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Boys on a Buick: 1960
... Must have been in inventory. Car Model Years New cars are introduced in the fall of the year, so the 1942 models were in ... 
 
Posted by Mvsman - 10/11/2012 - 6:11pm -

The picture was taken by my mom with us on the roof of a 1942 Buick. It happened to be the tallest car around, so my pal Dennis and I (on the left) could feel the excitement (not sure that's quite the word) of seeing Richard Nixon in a campaign swing at the Eastland Shopping Center in West Covina, California. Unfortunately, the POV is on us, and the crowd (seen in my previous photo) is unseen. View full size. Boy,those were the daysWhen you could sit or stand on the roof of a car and it wouldn't even flex let alone cave in like today. Hey!I was there on that day too, Mvsman! Mom took me out of school that day. Never did see Nixon. The crowd was too big. But I didn't have to go to school! So sorry Mr. McCloud (6th grade - Badillo Elementary) I wasn't really sick. Wow, I've finally cleared my conscience after 52 years! 1942 Buick?I'm surprised there was a 1942 automobile given what happened on 12/07/1941. Must have been in inventory. Car Model YearsNew cars are introduced in the fall of the year, so the 1942 models were in production, in the show rooms and on the road by December 7, 1941. Those models built after the war started had "blackout trim", which was painted bright work instead of chrome. Production of passenger vehicles for civilian use ceased in early 1942 and factories shifted over to war production. Arsenal of DemocracyThroughout the the months of January and February, 1942, automakers shut down car production, warehoused their tools, and retooled to manufacture needed war materiel. According to the Buick Heritage Alliance, Buick's shutdown took place on February 2nd. Buick built aircraft engines, M18 Hellcat tank destroyers, and other military equipment. '42 BuickMy dad had a '42 Buick Special coupe also. It was maroon in color and was a straight eight, I believe. He bought it second-hand in 1948. Like the previous message states, the car was probably manufactured in late 1941, before the auto plants retooled for the war effort. Parking Permit?Check out the TWA Parking Permit on the windshield. West Covina not all that close to LAX or ONT, so which airport would this be for? Re: Boy, those were the daysThat roof could get flexed by small objects, easily. On my Shorpy profile is mentioned a car accident on 6th Avenue (Altoona, Pa.). My Dad's 1942 Buick Century fastback and I skidded on wet streetcar tracks and car and teen driver caroomed across a sidewalk and into a brick porch. A woman appeared from somewhere and said, "Oh, my goodness! Did you have a wreck?" as various just-loosened bricks continued to cascade onto the hood and roof. Says I, "I think I'm still wrecking." Up on the RoofOne of my favorite summer games when I was first grade-age was to put a kitchen step-stool up against the family Edsel, and a running garden hose on the roof. The car became a water slide for me and my neighborhood friends. You climbed up the step stool, got on the roof, and slid down the (rather limited) flume across the huge back window and down the trunk. It worked because none of us at that age weighed very much. I still have that car and can certify that the roof is not in any way damaged. As far as my parent's water bill? I suspect that was damaged. But since I don't think they saw me play water slide with the car, I doubt they figured that one out. Car and school infoThe Buick belonged to my grandfather and was a loaner from him to his daughter (my mother). My parents used it for several months while they saved the money for a second car. The TWA sticker is there because Granddad was an inspector for TWA. He signed off on the maintenance performed on the planes serviced at LAX. My mother told me one time the car caught fire while we were driving. It was just Mom and me in the car, returning from shopping. She smelled smoke and pulled over quickly. Some guy in a pickup truck noticed the smoke, pulled out his fire extinguisher and took care of it. After that, I don't know what became of that car! Billl: I attended Rowland Elementary, corner of Rowland and Lark Ellen. Kindergarten! Thanks for commenting, I appreciate it. Buick Boys DateAccording to this, it was October 14, 1960. How timely. It's a transcript of Nixon's remarks. He doesn't mention seeing Mvsman, Dennis or the Buick, however. Nixon snubbed usI spoke to my mother yesterday and she remembers this event. She says she remembers seeing Richard Nixon only from a considerable distance, as the parking lot was very crowded. Thanks tterace, I read the speech and looked in vain for our names! (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Old Cold: 1905
... to this photo; the snow, the pedestrians, the lack of cars or driveways, the order represented by the gridlike planting of the trees ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/29/2012 - 6:11pm -

Circa 1905. "A winter morning (possibly Detroit, Michigan)." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. TimelessA scene like this could easily be 2005. Ahhhhhh!I get it, Dave ~ you're trying to cool us off! Good job! Trees FlockedProbably just a "dusting" by Detroit standards but a pretty sight. If this was the winter of 1904-05 it was one of the coldest of the century in parts of the country. All time record lows still stand today from that winter. A Snowy Shorpy ClassicJust a beautiful, and calming, photo. Thanks, Shorpy. Sidewalks clearedLooks like when I grew up in Northern Ohio in the late 60's. Sidewalks and driveways were all cleared soon after the snow stopped, and fall was a time to make money raking leaves. Anything to make gas and movie money. I'm reminded of a friend and his employee out cleaning the snow off the steps to his business. One asked the other, "What happened to all the kids wanting to make pocket money when it snowed." Answer: "We grew up." Quiet snowy day..There is a quiet peacefulness to this photo; the snow, the pedestrians, the lack of cars or driveways, the order represented by the gridlike planting of the trees some time before. I am walking down the lane, tipping my hat to the oncoming ladies. I just read in the morning paper we've just added a new state to our union named Oklahoma. I can picture walking into any one of these homes, taking off my coat and scarf, carefully hanging them on the coat tree by the foot of the stairs, warming my hands by the fireplace or grate, being offered a tea or cocoa (though maybe no cocoa as the milkman is running late because of the snow), and talking about the latest gossip of the day. (I suppose we visit more because there are few phones and no tv's) Maybe we'll listen to someone's new phonograph. Maybe I'm just walking to catch the tram downtown to get a new hat. No thanksThe picture is beautiful but I don't miss shoveling our old driveway and sidewalks. My dad wouldn't get a snowblower. Why would he when he had kids? I remember being out there at night shoveling. I bet the city did the sidewalks in this picture. Did they use salt in those days? This pictureis begging to be colorized! anyone??? (The Gallery, Detroit Photos, DPC)
Route 1: 1940
... windows into their basements. (The Gallery, Baltimore, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Gas Stations, Jack Delano) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/29/2019 - 7:09pm -

