisco. The Washington team, which will cover the first lap, will be composed of Frank S. Long, F.L. Leishear, and J. McL. Seabrook, mounted on Indian motorcycles. These men will carry the message from here to Baltimore, where another team will take it up and carry it over the second lap which ends in Philadelphia. From there the route across county is via New York, Albany, Buffalo, Cleveland, Chicago, Davenport, Des Moines, Omaha, Cheyenne, Salt Lake City, Reno and Sacramento to San Francisco. Fast Time Is Scheduled. On account of the absence of the President, the message will be handed to the riders by Secretary of War Garrison. It is due on the Pacific coast 119 hours after leaving Washington. The riders in the Eastern part of the country will have little difficulty in keeping up with the schedule on account of the good roads, but some of the Western relays are more than 200 miles in length. The longest lap will be between Elko and Fenley, Nev. This stretch is 274 miles long. One of the purposes of this relay is to demonstrate the utility of the motorcycle for military use. The relay is intended to show that the motorcycle is capable of delivering messages under all conditions of road and weather. There will not be one minute from the time the message leaves Washington until it is delivered to the officials of the exposition that it is not moving, day and night, rain or shine. The motorcyclists of this country have been as one volunteering their services as dispatch bearers, and it has been a task for John L. Donovan, chairman of the competition committee of the Federation of American Motorcyclists and manager of the relay, to select the riders. HornyThe furthestmost bike from us has an electric horn, but the others have the bulb variety; I'm guessing it was an optional extra or later add-on. Also interesting to note that heavy cardigans seemed to be the outer garment of choice for moto-cyclists at this time. I wonder when and why the black leather jacket took over. Front SuspensionIt's called a trailing link suspension as the arm pivots ahead of the axel axle. Not too common at all. I believe some early BMWs used this type for awhile as well. In All It's Its GloryHere is a picture of a restored bike that is exactly like the ones in the picture. Note the kick start is on the left side and there is no gear shift to the left of the tank. Apparently slightly later models had the space occupied by the kick start mechanism replaced with a transmission that included a gear shift from it to the left side of the gas tank. Front SuspensionThe Indian front suspension was designed so there was caster to the wheels. According to the old guys I knew 60 years ago, this caster made for very secure handling and less tendency to high speed wobble. You haven't lived until you have experienced a case of high speed wobble!!! UnpunctualThe messages were delivered 36 hours late according to the article below from The Salt Lake Tribune from July 26, 1915. Research indicates that the riders were trying to show that taking a dispatch on a motorcycle across the country would be faster than placing the same message on a train. As originally scheduled, the race would have gone through Sacramento during the national Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM) convention in Sacramento, but this did not happen because of the belated arrival of the dispatch rider. The FAM was the organization behind the race. All riders were asked to conduct a rehearsal ride on July 11th. The purpose of riding in teams of three was to ensure that if something happened to the primary rider or his motorcycle another rider would be immediately available to continue the mission to San Francisco. Of the three riders pictured here, Seabrook punctured a tire before reaching Baltimore, and he dropped out; Long ran into a pile of rocks in Baltimore, and he was injured; so Leishear became the only man to make it to the first transfer point. By Bryan, Ohio, near the Indiana border, the racers were five and a half hours late because of rains and bad roads. By the time the riders reached Chicago they were 12 hours behind schedule. Some time was made up on the way to Moline, Illinois as the deficit was reduced to just eight and a half hours upon arriving there, and seven hours at Des Moines, Iowa. In Nebraska the lead rider had an accident, but the other riders were far behind him. Consequently, by Rock Springs, Wyoming the riders were 19 hours behind their scheduled arrival, and at Ogden, Utah 18 hours overdue. I did not find where the other 18 hours were lost, but many sources mention the 36 hour late arrival. The official route, dates, and times as originally scheduled were shown in the Ogden Standard (Ogden, Utah) on July 17, 1915. Note the earlier start time than what actually took place. July 19: 6:00 AM, Washington. D.C. to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Poughkeepsie, Albany, Utica, Syracuse, Rochester to: July 20: 12:45 AM, Buffalo, New York to Erie, Cleveland, Toledo, Bryan, South Bend, Chicago, Sterling, Davenport to: July 21: 3:15 AM, Victor, Iowa to Walnut, Omaha, Columbus, Kearney, North Platte, Julesburg to: July 22: 3:15 AM, Cheyenne, Wyoming to Pine Ridge Station, Rawlins, Rock Springs, Evanston, Salt Lake City, Ogden to: July 23: 12:45 AM, Kelton, Utah to Cobre, Elko, Rye Patch Station, Battle Mountain, Tenley, Reno, Colfax, Sacramento, Tracy, to San Francisco. (The Gallery, D.C., Motorcycles, Natl Photo, Sports)
Tyres & Fittings: 1910
... other words, almost nothing standard in the US fit Limey bikes! The Brits eventually sold out to a metric way of life, thankfully! ... idea frame pumps were around so early. I like the two bikes in the foreground that have the skirt nets. I'm happy that in the Twin ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2013 - 3:30pm -

1910. "Cycle shop interior. Christchurch, New Zealand." B.S.A. stood for Birmingham Small Arms. Photo by Steffano Francis Webb. View full size. BSWAgree with Papa Bear, Brit bicycles, motorcycles and cars used a bolting system called "British Standard Whitworth". It differs from the US system in several ways, BSW wrenches are labeled for the size of the bolt instead of the US system of labeling the size of the the nut hex. And common bolt sizes 1/4" to 1/2" used the same 26 threads per inch, instead of the US system of varying the TPI with bolt size. The angle of the threads was unique as well, 55 deg. instead of 60 deg. (from memory). In other words, almost nothing standard in the US fit Limey bikes! The Brits eventually sold out to a metric way of life, thankfully! EverywhereA National Cash Register from here in Ohio, even in New Zealand. EquipmentI had no idea frame pumps were around so early. I like the two bikes in the foreground that have the skirt nets. I'm happy that in the Twin Cities of MN area these are once again on bikes because more people are riding non-athletically, dressed to go out. No chain guardsWhich makes it very hazardous to ride if wearing long pants since they often got caught between the chain and sprocket and when this happened your leg was pulled down as the sprocket turned. The usual result was falling off the bike. I hope they were sold separately. Other BSA productsBSA also made motorcycles, and as the name implies, was a major producer of the No.1 Mk III Enfield rifle, standard British Army rifle of World War 1. Wheels of EmpireThank you for publishing these New Zealand images. This one is particularly fascinating. As a boy in 1970s Britain I rode a B.S.A. bicycle myself. The shop is also advertising Eadie brand bicycles, taken over by B.S.A. in 1907. These had originally been made by Royal Enfield: 'built like a gun, goes like a bullet'. The brand names are wonderful: Britannia Tyres, Dreadnought Tyres ... tyres were clearly a seriously patriotic business in the British Empire c.1910. Clip your pants legPants leg clips were used to keep the pants leg out of the chain. These are still available, and cheap; Google "bicycle pants leg clips". BSA Lightning RocketI rode a 1965 BSA Lightning Rocket and BSA meant BSW wrenches for their fittings Interesting brake system.It appears the brake pads pull upward against the inside of the rim, somewhat like a drum brake, rather than squeezing it disc brake style like modern bikes do. Bluemel partsI took notice of the little card hanging on the wall just above and left of the cash register, holding what looks to be several horizontal pencils. The top says BLUEMEL with the "E" appearing to be a different color. Vintage bicycle experts are probably familiar with the brand name Bluemel Bros. Did a little searching and found it was a company in England that made bicycle and motorcycle accessories. One of the Bluemels came to the USA in 1906 and became a founding father of speech pathology on stuttering and stammering. Found this website on the bicycle part of the family, started in 1860. WhyWould they offer to 'buy back your National Cash Register checks'? For money or merchandise? Brakes were a rarityA few of these bikes have front caliper brakes; none of them have coaster brakes. They all appear to be fixed gear bikes. Curiously, this 100-year-old-style is all the rage these days. Cars too!BSA also made cars. I WishI could get "DREADNOUGHT TYRES" for my 4WD truck. With big white letters on the side. Carbide LampsThere is a nice selection of carbide lamps (and bicycle bells) on the stand on top of the right side of the counter, and kerosene lamps on the floor stand to the left. Calcium carbide was placed in a lower chamber of the lamp, and above it was a reservoir of water. When a valve was opened it dripped water on the carbide, which produced acetylene gas. Some of these lights may also have operated on kerosene or gas. You can see other examples here. Rod brakesVintagetvs is correct that all of the bikes here with front brakes use "rod brakes". When the brake lever is squeezed a rod and pivot system, instead of a Bowden cable, lifts the brake pads upward against the inside of the rim. These were once very common and are still widely used in various (mostly less developed) parts of the world. They are relatively rugged, and easy to maintain and repair with simple tools. The coaster brake was only about 10 years old at the time of this picture. I don't know how long it took for the coaster brake to become commonly used, but since it would be very much more expensive to produce I suspect it remained an expensive option for quite a while. Epicyclic hub gear systems are a little older than coaster brakes, and truly functional derailleur systems are about 25 years later than this photo. BrooksLooks like lots of Brooks leather saddles on the bikes. Still available. I have one on my road bike. Kinda hard on the tush until they get a little broken in, but then they are the best! Bike tubeThe bike on the left, and a few others have a tube sticking out from under the seat, facing forward. There is another tube facing back from the handlebars. Anyone know what they were for? Seat and handlebar tubesmailman7etc. It would appear that the forward-facing tube under the seat is the mount for the saddle. The rear-facing tube under the handlebar allowed the handlebar to be slid closer or further away, held in place by a clamp. British Standard WhitworthPapa Bear's mention of BSW wrenches reminded me of this piece on Joseph Whitworth. (The Gallery, Bicycles, New Zealand, S.F. Webb, Stores & Markets)
Breaking Away: 1908
... At least three riders have decided that motors on their bikes will make the six days fly by. Spirits! Think we should call it ... Looks like a motorcycle race to me. Looks closely at the bikes, they have tanks and motors. Then there is the advertising for ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2013 - 4:32pm -

New York, December 1908. "Six-day bicycle race, Madison Square Garden." 8x10 glass negative, George Grantham Bain Collection. View full size. At least three ridershave decided that motors on their bikes will make the six days fly by. Spirits!Think we should call it the six day ghost-rider race ! Motorcycles!It appears that the is inaccurate. Looks like a motorcycle race to me. Looks closely at the bikes, they have tanks and motors. Then there is the advertising for motorcycles. Surely some crossover customers, but if there are bikes racing, they're not visible. [This was a bicycle race. - Dave] When does a bicycle become a motorcycle?Clearly, Indian was out in force for this contest. I wonder who won? Can anyone make out what song was being sung? I'm guessing sheet music was a big thing at the time. Edit: Thanks for letting me know that the motorcycles were for pacing the race. That clears things up. Pacing the raceThe motorcycles are for starting / pacing the race. The Madison SlingMy husband, who used to race track, tells me that there is a specific track race called the Madison Sling that is actually named after the Track Races they used to have at Madison Square Gardens. I think it involves one partner recovering down near the center of the track while the other partner races a lap and then catches their partner and transfers their velocity to them and flings them into the track for their lap. He tried teaching it to me once with disastrous results (crashing hard). Bottled Beer 20 centsYou could get 50 beers then for the price of one beer at MSG now! Ghost RidersMaybe I should point out that the track is full of riders, who are moving too fast to show up in this time exposure. Top Shelf20 cent whiskey! I'll take two please. Judge fall down go Boom!If you look closely at the small tower with what could be the "Judge" for the race, the right hand leg of his chair is about 1/2" from going over through the railing. Drink prices20c for a Beer, 10c for a Soft Drink!! Apparently price gouging for refreshments at sporting events was common even back then! This racing lives on!I think Dave is correct about the racers just being a blur. They'd do a complete lap in just over 10 seconds. You can see a couple of bikes on a tower on the infield. Do a search on YouTube for 6-day madison race to see new and old footage. Awesome poster. There's a great DVD available too called "6-days in the Jazz Age". Most people are amazed to hear what a huge sport it was back then. Pedal of HonorThanks to the superb cyclists Greg Lemond and Lance Armstrong and TV, Americans have been able to learn a lot about (and enjoy) bike endurance racing. But Armstrong's 17,370 career points in 17 years and Lemond's 14,425 (14 years) are dwarfed by the record of the greatest rider of all time, Belgian Eddie Merckx, with 38,333 points in 14 years (1965-1978). He won nearly half of all the races he entered. From Ohio State University’s very nice eHistory site, here’s a look at six-day bike racing by Ari de Wilde. Note that although he wrote “Strapped into single-speed bikes with no brakes, promoters could …”, he did not intend to say the promoters themselves were strapped into (not onto?) bikes, but the races would have been more noteworthy, much like Niagara Falls going the other way. Shot and a shooter for 40 cents!Imagine what a fellow could do at the Garden that day with a four-dollar drinking budget! There'd be more than bicycles spinning. Endurance Champions The Evening World, December 5, 1908. Old-timers on High Wheels were Endurance Champions During the running of the six-day bicycle race in the Garden next week, the question more likely to be heard than any other is whether those among the fifteen teams who can stand the gruelling pace in the test of the final days when stamina counts are not greater endurance than those who first brought this six-day record to America. The answer is furnished by a member of The Evening World's sporting staff who has witnessed nearly all the great six-day events in America from March 13 1886 when Albert Schock in Minneapolis hung up the worlds record of 1,008 miles for seventy-two hours-twelve hours a day-down to 1899 when Walter Miller and Dutch Waller set up a mark of 2,733 miles 4 laps in Madison Square Garden. Conditions are vastly different to-day from those of 20 years ago. The modern bicycle, pneumatic tired and weighing only 22 pounds, is an air ship compared to the 50 pound high-wheeled boneshaker with its hard rubber tires and 57-Inch wheel. Then there is the difference of the scientifically banked track and the unbanked turns of twenty years ago, when a "header" meant almost certain death. Training methods have also changed, the six-day rider of today training almost exclusively for speed and under the team arrangement being relieved on the track at any time, while the old record holders were trained for endurance. Speed has a deteriorating effect similar to the long steady grind, but when I think that Schlock never once left the tract in the first three day except to change wheels, and that his entire resting time was 40 minutes in the 72 hours it seems to be the most marvelous test of endurance I have ever seen-unless it be that of Mlle. Louise Armaindo, who beat Jack Prince in a 24-hour race because she never quit riding in the whole time. In the match race between Prince and Schock in Minneapolis, March 1886, when Prince set up a new world's record of 1,040 miles, neither man was off his wheel more than ten minutes for the entire 72 hours. This race, by the way, was for $1,000 a side, the largest side bet ever made in a similar contest in America. The Outing Magazine, 1909 Bicycling and Its Income James Moran, of Chelsea, Mass., who with [Floyd] McFarland won the six-day race at Madison Square Garden last winter, divided a purse of $1,500 together with outside sums paid by tire concerns and bicycle manufacturers amounting to in all nearly $5,000 with his team mate. This included bonuses from the management of the race. The six-day racers pay dearly for their money, however. The other leading teams in these heartbreaking contests draw from $800 down to $200 in prizes. Round and round they go!Six-day races were, and still are, very exciting races. They consist of several types of races held over the course of six consecutive nights. One type of race, the derny race, was held over a set number of laps while each rider is paced by a derny (motorcycle). These dernys can be recognized by their rollers behind the rear wheels that allow the cyclists to pace as closely as possible. Two can be seen in the photo. Another is the Madison, named for Madison Square Gardens, that involves several two person teams. One teammate races along the lower, inner lanes of the track while the other teammate recovers up near the wall (outer rail). The teammates will exchange places every few laps and will do so with a handsling. During an exchange, the rider going into the race will drop down the track and place his left hand near his hip. The exiting rider will grab his hand and sling him forward, thereby transferring his forward momentum to the other rider. Doing so correctly takes a lot of practice. After several tries, and several failures, I decided Madisons were not for me. I'd stay with match sprints, points races, and miss & outs as they were less dangerous - or so I thought. BTW, one way to tell there is a race in progress - of the spectators whose bodies are in focus, their heads are blurry from following the racers. Cycling through time I used to race for the Century Road Club Assn., in 1950's New York. We were reputedly the oldest bicycle racing club in America, and I remember examining the scores of trophies from the late 1800's and early 1900's. I'm sure some of them must have been from races such as these. I still have scars from pile-ups of several single speed, trap pedal bikes, you just couldn't get your feet down to stop a spill. Nobody saw the signIn the middle of the track is a sign showing songs presented by Cohan & Harris. That is George M. Cohan and Sam Harris. Cohan was a actor & songwriter in the Tin Pan Alley days and eventually became known as "the man who owned Broadway." James Cagney portrayed him in the movie "Yankee Doodle Dandy." (The Gallery, Bicycles, G.G. Bain, Motorcycles, NYC, Sports)
Sidewalk Squadron: 1942
... Breeds Two Cleveland Welding Company (CWC) "Roadmaster" bikes (one slightly older) ca. 1937-1941. From the Vintage American Bicycles website, "CWC started producing bikes in September of 1935." The third boy's bike appears to be badged Winton, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/19/2023 - 9:26pm -

