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Mary Dixon Palmer: 1920
Washington, D.C., circa 1920. "Mary Dixon Palmer." Daughter of the attorney general. National Photo Company Collection ... of the Smithsonian Institution reports that Mary Dixon Palmer had donated an alligator to the National Zoo. It does not disclose how ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/13/2011 - 6:45pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1920. "Mary Dixon Palmer." Daughter of the attorney general. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Skate park!That is a whole lot of gear for a skateboard. Guess they had trouble making tiny wheels. Look Ma, No Helmet!Life was sublimely carefree before the advent of crash-test dummies. Don't underestimate herThe 1921 annual report of the Smithsonian Institution reports that Mary Dixon Palmer had donated an alligator to the National Zoo. It does not disclose how she acquired the alligator in the first place. Move, MOVE!Mary Dixon Palmer, daughter of the attorney general, stands waiting for someone to invent the Segway. Cute KidI'll bet she grew up to be a attractive woman. My daddyis against tort reform! Soon bound for EuropeFrom the Gettysburg Times: GROTON, CONN., Aug.30 [1923] -- A. Mitchell Palmer, of Philadelphia, former Attorney-General in President Wilson's Cabinet, and Mrs. Margaret Fallen Burrall, widow of John B. Burrall, a New York manufacturer, were married yesterday . . . . A short trip to the New England States, accompanied by Mr. Palmer's daughter, Mary Dixon Palmer, was planned, with an extended automobile tour of Europe, leaving New York on the Olympic September 8. Mr. Palmer's first wife died two years ago. Miss Palmer WedsMary Palmer was frequently mentioned in the Society Pages in the early 1920s but the details of who had tea with who and where people were vacationing are too trivial for even me to wade through. Far more interesting to me is her well-heeled education - hopefully the benefits of which were not wasted after her marriage. Washington Post, Sep 16, 1934 Mary Palmer Becomes Bride at Stroudsburg The marriage of Miss Mary Dixon Palmer and Mr. David Lichtenberg, of Mount Vernon, N.Y., took place yesterday at 12 o'clock noon at the residence of the bride's father, Mr. A. Mitchell Palmer, 712 Thomas street, Stroudsberg, Pa. … Miss Palmer, who had no attendants, wore her mother's wedding dress of ivory-colored ribbed silk, trimmed with the real lace always worn by the brides in her mother's family. ... The bride is the only daughter of former Attorney General Mr. A. Mitchell Palmer, of Stroudsberg and Washington. She is a graduate of the National Cathedral School in Washington and of Swarthmore College. She has also taken post-graduate courses at Columbia University and at Oxford, England. she is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta at Swarthmore, and was prominent in all college activities. … BlammoThis pic was taken just a year after an Italian assassin blew himself up in front of Mary's house, trying to kill Daddy: http://washingtonhistory.com/ScenesPast/images/SP_0801.pdf Damned trippy wickets...."The bombing occurred in front of the home of U.S. Attorney General Alexander Mitchell Palmer, who had been the intended recipient of the package bomb, which in all likelihood would have been successful if the bomber had not tripped on a series of iron wickets lining the front entrance of the home, blowing himself and his identity into thousands of pieces." Daddy's Little GirlThe LOC caption info: "Attorney General A.Mitchell Palmer and his little daughter Mary Dixon Palmer. Mary is always on the lookout for "Daddy" when he returns from a busy day at the Dept. of Justice. Date from caption list. March 13 1920." (The Gallery, D.C., Kids, Natl Photo)
Mustang in Flight: 1942
... American Aviation. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer. View full size. Paint? Did planes like these leave the plant ... painted. Compare with unpainted . - Dave] Alfred Palmer: 1906-1993 Alfred Palmer's obituary from Feb. 2, 1993: (San ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/29/2022 - 12:08pm -