June 1940. "Baltimore-Washington Boulevard. U.S. Highway No. 1. Baltimore, Maryland." Medium format negative by Jack Delano. View full size. Ward WarehouseThe nine-story ivory building in the distance is the Montgomery Ward Warehouse and Retail Store, built in 1925. The warehouse served a large part of the East Coast. It's been converted into Montgomery Park, an office complex, and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 2000. Always an adventureThis website, coupled with a bit of curiosity, can take the visitor on many adventures. At first glance, I felt this photo offered little content, but it was Baltimore -- my childhood home 6 years before I was born. So a little detective work. The key clue: the Lord Calvert theater on the left. The building still exists (as a church) and is located at 2444 Washington Blvd -- in the Morrell Park neighborhood of Baltimore. This theater operated from 1935 until 1954. The owner would sue the city for its failure to widen the street and preventing a newer building from obscuring the view of the theater. The owner won, years after it closed. The two-story house with attic on the left still exists with new siding. You can still see the older shingles in the attic areas. The brick row houses on the right still stand, but are worse for wear. My father worked in the Morrell Park area in the 1950s and we lived several miles away near the "North Bend". Shorpy plus curiosity equals adventure. Approx view todayAssisted greatly by captivated's comment. Marble StepsWhen I was a boy, the National Geographic Magazine had an article on Baltimore. Many row houses had marble steps, and in one picture some neighbors were scrubbing theirs. I remember thinking, "That's too much work!" Old Montgomery Ward'sI thought that was the old Montgomery Ward's in the background. We used to drive all the way from Southern Md. to go there. Aunt Jimmie From West-by-God-Virginia and PigtownThis photo was taken at the corner of Washington Boulevard and Harman Avenue, known as the Morrell Park area. My Uncle Walter, who started to brew beer during Prohibition and my Scots-Irish Aunt Jimmie from West Virginia lived on Harman Avenue. Uncle Walt's brewing went on for many years to mixed reviews but it was always an adventure when visiting because he never got the bottle capping procedure down right, and once in a while you would hear a cap pop in the basement. My Aunt Jimmie introduced me to the pleasures of bluegrass music and festivals where they actually do pickin' and grinnin' in the audience. On a historical note just beyond Montgomery Wards towards Baltimore is Mount Clare, the 18th-century plantation of Charles Carroll, an original signer of the Declaration of Independence plus the first RR station in the US. Farther east of Mount Clare is an section of Baltimore called Pigtown. Supposedly the denizens of Pigtown would rustle pigs though the coal chute windows into their basements. (The Gallery, Baltimore, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Gas Stations, Jack Delano)
What a Dump: 1941
... Dump Truck and the Blaw Knox Bulldozer! (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon, Mining) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/24/2020 - 12:32am -

        Dart truck with Hercules dump body; Bucyrus-Erie 54-B electric shovel. August 1941. "Loading dump truck with iron ore at the Albany mine, Hibbing, Minnesota. Use of trucks was initiated in this mine two years ago and railroad tracks removed; trucks were found more economical and can climb the steep grade in much shorter time." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. How Steep? Pretty Darn SteepSome perspective on just how deep that mine was (now underwater) with a view of some of the rail tracks on the far right. Sweet memoriesThe moment I saw this picture, I couldn't stop myself, climbing the attic and open the box of Dinky Toys, me and my brother used to play with in the fifties of the previous century. And, yes, I found the ones I remembered: the Euclid Rear Dump Truck and the Blaw Knox Bulldozer! (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon, Mining)
Everybody Go to the Ball Game: 1923
... boy on the far right. He's so jaunty! (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Kids, Natl Photo, Sports) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/31/2012 - 8:18pm -

May 2, 1923. "Denby and Boys Club." Secretary of the Navy Edwin Denby, who had a role in the Teapot Dome scandal. View full size. National Photo Co. The Senators Win!Anyone who decided to go to the advertised game on Thursday, June 21, 1923 not only supported the Boys' Club but also saw the Senators beat Cleveland 6-5. Jaunty JauntI love the boy on the far right. He's so jaunty! (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Kids, Natl Photo, Sports)
Group Chat: 1941
... but the Coke sign is long gone. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Jack Delano, Small Towns) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/11/2018 - 2:54pm -

May 1941. "Street corner in Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia." Medium format negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Broad and Main Pure as SunlightCola-Cola used the slogan "Pure as Sunlight" as early as 1927 and obviously continued to use it well into the '40s. Still a busy intersectionI ride by this spot about a dozen times a year. There's still a lot of activity in downtown Greensboro, but the Coke sign is long gone. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Jack Delano, Small Towns)
Railyard Rollers: 1905
... when I saw this detail. Never thought abut how rail cars wereloaded by hand before. The sunken rails, two men on a barrel, wooden ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/08/2012 - 2:50pm -