July 1942. "Detroit, Michigan. Boys and a girl on bicycles." 4x5 inch acetate negative by Arthur Siegel for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Thanks for that caption, FSA!Without it, I would never have realized I was looking at boys and a girl on bicycles. [The captions are a finding aid for researchers who may not have access to the negatives they describe, or to avoid having to take the negative out of its sleeve, and also because it can be hard to figure out what you're looking at in a negative image. - Dave] Omira Avenue??Brick house on the right a spitting image for my grandmother's house. Same pipe fence around the pride-and-joy 6-foot lawn. AhoogaI had (actually still have) one of those horns on my bicycle which I got around 1948. No batteries required and really LOUD. Captions MatterIn regards to GlenJay's comment: having slogged through 12 linear feet of uncataloged negatives and prints in a local museum, I can verify that even a bare bones caption dramatically reduces a researcher's workload. Bike BreedsTwo Cleveland Welding Company (CWC) "Roadmaster" bikes (one slightly older) ca. 1937-1941. From the Vintage American Bicycles website, "CWC started producing bikes in September of 1935." The third boy's bike appears to be badged Winton, though that company stopped making bicycles before 1900; but hundreds of badges were placed on various makers' models. Cannot ID the girl's bike, but it is certainly the de rigueur 1940s "girly" color model. Remember the days when your bike handles fell off and you were left with cold steel? Bell Bottom BluesSailor, Tuck in those pant legs, or else a member of the Sidewalk Squadron is going to make unwanted contact with it! Child retirees ??We hear so much about restrictions on automobile tires during the war, but what about bike tires ? Were they similarly rationed, or was it just too minor an issue to bother with? (that would be hard to believe: it's seems like nothing was "too minor to bother with" during WWII.) Waiting for someone to identify the models: I thought one was a Schwinn, but the spelling is wrong (unless they omitted one of the "N"'s as a wartime economy measure!) [Roadmaster, Winton, ???, Roadmaster. - Dave] Rubber shortageGlancing at the front bike tires made me think of rubber rationing and if bike tires were rationed. Of course. Immediately after Pearl Harbor ALL rubber was rationed/banned for most civilian use from tires to hot water bottles to rubber shoe soles. I had never heard of these but there were Victory Bicycles built during the war to aid with transportation. Less metal by weight, elimination of the frills, small amounts of strategic metals, narrower size tires. Neat photo today that had me diving into bikes in WW2. Is that a rock?Why hang a rock from your handlebars? And if it's something else -- what is it? [The girl has one, too! - Dave] Not an onion, but ...with apologies to Abe Simpson, "So I tied a rock to my handlebars, which was the style at the time!" My mom (b 1942) told me that in Des Moines in the '50s it was popular for girls to tie a thread around the neck of a dime store chameleon and pin the other end to your blouse so the little lizard could walk around on your shoulders. Crackerjack outfitThe guy on the left has a sailor hat and bellbottoms. Was there a high school Naval ROTC equivalent at the time? (The Gallery, Arthur Siegel, Bicycles, Detroit Photos, Kids)
Speed Racer: 1925
... and over the handlebars you go. Fixie Track racing bikes still have no brakes (and no freewheel device). The rider slows down by ... and in the 1950s and '60s "Beezers" were legendary racing bikes. They couldn't keep up with Japanese manufacturers, though, and by the ... 
 
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)
Boomers, First Grade: 1953
... I also remember my friends and I would go off riding our bikes for hours; our mothers had no idea where we were. No one thought we had ... 
 
Posted by tterrace - 03/04/2023 - 8:07pm -

It's seventy years ago in Idyllic Larkspur™, where we find me (bottom left corner) with Bob, David, Bob, Jim, Jim, Margaret, Sandy, Donna, Rae Ann, Roberta, Virginia, Jerry, Buzzy, Fred, Gordy, Frances, Alice, Alice, Sheila, Mrs. Madeline Drew and others whose names I forget. This was taken within a month of losing nearly half our classmates, they having been siphoned off to the district's brand new school in neighboring "Twin City," almost-as-Idyllic Corte Madera. And that one was already overcrowded, for which first-wave baby boomers such as we must shoulder the blame. As for me, good old L-CM was just four blocks from our home at 9 Arch Street, and I continued to walk the round-trip every school day, rain or shine, until I graduated 8th grade. View full size. I went to that school in about 1955I had the same teacher as the picture. Loved playing around the old electric railroad line long gone and the arch bridge behind the school. Saturday kids show at the Lark Theater or hit the dime store to buy a airplane model. Before that went to Park School in Mill Valley. Great times in Marin. Thanks for posting this. Don Stripes and PlaidsI was also in Grade 1 in 1953, tterrace, so we must be close in age. It looks like the mothers of some of the girls had them wear their best dresses. You can check out my story in this Shorpy photo. It was a great time to be a kidFirst -- I love all the missing teeth. In my memory I was snaggletooth for a year. Second -- Buzzy is a cool name. But in time it will work against him as the name on your ID has to exactly match the name on your ticket. I don't go by my first name and ended up having to put my full name on everything. I've mentioned before when I was in second grade my family moved into a neighborhood with better proximity to schools. The neighborhood was built for getting kids through public schools. We easily walked to elementary, junior high, and high school. Now I see cars lined up a block long of parents dropping their kids off or picking them up and wonder how parents find the time and whether the world between home and school is really that much more dangerous. I also remember my friends and I would go off riding our bikes for hours; our mothers had no idea where we were. No one thought we had bad mothers. I'm grateful we were given the opportunity to go explore our world as much as we wanted ... as long as we were home by dinner. Let's play "I Spy"There's so much to choose from: --at least 12 wearing plaid --at least 6 teeth are missing --one pair Converse high tops --one puppy-love couple (though one party may be cheating) --5 hair ribbons I love this photo so much. When I headed off to kindergarten in 1958 I had the requisite plaid dress, pigtails, ribbons and saddle shoes. Angus J WindsorAngus you and your mom look like the family that left for Australia in 1958. That photo was in Hawaii on your long journey south. Did you ever come back to Canada? I was a little older than you in St. Thomas Ontario 100 miles to the east. Class SizeOne of my old classmates recently sent out via the internet the 6th grade graduation day photo from Loring Grade School in Minneapolis, dated June 1958. There were 38 of us in the photo, and three were absent that day. That was one of two 6th grade classes, the other being of similar size. How did the teachers manage it? I never thought about it at the time -- it was just boomer normality. Bespectacled I hope that being (evidently) the only student in the class requiring corrective eyewear wasn't a significant peer-teasing issue for you. Kids can be cruel creatures, often because of their honesty to emotion and selfishness rather than sheer meanness. This reality however, doesn’t make learning the lesson that life isn’t a walk in the park where everyone gets along any easier. As the years continue to pile-on, my first day at school, Sept. 5, 1950, doesn't seem that long ago! [Well, later on some of my classmates liked calling me "Professor," because of my glasses but apparently also - I later learned at a high school reunion - regard for my embryonic erudition. Which regrettably wasn't reflected on my report cards. -tterrace] Say Che-e-e-seThis is the cutest picture. An abundance of genuine joy in their faces, few faked/forced grins in the bunch. Wish I had even one of my elementary-school class group photos. I wonder if the couple standing in the back, holding hands, are brother and sister -- fraternal twins. They have similar facial features. [No, Gordy and Frances weren't related. -tterrace] 2nd GenerationSons and daughters of the Western Electric Christmas Party. [These would be their grandchildren! - Dave] Zipper43 St. ThomasTop marks for making the connection Zipper 43. My father worked for Ford and introduced the Ford Falcon to Australia. Our family lived in Geelong and Melbourne from 1958 until 1963 when we moved back to Windsor. Two years later my father left Ford and the family moved to Vancouver, B.C. where I still live. In 1967 another job took the family to Winnipeg and finally Toronto. I was a trolley bus driver in Vancouver for 41 years and retired thirteen years ago. I have been back to visit Australia seven times. Dress code?I see jeans, sneakers, and T-shirts. I started first grade in 1959 and we weren't allowed to wear those until 1969, when I was in high school. Names on the backMy mom made sure we wrote the names of all the kids on the back of our class photos. Of course, we thought that was pretty silly, as we *knew* all their names. I should probably annotate the online pictures with text names in case any of those guys search the Internet for themselves. It's fun to read those names. So familiar, when reminded. We moved away in the 6th grade, so all are scattered to the wind. [There are names on the back in my mother's handwriting, but not for all, and with one "?". Interestingly, the blanks are the ones I can't remember now. Everybody else's I've never forgotten. -tterrace] No suits and ties for kids in CaliforniaRe casual clothes -- California! I'm of similar age and also from Northern California and I have school photos of me in a white T-shirt. Don't have a class photos handy, so not sure if I was dressed up in those. At that age I was also wearing button up shirts my mother made. Although I do remember in our Sacramento high school in the early sixties we were finally allow to wear shorts. As long as we had on long socks. I think that was a nonstarter; the long socks were not cool (in either sense). Boomers, Kindergarten: 1953Here's my Kindergarten class picture, also from 1953, at Thomas M. Balliet Elementary School, Springfield, MA. The discolorations result from the fact that this was originally stuck into a plaster backing that we each decorated to give to our parents. My mother ended up cutting the edges to free the picture from its ugly 'frame.' I only remember two of the kids in the class. (I long since left Springfield and have spent my entire adult life in tterrace's area, the Twin Cities of Larkspur and Corte Madera.) Rolled up pant legsNot sure how they felt about it at the time, but if it were acceptable these days to have my jeans legs rolled up as much as those guys in the front row, I'd be grateful, not because I'm soon going to experience a growth spurt like them, but because manufacturers don't make 'em short enough for me. I can vaguely remember those huge cuffs around that time. You had to be careful not to get them caught in the bike chain. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, tterrapix)
Law and Order: 1918
... 1990's, but the company went under after making just a few bikes... based on much later models than this one, of course. Potato Digger ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/24/2014 - 8:57pm -

New York. May 16, 1918. "Police machine gun." 5x7 glass neg. View full size. They're not so toughJust wait till they meet up with The Rat Patrol! RoboCop, 1918 StyleI'll bet those unruly crowds dispersed in a heartbeat when THAT came buzzing around the corner! Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat!Why did this police department need such heavy firepower? At first, I thought, "bootleggers!," but Prohibition didn't start until the following year. Red ScareThis was at the height of Red Scare when it seemed to certain Justice Dept. people that the Bolsheviks were going to try to take over America next. [The Red Scare was in the 1940s and 1950s. What prompted this was the outbreak of World War I and fears of German saboteurs. - Dave] Firepower, candlepowerI hope they did their shooting in the daytime. That kerosene headlamp wouldn't have been have been much good at night. Other interesting features of the Indian include an extremely primitive speedometer running off the front wheel hub (it looks like an afterthought), and an exposed clutch, just behind the driver's boot. There was an attempt to revive the Indian brand in California in the 1990's, but the company went under after making just a few bikes... based on much later models than this one, of course. Potato DiggerI think that is an 1895 Browning "potato digger" Third Liberty LoanCheck out the poster in the background. MountedThe machine gun is mounted on a sidecar, right? The tripod looks a little tall, the machine gunner will have to stand to use the sights. But you know when the policeman says "pull over," you better do it quick! After WWII think "Tipster" is referring to the Red Scare in this country as a result of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia. This photo was taken before that occurred. Two things.One, they better get some earplugs. Two, I need one of those on my motorcycle. Believe me. RecoilI can only imagine the kick that monster would inflict on the rider and the sidecar! A ChoiceI think the Indian motorcycle is more interesting than the machine gun. However the gunner appears to be very focused, almost like he's looking for an excuse to fire. Colt-Browning Tater DiggerColt-Browning machine gun Stuffed ShirtWhat is that jammed into the jacket of the cop walking behind the motorcycle? A very low-slung bulletproof vest? A canned ham? Half of a skateboard? Please, someone tell me there's an explanation. Indian MotorcyclesThe Indian Brand has once again been resurrected in 2009. They're being built in North Carolina and they're a pretty sweet looking ride, but time will tell if it's a successful reboot of the brand. AhoyPut these guys on a ship, and dare the pirates to even look like they're going to board. Shoe fetishO.K. I admit it. One of my favorite things about this blog and the photos are the fab boots and shoes these folks were wearing. Right handedIndian motorcycles' twist-grip throttle was on the left side. Because most people are right-handed the cops could shoot and ride. The Canned HamThat lump in the background officer's coat is his sidearm, most likely a revolver in a full-flap holster. As per the earlier photo of the lady traffic cop: https://www.shorpy.com/node/5864 Must have!This is the most useful motorcycle accessory I've ever seen. Every bike should have one. Manhole coverFor some reason, I continue to be impressed that the manhole covers from a century or more ago look essentially the same as those today. So many other practical things are very different from today, but not those. I'd give a mint for one of thoseI wonder if a version of this contraption sits in a museum anywhere? This is a pretty radical law enforcement solution even back in those "uncivilized" days... Maybe it was related to the end of WWI? What might be the legitimate reason for arming motorcycle guys with something like this? [See the newspaper clipping below. - Dave] The whole setup seems a bit unwieldy however and machine guns are notoriously inaccurate in an ideal staging. This would be especially true when you're on a bouncy motorcycle sidecar on 1918 city streets possible getting shot at by somebody while the scared driver swerves wildly to avoid bullets. I prefer the M203 version with my Harley! Cash box?Any idea what the little "treasure chest" on top of/attached to the gas tanks is for? Maybe..doughnuts? Tool bagI was looking at an Indian Big Twin at a motorcycle museum and if memory servers, that's the tool bag on top of the tank. Throttle GripThe idea that Indians used left hand throttles so the cops could shoot while riding ia a myth. There was no standardization of controls back then. Indian used a left hand throttle because that's the way they always did it. Harleys used a right hand throttle and just as many police departments used them as those that preferred Indians. The Hollywood image of a cop, riding at breakneck speed on his bike, guns ablazin', is silly. Red ScareActually there was an earlier "Red Scare" which ran from 1917 to 1920. As a Teaching Assistant in gradual school (25 years ago) I lectured on this subject. This earlier Red Scare was involved with the fear of a Bolshevik-like revolution being imported into America. Fifth Columnists were seen almost under every rock. Union organizers, socialist activists, civil rights proponents, suffragettes, pacifists, Jewish immigrants, German Immigrants, and anyone remotely critical of the government were all suspects. (The Gallery, G.G. Bain, Motorcycles, NYC)
Harley-Davidson: 1925
... Awesome! Great pic Dave. Would love to see their bikes. I don't think 'elf and safety was top priority then. Time Traveler ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/06/2013 - 11:56am -