October 1942. P-51 "Mustang" fighter in flight near the Inglewood, California, plant of North American Aviation. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer. View full size. Paint?Did planes like these leave the plant unpainted? [It is painted. Compare with unpainted. - Dave] Alfred Palmer: 1906-1993Alfred Palmer's obituary from Feb. 2, 1993: (San Francisco Chronicle) Alfred Palmer, a career photographer who got his first camera from Ansel Adams and who had his first public show at the age of 84, died Sunday. Mr. Palmer, a longtime Bay Area resident who most recently lived in Larkspur, died in San Rafael after a long illness. He was 86. A staff photographer and film maker for such shipping companies as Dollar, Matson and American President Lines, Mr. Palmer had his debut exhibition in 1990. "It's about time," he said during the two-part show at the Bank of America Concourse Gallery. The first exhibition included World War II photographs taken when he worked for the Office of War Information. The second included pictures from his travels during the 1920s and 1930s and featured such photographs as an untouchable in Bombay, an old man in Beijing and temple dancers in Bali. Mr. Palmer estimated that he traveled half a million miles at sea during his career and circumnavigated the globe "more times than I can remember." In 1917, he helped a young Ansel Adams carry his heavy tripod and camera around the Yosemite Valley, where Adams took some of his most famous and striking photographs. At the end of the expedition, Adams presented Mr. Palmer with a $1 Box Brownie camera. "He made me a photographer," Mr. Palmer later told an interviewer. A former merchant seaman, Mr. Palmer also produced films about the American Merchant Marine. Mr. Palmer is survived by his wife, Alexa, of San Rafael; three children, Julia Gennert of Bolinas, Donald Palmer of Stinson Beach and David Palmer of Los Altos; and nine grandchildren. Memorial services are pending. Beautiful aircraft!Looks to be a P-51B IIRC, which was made specifically for ground attack. This was with the Allison engines, and was considered underpowered until incorporation with the Merlin engine that enabled it to (later) establish itself as one of the top fighters of WWII. Thanks for sharing this :) Also known as the ApacheThis model was also known by the name "Apache." MustangMy records show this aircraft as being built for the RAF, but retained by the USAAC for testing. Serial number of the aircraft is 41-37416. Aircraft was destroyed during shipment to Europe in 1943. Early vs. Late P-51 MustangsThe Brits were not impressed with the first P51s we sent them, but some bright fellow thought to put an engine from the Spitfire in one. We started making that Rolls-Royce Merlin engine over here (in a Packard plant?) to put in the later Mustang, turning it into a world-beater. "Mustang I"This is a Mustang I, the original version built for the Brits before the US put in their order. The primary clue is in the guns -- all US versions were armed with Browning 50 caliber machine guns, which have barrels short enough to almost fit in the wings. Only stubs will show for 50 calibers. On the other hand, the Mustang I was ordered with four Hispano 20 mm cannons instead of machine guns. The long gun fairings conclusively identify this as an Allison engined, 20mm cannon armed, Mustang I. (The British gave their aircraft a snappy name, like "Spitfire" or "mustang", and identified models by roman numerals. On the other hand, the US relied on familiar type and model numbers, like "P" (for Pursuit)- 51. In the US system, versions were identified by letters, and minor modifications by "block numbers." For example, "P-47D-25") Apache? Not.While basically the same airframe it's not an Apache. A-36's had dive brakes on the wings. MustangThis is a P-51 (no suffix), RAF equivalent is Mustang IA. Only this version had the four 20mm Hispano guns. Mustang Mk. I's had two chin-mounted .50 caliber machine guns and one .50 caliber and two .303's in each wing for a total of eight. The Mk. I's were exported for use by the RAF and RCAF. A-36 was the Invader, not ApacheIf the the P-51A (cannon armed) also was in the AAF Apache era I can't say for certain, but the reply below restricting the Apache appellation to the A-36 is in error. Later the A-26 assumed the Invader name, but that p[lane did not reach operational combat units until months after Overlord. Philip C. Marchese, Jr. P-51It did have an unique official designation of P-51-1 for 57 planes for AAF use withdrawn from an RAF Defense Aid (Lend-Lease) contract for 150 as their Mustang 1A. Serials for that contract were 41-11981 to -11980, but there is no found record of exactly which ones went to AAF. Confusion arises in that all were similar to Mustang I but for wing cannon; however, Mustang 1 was factory Model 83, and Mustang 1A in this contract was Model 91 with no new model number assigned. To muddy the waters moreso, AAF first applied a designation of F-6A—as a photo ship—but that idea was tossed out. There is some thought that it was to be Model 92, but that had already been assigned to a Boeing B-29 contract which was canceled, so cooler minds took the easy way out by simply adding a dash 1 and moved on to other things. This is either an I/P-51 or a P-51AThe inlet scoop over the engine behind