Gulfport, Mississippi, circa 1905. "New Orleans supply yard, Union Naval Stores. Shipment of rosin and turpentine." 8x10 inch glass negative. View full size. Can't get enough turpentine photos!The gum naval stores industry as practiced before WWII is now mostly forgotten, but was once a Really Big Deal in the longleaf pine belt that stretched from North Carolina to the Gulf coast of Texas. Sadly, most of the longleaf pines are gone now, and several species dependent on the pine forests-- for instance, the ivory-billed woodpecker-- are gone for good. Those barrels would have been made and filled with turpentine and rosin distilled in small batches at camps located way out in the piney woods, by men working under absolutely medieval conditions. The ones working to pay the company store were lucky compared to the ones who were convicts leased from local law enforcement. I've seen most of the more widely available turpentining images, but this is a new one on me-- thanks for running it, Dave. LunchtimeThere appears to be a lovely young lady bringing some lucky gentleman his lunch bucket, and much prestige from his comrades. Hard labourfor those guys. It looks hot after maybe some recent rain, the barrels sure look heavy and there's a few hours left yet. Looks like there's refreshments being bought over by the youngster on the right. Thanks for the info Thad, I never knew about turpentine's origin such as shown above. Even the Lionel Lines1950s model barrel loader was more mechanized than this. WWWaaa - ter boo-ooyyyBring the buck-buck-bucket here! I remember that song so well, I could hear it in my mind when I saw this detail. Never thought abut how rail cars wereloaded by hand before. The sunken rails, two men on a barrel, wooden rails to roll them on, all fascinating! Safety firstThe bridges over the rail trench are noticeably lacking proper railings. 1 safety demerit! Good, I'm starved.Here comes lunch! As far as the eye can seeJust how many hundreds of thousands of barrels of rosin and turpentine could possibly be needed? And for what purpose, painting? [Used in the manufacture of soap, paper, paint and varnish. More on the "naval stores" industry, and the origin of the term. - Dave] Turpentine Forests Washington Post, Sep 15, 1902. Turpentine Forests. Their Rapid Destruction Threatens the Ruin of a Great Industry. From the New York Commercial. The first organization of turpentine men, known as the Turpentine Operators and Factors' Association, which recently held its first annual convention in Jacksonville, Fla., was confronted by the question of complete annihilation of their business, due to the ruthless tapping of young trees and the rapid depletion of the pine forests. Ten years ago Norfolk, Va., was the great naval stores port of the United States, five years ago Charleston was the center of the industry, two years ago Savannah, and now Jacksonville, and next Tampa and then — what? Prof. Herty, of the United States Department of Forestry, has been called upon and was present at the convention. Newspapers in the South have presented able articles on this same subject for years, but the writer has seen young trees no thicker in diameter than eight inches boxed; once, twice, yes three times, so that a step ladder was used for the top boxing and the strip of bark left was insufficient to gather the sap to feed the tree. The life of a turpentine tree after the first boxing is about two years. That means that after the sap has been taken the third time the tree must either be cut for timber or it dies. A trip through the pine forests of Georgia and Florida will demonstrate the reckless manner in which the boxing has been done, and, worse still, where clearings have been made, no effort has been made to check the growth of scrub oak and saw palmetto which effectually choke the young pine rearing its head where its parent stood. Gradually the operators have been driven south, and to-day it is estimated that at least one hundred camps are located in Florida alone, and about fifty camps in Georgia. Nine hundred operators were at the convention. Each man has either bought or covered with options more or less pine forest, and in spite of his knowledge of what the future will bring is rapidly killing the goose with the golden egg. The end is near in the turpentine and rosin industry. A few more years will see a tremendous rise in these commodities, and no effort has yet been made to restore the depleted forests of Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, North Caroline, or Northwestern Florida. The "fat pine" is indigenous to these States, it grows rapidly, but is easily exterminated by the more sturdy plants which spring up in the forest clearings. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, Railroads)
Hatchlings: 1942
... International way up north of town. GM kept building cars there until 1987, and tore down the plant in 1989. The airport was in ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/17/2014 - 10:36am -

October 1942. "New B-25 bombers lined up for final inspection and tests at the North American Aviation plant in Kansas City, Kansas." 4x5 Kodachrome trans­parency by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. View full size. Re: Love!Your grandfather probably flew one of the hundreds of variants of the B-25. Over 10,000 of them were produced during the war and there were tons of variants. Most were bombers, some were recon planes, others were modified for specific bombing missions (such as the Doolittle Raid). I'm at work or otherwise I'd try to dug up a few photos of variants with enclosed noses. Hope that helps a little! B-25'sSome B-25 models did indeed have solid noses; this was to accommodate multiple machine guns (and on some models a 75 mm cannon). These were used in a ground attack role and to attack shipping. Obviously by eliminating the bombardier's position bombing accuracy was lessened as the pilot had to aim and drop the bombs "by guess and by golly". Many actionsUsed in all theaters of WW II most notable the Dolittle raid on Tokyo made six months before this photo. Re: Remarkable SpeedAt the height of production, the Ford Bomber plant at Willow Run, Michigan turned out one completed bomber every hour. Pretty impressive! My uncle owned 3 of these planes during his lifeI had an uncle who owned 3 of these planes,two at one time back in the 70s(before he married my aunt).There was a feature article done back in the 70s in one of the local papers about him and the two planes that he owned back then.He later sold one of those two planes and traded the other one to the Yankee Air Force in Ypsilanti,Michigan for the third plane that he had until he sold it(and two semi trailers full of parts) a couple of years before his death.That one,named "Guardian of Freedom" now resides in Califonia in the collection of General William Lyons. I never got a chance to ride in the plane,darn it. Electric Ice Boxes and Razor Blades"Don't worry, the Americans can't build planes, only electric ice boxes and razor blades" -- Hermann Goering. Love!My grandfather flew these in the Pacific in WWII, one named Vera that I have a full-frame photo of on my wall, but the bow wasn't glass, but fully enclosed. But the photo was from later in the war, so I wonder if the eventually enclosed them? Hmmm... Mundane but impressiveThis is such a simple scene, but it speaks to the remarkable speed with which factories turnout all sorts of machinery during the war. Kodachrome!It's just like being there! From nothing to nest in 9 monthsThis photo is probably looking north; most of the buildings at the Fairfax airport were on the west side of the property. There is a lot of history on the North American plant (and the Fairfax airport) here. Some highlights... The airport opened in the early 1920s as Sweeney Airport. It was renamed Fairfax Airport in 1928. (Note the Fairfax Aviation Schools sign on the building at the left.) The ground-breaking ceremony for the North American Aviation plant was held on 8 March 1941, and the first B-25 came off the line on 23 December 1941, a couple of weeks after Pearl Harbor. They didn't stop making B-25s there until the day after V-J Day. GM bought the bomber plant and built their first car there in June 1946. The airport flooded in 1951, like a lot of the rest of Kansas City; that was part of the reason for building Mid-Continent International way up north of town. GM kept building cars there until 1987, and tore down the plant in 1989. The airport was in service until 1985. GM bought the whole airport and built a new plant pretty much right on top of the center of the runways a few years later. You can still see some of the runways on aerial photos. The North American (and later GM) plant was located at what is now the north end of Fairfax Trafficway, at Kindleberger Road. I remember it being there when I visited the area as a kid. When I worked in the area in the early 1990s, there were still a few of the airport buildings there, even though the new GM plant was already up and running. By the late 1990s all the airport buildings were gone. Note that this is *not* Downtown Airport in Kansas City, Missouri (MKC), which is still there and operating. Easy to AppreciateThe skill that was required to take off from the deck of 'Shangri-La' in one of these beautiful planes. (The Gallery, Kodachromes)
A Merry Young Soul: 1917
... are about 60 Coles left in existence. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin, San Francisco) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/02/2016 - 7:50pm -