Washington, D.C., circa 1925. "H. Addison Bowie." A motorcycle dealer on H Street. With "Harley-Davidson" in the big window under "Distributors," and a smaller sign upstairs. National Photo Company glass negative. View full size. If onlyA lot of collective individuality going on here. If only we could find someone who could tell us something, anything, about this crowd. I bet most everyone had a nickname. Like "Chick" or "Buddy." I suppose the most we could hope for is that someone here has a (very elderly) son or daughter, or maybe a grandchild, who will recognize a face. Right now, all we have is this photograph. But it's really something! A little of everythingI love how there are the cops, the women in fur, the motorcycle toughs, the men in business suits, and people who are both black and white. Harley Davidson - the great equalizer? Cast of charactersSylvester Stallone, Paul Newman, Curly Howard, the Dead End Kids, the Jets and more. Whatta Shot! Shorpy in the WindowI see you. FacesWhy are the faces in these early pictures so interesting? Are modern faces interesting too, but we are just accustomed to them? Out of 64 visible faces, only 4 are wearing glasses. Seems like a low percentage. What a hootNearly laughed myself out of my skin in looking at this photo, but then, I looked at my family photos from this era, no perceptable difference, yikes; hopefully tis the fashion that is the comic relief. One notable thing is the quality of window glass which appears to be about the same as the century before. Motley CrewWhat a great picture. Look at them faces. I can't tell if the man in suspenders toward the left is genial or menacing. I hope that's a screwdriver in his hand. Character with a capital C. Look at those mugs. My grandmother would have called them "tough cookies." The hats, jackets and boots are amazing. Right in the middle of the roaring twenties. Look outThese guys are coming after all the 21st century smarty pants who made nasty comments about their kid sisters at the Thayer Studio. Say what you likebut almost every man in the picture is wearing a tie. Unlike the modern equivalent with their pants on the ground or jams or cargo pants and basketball jerseys 4 times too big, the crowd is basically well dressed. This even includes the guy in the Snoopy outfit holding the screwdriver Bikers Galore!It would seem that quite a few of these guys (cop included) rode their Harleys to this photo op. And a chilly ride it was, judging from the clothing. The Wild OnesUnlike the 50-year-old CPAs who ride Harleys today, most of these guys look like true badasses! Text book "Hanging Out"If anyone ever needed a solid example of that idiom this is it in spades. I'll cut yadon't mess with the old guy YMCALooks like a 1920's version of the Village People. What a picThis might, albeit a big might, be my favorite picture on Shorpy to date. The number of characters in this photo is ridiculous. What a deliciously eclectic portrait. WOW TroublemakersI wouldn't trust any of them (not even the three "women") with my sister! Awesome!Great pic Dave. Would love to see their bikes. I don't think 'elf and safety was top priority then. Time TravelerDig the guy with the Storm Trooper outfit, and what does the shoulder patch signify? Ghost Riders627 H has been disappeared. View Larger Map Re: A little of everything.These guys are sharp. I agree with Jay Carolina on the way they are dressed, and man, do I love those boots. And you must see how significant this picture is culturally. Policemen, bikers of multiple races, and the ladies all posed together for this photograph... this is a fantastic find! Real BikersRead the window. The sell bicycles. They're not overweight -- they peddle to work. I want me a Harley-Davidson fifteen speed road bike! [Actually they would pedal to work and peddle at work. - Dave] Dave, you're such a caution. Semper FiGot a Marine in there, too, middle row under "Distributors" on the storefront. Gotta love the leather in this pic. Most of the classic motorcycle wear dates straight from the 20's -- the archetypal leather motorcycle jacket like the one Brando wore in "The Wild Ones" is still made by the original manufacturer, and dates from this era: http://www.schottnyc.com/products/length/waist/classic-perfecto-leather-... This picture made me get an account here.I have been visiting Shorpy for a long time but seeing this collection of great faces early this morning made me actually get an account tonight so I could chime in and agree the faces are like from a master painting. Everyone tells a story. And the diversity in the collection tells us something too. Someone asked if today's faces are as interesting. I think in the US the weight problem makes some faces smoother and obviously rounder and less defined so many of us seem to sort of look the same. Also in this picture people are not smiling for the camera -- they are smiling a bit because they are assured and confident -- they are looking into the camera with a very different facial expression than some might use today. No-motor cyclesYes, Harley-Davidson did sell bicycles as well as motorcycles: The Harley-Davidson bicycles were painted and pinstriped in the same colors as their motorcycle brethren. Ads for the bicycle were primarily directed at pre-teen boys and girls; they clearly intended to capitalize on the Harley-Davidson name and mystique of the day. Most notable is the crank; note the ingenious "HD". Harley-Davidson received a patent for this design. Storm Trooper ShirtThis is a "cotswool" US Army issue olive drab flannel shirt. Interesting in the fact the shirt was closed, having to be pulled over the head to be put on. Fully buttoned shirts were not regulation until 1934 although the low set pockets remained. The patch I assume is a distinctive unit insignia. I do not have a reference handy but it looks like a M1917 helmet (the Doughboy helmet) imposed on what looks like a wagon wheel. There is something on the helmet, perhaps Mercury wings, I cannot tell. Anyone know their 20s unit patches? Every Single OneAll of these guys, every single one, look like a movie character. Amazing! I have to agree that this is one of my favorite Shorpy photos to date. H.A. Bowie H-D memoriesMy father is 93 years young and still talks about H. Addison Bowie. He was only 8 when this picture was taken but would patronize the dealership in the 1930s to buy H-D VL parts. He operated a small motorcycle repair shop on his parents' farm in Maryland, about 15 miles from the Bowie dealership. In the mid-1930s he bought a 1931 H-D VL there. My parents took their honeymoon on this machine and were still riding it up until a few years ago. A big thanks to whoever found this great old pic. I always wondered what the place looked like! That's my Grandfather!Addison is my grandfather and the two women are my grandmother and great aunt. I'm pretty sure your sister would have been safe with Frances and Beulah, "Tipster." I have a cool photo of Addison standing with a motorcycle. My RelativesThis is an email I just got from my wife, Julia. Her maiden name was Julia Bowie. Oh, her dad's name is Henry Addison Bowie too. The owner of this place was my wife's great-grandfather. Jack, this is the craziest picture!!! Remember Cousin Will? Well, a friend of his had read about this pic on a website. Every one is talking about it!! AND IT'S MY DADS POP POP AND NANA!!!!!!! Just make sure you read the replys that cousin Will sent and Leslie so you can know who is who. Also read what everyone is saying about it on the site AND NOTICE MY DADS NAME WRITTEN ACCROSS THE BUILDING:o) HENERY ADDISON BOWIE. the first Harley Store ever opened!!!! WOW....That is SOOOO COOL!!!! Now, Leslie said that Pop pop was the man all the way to the left, but she described it wrong. He is the man standing BETWEEN the two women in the furs who are my Great grandmother and Great Aunt. Also the man squatting all the way to the left with the hat who looks like a movie star is Uncle Rosco. He was a Boxer. It's amazing that this picture is circulating and relatives of the owner know it's out there. Thanks for whoever found this picture. And if you have an original I'd like to locate it. email me at wackodrumr@aol.com [The original (a glass negative) is at the Library of Congress. - Dave] DreamyTo the man on kneeling on the far left in the flannel with the cigarette -- I would invent time travel for you. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Motorcycles, Natl Photo)
Board Track: 1925
... mph on the boards and having splinters thrown up by other bikes with such force that they would pierce the protective leather gear. At ... board track When I was a kid, we used to ride our bikes in the woods there. Unfortunately, the current image above does't show ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/04/2012 - 4:56pm -

July 11, 1925. "Auto races at Laurel, Maryland." The 1⅛-mile wooden oval at Laurel Speedway. National Photo Company glass negative. View full size. Sibling rivalryLooks like both Ralph and John DePalma were racing that day. Black BoxesFor a good while I kept wondering what were those neatly arranged squares in the outfield. I guess I'm slow on the uptake. Notice the Parking Lot?Every car in the lot is black. Finding your car after the race must have been hell! And sitting in the stands squinting into the glare from all those skimmers...... A Sea of Menall looking toward the track, and one lone woman with a parasol looking toward the camera. Interesting composition. Sharing a memory...There was a graphic design studio I worked in for a time and it (rather oddly) had a race car set in the middle of the office of the same type in the photos. I recall one office party where I (accompanied by my beer) finally worked up the gumption to climb into it. I remember sitting there, hands on the wheel, and just letting my mind wander back to a scene similar to the one in this photo. The car was much larger then I would have imagined. Amazing Uniformity of HatsWhat's with all the straw hats? It must have been the style in 1925 ... but still, did 98% of the men of the time wear the same kind of hat? It's really kind of freaky. [Check out this photo. - Dave] Hat DayMust have been Hat Day at the track. You know, they give away free hats. Also, the banking in turn 4 is not supported by dirt. It is actually up on supports , which you don't see anymore. To what degree?That has to be the most steeply-banked track I've ever seen! The corners appear to be way steeper than Daytona or Talladega. I wonder just what the degree of banking actually was. [48 degrees. - Dave] HiddenAnd not a Marx Brother in sight? Not even a Harp! Sea of HatsSkimmers or boaters were the hat of choice, much like ballcaps today. You can still get one, I love mine. Newspaper BrimsPlenty of folks have extended the coverage of their hats with sheets of newspaper. That's a lotta woodThe idea of a wooden racetrack for cars is incredible! It takes a hefty underlying support structure to keep the surface boards in place. Even with that the pounding of the racecars would loosen the nails and the resulting clickity-clack sound would have been very loud. I remember that effect from some wooden bridges we used to have around here. Unless all the wood was treated with creosote, the usual preservative back then, the whole track might rot away in a few years. Wonder how many years the track did last? Why wood?Why was it made of wood? [It was a relatively cheap way to build a banked racecourse. Board tracks were quite popular in the early part of the century. - Dave] Deadly SplintersBoard tracks were used for motorcycle racing at the time as well and taking a spill on the lumber was a nasty experience. LostHave you seen my dad? He was wearing a white shirt and a straw hat. Quite a lineupRalph was the only DePalma racing that day. The partially-obscured "DeP___a" was a misspelling of Pete DePaolo's name. Pete was Ralph's nephew, the winner of the 1925 Indy 500, and also the winner of this race. A list of the results can be found here. Interesting to see so many jackets on a day marked by "extreme heat." Board track racer Jim DavisA few years back I had the pleasure of meeting long retired board track racer Jim Davis, who raced motorcycles for the Indian Company beginning in 1916. He told stories of running over 100 mph on the boards and having splinters thrown up by other bikes with such force that they would pierce the protective leather gear. At the end of one race as he slowed to a stop he discovered he couldn't remove his foot from the peg of his bike and found that a large splinter had pierced the leather of his boot and wedged itself between parts of the bike. Fortunately it somehow missed his foot. It was all insanely dangerous but when you were 17 years old and could make $25 a week plus expenses and prize money, why not? Mr. Davis was a very polite man, friendly, and could tell racing stories 75 years after they happened like they happened last week. Finish LineThe results linked to in an earlier comment are interesting. All cars save one were a Duesie or a Miller and the average speed for the 250 miles was around 124 mph. Very impressive considering the venue! I wonder if it was AAA sanctioned. A board track legendNeedless to say, the elaborate framework of a board track allowed ample opportunity for boys to climb around under the track. A legend goes that during a race at Beverly Hills, a driver came into the pits pale and shaking. When asked what's wrong, he said "There has been a crash and I saw the guy's head bouncing down the track!" He was told there had been no crash. What he saw were local urchins getting the best view of a race imaginable; through holes in the boards. They would duck down as the cars passed and then pop back up as they cleared. Then and NowHere is the track today, overgrown but still recognizable: View Larger Map Woodpeckers not allowedThe official name of this track is The Baltimore-Washington Speedway and all races ran there were AAA sanctioned. It had 48 degree banked corners and was built by Jack Prince. However it was very short loved in that it was operational between the June 1925 and the September 1926. The first board track was built at the Los Angeles Coliseum Motordrome in 1910. The design was based on the velodromes still used for bicycle racing. Regarding the dress code of the day, considering that these were the days when men wore not only hats, but suits and ties to the movies, to ballgames, horse races and in this case, to auto races, it was expected to be a very hot day at the event thus the white dress code and straw hats. As a racer, the topic of board tracks has been one of my studies for several years all of which had some amazing historical value. That said, in my opinion, the board track in San Francisco was the most beautiful of all with a significant amount of historical value. It was built overlooking San Francisco to coincide with the 1915 Pan Pacific International Exposition (World's Fair), where the 1915 Vanderbilt Cup race was run. I have some beautiful photos of them and the cars. CamerasMakes you wonder what ever happened to the pictures they are taking down in the race lane, and if, some time in the future, Dave will find and post them. [A clever ploy. More here and here. - Dave] Google Maps imageI am fascinated by the Google Maps image posted below. I'd love to get into that property just to look around and walk the old layout and stand where such an amazing track was. Sadly, I'm in Arizona so it's not likely to happen. Hats and Plank roadsI can also attest to the terrific comfort of a straw boater. I got an antique boater recently (ca 1930s) and it's amazing how shady cool and comfortable they are. And yes, just about every man in America wore one. May 15 was the traditional "Straw Hat Day," when straws were "officially" sanctioned to be worn. Regarding the wooden track, this was also the era of plank roads. In an era when wood was tremendously abundant, miles and miles of highways were paved with wood. Even in Brooklyn, Coney Island Avenue was originally called Coney Island Plank Road. Laurel board trackWhen I was a kid, we used to ride our bikes in the woods there. Unfortunately, the current image above does't show any remains at all of the old track. 4 or 5 years ago they cleared the land. Now its just a grass field. About 10 years ago, when we found the track, we thought it was a road. We road our bikes on it and and discovered it was huge oval. Since the track was all sand, we thought it was once part of the horse track. Since the horse track is across the street(brock bridge rd), it only made sense to us. Wish it was still there since I now know what it is. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Natl Photo, Sports)
Alpha Females: 1942
... demonstration." Which includes Synchronized Stationary Bikes. Photo by Fenno Jacobs for the Office of War Information. View full ... 50's Skirt guards I love the skirt guards on those bikes. I know a gal that wears dresses on her bike that has clear skirt guards ... 
 