the prop is indicative of the Allison powered versions of the Mustang. These were the very first models produced and saw limited service as attack aircraft due to their poor performance above 20,000 feet. The big change for the Mustang came with the addition of the British Merlin engine..... the rest is history. Hello, www.shorpy.comHello, I can't understand how to add your blog ( www.shorpy.com ) in my rss reader [Click the "Shorpy RSS" link at the top of the homepage. - Dave] Apache!When North American designed the NA73-X, the factory named the entire project "Apache." The P51/Mustang IA was designed without British involvement and still had the original factory label. The P51, after production, was slated for half USAAF training units and half British deployment. The British commonly renamed American aircraft but in the case of the P51 (no A,B,C or D/K) the Americans had always referred to the planes as Apache. The Army echelon did not like the name and they were more than happy to change it to Mustang later. "Invader" is what US Army theater personnel called the A36 Apache, but it was never an official designation. Packard MerlinsAt the beginning of the war, 1939, the British air ministry sent a buying team to the USA to source a fighter superior to the british spitfire and a supply of Merlin engines. It appears that Rolls-Royce feared they would not be able to supply Merlins in sufficient quantity for the number of aircraft projected to use them, among them Spitfire, Hurricane, Lancaster bomber and others, so they contracted Packard to produce Merlins under licence. When the US found itself at war after Pearl Harbour, it checked around it's its armament inventory and found Mustangs awaiting shipment to us British, these were immediately impounded, re-gunned and and impressed into USAAF service. They also discovered a ready supply of Merlin engines being built in their own backyard. The aircraft proved to be a disappointment in British service and was relegated to ground attack. It was only when a Merlin was fitted that it's its laminar flow wing came into it's its own. By the way it's its bubble canopy and drop tanks were also fitted by us first. The US never managed to fit a cannon of US design in it's its fighters and even in Korea the North American Sabre still had to rely on 0.5 machine guns against the Russian Mig-15 cannons. Mustangs were not much used by us British after that, we preferred to rely on the constantly improving Spitfire. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Aviation, WW2)
DOJ: 1915
... WWII with a White House staff of 11 people. Sen. T.W. Palmer Residence This attractive building saw many uses over its short 41 ... erected in 1884 as the residence of Senator Thomas W. Palmer of Michigan. The initial building, the left half of what is seen here, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/22/2012 - 8:37pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1915. The Department of Justice building at 1435 K Street N.W. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. Dude Descending a StaircaseTwo ghosts, or one? CrampedHow did they fit all that bureaucracy into such a tiny building? Maybe the ghost was J Edgar Hoover spying on his future bosses several years before he started working there. Bureaucracy constrainedThis was back in the time when people really did believe in a small central government. Even into the 1940s: Truman wrapped up WWII with a White House staff of 11 people. Sen. T.W. Palmer ResidenceThis attractive building saw many uses over its short 41 year lifetime. Sorting through all the history has proved to be one of the more substantial projects I have done here at Shorpy. It was originally erected in 1884 as the residence of Senator Thomas W. Palmer of Michigan. The initial building, the left half of what is seen here, was designed by J.R. Thomas (probably John R. Thomas) of New York. The right half of the building was added ten years later under the direction of its then owner, William E. Schneider. After this expansion it became the new home of the Norwood Institute: an elite preparatory school for girls. The Norwood Institute appears to have graduated its final class in 1897, at which point the building was adapted to serve use as the Hotel Baltic. In 1899, with the old Department of Justice Building falling down, Congress authorized money for construction of a new building and the department took up what was supposed to be a short term residence in the Hotel Baltic: the original lease was for 18 months. Months turned into years as congress squabbled about costs, siting, etc. Finally in 1916, the Department of Justice was able to move into its new building at the nearby corner of 15th and Vermont. In 1920, the