San Francisco circa 1917. "Cole Eight Toursedan at Golden Gate Park." Latest epistle in the Shorpy Bible of Brobdingnagian Broughams. View full size. Shadows and FDRI'm surprised the photographer's shadow is so prominent. Guess I presume that professional photographers are more diligent about aspects like that - distracting things in foreground, etc. I'm guessing this shot wasn't used for any published purpose. [Would be easily dealt with in preparing the photo for newspaper publication, as was the intent. Lighting, background and composition were more important factors for the shoot itself. -tterrace] Living FossilA friend of mine here in the Detroit area has what is an exceedingly rare auto, a 1915 Cole 4-40 touring car, which might be the only one left in the world. That is the original color - not every early car was black. Always wanted to put a bumper sticker on it "Powered By COLE." Cole 8The Cole was a high quality auto made in Indianapolis. Before WWI there were only a few autos that had the unusual V8 engine. There were earlier V8s but it was Cadillac that developed in great secrecy and "revealed" the American V8 in 1914 (a little later used in Oldsmobiles and Chevrolets. In '24 a Cole was the Indy 500 pace car but that was getting close to the end of the Cole company's life. There are about 60 Coles left in existence. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin, San Francisco)
Antique Excavation: 1917
... to flip over backwards on the operator. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/12/2013 - 8:48am -

Washington, D.C., or vicinity circa 1917. "Gash, Stull Co. (Bright-Shepherd job)." A parade of vintage earthmoving equipment. National Photo Co. View full size. It's Mike Mulligan and His Steamshovel!I just hope that MaryAnn is painted red, as she should be. Supervisor messageTell the third Fordson driver that white shirts are required on this job. Erie ShovelErie Model B shovel working... http://youtu.be/erzrUEKh4eA http://youtu.be/T1iOZu7et64 Very similar to a Marion (Mary Anne), but the Erie was mass produced. Erie merged with Bucyrus in the late twenties to form Bucyrus-Erie, now part of Caterpillar. Note the concrete cast into the front wheels of the Fordsons, in an attempt to counteract their tendency to flip over backwards on the operator. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo)
Crunch Time: 1923
... of returning to dodge trams on M Street. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Harris + Ewing) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/10/2013 - 10:37am -

Washington circa 1923. "Auto crash in woods." Continuing our series on vehicular mayhem around the nation's capital. Harris & Ewing photo. View full size. Committed to a FaultPerhaps the service was a little too "prompt." Drunk treesSince so many of these accidents involve trees, they must have a drinking problem. Or why is it that drunks have a way of finding trees, no matter how far off the road? Back to natureOnce the Flivver had glimpsed the sylvan beauty of Rock Creek Park, it could no longer bear the prospect of returning to dodge trams on M Street. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Harris + Ewing)
Peerless in the Pines: 1923
... (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/16/2016 - 2:26pm -

Circa 1923. "Peerless touring car at Lake Tahoe (California)." Rolling on Kelly Balloons. 5x7 glass negative by Christopher Helin. View full size. GASOLINEIt's a gas can. It even says "GASOLINE," stenciled on the side! The running-board mounted frame secures it all around and over the top. Also common in those days was a trio arrangement of smaller cans in a similar carrier for gas, oil, and water. Peerless was an upscale make, but those hood latches are a type that shakes loose pretty easy, thus the rope through all four latches, to keep them fastened. I believe but cannot say for certain that those fitted windows were factory accessories. Again, not an economy car. At first I thought Mr. Backseat was lighting a cigarette, but now I'm leaning toward the snack. Calling all Shorpy experts...What is on the driver's side running board? And what is the rope or cord on the hood holding up on the passenger side? Are the windows aftermarket? Not an expertBut I think that might be a tool case on the running board. I'm wondering if the occupants have some kind of card game going on. [Looks to me like they're having a snack. -tterrace] Looking again dang it. I think you're right tterrace. My 500th comment since joining Shorpy was not my best. No expert, but --1) Tools, perhaps? 2) That strap is crossed over on top, and looks like it's holding the hood latches up. I could see how they might loosen on rough roads, and this car looks like it's seen some! Four wheel brakesFour wheel brakes appear to be present in this Peerless. 1923 was apparently the year that four wheel brakes started to became standard for the industry. Having rear wheel braking only makes for extremely unstable stopping. http://www.carhistory4u.com/the-last-100-years/parts-of-the-car/brakes (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin)
Weaverville: 1934
... has a little charm. But that won't last. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Gas Stations, HABS, Stores & Markets) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/23/2014 - 1:53pm -

March 10, 1934 "Weaverville, Trinity County, California. General view looking west." Not much evidence of a Great Depression other than the NRA sign in a store window. Photo by Roger Sturtevant for the Historic American Buildings Sur­vey. We wonder if he ever crossed paths with Dorothea Lange. View full size. LumberWeaverville was, and is, a lumber town. It's not a big place, and if you can work in the mills, you can generally find a job. BeholdOne of the first strip malls. At least this one has a little charm. But that won't last. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Gas Stations, HABS, Stores & Markets)
Salvage for Victory: 1942
... before this was taken. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Russell Lee, WW2) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/17/2019 - 5:12pm -

October 1942. " 'Salvage for Victory' campaign -- scrap and salvage depot in Butte, Montana." Kodachrome transparency by Russell Lee for the Office of War Information. View full size. Pacific Steel and Recycling nowThis is the closest I could get while still showing a bit of the mountains in the background. Maybe located a bit farther southNot that it's so important, but I think that this scrapyard was located about 2 miles away, a bit south of the present-day intersection of Montana Street and I-15. Other images from Russell Lee's Butte scrapyard tour show the Trevillion Monument Company building to the south (based on shadows) of the scrap pile, across a curved stretch of single-line railroad track. https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2017878815/resource/. Trevillion is still in business at 2400 S. Montana Street. http://www.tjmemorials.com/. Not sure if it was always there, but the curved railroad line is in the right place. There are some houses in the background here, and a row of ramshackle homes in the Trevillion image, too. I couldn't match anything up, and places change, but here's about where I think this was: https://goo.gl/maps/GQ1HsiV1o4iEebkd7. Go a little to the north and you can see the mountain: Did Kodachrome come in a can?Because there's a nice shiny new looking one towards the bottom. Judging by the condition I would guess Mr Lee himself tossed it there just minutes before this was taken. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Russell Lee, WW2)
Nothing Special: 1925
... other names besides Lee and Bankhead? (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/13/2011 - 7:39pm -