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)
Junior League: 1914
... completely understand how a non-enthusiast would say that bikes across the 100+ years have changed very little, from my perspective it is ... what these kids were riding. This is especially true of bikes made to leave the pavement, which have evolved immensely just over the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2022 - 10:52am -

Washington, D.C. "Playground, Madison School baseball, May 20, 1914." 5x7 inch glass negative, National Photo Company Collection. View full size. This picture makes me cringe. I hope he doesn't get "ding-donged" -- only catchers will get this saying. Oh the agony. Must be a New CatcherThat nose shows no sign of having been broken. Catching with no protective gear can fix that in a hurry. Casey at the batWhat a neat photo! And I bet there were some good players too. When I was a kid, I had a catcher's mitt like that -- my folks bought it at an auction. Tie goes to the batterDid kids ever really dress like this?? Oh sure, we have the photos -- and the "Boy Mechanic" line drawings -- but still it seems like the world's biggest and most successful prank; a century-plus now and nobody ever spilled the beans. A scout?I wonder if the man in the straw boater is looking for future major league prospects. He looks like he's sizing up someone. I Want To Ride My BicycleEverything about this photo looks like 100+ years ago except for the bicycles. They just don't look that much different from what you see today. Anytime, anywhereWhat a wonderful image. The clothes stand out a bit, but otherwise this could be kids of almost any era doing what kids do, having fun. Suddenly I am feeling deeply nostalgic. Tour de FenceAs an avid competitive cyclist (admittedly less so as I age), I'd like to add a different perspective on the observation of the bicycles. Although I can completely understand how a non-enthusiast would say that bikes across the 100+ years have changed very little, from my perspective it is no different than saying cars haven't changed much either. They still have four wheels, and engine in the front (usually), and a place you sit behind a steering wheel, with a gas pedal and a brake pedal, just like they did 100+ years ago. Yes, cars have arguably changed more so, but please believe me that bicycles have come a LONG way from what these kids were riding. This is especially true of bikes made to leave the pavement, which have evolved immensely just over the past three decades. Now having said all that, I will admit that it is interesting to note that in spite of many efforts over the decades to create different designs, the "double triangle" frame, and the chain-based drivetrain still dominate. Thanks, Mom -- I'll bring it right back!"Base" ball? Looks more like sofa cushion ball! I sense Trouble with a Capital "T"I wonder if there is a pool hall in the vicinity? Several of the lads have buckled their knickerbockers below the knee. I wonder if these same lads have nicotine stains on their fingers? And perhaps they've got dime novels hidden in the corn crib. I sense trouble, with capital "T", and that rhymes with "P" and that stands for "Pool"! The wall's still standingMadison School was constructed in 1889 at the corner of G Street and 10th NE. That building (651 10th St NE) is still in place, following a historically-sensitive renovation around 2016. Variously known as the the John Young Center, Madison Shelter, and now one of the Houses of Ruth, it provides transitional housing for women in the District. Tied-UpIn this case, the tie goes to the batter. BookwormThe boy in the back with his nose in a book paying no attention to the game is my favorite. That's my kind of kid. Time TravelerAs Frank Zappa quietly observes in the background ... (The Gallery, Bicycles, D.C., Kids, Natl Photo, Sports)
Seabreeze: 1904
... the whole town turned out in their winter finery, riding bikes, carriages or just coming on foot to watch a pig take a swim. Proof ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/08/2013 - 3:01pm -

        UPDATE: This is perhaps the earliest known example of a pig photobomb. See the comments for details. Circa 1904. "The beach at Seabreeze -- Daytona, Florida." Open-air showcase for the latest styles in bonnets, bathing-costumes, self-propelled runabouts and light rigs. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. Watching the pig?I wondered what all their attention is focused on. Is it the small pig out by the water line? Slight chop on the beachI was wondering why everyone was looking away from the camera until I spied the renegade pork chop down by the water. Is that a pigdown by the water, or just a big dog? Seems to be attracting a bit of attention. And Pigs?Sure looks like a porker at water's edge! Dog daysIt sure doesn't seem that one would get any relief from the Florida heat on this day at the beach with ocean breeze and cool surf while dressed in corsets, long dresses, fussy hats, woolen suits, starched shirts, ties, stockings and hard shoes. The most comfortably dressed one in this picture is the dog. [Florida was a winter resort. These people wouldn't have been at the beach in the summer. - Dave] GreasedAre all of these people chasing down a lost pig? What a pig!I mean the one about to take a dip with four legs. Pulled PorkLooks like a pulled pork dinner is likely. Pig has his nose in the water. Is he going to be brined? Optical illusionJust happened to notice that the carriage or buggy on the extreme right toward the middle of this photo has turned the horse into a centaur, as the horse's head blends right into a man's beach costume. Now I will look for a unicorn. Sea PigThe elusive Sea Bovine is drawing quite a bit of attention from the crowd. And not one person is trying to take a picture to post on Instagram! How will we ever know it actually happened? Strange CreatureWhat kind of animal is in the surf right, center in the distance? It looks like a pig or boar. Maybe just a fat dog? I think I see a SegwayLooks like the idea of a personal transportation vehicle wasn't a modern idea. Or is that the forerunner of a dune buggy with the two standing riders? Feral PigObject of attention. A pig?That's a rather novel focal point at the beach! Hogfish?Is that a pig I see in the surf?! Dont let the pig distract youFrom watching where you step! There are quite a few horses on the beach you know. Wilbur said"Frankly, Orville, the breeze up at Kitty Hawk seems a lot better." "Daytona 500" Origins"Mom! Dad! There must have been 500 people at Daytona Beach today looking at that pig!" AnimalsThis would be a GREAT Pink Floyd album cover. Don't Mess With Me!says the expression of the man in the full length striped bathing suit in the lower left corner. If I were wearing that, I'd be angry at myself, too. Was life that slow 109 years ago?I imagine not but I DO love the idea that the whole town turned out in their winter finery, riding bikes, carriages or just coming on foot to watch a pig take a swim. Proof of centaursI am surprised that so far not a single person has noticed the centaur pulling the carriage at the right side. These are very rare beasts but the proof of their existence is in this picture. PrequelJaws: The Phantom Menace. Starring Ham Solo as the bait. Daytona Concours d'EleganceLittle did they know what they started. Centaur!I noticed it right after I found the pig, then I felt compelled to make an account to find out if anyone else noticed -- and you did! Pigless PokeThere appears to be a Poke more or less centered, minus its Pig. Well harumph!!I'm certainly not going swimming in the ocean after that pig has been in it! Horseless carriage on Daytona Beach?It appears that the vehicle in the middle foreground (with the people standing on the seats) is some kind of powered vehicle. Note the horn on the steering tiller and the lack of any kind of hitch for horses. [Or as the caption terms it, a "self-propelled runabout." -tterrace] Sea Creature Captured On FilmThe ever elusive mer-pig, about to disappear beneath the waves once again. An Alternate ViewAnother view here of what may or may not be Mr. Piggy. MythicalNot only is that a centaur, but he's pulling a wagons with Santa Claus in the back. Don't look, Ethel!Is the guy on the right at the water line, naked? Maybe everyone is watching the hog so they don't see the... AutoIt's hard to tell, but the vehicle looks like a curved-dash Oldsmobile, the first American car to approach mass production. Rowing failThose people in the rowboat (left side, near the rear of the beach) aren't going to get very far! Plus they'd better watch out for that Edward Gorey creation wandering toward them. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, DPC, Florida, Horses, Swimming)
You Like It: 1942
... low for that racing bike look. Regular for the majority of bikes. Looks like a couple of Schwinn bikes are represented. (far right and middle) Bike locks to ward off free ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/04/2015 - 12:55pm -

August 1942. "Bike rack in Idaho Falls, Idaho." Brought to you by 7up. Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Office of War Information. View full size. A StreetThe IOOF building is at 393 N. Park Ave, this view was taken from A Street looking East. Woolworth's is gone as is the arched opening, though you can still see the outline of both. You'll put your eye outwith the handlebars on the far right one. Also didn't expect to see all the locks in 1942. Being kidsI'm guessing these are the main means of transportation for all the kids that are spending their allowance at Woolworth's while this picture was being taken. I loved Woolworth's as one received a good quality item (usually made in the USA) at a bargain price and I shopped there until they went out of business. Even their lunch counters and soda fountains were fabulous and now gone forever. I am still using a carbon steel American-made potato peeler which fits comfortably in one's hand and is still as sharp as when new, which I bought there in 1963 for 35 cents. Handlebar Adjustments for individualityUp high like a Texas Longhorn. Down low for that racing bike look. Regular for the majority of bikes. Looks like a couple of Schwinn bikes are represented. (far right and middle) Bike locks to ward off free rides or thieves? Seat springs for those roads with tire ruts. Single speeds and coaster brakes for all. Movie theater valet parking, maybeI wonder if the kids who own those bicycles are more interested in what's on the silver screen than Woolworth's latest incoming shipment of guppies and turtles?? Saturday MorningFrom street view the bike rack appears to be pretty much in front of the Paramount Theatre Locks?Someone mentioned bike locks, I don't see any. [Here are two of the four. -tterrace] Bike locking, Then and NowThanks for those pictures, Tterrace, because I didn't see those locks, either. Silly me, I was looking at the *front* wheels to see where the bikes were locked to the bike rack. But it looks like back in the day, kids just locked the rear wheels. I guess maybe bike thieves back then never thought of simply walking away with a bike while holding the rear wheel off the ground, and then hacksawing the lock off at their leisure, away from prying eyes. Bike seats Bike seats look a lot more comfortable in those days. This scene could have been fifteen years later and one of those bikes mine. Of course, my butt was younger, too. Great picture! May be an ElginThe men's bicycle which is fourth from the left strongly resembles the old hand-me-down Elgin which was my first bicycle. The distinguishing features are the extra cross bar on the frame and the arched front fender braces attached at the top of the steering tube. The bike in the photo appears to have been repainted, as mine had pinstripes and stars on the fenders. Elgin was a Sears & Roebuck make. The bike was very old when I got it as a hand-me-down from an older cousin in 1965. Little did I know that it was as old as the 1940's! Those bicycles were extremely heavy and, as another poster remarked, had only one speed. They had to be walked up hills which a modern 10-speed would take in stride. Hiyo SilverThe bike on the right is obviously ridden by the Lone Ranger, or at least a Lone Ranger fan. BuildingThe bikes are cool, but the building still there after 70 + years and still looking nice is amazing. I want to go to that town to shop at the antique store on the corner! Paramount TheatreThat bike rack was in front of the Paramount Theatre. Went there often in my youth! The schools would sell summer movie passes (Saturday matinees)! I remember seeing "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken"! It was usually packed to the back of the balcony with screaming kids. Usually too loud to hear the movie! Total mayhem! The Paramount Theatre was out of business and dilapidated for many years. I helped clean it out as part of an Eagle Project. It has since been restored as a performing arts center. The official name now is the Colonial Theater Willard Arts Center. (The Gallery, Bicycles, Russell Lee, Stores & Markets)
Motorcycle Mama: 1937
... time or two. What about it? Go Biker Chick!! Most bikes are too tall for the shorter-than-average woman and man even today. I'm ... I think apart from Harley, there are better starter bikes, but if you must have a Harley and you're a newbie, a Sporty is hard to ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/06/2013 - 11:51am -

September 15, 1937. "First of fair sex to obtain motorcycle license in Capital. Although she weighs only 88 pounds -- one-third of the machine she rides, Mrs. Sally Halterman is the first woman to be granted a license to operate a motorcycle in the District of Columbia. She is 27 years old and 4 feet, 11 inches tall. Immediately after receiving her permit, Mrs. Halterman was initiated into the D.C. Motorcycle Club -- the only girl ever to be accorded this honor." View full size. Brain Bucket?Not much of a helmet, but I was pretty stupid when I rode my Harley... I'd love to have her bike now. Crash GuardsBy the looks of the crash guard, it had been laid down a few times on the right side. The front fender and headlight rim didn't fare too well either. Look at her feet.She really is tiny. She can barely touch the ground. Love the boots and the jodhpurs though. If I were still riding, I'd have to think about getting a similar outfit. Aunt Eva was a CarnyRode loop the loops on her Indian in 1932. Same style duds, but when not on the bike add a gunbelt. Instead of a helmet, add a rakish cap (think Brando). I'll have to see about scanning a picture of her in her "uniform." A total packageThose boots just *make* the outfit. And she's got great gloves. You'd think someone could make a bike more her size, though. Maybe she got one eventually, custom-built. Still a girl of 27Wow! 27 years old and still a *girl*! at 4 foot 11, that makes her more like a midget. Wanna Race?Her squint says: Road rash? maybe a time or two. What about it? Go Biker Chick!!Most bikes are too tall for the shorter-than-average woman and man even today. I'm 5-foot-3 and can barely reach the ground on my Harley Sportster. I had to make sure to get boots with good heels. I can't imagine riding in that helmet. It looks like a bathing cap! UpfrontNo riding on the bitch seat for this Hot Mamma. Productive CussingTypically the differences in names between the Library of Congress and Washington Post archives are slight variances of spelling. I don't know what could account the Harris & Ewing photographer mistaking the name 'Robinson' for 'Halterman'. Washington Post, Sep 11, 1937 D.C.'s Lone Girl Motorcyclist Stormed Loudly to Get Permit Sally Robinson - She Weighs Only 88 Pounds - Had to 'Buffalo' Stalwart Policeman but Finally Won His Praise - and License. By dint of stamping her foot Sally Robinson, of 2120 H street northwest, has become the only girl in Washington licensed to ride a motorcycle. Miss Robinson - all 88 pounds of her - has been operating motorcycles on and off since 1928, but last spring she decided she wanted a permit. The policeman assigned to officiate at her examination had different ideas, however. Although the District has no law against women motorcyclists, this examiner apparently thought it should have. "First he said I was too little, then he said I was too young," Miss Robinson declaimed yesterday, malice toward all policeman shining in her eyes." She is 27, years old and 4 feet 11 inches tall, and didn't see what either factor had to do with her sitting behind the handlebars of a motorcycle. "I passed the written examination all right - passed it twice, in fact. The first time I got 80 on it, but that wasn't good enough for him so I went down again and got 92, when that didn't satisfy him, I got my lawyer. "Well, that cop looked from me to the lawyer, and from the lawyer to me, and then he said I could take my road test," she continued. Her difficulties had not ended, however. Thinking all was well, she said goodbye to her lawyer and started out for the road test. Then the policeman announced he would not ride with her in the sidecar of the machine he provided for the test - he said he was afraid to. But when the test was over, the examiner announced, "Lady, you handle it as well as a man could. Your balance is swell and you know the machine. But I didn't see you kick it over so I can't give you the permit." That was when Miss Robinson started "cussing him out." "I called him such names - well, I was ashamed of myself. But it worked, and I have the permit." Miss Robinson uses the smallest type of machine built, but at that it weighs 325 pounds, nearly four times as much as she does. Despite the fact, it occasionally falls on her, she insists she would rather ride that machine than eat when she's hungry. As for automobiles, she has no use for them whatsoever. At present her chief goal is membership in the Capitolians, a newly formed motorcycle club of which Lynn Cook, 1515 U street northwest is president. She will be on the only girl in the club, which does not share the Police Department's prejudice against the sex. Name Difference>> I don't know what could account the Harris & Ewing photographer mistaking the name "Robinson" for "Halterman." It probably wasn't a mistake. Confusion on the distaff sideIf your information is correct, I'd say that Robinson is her maiden name, and Halterman is her married name. "Miss" v. "Mrs. Ya reckonshe had a shirt that said "If you can read this, the bastard fell off!"? Harley SportsterBiker Girl, most people think the Sportster is an easy bike to ride, but that is far from the truth. The Sportster came out in 1958 and was adopted by many as a "bar hopper" motorcycle. The Sportster is really harder to ride than the other models. it has a higher center of gravity and more torque in the lower gears and is by no means a starter bike. I've owned just about ever model and would strongly recommend the Fat Boy model. Harley Sportster or Fat Boy?Jimmy, I appreciate your opinion but disagree. The 883 Sportster is truly an entry level bike. It has centered ergos (no forward controls or floorboards), less weight and more ground clearance than any of the Softail models. Its reduced fork rake and better clearance make it far more maneuverable than any Fat Boy. Unlike the 1200 motor, the 883 doesn't make that much torque and is very tractable and easy to control. I think apart from Harley, there are better starter bikes, but if you must have a Harley and you're a newbie, a Sporty is hard to beat. Where do I buy the poster?I ride motorcycles, and own two, and YES, I'm a chick! I love these vintage pics, and would be honoured to have her splashed against a prominent wall in my home. Good for her!! Girls, get on out there. It's tons of fun, believe me! Leave your fears at the door. This sport is just too much fun to miss out on! Small differences a result of retrospective reporting.The posters story looks to have been written long after, by someone who wanted it to sound like it was written then. The original story as pasted in the comments has two important clues. As mentioned before, the original refers to her as "Miss Robinson" while the more current peice uses a married name. Also, the fabrication states: "Mrs. Halterman was initiated into the D.C. Motorcycle Club -- the only girl ever to be accorded this honor." While the older story says she intended at that time to ask for membership, implying that it wasn't a certainty. [A Shorpy mystery! Somehow you've gotten very confused. At least you've gotten me very confused. Below, the newspaper article that you think was "fabricated." What are you thinking is "the original" -- the original what? The caption under the photo comes from the Library of Congress. - Dave] A little history on "Dot" RobinsonShe was really really something! (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing, Motorcycles)
Tour de Fence: 1900
... with outstretched hand? Where is everyone ridind? 3 bikes and 5 people with no fenders - where did everyone ride? Old Woman ... at full size. Brakes? These look like pretty good bikes, but they don't seem to have any brakes unless they're coaster brakes. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/25/2014 - 11:51am -