building was purchased by George Washington University to house their Law School. After 5 years, the law school moved to its new home in Stockton Hall. After this, things turn to the worse. The building was razed in January 1926 to make way for the construction of a "modern office building" to house the real estate firm of Shannon & Luchs, Inc. The following 1894 article refers to this architectural style as "modern gothic." By today's definitions, I think it falls more under the umbrella of Richardsonian Romanesque Senator Palmer's House Col. Robert I. Fleming has just received from Mr. J.R. Thomas, a prominent New York architect, the drawings for a residence which he will soon erect for Senator T.W. Palmer, on K street, fronting on McPherson square, and adjoining the fine residences of Col. Payson on the west and Mr. Lowry on the east. The drawings show one of the finest single houses about Washington and denote at once the practicable and artistic ideas of the architect. The building will have a frontage of 32 feet, with an entire depth of 123 feet 6 inches, and will be five stories in height. The facade, of modern Gothic design, is constructed entirely of Potomac red sandstone, and will present an effect as handsome as it is novel in this city. This design is extensively used in New York, but will be accepted here as an agreeable change. The principal entrance is reached by a flight of stone steps, ornamented with heavy newels and balustrades, and above the massive doors a semi-circular door-piece of rich design is crowned by a beautiful buttress in the form of a sea shell, which supports a heavy stone balcony. There are two large semi-circular windows opening from the parlor on separate balconies similar in design to the one overhanging the main entrance, while from the second story springs an artistic oriel, resting on handsome carved stone and finished with rich cornices and balustrade. Above this, accessible from the third story, is an elegant loggia, or gallery with in the house, but open to the street, a feature seldom seen here, but extensively used by the Italians. The fourth floor is ornamented by a group of six arched windows, and the whole is surmounted by cornices of handsome though simple design. [ article goes on to describe interior] Washington Post, Jun 30, 1884 Note, in the following account of the addition, the entrance was moved. I think the original entrance was the third window from left on the ground floor. Also curious to me, is the change in building stone from Potomac red sandstone to Hummelstown brownstone. It is somewhat difficult to tell in black & white, but the materials appear to match well. I'm hardly a qualified field geologist so am not familiar with the comparative appearance of Appalachian sandstones. Of note, though, is that Hummelstown brownstone is characterized by reddish to purplish hues. Big Building Projects Another project of interest is announced to the effect that the vacant lot adjoining the late residence of Senator Palmer, 1435 K street, is to be improved by a handsome residence building, which will be in design and detail a duplicate of and connected with the existing house. William E. Schneider, the owner, is having plans prepared for a five-story structure, 25x120 feet, with the entire front of Hummelstown brownstone and porch of same material. The entrance will be by way of a large recessed arch, and on the upper story the windows will have balustraded balconies. At the second story there will be an ornamental oriel bay window. The top floor will finish with a row of colonnaded windows. ... The new building and the residence of Senator Palmer will be occupied when completed as a boarding-school for the Norwood Institute, of which Mrs. William D. Cabell is principal. No approximate estimate has as yet been made of the cost of the building. The Palmer house originally cost $110,000, and is finished in very expensive style. Washington Post, Sep 7, 1894 Potomac red, Hummelstown brownDuring the last part of the 19th century, Allen Walton, owner of Hummelstown Brownstone, was promoting his product in the D.C. area. It came in various hues that probably matched existing stone quite well. The Christian Heurich mansion is an example of Hummelstown brownstone with a pink to purple hue. Architectural confusionI'm confused by the descriptions of this building. The second paragraph under "Senator Palmer's House" describes the right half of the building almost exactly. But "Big Building Projects" doesn't match what I'm seeing on the left. I don't think the front door was moved; to me it seems like William Schneider's big plans were simplified before the structure was built. It appears the entire facade was covered with stone so the two