Circa 1925. "Dr. S.M. Johnson, Lee Highway Association." Seen here at the Zero Milestone in front of the White house. Samuel Johnson, "Apostle of Good Roads," was the tireless promoter of a southern-route transcontinental highway named after Gen. Robert E. Lee as a counterpart to the Lincoln Highway up north. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. The Other EndThe Lee Highway terminated in downtown San Diego's Horton Plaza (the public square, not the shopping center). Here's a view of the Pacific Milestone, dedicated on November 17, 1923. San Diego's Col. Ed Fletcher is second from left, a vice president of the Lee Highway Association and a lifelong promoter of good highways. His MonumentThe Zero Mile Stone was Samuel Johnson's "baby." In 1920, Congress authorized construction of the Lee Highway, but without funds. Johnson took charge of the project and raised money for its design and construction. If this photo was taken at the dedication, the date would be June 4, 1923. This site marked the departure point of the 1919 and 1920 Army Transcontinental Convoys across the United States. A young Dwight Eisenhower was on the first one. Ah Take ExceptionSuh, What do you-all mean. "Nothing Special"? Suh, ah will have you-all to know that the sainted General Robert E. Lee was the flowah of Southern chivalry and the highest expression of the nobility of man. Those dam' yankees should have felt honahed to have the oppahtunity to ride on a road named foah him. You carpetbagger you. [The Zero marker is a special Nothing. Y'all get it now? - Dave] Oh, mah goodness. Ah am so embarrassed. I hope you-all kin find it in yoah haht to fogive me. [Bull City Boy wants to let leslie and Dave know that he is well familiar with "y'all" and uses that contraction often in informal correspondence. "You-all" was employed by way of a being a parody of a heavy Southern accent, as was the substitution of "ah" for "r".] Youse GuysThank you, Dave, for knowing how to correctly spell y'all. 10-6 C 148A nice spot for a coffee break in the wee small hours of the morning. Drive the Lee Highway!Now I know where the name Lee Highway originated. The 1918-vintage 15-ft concrete laid from Plaster City, California, across the mountains, to connect the farmlands of Imperial Valley to San Diego is still visible, and drivable, in a few segments off the equally charming 1930 vintage US 80, which parallels I-8 for 30-plus unmolested miles in San Diego County. Googling "Old US 80 CA" or similar phrases will take readers to several web sites devoted to the vintage concrete, including some photos of the hair-raising climb up the In-Ko-Pah Gorge. Lee's HighwaysAnyone who's spent any time in Virginia will acknowledge the depth of the reverence and honor held for Robert E. Lee, the Old Dominion's first son. There are a number of roads called the Lee Highway there (Route 29 past Dulles Airport, one near Abingdon way down in the mountains, and, of course, Route 11 down the Shenandoah Valley -- the highway of my youth). Mentioning the "Civil War" will bring rebukes of correction: it was the "War of Northern Aggression." Bankhead / LeeEnjoying the pictures and info. I am continuing to learn more about the auto trails. I do understand that in Texas, i.e. from Mineral Wells to Lamesa, they call it the Bankhead Highway. Moreover, doesn't it have other names besides Lee and Bankhead? (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo)
But Seriously: 1940
... not the man. - Dave] (The Gallery, Agriculture, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Russell Lee) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/15/2018 - 9:52am -

August 1940. "Farm Security Administration cooperative truck. Oneida County, Idaho." Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the FSA. View full size. And no strapsto hold it all down. Nicely packed perhaps, but wouldn't want to be driving in back of that truck. StackingI love the simple, elegant yet unassailable logic to his packing of the sacks. It's a thing of beauty. Cerealsly ...I presume? Happy ManA happy man with a good harvest and a good truck. I bet it felt good to have a bit of prosperity after the depression. [The grain and the truck belong to the cooperative, not the man. - Dave] (The Gallery, Agriculture, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Russell Lee)
Tractor Pull: 1925
... obviously in 1st gear at about 2 mph. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Natl Photo) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/27/2012 - 7:05pm -

Washington, D.C., or vicinity circa 1925. "Ford Motor Co. -- stump pulling." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. TwangggggI would not want to be anywhere near where those folks are standing if that cable suddenly decided to break. FordsonThe tractor is a Fordson, built by Ford Motor Co., which continued to build tractors at least through the 1960s. When I was young, my father had a 1948 Ford 8N with a 4-cylinder L-head engine. It was rated at 2 plows, which meant that it would pull a mounted plow with two shares. I never drove it in the field (he had traded it by then) but there is a movie of me driving the thing in the yard, obviously in 1st gear at about 2 mph. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Natl Photo)
Proceed With Caution: 1923
... cause the tires to shake & shimmy? (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin, San Francisco) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/20/2016 - 10:52pm -

San Francisco circa 1923. "Stutz roadster at Golden Gate Park." Piloted by the lady last seen here. 5x7 glass negative by Christopher Helin. View full size. Laugh-InIs that Ruth Buzzi and Arte Johnson on the bench? Spare tire? Wheel?The side-mount spare appears to be just a tire casing carried on a Y-shaped rack. It does not appear to be a spare wheel. (Please educate me if I'm wrong; I don't remember ever seeing a Y-shaped tire carrier.) Mounting a tire is something which few of today's motorists would, or even could, attempt at the side of the road. Getting a modern tubeless tire off and onto a modern rim without a tire machine would be quite a challenge, if it is even possible. Fortunately, we have such better tires that tire trouble is now fairly rare. It's really a spare!If you blow up the photo a bit you'll notice the spare is mounted on a spoke-less rim. You can even see the air valve at the 12 o'clock position. To change the tire all one had to do was jack up the car, remove the six nuts that hold the tire on, remove the flat and replace it with the spare and replace and tighten the six bolts back up. Easy! Deflation a concern then as nowIt is an inflated spare on a metal rim, you can see the valve stem at 12 o'clock. In the event of a flat the wheel and spoke assembly remain in place. The rim and tire come off by removing the six clips that secure it to the wheel. A few months ago in Shorpy there was a picture of a guy replacing a tube on the side of the road in the depression. But he was a farmer used to making things work every day of his life. I'm thinking this attractive lady could change out an inflated rim with a jack, tire iron and a spare set of gloves. Tire balancingHow did they keep the tires balanced? On modern rims they would balance the spare as well as the ones on the ground. Or didn't they go fast enough to cause the tires to shake & shimmy? (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin, San Francisco)
Fifteenth and H: 1923
... structure at 1426 H. S. NW. .... (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2012 - 10:56am -

The Woodward Building in Washington circa 1923. The former office building, put up in 1911, became apartments in 2005. National Photo Co. View full size. I wonder......if people in the 1920's lived happier lives overall than people do today. Look at that picture. The streets seem clean and pleasant. I bet that area is a mess now. [It's not. - Dave] A win for preservationists Washington Post, Mar 9, 1990 Court Bars Demolition of Woodward Building Preservationists Hail Curb on "Special Merit" Preservationists hailed a major victory yesterday when the D.C. Court of Appeals stopped plans to tear down a turn-of-the-century office building in the Fifteenth Street Financial Historic District. The decision, the first to use the city's historic preservation law to overturn a demolition order issued by the mayor, placed new limits on the city's power to find that the "special merit" of a development justifies destruction of a historic site. "Virtually every historic building will now have to pass a tougher standard in order to be torn down. It will effect every single historic building," said Cornish F. Hitchcock, who represented the Committee of 100 of the Federal City, a private planning body that argued for yesterday's decision. The stakes in the case were grander than its subject; The Woodward Building, a U-shaped beaux arts structure at 1426 H. S. NW. .... (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo)
A Good Turn: 1936
... difference between 1982 and today! He began driving when cars were no more than veritable puddle-jumpers as compared to the sleek, ... plot which is online here . (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Harris + Ewing) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/18/2014 - 12:42pm -