From the early 20th century, somewhere in the Northeast, comes this 4x5 inch glass negative with the caption "L.K. -- bicycles at spring." View full size. I Saw Her TooNo strong drink for me today but on the smaller version I see an old gnarly woman offering a skateboard to our bike hikers. Tomorrow with the Thanksgiving cocktails I might be seeing the Andrews Sisters but as a sober man today I see the old woman too. Rest BreakHere the lads stop to water their mounts. The old womanAm I the only one who sees the 'old woman' back beyond the fence, shawl over her shoulder, leaning forward with outstretched hand? Where is everyone ridind?3 bikes and 5 people with no fenders - where did everyone ride? Old WomanJohnHoward - not the only one. It jumped out at me from the smaller view. Somewhat less apparent at full size. Brakes?These look like pretty good bikes, but they don't seem to have any brakes unless they're coaster brakes. I've ridden track bikes where you had to resist the foreward rotation of the pedals to slow down, and it would really scare me to try the same thing on the open road. Is that what these bikes had? That Old Woman!JohnHoward, I wasn't going to say anything about it, but yes, I saw the "old woman" the instant I looked at this photo. SPOOKY! End of the line"We'll have to wait until they invent the Mountain Bike to get across this" I remember thoseI used to wear those kind of metal clips on my pants legs too when bike riding (so that said pants did not get tangled up in the spokes etc) Looks like they've been around for quite awhile...and is anybody else a bit baffled by the pose of the fella on the far left? He is semi-lying down while leaning both on his friend and his hand i.e. it looks both odd and quite uncomfortable! American GraffitiLiking the carvings on the roots at the base of the tree. Looks like those are circa 1895. The old woman...JohnHoward good eye. Didn't see that until after you pointed it out. Didn't see it at all when the image was enlaged. No helmets...but funny hats are mandatory! (The Gallery, Bicycles, Found Photos)
Street View: 1905
... Bicycle technology I don't know too much about bikes (god knows I haven't ridden one in 30 years) but when did someone invent ... bike racks? Many of these Shorpy street views include bikes leaning against the sides of buildings buildings or perilously propped ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/30/2012 - 4:31pm -

Minneapolis, Minnesota, circa 1905. "Chamber of Commerce." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Howard's LabCouple of cool early cars down there - probably well-to-do businessmen checking in on the chamber. What do you think all of those planks are laid down for - curing concrete? Location, Location, LocationDid the Federal Elevator Company really expect anyone to be able to read their signage from the street? And on your leftbeyond the Milwaukee Road train shed you can see the old Exposition Hall across the river, already repurposed. I am for menThe incomplete wall ad in the back is for Henry George cigars. It probably reads "I am for men. Henry George. Great 5 cents cigars": And Henry George was quite a guy. They Got AroundInteresting mix of conveyances, powered by horse, humans and petroleum. [Also a few "ghosts"! Click below to enlarge. - Dave] Milwaukee DepotAt the end of 4th, see the passenger loading area of Milwaukee Station on Washington. Oh the memories. K&CLooks like a Louis Sullivan building, but it's not. It's by Kees and Colburn. Later known as the Grain Exchange building. Fourth and FourthBuilt in 1900, at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Fourth Street South. The picture was taken from Minneapolis City Hall, seen recently on Shorpy. Grain ExchangeMy father in law worked for Continental Grain for over 30 years, spent some time in this building until the mid 1980's. Bicycle technologyI don't know too much about bikes (god knows I haven't ridden one in 30 years) but when did someone invent the kick stand? Or for that matter, bike racks? Many of these Shorpy street views include bikes leaning against the sides of buildings buildings or perilously propped against curbstones. Even horses usually got hitching rings. Bemis Bro. Bag Co.Bemis, founded 1858 in St. Louis, opened its second facility in 1880 in Minneapolis. 2009 sales were $3.5 billion. Sadly, the company does not have a baby buggy bumper division. Rides Like a CadillacIt's hard for me to tell since I'm not that well versed in early autos, but that automobile parked near the two bikes looks like an '03 Cadillac in some ways. That's quite a few autos around for such an early time period. Must be a bit of wealth around that day... I'd love a blow up shot of the other two cars down the street to the northeast. I've walked past this building many times while living in Mpls and it's a treat to see these old photos. Curing ConcreteThe wood laid in the street is so that the fresh concrete will not cure too fast and crack. Today they use a thin layer of water, wet canvas or plastic sheeting. Third and FourthNext door is the old Chamber of Commerce building, which that grain exchange organization outgrew as its power rose. In the 1920s when the Chamber of Commerce again needed more room, it demolished its original home and built an annex there. While the organization's name changed, it has always been a commodity exchange, always on this block. Across Third Street is the Corn Exchange Building (which burned in 1965). Across Fourth Avenue (at the photo's edge) is the Flour Exchange Building - the first four floors of it, that is. It remained unfinished from the Panic of 1893 until 1909, when the last seven floors were added. That was then, this is nowNotice the unfortunate loss of the cornice. Also note the taller beaux arts 1914 addition to the right, also missing a cornice. View Larger Map Needs awning maintenanceI notice a few torn and/or collapsed awnings. Wonder how common that was? Had there been a storm? (The Gallery, DPC, Horses, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Streetcars)
Rover Boys: 1900
... 1900, back at the Handlebars Homestead . Lettis, bikes. f5.6 no filter +2" shirts is what it says on the sleeve. 4x5 inch ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/19/2014 - 1:23pm -

Circa 1900, back at the Handlebars Homestead. Lettis, bikes. f5.6 no filter +2" shirts is what it says on the sleeve. 4x5 inch glass negative. View full size. Interesting TiresThose tires have flat treads and they are made of vulcanized natural rubber (as opposed to synthetic.) I imagine cyclists slid out a lot and got a lot of flats in those days. Old thoughts exposedI'm not familiar with the abilities of early cameras. However, I wonder if he meant that there were two f-stops difference between the surrounding area under the shade trees and the brightness of the white shirts, and found that f5.6 worked best overall. Track Stand It's cheating to wedge the rear wheel into a fence to do a track stand. The rat-trap pedals were current until quite recently, only they'd have an additional strap over the top so you could apply more forward force to the pedal without bending the thing. Nowadays shoe cleats are favored. Printing instructionsThe info on the sleeve is probably for whomever was printing from that neg. likely the shirts were overexposed and needed an additional 2 seconds of exposure (burning in) when printing in the darkroom. F/5.6 would have been the aperture for the enlarging lens. siding on the houseNote how the siding boards on the house align exactly with the tops and bottoms of the windows. Old-time carpenters adjusted siding spacing to do that. It's a detail you'll never see with modern vinyl or metal siding. Tires ExposedI've been riding on natural rubber tires year round in Minneapolis for ten years. Smooth ride in the summer and great traction in the winter down to -15° F when I bale. It's funny how modern materials have been hyped for a while when that what they replaced is actually better. 2" shirtsWith reference to the length of the sleeves of the outer shirt of the cigar-chomping, photo-bombing guy who obviously doesn't care about his long inner sleeves extending beyond the outer shirt sleeves? [He appears to be: a. in long johns and, b. not the kind of guy you'd criticize to his face. -tterrace] I very much agree. I'm a big talker at a distance of 114 years. Oh, and he needs to mow his lawn. Wait..."Rat Traps" Still PopularCleated or "clipless" pedals are used almost exclusively in road racing where a secure foothold is adventageous and some power may be transmitted on the upstroke. However, for single-track biking, mountain biking, cyclocross and other cycling competitions where the rider needs to constantly and quickly drop a foot, not only are cleated/clipless shoes a hinderance, so are the straps of "rat trap/mounse trap" style pedal clips. In these cases strapless toe clips and even no clips, just a simple platform pedal are preferred. Also many bike commuters and touring bikers prefer "rat trap/mouse trap" pedals which allow for the use of regular shoes for ease of walking and lower cost since cleated bike shoes cast more and must be used with "clipless" pedals. However there is no denying the popluarity of "clipless" pedals among casual riders. Acetylene Lamps Well Into the 1950sThat "steampunk" acetyline headlamp reminded me of a bicycling memoir I read a couple of years ago where the author wrote about touring the Welsh countryside in the late 1950's and early 60s with acetylene headlamps. [That's a paraffin bike lamp in our photo. -Dave] (The Gallery, Bicycles, Found Photos)
Stadium Parking: 1942
... Bike Support I 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 Commandment It's a good thing that ... 
 
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)
Chevy Baby: 1963
... car seats. Not to mention the pedestrians and kids on bikes all over the place. Backseat Rider I was put in a seat like this ... 
 