halves blend seamlessly. At any rate, this is a fascinating building and it's a shame it was demolished. [It looks like the original house is the right side of the main building, with the entrance, and the addition is the part to the left of the entry. Some of the features described in "Big Building Projects" (the entrance, the oriel bay) were already there, in the older right half. - Dave] Re: Architectural confusionYes, I think I was confused in my original post here regarding which portion of the building is the older part. I think Dave's right that the right hand side is the original building. "My original plan was to build a forty-thousand dollar house here," said Senator Palmer to a Post reporter last evening, "but the figures have increased beyond ninety thousand, and the end is not yet in sight. still I do not regret my action, for real estate is not destined to retrograde in Washington and a more charming spot for a residence cannot be imagined." Washington Post, Jan 4, 1886 (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing)
The Big House: 1937
... full size. UPDATE: Astute commenters ID this as the Palmer house at 1236 Ottawa Ave. WOW! That right corner with the ... house proper. Such an interesting detail. Walter B. Palmer House Google doesn't cover much of Ottawa but I did find out this is ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/10/2012 - 11:30pm -

April 1937. "House in Ottawa, Illinois." Bonus points to anyone who can Street View the place, assuming it still stands. Photo by Russell Lee. View full size. UPDATE: Astute commenters ID this as the Palmer house at 1236 Ottawa Ave. WOW!That right corner with the chimney is so cool. It is great that no one, over the years, thought to paint the masonry to match the house proper. Such an interesting detail. Walter B. Palmer HouseGoogle doesn't cover much of Ottawa but I did find out this is "The Walter B. Palmer House, completed around 1896. An example of design from the periodical American Homes. George F. Barber, architect." It was standing as of 2008 but looks a bit beat. [Good work! It's on Street View at 1236 Ottawa Avenue. Click below to enlarge. - Dave] Flickr of interestI did find a recent picture. It's badly in need of a paint job. What a shameA beautiful home that deserves much more attention than it's getting. [My first thought was "needs paint," but then I noticed that almost all of the siding above the first floor is shingles. -Dave] Could be worseAll things considered, it's pretty intact. Usually you see homes of that era that have been completely butchered. I imagine the upkeep alone must have been a full time job. Story TimeLooks like there might be a fourth story at the far end, which would make five levels counting the basement. Well Known HorsemanWalter B. Palmer, born 1863, killed in a riding accident in 1932. I think this is the placeright here. It still standsHere is the link to Street View for this old gem. Awaiting my bonus ... [Your bonus points: !!!!!!!!!! (of the exclamation variety). Hats off to you and all the other Shorpians who located the house with lightning speed! - Dave] 1236 Ottawa AvenueIt's the Walter Palmer house, at 1236 Ottawa Avenue! Needs some work!Now it's quite a fixer-upper. I count what look like three elaborate stained glass windows in the 1937 picture. Sadly they are now gone. Oh, Just One More Thing, PleaseThe original porch was much better; too bad it was modified. Hey, Little BuddyThe big brother of a chimney looks like it has an arm draped around the shoulders of the window, as if to say, "Whatcha looking at?" I've never seen chimney masonry extended quite like that before. It's very appealing, and lends weight to the design gracefully. It makes the porte-cochere look spindly and out of place. Fire in the fireplaceI see some comments about the chimney so let me be the first to point out that there is a fire below since you can see the heat waves leaving the top. Design No. 27That would be a "George Barber House" built from his Design #27. (Below). I know because my great-grandfather built an identical house from the same plans at 123 Central Street in Salinas, California. (Also below.) No longer standing, alas. [Good heavens. I'll wager there's a kitchen sink somewhere in there. -Dave] Update: Full-size drawings at http://www.pbase.com/jamartini/barberhouse The bottomless money pitQueen Annes are groovy to look at from the street but you'd had better have an awesome set of tools and skills in the garage if you're gonna own one. My brother and wife lived in one like this and they were ALWAYS fixing, repairing, or replacing something on the exterior. Twas a never ending battle. Linsay House in IowaHere's a beautifully preserved #27. Interesting to see some