Washington, D.C. -- "Safest driver of 1936, John W. Hunter." View full size. Safest D.C. Autoist Is Chosen; Drove 32 Years Without Crash Washington Post, August 13, 1936         Thirty-two years of automobile driving without an accident or a parking ticket yesterday brought its reward when John Hunter, a merchant living at 7336 Fourteenth street northwest, was selected as Washington's safest driver by a committee headed by Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen. The choice was made in the District Building at the request of the American Automobile Association, which will hold a traffic safety clinic in New York City on August 31. Hunter, who is 57, has estimated that he had driven 600,000 miles. He has never been arrested on a traffic charge or received a parking ticket. Imagine!The changes he'd seen in the same time difference between 1982 and today! He began driving when cars were no more than veritable puddle-jumpers as compared to the sleek, modern chariot he sits in in 1936! He was so busy adjusting to the year by year changes and improvements in those early years he didn't have time to break the law, and he looks no worse for the wear. My father's oldest brother saw an almost as impressive development as he was a Ford dealer from 1925 'till 1970--he experienced a year-by-year progression from the Model T to the LTD, then passed away in November of that year. How did he do it?Mr. Hunter attributed this outstanding achievement to the fact that cell phones had not yet been invented. Silver Spring's John H. Hunter John H. Hunter might have lived in DC but his business, Hunter Bros. Hardware, was located in downtown Silver Spring, MD at 8126 Georgia Avenue. This photo was taken in front of his store (structure still extant but probably not for long) with the buildings in the background being on the east side of the street (all of them having been demolished long ago). The Car1935 Ford Standard coupe. John Hillen HunterEverything I have found in the U.S. Census data shows his middle initial as "H" instead of "W" (1880, 1910, 1920, and 1930) as well as his WWI Draft Registration document which shows his middle name as "Hillen." He was born on June 9, 1879. He married Francis "Fannie" Lacey Clarke on July 9, 1902 in Washington, D.C. and they had at least three children: Frances Louise, Gertrude I, and John H. Hunter, Jr. His parents were Thomas and Hannah Hunter and his siblings were Mary L., Thomas, and William P. Hunter. His occupation is consistently shown as farm or agricultural supplies/implements from 1910 - 1930, so he may have added a hardware line or changed his line of business at some point. He died in 1960 and was laid to rest at Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church Cemetery, Forest Glen, Maryland. His wife is buried in the same burial plot which is online here. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Harris + Ewing)
Gun Moll: 1924
... springs. Most lady like indeed. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin, San Francisco) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/07/2015 - 9:35am -

San Francisco, 1924. "Lady greasing Oldsmobile sedan." A pioneer of Women's Lubrication. 5x7 glass negative by Christopher Helin. View full size. High rankingIf license plate No. 3 warrants this beautiful damsel, imagine what the servicing ladies for 2 and 1 must have looked like. She must have been a somebodyIs her licence place number 3? Wouldn't you have to be someone special to have such a low number? [It reflects the numbering convention for California dealer plates at the time. -tterrace] Zerk fittings (not yet)These are most likely Alemite fittings. The Zerk fitting was not patented until 1929 and is less vulnerable to dirt and allows greasing from an angle whereas the Alemite fitting required the connection be made straight on. As a tech in the bays, I don't see many grease fittings. Most all joints are sealed for life. Prior to the Alemite and Zerk fittings, oil and grease cups were used, and gravity was the method of delivery. When I was starting out, my boss told me to go out and grease the universal joints on a fire truck that had pulled up. I crawled under the behemoth, and without thinking, attached the hose to the Zerk fitting, and opened my mouth for what reason I do not know. I hit the handle on the grease guy, and the clean grease went in, and the dirty grease shot out, back into the farthest reaches of my mouth, so far back my fingers could not get there. 40 years later, and I still remember the taste of that grimy u-joint grease. Remember to extend the pinky finger.....when upon greasing the suspension springs. Most lady like indeed. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin, San Francisco)
Spheres of Influence: 1928
... must have been an expensive changeover. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/13/2014 - 11:37am -

Washington, D.C., circa 1928. "Library for Blind, B Street S.E." Another of those photos where the points of greatest interest are at the periphery -- the Sanitary Barber ("Ladies Hair Bobbing a Specialty") at left, and Hall-Kerr Motors, a Hudson dealer, on the right. National Photo glass negative. View full size. Remnant of the pastI'm guessing the chunk of stone beside the steps at 133 is a mounting block that was once at the curb in front of the entrance. It would no longer have been needed when carriages were replaced by automobiles since the latter came equipped with their own mounting blocks in the form of running boards. Typical D.C.The Library is closed and for sale. Very nice façade though. 133 BThis entire block was razed in the 1960s for expansion of the Library of Congress. Washington Post, July 29, 1928. Former branch office of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. at 133 B Street southeast … has been sold for the insurance organization to the National Library of the Blind Holding Corporation through the office of Weaver Bros. Speaking of SpheresDoes anybody know when DC switched from spherical streetlight globes to today's distinctive shape? And why? It must have been an expensive changeover. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo)
Tween Angel: 1961
... 10 or 11 in this picture; he was always a small guy. (Cars, Trucks, Buses, Kids, LOOK) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/21/2017 - 10:05pm -

David Cassidy, Heartthrob And ‘Partridge Family’ Star, Is Dead at 67         David Cassidy, the actor and teen heartthrob best known for his role as the musician with the green eyes and the feathered haircut on the 1970s television sitcom “The Partridge Family,” died on Tuesday at a hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was 67. — New York Times "Oklahoma!" and "Music Man" star Shirley Jones in 1961 with her stepson, the future pop icon David Cassidy, in Los Angeles. Photo by Earl Theisen for the Look magazine article "The Good Life of a Hollywood Bad Girl." View full size. One of the first movies I remember seeing was "Oklahoma" when I was 6. I was frightened out of my mind by the surrealistic dancing scene in it. Stairs to nowhere! As far as David is concerned, I was on my first tour of duty in Germany when the "Partridge Family" first came out, and when I came back it was already 1972. I watched it a couple of times out of curiosity but the music wasn't what I was into at the time. I always feel old and vulnerable when people younger than me don't make it. David would have been 10 or 11 in this picture; he was always a small guy. (Cars, Trucks, Buses, Kids, LOOK)
Neoclassical Gas: 1919
... such as those by Biddle & Smart. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin, Dogs) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/09/2017 - 12:14pm -