Posted by deluxeczech - 12/31/2008 - 6:46am -

Circa 1963. I'm not sure what's worse: that my brother is in the front seat or the metal baby seat itself, hooked to the seatback of the car. View full size. Love it.Where is this? RestraintAt least little brother had a car seat. I rode (like nearly all children in those days) unrestrained in the front seat, sometimes even standing up. My mother would reflexively fling her right arm across us kids when she had to stop suddenly. As if that would have helped. And dashboards then were made of sturdy metal! Right arm reflexI was still doing that when my son was about 18 years old. He didn't appreciate being smacked in the chest with a fast right arm fling. But, hey, none of us had restraints then. '59 or '60?Judging from the instrument hoods, that looks to be a 1959 or 1960 Chevy wagon. And yes, I remember those car seats. My little brother, who was born in 1965, had a blue one, with a padded bar in front. Not quite like today's car seats. Darwin Awards for Baby SeatsMy mom was just visiting. I'm 30, turns out that when I was a babe we were placed in the backseat in a "baby bed." This was basically a crib that fit in the car. No restraints. Terrifying. Ow. Ow. Ow.The middle of the dashboard looks like it melted. Or is it that from Baby's head repeatedly smacking into it? Yet we survived!!I had a seat just like that, only red plaid. It had a horn to beep too, which I remember doing till Mom yelled. I also had a carbed, which they put me in for 4 hour drives to the grandparents every weekend. I guess we were pretty durable kids! Great photo. OverreactingIn addition to slamming my 18-year-old in the chest, both of our children when they were babies were placed in the back seat in the basket part of the buggy with the wheels deposited in the trunk. Somehow an awful lot of children did not die or get maimed. We had no better choices in the 50's. We also did not have cell phones to distract us while we were driving and sibling squabbles were dealt with when we got home. Amazing that we're all alive -- right? BTW, I think seat restraints should have been required with the first horse-drawn carriage but they weren't. Toot SweetOh hey, that could have been me! Right down to the year and the car seat. Though I'm pretty sure my parents drove a Ford. (And I'm not a boy.) Photo qua photoThe setting, the color, the lighting - this is a fabulous photo. Happy MomThe feature that leaps off the screen at me is the lovely expression of complete delight on deluxeczech's mom's face. I've found a few photos of my own mom looking at me like that when I was that age (later was often another matter, but happily we worked it out). Amazing and wonderful to see. Jogs many memoriesI'm pretty certain that's a 1960 Chevy wagon. My parents had a '60 Chevy Impala convertible before I was born (in early 1963) and photos show it having the same dash in the same layout and shade of blue. What looks like waprage in the center was actually a design element; the full-size Chevies' dashes were meant to echo that of their sportier little sibling, the Corvette. By the time I rolled around they owned a 1962 Pontiac Catalina 2-door hardtop. Photos exist of me sitting in a very similar car seat. Family oral history has it that I was seated there when news of JFK's assassination came over the Delco AM radio. Family oral history also has it that I later did some damage to the car's transmission by reaching over and moving the gearshift selector from D to R while the car was in motion (note how close the gearshift knob is to your brother's reach). How much damage and at what speed, I don't know. Baby BeeperAs soon as I glimpsed the car seat it brought back a long forgotten memory of a car seat somewhat similar we had for my younger brother, born 1963. It had a horn button (Operative! My suffering parents) in the center of the steering wheel and attached the same way to the seat back. Right Arm Reflex Part BIndeed, that brings back memories. I had a car seat like that with a steering wheel (no horn however) and it was mounted to the back of the passenger seat of our 1947 Plymouth coupe. My second most terrifying childhood memory is my mother slamming on the brakes and the seat starting to fold forward (no catch to hold the seatbacks upright as have been on all 2-door cars since about 1974). As my 4 year old self tilted towards the Detroit steel dashboard, Mother's right arm came screaming across and slammed me right back where I belonged. There was probably a sonic boom; it just sent the breath right out of me, it happened so fast. But she accomplished her mission: I have a full, normal set of jaws and teeth, and my baby teeth lasted a normal amount of time. ExoneratedBless you, Capt. Jack. We moms did what we could with what we had -- a good right arm! We got you on the other end sometimes too, didn't we. And, yes, we did have a two-door car with the same seat problem. Right arm fling!My youngest child is 32 and out of the house, but I still can fling my arm with the best of them. I've saved my purse from an ugly death so many times, I even save my groceries! That is a reflex that will probably never leave me! [On "Seinfeld," known as "stopping short." - Dave] Caught sitting downI rode standing up so often that on one memorable occasion, my mom did the arm fling out of reflex to catch me in the chest and restrain me. But I happened to be sitting down that day, and she broke my nose with her Mexican Topaz cocktail ring. OUCH. We drove slower thenI remember parts of the beltway around Baltimore being built and my father sneaking on to it for an exit or two before the road was officially opened. The roads my mother drove on were relatively low speed roads with plenty of stop signs and red lights, which probably accounts for the kids surviving those car seats. Not to mention the pedestrians and kids on bikes all over the place. Backseat RiderI was put in a seat like this when I was a very wee tot. When I outgrew it I joined the rest of the kids in the back seat -- and usually all of us stood up. I can't imagine what people would think today if they saw my mother driving our old '59 Buick, windows rolled up tight against the Indiana cold, cigarette parked in her mouth, and several kids standing on the back seat (and usually one lying down on the rear window package shelf, which was my favorite spot). If Mom slammed on the brakes all of us would go flying -- over the front seat or under it. I think back on that now and wonder how we ever survived it. From the Back Seat, Cont'dI'm struck by the number of comments from people who rode standing up in the back seat. My sister and I did the same thing when we were tots. I guess so we could see out the windows. We were strapped in with some sort of harness. Mom had a 1956 Lincoln Premiere. Robin's egg blue. The "Winkin," we called it. Seat BeltsThe first car that I ever rode in that had seat belts was a new 1956 Ford belonging to the family of a fourth-grade classmate. It'd be nearly a decade until our family car had them as a front-seat option in a 1965 Corvair Monza, which had to be retrofitted for the back seat belts. Rear window seatWhen we got our 1956 Rambler wagon, my favorite spot was all the way in back, looking out the rear window, watching the roadway spiraling away into the distance. No seat, no padding, sliding around on the metal deck on turns - imagine a rag doll in an empty tool box. In good weather, I'd insist on the back window being rolled down and then got the additional benefit of sucked-in exhaust fumes. But I apparently survived. I was also able to get otherwise unavailable angles for photos, like looking back up a freeway onramp, such as this shot from 1963: 1950s pinko carsFellow Rambler wagon back-end rider Mimi1942 asks What was with pink cars back then, anyway? Answer: pink and charcoal (runner up: turquoise and white) were the official colors of the 1950s, viz this gorgeous 1955 Studebaker I shot on a recent July 4th parade: A Decade of Fads.tterrace nailed it. The '50s were a series of fads and they extended way beyond car color. Each fad really impacted the life of a teenager. In the spring of 1956 the de rigueur outfit for boys in my high school was black penny loafers, white socks, black pegged (way tight) pants, pink short-sleeved shirt and a "D.A." haircut. For you young-'uns, it looked like the south end of a northbound duck. For girls it was the same loafers, the same white socks, (only "fast" girls wore nylons), black or gray wool full skirt with pink poodle, pink blouse (initials optional), hopefully a boyfriend's ring on a chain around the neck, and a ponytail. Wear anything else, and risk being called a "fruit." The term "nerd" was years in the future. By the next year we had moved on to blue suede shoes and white T-shirts, but the car companies were slower to respond. Our 1957 DeSoto was Bittersweet and Smoke -- yes, pink and black. 1956 Nash RamblerWhen I was a sophomore in high school, my dad bought a used rose-pink and gray 1956 Nash Rambler station wagon that I thought was the living end. When he retired from the Air Force and took a job at Cape Canaveral in my junior year, I rode in the very back (ours was carpeted) the whole way from Albuquerque to Cocoa Beach with my boxer dog Vicky so that I wouldn't have to sit in the back seat with my 6-years-younger sister who loved to prattle. It was wonderful! I was never so sad as when my dad traded it in a couple of years later on a light pink sedan. What was with pink cars back then, anyway? Arm FlingingAll of the arm flinging is too funny. I used to ride standing up in the front passenger seat and my mom did the arm fling thing. And 30+ years later she still has that instinct. Apparently, when she was a baby her mother put her in a laundry basket behind the front seat to keep her safe. Apparently it worked fine. Those carseats were helpful in some waysEven though they would be of little help in an accident, there was one benefit and that was that the parent driving didn't have to keep looking to see where the baby was, or trying to get him/her out from under their feet, away from the window, etc.. My brother's had a belt and although it wasn't very strong, like the ones we have in carseats now, it did keep him from climbing out of it. I think the car beds, tucked on the floor behind the front seat were probably a pretty safe place to be in an accident, provided that the baby was young enough to stay lying down and the car didn't roll. I'm thankful that we had good car seats by the time my oldest son was born, in 1983. I was amazed at how many people didn't use them, until they became mandatory. Wonderful!What a wonderful capture! I love the fall colors, the reds and plaid (and stripes!). Also her glasses and ponytail are perfect. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses)
Incognito: 1890
... (the penny) and the little wheel (the farthing). The bikes were mounted via a little step just above the small wheel -- partially ... - the pedals ratchet while coasting, just as most modern bikes do. The small "finger" looking device at the top of the wheel is the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2013 - 3:26pm -

Circa 1890. "Frances Benjamin Johnston, self-portrait, dressed as a man with false mustache." The Washington, D.C., photographer was one of the first women to rise to prominence in the profession. Albumen print. View full size. Awesome (and imposing) bike!How on Earth did you get on top of that? And how did you keep your balance? I've heard velocipedes (that´s their name, right?) were really fast, but also very unstable. And when it came to stopping, how did you keep from falling? This photo ranks high in my favorite list, definitely! Never assume...I will assume that profession is photography, not cross-dressing. I have so many questions!Starting with how tall is that door? Or was she just a tiny woman who made the door seem giant in comparison? Also, what about the draped painting or mirror on the wall? Was it simply draped so as not to distract from the photo's subject, or for some other reason? I have a friend who has one of those bicycles tattooed on her ankle. They look awfully complicated to mount, let alone ride. CognitoI don't know how well her disguise concealed her identity but it certainly failed to conceal her gender in those bike pants. Horsing around with a bicycleI'm pretty sure one mounts them the same way one mounted a horse. In the pre-automobile era people put mounting blocks outside buildings. These were basically stone (sometimes wood) platforms with two or three steps leading up to the platform area. The mounting area was typically 3 feet by four feet or so. When you mounted the bicycle you were standing tall enough, thanks to the block, that the bicycle seat was below your own seat. As for how you stopped them -- uhm, with great difficulty? I do not know if they have some kind of braking mechanism at the top of that wheel or not. I see something there. But since it is direct drive on the hub of that front wheel, you can stop it by no longer pedaling forward. How you keep it from tipping over after you stop it--I haven't a clue. How to handle itI found a couple of videos demonstrating mounting technique, and it appears to require some agility. A summary: 1. There is a small step on the left side of the rail, down toward the smaller wheel. Put the left foot on the step and both hands on the handlebars. 2. Kick with the right leg to start rolling, then use the step and handlebars to lever the body up toward the seat. 3. Throw the right leg over the seat and onto the right-side pedal as it comes up. 4. Straighten out and get the left foot onto the left-side pedal, and ride away. The Dreaded HeaderYears ago I had a co-worker whose hobby was penny-farthing bicycles. Infamous for their propensity to propel hapless riders into a "header" -- when they were pitched over the driving wheel upon encountering an obstruction. Which explains why the more conventional design that came along later was known for a time as the "safety bicycle." High-wheel FaceplantSomething rarely if ever mentioned about the penny farthing and other high-wheelers is the problem with braking. You can see the brake just above the top of the wheel. If this was applied hard enough, the seat (and rear wheel) would rotate with the main wheel, slamming the rider into the ground. One solution was to put the little wheel at the front, but by then the symmetrical two-wheeler was taking over. Pounds, shillings and....This type of bicycle was termed the "penny-farthing" in Britain (and throughout the Commonwealth) due to the sizes of the big wheel (the penny) and the little wheel (the farthing). The bikes were mounted via a little step just above the small wheel -- partially hidden here by the lady's legs. Step 1A.K.A.A "Boneshaker" for obvious reasons. Self-Portraits in the 1890sI can't see a cable in this image, but self-portraits were doable in the 1890s. Photographer Alice Austen shot many self-portraits, using a pneumatic cable to release the shutter, as early as 1884. Whoa!Simply stopping pedaling does not stop the bike - the pedals ratchet while coasting, just as most modern bikes do. The small "finger" looking device at the top of the wheel is the brake, activated by the levers on the right handle bar. It is not very effective, but its better than nothing. Riding one of these is more like riding a unicycle with a training wheel! They can be very fast, and if you fall, you REALLY fall, usually on your face. The gyroscopic precession with that tall wheel makes turning at slow speeds interesting, but once up and rolling, the bike is amazingly stable. Mounting blocks? Neigh.Mounting a velocipede or high wheeled bicycle is an art. Using a mounting block wouldn't work -- the bike has to be moving or else you fall over. You have to get a running start, pushing the bike, then put a foot on the frame step, somewhat like a stirrup, and in a single fluid motion you throw yourself up and over the frame, landing in the seat. Taming the BicycleMark Twain on "Taming the Bicycle." Self-PortraitPardon my ignorance about photography but how did someone take a self portrait back in 1890. They couldn't have had timers on the cameras back then so how was it done? There does look like there is some sort of cable running down from the wall hanging but I can't quite make out where it ends up. Is there some sort of apparatus where she would squeeze a bulb that would trip the lens and take the picture? [Probably the apparatus known as "assistant who squeezes the bulb." - Dave] Extreme penny farthing-ingAt least two people have ridden around the world on penny farthings. Around the World on a Bicycle by Thomas Stevens, first published in 1887 is available in hardback, and as a free e-book at The Gutenberg Project. Joff Summerfield did it between May 2006 and November 2008. EpiphanyI always wondered why the first bicycles were shaped so funny, why the seats were so high. My theory is that the height of the seat was the same as the average height of a horse's withers, so coming from a culture built entirely around horses as transportation, it makes sense that the first bicycle would have been designed to mimic the height and foot placement of a saddled horse. [The reason is more mechanical than cultural. The only way to build a reasonably speedy direct-drive cycle is with a big wheel, with the diameter determined by the length of the average person's legs. Bicycles with smaller wheels and comparable speeds weren't possible until the introduction of the sprocket-and-chain gearset. - Dave] Her Left FootPerhaps her extended left foot, with toes suspiciously out of the frame, is squeezing the bulb. Extraordinary Lady!I'm beginning to develop a great fondness for Ms. Johnston and her work! Remarkable woman. *swoon* (The Gallery, Bicycles, D.C., F.B. Johnston)
Birthday Bike: 1959
... had only the three-speed function with no coaster brake. Bikes with this version had hand brakes on both wheels. The much-less-common ... Ontario in 1958 when I was ten years old. While my earlier bikes were second hand, my parents finally gave me a new CCM (Canada Cycle ... 
 
Posted by jckazoo - 01/31/2018 - 9:03am -

This is my husband Peter and his Rollfast Deluxe bike in about 1959 - I'm assuming he's about 10 in this photo. It was taken in his backyard in Chenango Bridge, New York, outside of Binghamton. His father was a chemist for Ansco, and this is taken from an Anscochrome slide. View full size. Oh, that seatThe seat on that bike looks just like the one on my Dunelt in the early 1960s. It was a piece of steel covered by the thinnest vinyl and man did it hurt. I soon got a padded cover and added some kitchen sponges for good measure but the calluses didn't go away for months. The Dunelt was a 3-speed bargain version of the Raleigh, also with Sturmey Archer gears. I rode it for ten years or more and it passed through the family. The flatness of Windsor made for lots of easy cycling at great speed. It was absolute heaven after the single speed monster my dad got me at Dominion Tire on Tecumseh Road. Emergency stop not an optionLove the photo, and my first bike was very similar (albeit used)! As anyone like me with a modern dual hydraulic disk brake equipped bike will attest, by comparison the function of this cable actuated rear-only internal drum brake is only to slightly slow the bike down. You'd always need a Plan B with these monstrosities - either feet-to-pavement Fred Flintstone style, or just bail out. Beautiful bike!And a wonderful image. But I'd much prefer a good, reliable coaster brake! GearshiftThat shift cable is for a Sturmey-Archer three-speed hub with coaster brake. The hub came in two versions. The more common one had only the three-speed function with no coaster brake. Bikes with this version had hand brakes on both wheels. The much-less-common version had the three speeds and also a coaster brake! I had a secondhand Dunelt bike with this hub. This Rollfast apparently has this second type. The S-A coaster brake was not nearly as effective as the single-speed New Departure coaster brake hub. That Sturmey-Archer hubis a very complicated gear system, worth a look at an exploded view internally. Is it a Schwinn?I had a Schwinn very similar to this bike, the lever on the handlebar changed gears (it had two), is not a brake. It had a coaster brake. [Going by the caption, it's a Rollfast Deluxe. -tterrace] Coaster Brakes 101There may be younger viewers of Shorpy that never rode a bicycle with coaster brakes. As mentioned by others, the brake is on the rear hub only, and was activated by reversing the pedals into a locked position which applied the brakes. You could apply pressure gradually, or do a panic stop that often locked up the rear wheel into a skid. This was especially fun on gravel roads or grass. This shortened the life of the rear tire considerably. While Windsor is very flat, we later lived in a hilly city, and coaster brakes had limited effect on steep hills. Here is a photo of me with my sister taken in Riverside, (now Windsor) Ontario in 1958 when I was ten years old. While my earlier bikes were second hand, my parents finally gave me a new CCM (Canada Cycle & Motor Co.) single speed bicycle with coaster brakes. It had a headlight, carrier and an electric horn. By comparison, my present bike has 21 speeds. 3 on the TreeAs noted already this bike had a multi speed rear hub. My first bike, (a 1966 Sears version of a Sting Ray) had the same setup, the brake worked fine, the transmission not so much. The first time it falls over or scrapes a curb, the elbow for the cable gets broken off, leaving you stuck in high gear, i.e. stranded. Sturmy-Archer transmissionI had a S-A transmission in my first new bike, about 1969. It wasn't very good and the local bike shop sold me a Shimano replacement. I still have it and it works fine. By the way, when everyone else was riding stingrays I was the first in town to have a big bike with skinny tires. I had a light powered by an generator that rubbed the tire and a speedometer. Had it up to 50 mph down a big hill. Really thought I was doing something! Too complicatedI had a bike (Schwinn? don't remember) with the S-A 3-speed hub with coaster brake (plus a front caliper brake). I had a lot of trouble with it - I kept stripping some internal part or other, and it spent a lot of time in the shop. I came to the conclusion that the two functions (brake and transmission) was one too many. Three speeds? Luxury!I grew up the late '60s and early '70s riding single-speed hi-rise bikes from Penney's. The first, a birthday present when I turned nine, was stolen after two years from the bike rack at school; I still miss that beautiful magenta bike. A year later I found a $20 bill while walking home from school, and that helped pay for my next ride, an orange Penney's Scrambler I, which cost $34.95. Of course both bikes had modifications and tire replacements courtesy of parts and tools from the nearby Western Auto store. I did know a couple of kids that owned two-speed coaster brake bikes (very unusual, and I assume made by Sturmey-Archer), and I got to ride them a few times. Changing gears up or down was accomplished by reversing the pedals just enough to change speeds without braking. I always wanted one of those, since the design was simple, you got more than one speed without having to worry about maintaining or replacing derailleurs, cables, levers and brake shoes. Same colorsAs my J.C.Higgins bike I bought from Sears with my own money backing 1954 as a 12 year old. In fact, my Dad's new '54 Chevrolet Bel-Air was also that green & cream combo. Kick-shiftI worked in a bike shop in the late '60s. The two speed coaster brakes referenced by Born40YearsTooLate were made by Bendix. We called 'em kick shifts. They were popular with paperboys at the time, who had them installed in heavy duty Schwinn models with springer forks. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
The End of the Innocence: 1941
... spring fork setup used on millions of Schwinns and other bikes over the past hundred-plus years. Still in use. Not unusual. ... least 100 different badges, as Schwinn made private label bikes for hardware stores, tires stores and many other outlets. The model is ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2013 - 3:35pm -

Caldwell, Idaho. The summer of 1941, on or around the Fourth of July. Water fountain outside the bank seen in the post above. View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. Slurp. Public FountainsThat fountain is familiar to me, except in my Deep South hometown in 1941 it would have had a sign reading either WHITE or COLORED. I grew up with those signs all around me and was ecstatic when they were finally taken down. BicycleIs that a spring for suspension on the front? Cool looking bike. Spring or light?Isn't that the headlight? [It's a spring-thing. - Dave] BikeIn fact I'm pretty sure it's a spring, making for a pretty interesting design that didn't take off. It appears as though the front fork is bolted to the column that attaches to the handlebars and then extend up to the spring. The spring is then attached to the column just above where it passes through the frame. The lower bolt acts like a pivot point, theoretically at least giving a somewhat smoother ride. I can see all sorts of ways it could go wrong though. Spring ForkThis is the spring fork setup used on millions of Schwinns and other bikes over the past hundred-plus years. Still in use. Not unusual. The BikeFrom my bike-restoring friend Rich: We can say for sure that it is a Schwinn-built bicycle. It could be wearing any of at least 100 different badges, as Schwinn made private label bikes for hardware stores, tires stores and many other outlets. The model is called a Motorbike. It dates to around 1938-40. It has options such as front drum brake, knee-action spring fork and 2-speed New Departure shifter. Schwinn PhantomI owned a slightly-used Schwinn Phantom back in the mid-1960s that I bought for $30. Its heavyweight design with the spring fork was ideal for delivering my newspaper route. I wish I still had it! Mike_G SchwinnsThat may explain why I thought the design was unusual. I don't think they sold Schwinns in my part of Canada. The big bike manufacturer up here was CCM (originally Canadian Cycle and Motor) and I recall a number of British manufacturers but I don't remember Schwinn being an option in Saskatchewan in the 1960s. That a Schwinn MotorbikeThat a Schwinn Motorbike the era it about right 1938-1940s That bike would sell for today around $2500 to $3500 today. The only thing that is missing is the tank. The kids back in the day would take off the tanks and throw them away because they wanted to make there bike lighter so they could ride them faster. Boy if they only knew what there bikes would worth today. This is a wonderful picture of the past of how wholesome America was. Today if you drink water from a public fountain you would get probably get sick. lbc-cycles of Long Beach, Ca. Early 1950s Schwinn TigerI have an early 1950s Schwinn Tiger 2-speed that says "Aviation Corp. by Bendix." Is this equipped with the same chain guard as any other Tiger? The chain guard is missing. Is this a common equipped bike or not? How rare is it? 1937-41 SchwinnThe handlebars and rear carrier aren't stock, appears to have a Sturmey-Archer rear hub, (the Shimano rear hub had the shift cable on the other side of the bike) and the tires are Goodyear G3 airwheels. The front brake hub is worth $400-$450 in good shape today. Great photo!!! (The Gallery, Bicycles, July 4, Kids, Russell Lee, Small Towns)
Sugar and Spice: 1900
... play... "In my day, no one wore helmets riding their bikes and we all lived to tell about it!" "In my day, had metal monkey bars ... above and cracked their heads open, fell off their bikes and got concussions, and broke their arms falling off the monkey bars. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/07/2012 - 2:04pm -

Detroit, Michigan, circa 1900. "Merry-go-round in Clark Park." 8x10 inch (cropped) dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. AdorableFrom afar, black and white pictures of children always creep me out and I blame horror movies that insist on featuring children as evil-doers ("The Bad Seed", anyone?). When I click on the picture however, the girls look like any other child one I'd run into--innocent, sweet, and charming. I absolutely adore the fact that little girls dressed so nicely back in the day--the pigtails, bows, stockings, and frocks. Not to get into the whole "now vs. then" comparison, but today, girls and boys wear similar clothes (jeans and a t-shirt), which, while more comfortable, does lose a bit of sweetness. In this day and age, who would dress up like this to go to the park? MexicantownWhat a charming photo. I drive by this park all the time. It is located in Mexicantown and is across the street from Western International High School. I know what comes next!The girl on the right will try to make the girl in the middle throw up and get dizzy. Then the older gal will try to make peace and finally decide it is time to grow up and get paid to be a nanny. Will she have brats of her own? Stay tuned! Long whirled awayWhen I first moved to Detroit in the summer of 1965, I lived at the YMCA that faced the park's northwest corner I was 17 and on my own, with a summer job at the Cadillac plant a few blocks north on Clark Street, which led to a 37-seven year career with General Motors. I do remember afternoons in the park after work -- evenings were getting to be a little dangerous. I am sure when these young ladies were there it was a much safer place. They may even have gone to the amusement park at the far south end (long gone when I lived there). A random view into the park: View Larger Map SplintersThat thing is a public risk analyst's nightmare. Multi-PurposeToday that same merry-go-round sleeps six to eight. Speaking as a motherI'm not sure what would have driven me more crazy..trying to keep my "all dressed in light colors" child tidy and clean or trying to lace up the boots of the girl in the front! The guy in the backIs looking to see where the next pizza gets delivered. Concussions, Ahoy!A common complaint these days is how overly-concerned about safety people are that they've "taken the fun" out of childrens play... "In my day, no one wore helmets riding their bikes and we all lived to tell about it!" "In my day, had metal monkey bars in the parks with none of this fancy rubber padding underneath and and WW all lived to tell about it!" They seem to have forgotten the number of kids they knew who flew off the spinny things pictured above and cracked their heads open, fell off their bikes and got concussions, and broke their arms falling off the monkey bars. Quite frankly, given the number of times I and people I knew broke appendages and concussed ourselves when we were kids, I wonder how we DID survive! Long-agoI was born in 1950. These little sweethearts would have been my present age then, looking back wistfully upon their long-ago childhood as I do mine now. Another look at that sceneI think the girls' Sunday-best garb was because they were at someone's party in the park (or a house nearby), and were taking a break between rounds of pin-the-tail and olly-olly-in-free. Or maybe they were waiting for that delivery boy to show up with party grub, although they probably referred to it more young lady-like. Playground Dangers!?In the 1950s, we had a metal versions of this mechanical marvel of kid-powered fun. Playground folklore for this and even more dangerous "rides" included tales of "the kid who lost a finger," and the like. Do they still have these in kiddie parks? PollyannaThe period fashions remind me so much of the movie that I expected to see Hayley Mills in this photo. Crack in the parkYou might get a sliver off this machine, but it's a lot safer than the metal roundabouts we played on in the 1950s. Both my brother and I got broken legs off the '50s version. EnnuiThe little girl in the back on the right seems bored. I think she wants to go in for some milk and cookies. Playground casualtiesI have to agree with MarkJ .. I don't see anything inherently dangerous in this roundabout. As soon as children are let loose on anything which moves, and which they control, accidents of some sort are inevitable. Older kids here in England, having survived the extremely safe, but lame, modern playground equipments, buy small cars and drive them at ridiculous speeds; there is an extremely high accident rate. Kids and machinery will always result in accidents. I suspect that many of the people who view this magnificent website regularly climbed trees as children, played on ice on ponds, raced their home-made carts down steep inclines and suffered an amazing array of grazed elbows, knees and etcetera. 99.9% recurring survived to the present day. Better that, by far, than having children huddled in front of computers, with their concomitant lack of social skills. I wouldn't have missed those days for the world. Profound thanks to Dave for this superlative resource. I have spent hours scouring it already -- truly amazing! David, Leicestershire, England PhotographerI would like to write an essay on this photography for school. Do you have the photographers name? [Most of the photographers, all employees of the Detroit Publishing Co., were apparently not specifically identified in the company records that accompanied the collection, which is now at the Library of Congress. - tterrace] Metal 'maypoles'At school in 1958, Santa Maria, CA there were two 'swings' as we called them on the play ground. They were very tall and had chains which hung down with handle grips at the end of each chain so we could all run, then fly into the air. The best riders would weave in and out of the slower riders until all our chains were tangled and we would have to stop to sort them out. Now, some kids would lose grip and fly off leaving their 'swing' to fly around with the rest of us. Needless to say, it was exhilarating, truly wonderful to play on. The worst that I EVER remember happening was bloodied knees from bad landings. I'm sure there were those who got knocked in the head or mouth with the flying handles- but I would never trade those recesses for all the padded plastic safe playgrounds offered today. This was taken in 1956. Closest I ever got to flying. (The Gallery, Detroit Photos, DPC, Kids)
Ithaca: 1901
... as primary transportation. But just look at all the bikes on the street! Comparing photos This has to be my favorite then ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/20/2012 - 11:05am -