San Francisco, 1919. "Hudson Biddle & Smart touring limousine at Palace of Fine Arts." Home, Fido! 5x7 glass negative by Christopher Helin. View full size. Not exactlyThe 1960s reconstruction of the Palace is MOSTLY an exact replica of the 1915 version. The wall of the Palace itself facing the colonnade was originally fully decorated with freestanding and engaged columns identical to those of the colonnade, and the central doors facing the entrance to the rotunda were elaborately framed. This wall was rebuilt smooth, dull and blank (presumably to reduce costs) and its bareness is now screened by trees; the central doors now have minimal moldings framing them. The original concept as executed made the crescent walk behind the colonnade a much richer, more enclosing, visual experience than it is today. A bit of the pergola which crowned the original wall is visible in this photo. Theft insurance.Love the chain and padlock on the spare tire. During the big warThe lad on the right has a navy pea coat with chief petty officer rating. Some kids even had a full uniform to wear. Last war that happened. [He must be standing behind the car. -tterrace] ReduxThat's the original Palace of Fine Arts Rotunda, built of wood and "staff" (a mixture of plaster and straw) for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition of 1915. Beloved by San Franciscans, it was the only structure retained afterward. The building deteriorated so badly over the next 50 years that it had to be demolished in the fall of 1964. An exact replica was built in its place from permanent materials and was completed two years later. Early SUVwith integral roof rails and requisite pooch. FashionistaShe can also be seen here. Hudson Sold ValueWhen this car was new autos often had mechanical troubles that made them difficult to drive. Hudson was a medium priced car that was both powerful & reliable for its time. The Super Sixes as shown in this picture were the first production car to feature a counterbalanced crankshaft allowing higher engine speeds, more power & longer life than was typical at the time. Another feature was a cork clutch which ran in oil that was smooth, long lasting and did not slip. Other types of clutches often jerked, burnt out or slipped. Every Hudson except the first & last years of production was equipped with a cork clutch. With these mechanical advantages and a moderate price, Hudson sold a lot of Super Sixes and some were fitted with elite bodies such as those by Biddle & Smart. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin, Dogs)
Traffic These Days: 1917
... honor in front of the District Building. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Harris + Ewing) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/06/2014 - 8:45am -

Washington circa 1917. This is, as far as we know, our final glimpse of the Haynes roadster before it motors on its way down 14th Street into eternity. If the darn umbrella ever changes. Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size. Glass Plate/Negative difference?Is a glass plate a "positive" versus a glass "negative" of the photograph? [They are the same thing -- the negative is a glass plate. "Plate" just means flat -- a flat sheet of glass, like windowpane. The negative is made by taking the glass plate out of the camera and dunking it in developing solution. Most of the images you see on Shorpy are made by shining a light through the negative onto an image sensor and then electronically reversing ("inverting") the result. Below are some pictures of an actual glass negative that I took in my kitchen. Click to enlarge. - Dave] Glass on your plateJust saw a great documentary on the photographer Sally Mann. She was using a huge old field camera and shooting 8x10 inch glass plates, using a collodion wet plate process, with darkroom equipment in the back of her Suburban. She was shooting, amongst other things, old Civil War battlegrounds, and marveling at the flawlessness of old glass negatives from Brady and other Civil War era photographers. As we do here about twenty times a day... It was great seeing how it's actually done. I liked the notion of the Haynes roadster speeding off into Eternity, by the way. Very evocative. Boss Shepherd and the District BuildingIt's nice to know that the statue of Alexander "Boss" Shepherd has been returned to its rightful place of honor in front of the District Building. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Harris + Ewing)
Willard Batteries: 1947
... . Thanks to jschneid for the pointer. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, San Francisco, Stores & Markets, W. Stanley) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/05/2015 - 8:58pm -

Nov. 6, 1947. "Brunton's Auto Service, north side of Bush between Polk & Larkin." Your Willard Battery headquarters, as long as you're buying wholesale. 8x10 acetate negative, originally from the Wyland Stanley collection. View full size. Actually on PinePolk's Crocker-Langley City Directory has Brunton's Auto Service one block north, at 1460 Pine St. and this is recognizably the same building there today, as is the wooden one partly visible next door. Trees obscure the view today, so you'll have to drive by in the Google street view to see what I mean. Packard?Looking at the taillight on the car parked on the street, I thought it might be some kind of immediate postwar Packard, but the trunk and bumper don't say so. Maybe someone else can identify it. KJBS Radio The building and tower at left is the studio and transmitter site of radio station KJBS, at 1470 Pine Street. The station was started in 1925 by the Brunton family as a 5 watt station run entirely on Willard storage batteries. It was located at the original Brunton shop at 1380 Bush Street (which may explain the confusion about the location of this image). The call sign KJBS stood for "Julius Brunton and Sons". When the Brunton auto store was moved to Pine Street in the 30s, the station moved into this adjoining building. For a time in the 30s and 40s, the Bruntons also owned station KQW (now KCBS), and both stations operated from this building. In 1960, the Brunton family sold KJBS and the call letters were changed to KFAX, as it is still known today. The power was increased to 50 kW and the transmitter was moved to Hayward, but the studios remained here until some time in the 1970s. The attached photo is taken from the FCC's old KJBS file at the National Archives. History of KJBSAn interesting history of KJBS is found here. Thanks to jschneid for the pointer. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, San Francisco, Stores & Markets, W. Stanley)
The Squeaky Wheel: 1918
... Well someone had to say it. (The Gallery, Agriculture, Cars, Trucks, Buses) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/28/2016 - 11:16am -