State Street in Ithaca, N.Y., circa 1901. Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. Far above Cayuga's waterswith her waves of blue stands our noble alma mater glorious to view! Well not yet my alma mater, its quite interesting to see a view of Ithaca, where I'm going to be spending the next four years of my life, from over a century ago. To think Cornell was only 36 years old when this picture was taken! BTW the guy in the beanie was probably an alumnus of Cornell. Ithaca College was a tiny music conservatory until 1931. Nice perspectiveBeautiful composition. The city before it was cluttered with cars is lovely. They've Got Moxieand they'd probably sell it to you, too. Calling all KeystonesAs any silent film fan knows, the window washers, the dog, the well-dressed ladies and the unattended bicycle can only spell trouble. Throw in the barrels, the trolley tracks, plus the horse droppings, and you've got an epic scene on your hands. Rat Cap!We had to wear freshman beanies like that back in the late 1940s in Florida. BicyclesI can see at least four bicycles. The 1890's were the "Golden Age of the Bicycle," with the invention of the double-triangle frame and the pneumatic tire both less than 15 years old in 1901. North TiogaThis appears to be Ithaca Commons looking east toward North Tioga Street from Cayuga Street. Some of the buildings still look the same. Ithaca CommonsI believe this is the part of State St. that is now the Ithaca Commons, with this view looking east up the hill towards Cornell. If I'm wrong, someone correct me. Awesome photo. Ithaca CommonsBird's eye view. "Cars stop here"What about the wagons -- they had the right of way? ["Cars" meant streetcars. It was a "car stop." - Dave] Behind the TimesI'm surprised that a prosperous Northern city still had horsecars in 1901, many cities electrified their trolleys in the 1890's, if I remember correctly. I'm curious yellow....That's a scene one doesn't see anymore, a sparrow hittin' on mashed horse apples on the street. Puzzles me however, how to understand the relection of the gent on the bicycle in the window and how it relates to his actual position on the street, an optical illusion of sorts? BicyclistsWhat a great scene! One doesn't think of 1901 daily life having a lot of bicycling as primary transportation. But just look at all the bikes on the street! Comparing photosThis has to be my favorite then and now comparison of the same area. Great work. The popular priced clothiers at P. Rascover have been replaced by the hip sounding Loose Threads, but the mannequins have stayed! The woman on the right with the parasol has a 2009 counterpart in almost the exact same spot, but now with a messenger bag. Then and NowHere's a picture taken today from as near as I can get to the same spot. The conversion of State Street to the Commons back in the mid-1970's has blocked the long vista down the street, but many of the buildings are still identifiable. Click to enlarge. [Great photo. Thanks! - Dave] What's cooking?The "Now You're Cooking" building in the modern photo looks completely different from the building in that spot in the 1901 photo, and - strangely - it looks older. I like the nice curved windows at the top. Those two guysI don't like either one of those two guys walking on the right No, not at all. Foy Las Vegas Beer DogCan any Cornelians verify the legend of the dog who lived in one of the frat houses on campus and would ride a streetcar into town by himself every day to drink beer at one of the bars? My dad, btw, graduated from the university 40 years after this picture was made. Wide Angle?Seems to be a fairly wide angle shot, without the 'fish eye' type distortion at the edges of the pic. Was there something different about lenses, apertures or cameras then? [This is the "look" characteristic of just about any large view camera. - Dave] BicyclesIn addition to the buildings, the bicycles have remained a presence in Ithaca. People bike everywhere, which is somewhat incomprehensible to me in a town that has as many hills as Ithaca. What has not remained the same is the level of dress (although that is true of nearly every locale pictured on Shorpy). Still, if someone wore a suit in Ithaca, they'd probably stop traffic. The type of stores on this street has changed as well. I'm guessing Ithaca Hemp Company would not have been nearly so popular at the turn of the previous century as it is with the hippies that largely make up the town now. To R-Spice: I hope that you retain that enthusiasm for Cornell after you've been here awhile (and particularly through your first winter). Good luck! Ithaca StreetcarsIthaca streetcars seem to have been electrified from the outset. In the year 1887-88 the first track was laid, extending from the Ithaca Hotel to the railroad stations at the foot of State street. On the 1st of May, 1891, the franchises and property of the old company were transferred to the present organization, and on the 1st of June, 1892, the company purchased the franchise and property of the Brush-Swan Electric Light Company, which it still owns. That company had used electricity on the street cars under the unsatisfactory Daft system stem since January 4. 1888. The Brush-Swan system was adopted in 1891. -- "Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York" by John H. Selkreg, 1894 The Daft system apparently used a low-voltage third-rail power - which had to be a problem in snowy Ithaca. It's possible that Brush-Swan was a battery system, which would explain the lack of overhead wires. A different perspectiveI took a pic of that same spot as well: The photo was probably taken with a large-format camera that had perspective controls. It's very hard to do that with a 35mm SLR -- you would need a tilt-shift lens and there aren't any that are really wide enough. I tried to do it by stitching several photos together in Photoshop and adjust perspective, but it's not really very good. That photo, the old one, is really amazing. It was taken by a professional, to be sure! (The Gallery, DPC)
Childs Restaurant: 1918
... I love the two policemen riding bicycles: police on bikes vanished for many decades only to be recently revived as an effective ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/21/2014 - 9:09pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1918. "Childs Restaurant, 1423 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. The LocomotionNow I'm never going to get that song out of my head: "Do the Locomotion with me." I love a paradeA parade or possibly a motorcade. I wonder if motorcades were as common back then as they are now in D.C. Great picture!It covers just about all possible ways of conveying oneself along the pavement. All we need is a jogger and someone riding a scooter, and we've got everything. Great transportation photoI'm bookmarking this as a favorite transportation photo. Horses, bicycles, automobiles and train tracks. It's interesting to see Gray Line using the same logo after all of these years, too. I get the sense that this picture could be titled "rush hour, 1917". Childs RestaurantThe Childs building shown here opened in 1913, one of two locations in the District. It was torn down and replaced by a parking garage in the early 1950s. The newspaper archives show that there was some sort of controversy over its prices during the WWI years. Which may be the reason for the photo. 1916-7 WhiteThe car on the right is a 1916-1917 White - these were the last years of passenger car production by White company. On the left is a Packard Limousine. More HereThan meets the eye. The motorcade was the reason for the photograph. Military men with drawn sabers? Who is in the first car? [The H&E caption lists the restaurant as the subject. - Dave] Trustworthy EggsI love the two policemen riding bicycles: police on bikes vanished for many decades only to be recently revived as an effective and economical mode of transport. Fortunately, the uniform of the bicycle-cop has evolved in the interim. Child's lunch rooms originated in New York City. A copy of their 1900 menu can be found here (NY Food Museum). Restaurant to Seat 200 New Building for "Childs" on the Avenue is Practically Complete. The new building which has been in the course of construction for some weeks on Pennsylvania avenue, near Fifteenth street, for the occupancy of "Childs" restaurant, is now practically completed. The exterior is completed and the interior has been furnished with tables, chairs, and the usual equipment to be found in a restaurant of this type. The new structure has a frontage of 54 feet and a depth of 93 feet, and is one story in height. It has been leased to the restaurant for a long term of years. The property on which the building has been erected is a part of the Willard estate. Seating space has been provided for about 200 persons. The value of the property, exclusive of the ground, is about $75,000. The plans were drawn by J.C. Westervelt, and the construction work has been done by the W.D. Lewis Company. Washington Post, Aug 24, 1913 The Childless Childs Restaurant The Childs family has been ousted from participation in the operation of Child's restaurants. William L. Childs, the man who, with his brother, founded the open-faced type of lunch room and glorified the American egg, has been dropped like a tray of hot dishes. Bigger and better restaurants will result, it is predicted, but the Childs boys have earned a bright place in knife-fork-and-spoon history as the lads who revolutionized the lunchroom business, made egg-boiling a national industry and developed flapjack turning as a theatrical performance. Before the Childs brothers came along a lunch room was usually a dreary hole-in-the-wall presided over by a few unkempt waiters who thought a front window was serving its full purpose when it housed a mince pie, a sleeping kitten, and old hat and a pair of galoshes. The Childs brothers took colored wall paper, stained tablecloths, dirty sugar bowls, wall calendars, paper flowers, rubber plants, cobwebs, lace curtains, oilcloth, insect life and the air of mystery out of the American lunch room life. They got the American public to trust lunch-room eggs. The early Childs restaurants were so glaringly white it didn't seem right to enter them without a bath, shave, and haircut. They were architecturally part laboratory, part squash court, part Roman pool, and part goldfish bowl. Then the owners dressed their managers like hospital internes, put their waitresses into attire partly suggestive of child brides and partly suggestive of dentists assistants, developed tray-dropping to a high art and prospered. Speed was a keynote. Buttered toast set new heights in rapid transit, and all previous records held by eggs in flight between kettle and customer were broken. It just went to show what a couple of alert boys could do with a dozen eggs, a gas-burner, some plate glass and an idea. And now there is no Mr. Childs in Childs restaurant. Well, it just doesn't seem possible. H.I. Phillips, Associated Newspapers Washington Post, March 13, 1929 "Taking advantage of war conditions"Oct. 2, 1918 CheersThis makes me think of the opening credits for "Cheers." "Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got. Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot ... " EntourageThe trailing car is sporting an American flag and another country's tricolor that I can't make out. My guess would be an ambassador or high-level diplomat worthy of a police escort. Great picture! [In 1917 there were a number of diplomatic visits to Washington from representatives of the allied nations -- the French mission, Belgian mission, British mission, etc. They all had motorcades like this. - Dave] The Childses and DadMy father's half-uncle, Clayton Cameron McNeal, had some kind of close connection to the Childs family. The two of them would visit Childs estate in Northern New Jersey back in the 1910s and ride on the family's collection of motorcycles. My main memory of the Childs restaurants focuses on the one on the north side of 42nd Street just west of Grand Central Terminal. It featured a family-friendly environment and good food for a reasonable price. Of course it is long gone. DeutschlandI'm guessing it's the German flag, since it's the only European one that matches this pattern. GermanThe date of the photo [circa 1917] and the possibility that it is a German flag makes the photo even more intriguing. [Early in 1917 the United States ended diplomatic relations with Germany. The German embassy closed and the ambassador returned to Europe. Maybe this had something to do wit that. - Dave] The FlagI checked out flags on Wikipedia and because the white is on the bottom of the flag, I'm guessing that it might be the flag of the Kingdom of Serbia, either without the royal coat of arms or with the coat of arms obscured by the American flag. Serbia was one of the Allies, although the country had been overrun and most of what was left of their army was waiting in Salonika. [I think you're right. Brent wins the lollipop! - Dave] Caption for the photo below, which shows the same flag: "1918. Lt. Col. Michailo Menadovitch, Serbian Army. Serbian mission to U.S." Which visited Washington from December 1917 to January 1918. In the Washington Post, the colonel's name was rendered as Hendovitch, Nenadovitch and Menadovitch. Tram SystemWhat's about the third track in the middle of the tracks, or was it a cable based tram system? [Washington's streetcars were mostly electric. The middle "track" is a slot giving access to the power supply under the street. - Dave] (The Gallery, Bicycles, D.C., Eateries & Bars, Harris + Ewing, Horses)
Our New Ride: 1921
... full size. On the fringe Looks very close to the bikes we had in the 50's. Just add handle bar fringe and a few playing cards in ... The lady's bike in the window is something to admire too. Bikes were built for transportation back then, not just playing a sport as so ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2013 - 3:38pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1921. "Times bicycle contest." Winners of a Mead Ranger bike for selling 30 newspaper subscriptions. National Photo Co. View full size. On the fringeLooks very close to the bikes we had in the 50's. Just add handle bar fringe and a few playing cards in the spokes. Peewee Herman would be proud. Ride a Ranger All the Year 'RoundClick to enlarge. Nice PrizeFrom a few period ads, it appears that a Mead Ranger bike might fetch about $20. In today's money, that's about $240. Pretty nice prize! Hot WheelsThat is one hell of a bicycle! It has all the bells and whistles, even an oo-gah horn. That kid is living the dream. Wouldn't notice the differenceIf you took this bike out of this time and set it in the 50's the only thing that kids would notice different, if they looked close, would be no chain guards and maybe the strange battery size and location. Darn!All I ever got for new customers on my Detroit Times route was tickets to Tiger ballgames. Thrilled to deathNeither of them look particularly thrilled. Do you suppose they had to share the bike? Or perhaps they were wishing they had won the $60 motor bike for selling 35 subscriptions. Window dressingThe lady's bike in the window is something to admire too. Bikes were built for transportation back then, not just playing a sport as so many are these days. Such beautiful styling! As lovely as a retro cruiser with extras or a Pashley bike from England. "Newspapers?"Yes, I have heard of these "newspaper" things you write of. Were they not popular before dying an inglorious death in the early twenty-first century, overcome by that intertube net thingy? Everything exceptIt even has whitewall tires but, it doesn't have a chain guard. Not a problem for those two young men. How old are those kids?Twelve? Thirteen? What sort of legitimate, recognized job is there that a child that age can hold today? How can they earn spending money and, possibly, transportation? And that bicycle would have enabled them to expand their route, as well, since they would have more time. A bike like that used to hang in my grandparents' basement, in back of the furnace. It disappeared around 1980, when the basement was cleaned out of a lot of scrap wood and old metal. Half NelsonBig Brother apparently is not "pleased as punch" with the spoils, and little brother only slightly less glum (stunned?). Little B looks like Ricky from "Ozzie and Harriet." Interesting contrastWalking away, she's quite a fashionable woman with her high heels and fancy hat. And then there's the man in his baggy suit and tattered shoes badly in need of a shine. That bikeDandy and very deluxe in its day. Plus it has a built-in light with a generator and a battery. $240 may or may not be an accurate conversion of $20 in 1921 dollars. However, $240 today will not get you a dream bike. I'd say you'd need $500-$1000 or more to get something as juicy and impressive today, and I'm not talking about a vintage bike. Just a 2010 bike with "all the bells & whistles". Today that might be a "trials" bike for doing tricks. (The Gallery, Bicycles, D.C., Kids, Natl Photo)
The Rat Patrol: 1973
... they managed to keep upright! As for helmets, we rode bikes, skateboards and mini-bikes without helmets because nobody did. I don't remember when the helmet ... 
 
Posted by AmericanJarhead - 09/12/2011 - 5:55pm -

This is my brother Paul (right) with a friend, Danny Bergman, who lived four or five houses down the block. It was taken in 1973 on the driveway in front of our house in Huntington Beach, California. I built the "machine gun" for them from spare pieces of PVC, wood and assorted hardware that were lying around in the garage. Next, I nailed a belt of machine gun ammunition to the block of wood and voila, a "machine gun" ... I used to go hiking with my father up in the dusty hills of Camp Pendleton where I collected spent rounds and belt links from the range. (At the time, I had no clue that I would end up hiking those hills again in 1979 and 1980 as a Marine myself! Or did I?) When I got home, I would reassemble the brass casings with the belt links and make lengthy ammunition belts. In the late sixties and early seventies I always had an ammo can with ten or so feet of belted machine gun rounds. My friends and I played "Army" a lot back in the sixties. Anyway, my brother and his friend would go around playing "Rat Patrol" and blow away all sorts of imaginary suburban enemies. In the garage is my parents 1972 Fiat 124. I never got to drive that thing but it was a dog of a car from what I remember. They ended up replacing the Fiat with a light blue 1975 Volkswagen Rabbit. I learned to drive in the 4-speed manual Rabbit while I had my learning permit. I got my license on the day of my sixteenth birthday and drove the Rabbit until 1976 when it was sold after being involved in an accident. I was not driving it at the time! Scanned from the original 110 negative. View full size. What goes aroundFantastically good scan from 110 negative! Thanks for sharing, and thank you for your service to this great country. NiceWouldn't that be Rug Rat Patrol? That's insanely cool, especially with the ammo belt made up from the real thing. The Fiat might've been a dog, but that's a great color for that car. (Yeah, I asked if you strapped that thing on, but it got edited out. Grr.) [Part of your comment did not show up because it contained invalid characters. - Dave] Shocked. Shocked!No helmets? And children allowed to play with toy guns? How times have changed. Accident Waiting to Happen...As I look at the photo, I can't believe that the gun and my brother didn't fall off and hurt themselves. I don't know how they managed to keep upright! As for helmets, we rode bikes, skateboards and mini-bikes without helmets because nobody did. I don't remember when the helmet PSA's started appearing but is couldn’t have been too much later than this. I was surprised at the quality of the scan on this too. Some of the 110 negatives that my mom shot were terrible but this one and several others were most excellent. This was scanned with the Nikon Super Coolscan 5000ED. I will post some more soon. I have a technical issue which Dave (Shorpy's own) helped me resolve. Holy Cow!My brother and I used to play Rat Patrol on vacations at the beach back when it wasn't a federal offense to play on the dunes. If we'd had that dune buggy rather than our two spindly legs, we would have destroyed all the sea oats on Topsail Island, NC. For more Rat Patrol goodness, I give you: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060018/ Fiat GreenI had a Fiat 131 in the same shade, though I think this has printed out a little light. At least in the late 1970s it was closer to glossy olive drab. I had a Rabbit too, later on. The thing that resonates for me the most, though, is the tank top. That's such a '70s boy's shirt. Iron-on!Looks like Danny needs some iron-on knee patches. When I was 9 in 1973 I had "Tough-Skin" jeans in assorted colors -- when the knees started to give out my mom would iron on plastic color-matching patches. Which made my knees sweat. And I could never figure out why my jeans never faded like my older brother's. Oohrah!Yes we played with toy guns and enjoyed Rat Patrol and movies about war. When we weren't playing with toy guns, we were practicing with real ones. I got my first rifle for my 5th birthday. Didn't get a BB gun until I was 7, maybe 8. Fun. Italian. Auto. Transport.They started making the Fiat 124 in 1966. The Russian Lada factory is still making a version of it. Love the wheel chocks, and Yes, my kids have that wagon (in red). I remember being mocked when my cousin & I pedaled around his block in Cerritos wearing motorcycle helmets. Also, those are pretty odd shoes for 1970's SoCal, Danny. As I recall, it was pretty much just Converse, Vans, Adidas, Lightning Bolt flip-flips and anything from Sears. Rat Patrol. Great job of making that machine gun. Always fun to make something cool from a pile of junk. Kids with imagination and skills. Ever notice in the weekly beginning of "Rat Patrol," the guy absolutely destroys himself on the machine gun as they crest over the sand dune? Ouch. Also, the lead actor in the series eventually died from injuries incurred while filming the series years later. Rat PatrolPlaying "Rat Patrol" and "Combat"...Our dads had enough WWII souvenirs (ammo belts, helmets, etc) still lying around in basements and attics that we could kit ourselves out, but I admit we never had such a cool machine gun! (I always had to be the bad guy because I could speak German). Fix it again, TonyWe had a nearly identical Fiat, except in powder blue. It was a lemon, and then was squashed like a bug when my neighbor forgot to set his parking brake and his car rolled down the hill, across my lawn and right onto the Fiat. Not Just a Radio FlyerIt's the flashy Radio Flyer GT, with mag wheels and whitewalls! Fiat 124, film 110I nearly bought a 124 in 1981, but got another Rabbit instead, the right decision I think. Still cool to see it in the garage there. Nice job on the 110 scan. So far I've only scanned slides from 110, which are often not very well exposed; I'm hoping I can get better results, maybe comparable to yours, when I get into the negatives. Thanks for the memories...This picture made my week. I grew up in the 60s and 70s (turned 10 in 71). I spent most of my childhood on Okinawa, mostly living off base. My brother and I would comb the jungles for WWII surplus (tons of it! Oh how I wish I would have saved some of those treasures) then we'd play "Combat" and "Rat Patrol" with the stuff we found. Getting to play soldier in a sho'nuff Asian jungle ... MAN I loved being a kid. Avocado see youSome classic 1970s colors here. Wow. Dart WarsThat suction-cup dart on the ground, what was that from? I love that it's in that same pukey shade of green. Waffle Stompers!Our kids wore them in the late 60s early 70s when we started going camping and hiking in the summer. Good shoes to wear for all the rough stuff, including going out to the desert to shoot model rockets. (After the rocket landed much time was spent trudging through sand and rocks searching for it.) Practical too. Though they cost more than Vans, they didn't wear out as fast. Plus, they would be outgrown by the next summer, so might as well get use from them. -- Former SoCal Mom Field Marshal Rommel beware.Christopher George has nothing on these guys. Things ChangeGreat photo! It's interesting to compare this picture to "A Heavy Load: 1909," and meditate on just how much American childhood changed in less than 70 years. Star Wars Storm TrooperCheck out the shadow of the kid and gun. Great memory!I was at Camp Pendleton twice, two weeks in 1976 at Devil Pups and again in platoon 3001 MCRD SD 1979. Great memories of growing up in California! SameI had a similar toy a friend of my dad built for me in the fifties. He put a motor with a battery and playing card inside so that when I pressed the trigger, we could pretend the noise was the gun firing. Similar to the noise a playing card in bicycle spokes would make. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, Kids)
« first‹ prev1 [2]3…next ›last »
Syndicate content  Shorpy.com is a vintage photography site featuring thousands of high-definition images. The site is named after Shorpy Higginbotham, a teenage coal miner who lived 100 years ago. Contact us | Privacy policy | Accessibility Statement | Site © 2024 Shorpy Inc.