Oakland, Calif., circa 1918. "Orchard tractor demonstration -- Fageol Motors Co. 'Walking Tractor'." Latest entry in the Shorpy Catalog of Agricultural Anachron­isms. 8x10 inch glass negative by Cheney Photo Advertising Co. View full size. Not for lack of lubrication.I notice all the pictures of Fageol tractors you've posted show leaky seals on front hubs, it seems to have been a design feature. Tiller steering was an anachronism long before 1918 and must have been brutally hard work with those front wheels. Perhaps not surprising they disappeared only a few years later. [According to the Research Department, there are no seals or bearings. Just a Flintstones-era spindle and disc, to which grease is liberally applied. - Dave] OuchI have seen surviving steel wheels of this nature in person (sometimes one row, sometimes two, diagonal treads, or straight ones) but never anything like the rear wheel on this Fageol. Looks like some kind of medieval torture device. Yikes. Why I come back to ShorpyThis photo is a prime example of my love for Shorpy. I Google the interesting items and increase my knowledge. 1. Painting tree trunks was common when I grew up in 1940's Florida. Both citrus and regular trees were painted but I never knew why (citrus bark is very thin when young and susceptible to sun scald). 2, The teeth on the drive wheels are removable. Most likely to aid in manufacturing as I cannot see a way to break one off in actual use. 3, That sulky seat allows for a second worker to raise and lower the disk harrow blades. If it does not swivel, then the controls do not, as they say, "fall readily to hand." Driving one of these contraptions... must have been a harrowing experience! Insert Obligatory Hoyt Clagwell Comment hereWell someone had to say it. (The Gallery, Agriculture, Cars, Trucks, Buses)
P.I.E.: 1940
... trailers since 1914. (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Gas Stations) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/28/2018 - 8:47am -

March 1940. "Rear of interstate truck. Elko, Nevada." Medium format negative by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Home Sweet HomeI was born in that town, a little before that picture was taken. Looks like Idaho Street, the main drag our little house was on, possibly across the street and to the right a bit of that gas station/motel. My father worked for the railroad, and my (very feisty) mother would stick her tongue out at the PIE trucks when they passed by. I remember PIEIn the late 70s and early 80s, it seemed like they were every third truck on the road in the western states. I never have made it to Elko, though. They still make them.I was just thinking that manufacturers don't sign their names with pride like "RELIANCE" did here, that is until I looked on their website. They've been making trailers since 1914. (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Gas Stations)
Blair House: 1920
... The Fullerton model sold then, delivered in two railroad cars, for $2,243. They're going for $250K and above now, depending on condition ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/01/2013 - 4:14am -

Washington, D.C., circa 1920. "7221 Blair Road." Someone's at the door. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Progress?Spacious front lawn with concrete walkway replaced with concave gravel driveway populated with weeds here and there. Improvement? Don't think so. And it's for sale, tooIt's a small realtors' "for sale" sign to be sure. They probably didn't want to bring too much attention or offend the neighbors. Wonder what the sale price was in 1920 for this "ample two-story home, good windows (some with screens) and cross-ventilation, breezy shaded front porch, mature plantings, nice lawn and in friendly neighborhood close to paved road." Not all changes are goodIt's too bad that the sweeping sidewalk is gone, and shame on whomever replaced the twin single-hung windows in the dormer with a single horizontal sliding window. Old, Simple & EffectiveMy grandparents had the same cloth awnings on the windows, and over the porch. You cranked them up and down by hand with a long metal pole. It was amazing how much cooler the porch got when the awning was down. 1925 or laterOn Zillow it states that the year built is 1925. Bedrooms: 4 beds Bathrooms: 2 baths Single Family: 2,347 sq ft Lot: 16,176 sq ft Year Built: 1925 Heating Type: Forced air Still There!With a few changes, but still very recognizable. American IconIt's a foursquare! This house is for saleThe house is for sale, and the negative's mold makes it look like the interior hasn't been dusted for years, there is snow or huge pollen blowing about, and an eerie glow hovers above. It's gonna be a hard sale! Owner leaving city.From June 13, 1920, edition of The Washington Times. Takoma Park 7221 Blair Road Price reduced $2000 Immediate possession Owner leaving city. Will sell this beautiful home at a sacrifice in order to make a quick sale. House contains 8 rooms, sleeping porch, breakfast porch and attractive bathroom; entire house is screened including the sleeping porch; hardwood floors; hot-water heat; electric lights; awnings; garage harmonizing with house. And unfortunately, when you bring up this page from archives, you also see real estate listings for "coloreds" :( Near Walter Reed Army HospitalJust a very few blocks' walk to the Walter Reed Army Hospital. That must increase the value of houses in the neighborhood. Not Near Walter Reed Any MoreWith the coming of BRAC, the Walter Reed Army Hospital was merged with the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. Walter Reed Army Hospital was closed and the old Walter Reed site in D.C. will be redeveloped. Also, concerning the date in Zillow, if D.C. tax records are like those in nearby Montgomery County, Maryland, the built dates on properties built in the 1930s and before are often wildly inaccurate. It is not unusual to see newspaper ads for house complete with photos years before the tax records say the houses were built. In other cases tax records have build dates years before the subdivisions were established. We Love Our Foursquare!We live in the historic district of Hyattsville, Maryland; adjacent to Takoma Park. We're a couple of miles inside the Washington, DC, Beltway and a couple of miles from the District line. There are many of these American foursquare homes in this district. Our home is one of a row of five Sears kit homes on this side of our street built in 1926. The Fullerton model sold then, delivered in two railroad cars, for $2,243. They're going for $250K and above now, depending on condition and upgrades. Interestingly enough, the story is that in another one of these foursquare homes two blocks from our house, Jim Henson lived when he was attending nearby Northwestern High School. He created his first Muppets for the local Wilkins Coffee company's TV commercials while living there. You can find some of those commercials on YouTube. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo)
Car Seat: 1918
... ID'd them on another Marmon here . (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Kids, Natl Photo) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/01/2017 - 12:11pm -

Washington, D.C., 1918. "C.N. O'Dell children." Illegally but adorably parked. 4x5 inch glass negative, National Photo Company Collection. View full size. Ask The Man Who Owns OneNot enough of the car to say for sure, but it is a Packard. Possibly a six cylinder, but it could be a Twin Six, which was Packard's name for their V-12 This is a Packard 3-38 six. It is visually identical to the Twin Six. Without opening the hood, we may never know if it is little brother or big brother Car ID1917 Packard Twin-Six 176 Lenses in One - Legal AnywherePackard dropped their 6-cylinder when they introduced the Twin-Six in 1916. Although the Twin-Six was made through 1923, after a few years Packard realized that the 12-cylinder was just too expensive to keep building and designed the new Single-Six for introduction in 1921. That year Warren G. Harding became the first President to arrive at the inauguration in a car—a Packard Twin-Six. Warner-Lenz had been a standard item on Packards for a couple of years by the time the main photo above was taken. Eagle-eyed reader Hayslip spotted them on a Marmon here, and tterrace ID'd them on another Marmon here. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Kids, Natl Photo)
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