of the custom details different buyers would opt for (such as the bargeboard in the large gable and railed upper porch) Floor PlanHistry2, is there any way you can post that floor plan larger? I'm intrigued by old house plans. Bloom County Linsay HouseWell I'll be gobsmacked, it is! Floor plansHi tinytortoise. I posted four Barber sheets (Including two for #27) at http://www.pbase.com/jamartini/barberhouse Barber design bookThis posting led me to Google Books, where I found one of George Barber's design books, available for free here. Unfortunately this book does not contain this exact design, but it's a good place to get lost if you appreciate 1890s architecture. Santa Claus: Keep OutUtterly stunning, especially that chimney. Do enough of the plans still exist that one could build these again with more modern materials, or only the exterior and floor plan so you would have to hire an architect to fill in the rest? If only I won a multi state lottery so I could go buy one and afford to restore it. Finding Grandmother's HouseWith help from a former colleague, I located the house where my grandmother grew up at the turn of the 20th Century this way. Click here. Bloom CountyToday while researching Berke Breathed's comic strip Bloom County I came across a Wiki entry that states that the Linsay House, already pictured in a comment below, was Breathed's model for the Bloom County boarding house! This very dayHere is a photo taken today, 12 Dec 2012. Friend lives in Ottawa and took this photo. Much excitement in town due to photo being up on Shorpy. A friend's grandfather knew the photographer as he lived in Ottawa for awhile back in the day and rented a house from the grandfather. Before and AfterI love that chimney, I've seen it on several old house photos. This one in particular is mesmerizing so I put together a little before and after animation. Re: This Very DayLooks like the current owners or occupants are slowly chipping away at some exterior sprucing up since the street view was taken! Quite the job they have ahead of them. Too bad they lost their little round porch--that might be my favorite feature on the original house. Looks like they gained the upper porch at least. My heart criesAs a restoration carpenter and lover of American architecture and homes built from early 1800's to early to mid 1940's when I see this I cry. Tears literally fill my eyes as these homes that gave definition to the landscape fall to disrepair and neglect. I watch as these homes some left and abandoned are reclaimed by old mother earth. I tears a hole in my stomach as I see pictures of these "homes" where as roof fails, it is only a matter of time before the often all solid oak floors or some even walnut woodwork with incredible 10 foot ceiling. The internet is loaded with this photography and brings to light the failure of our country to revive these beautiful homes that took hands to build. Hand built, hand crafted and often had milled woodwork before electricity was even an option. I hope this country wakes up and begins to revive these beauties. Once inside they are nothing short of incredible if you knew what it took to join, match and assemble this beautiful woodwork. where not one piece of plastic was ever used. (The Gallery, Russell Lee)
War Kitchen: 1941
... income for rent." Medium format acetate negative by Alfred Palmer for the U.S. Office for Emergency Management. View full size. ... metabolism is generally higher. (The Gallery, Alfred Palmer, Kids, Kitchens etc., WW2) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/21/2022 - 10:31pm -

July 1941. "War housing. Mrs. B.J. Rogan and her small son, Bernie, in the kitchen of the Rogans' new war home at the Franklin Terrace housing project in Erie, Pennsylvania. Mr. Rogan is a drill press operator at a nearby plant which is working three shifts on war contracts. The Rogans pay about twenty percent of their income for rent." Medium format acetate negative by Alfred Palmer for the U.S. Office for Emergency Management. View full size. Light bulb in the trash canThat used to be a familiar sight, as manufacturers held to highly inefficient--thus highly profitable--incandescent bulbs long after alternatives were possible. It took an act of Congress (Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007) to phase out incandescent bulbs that typically lasted 750-1000 hours, as opposed to today's LED bulbs which won't need replacing for 25,000 hours. That CoffeepotWas my worst enemy after visiting my father-in-law's house for the first time for an overnight stay and being asked by my wife to "make coffee." Of course I had no idea how to make coffee in that kind of pot. We had only been married a year and I had been in the US for the same. Needless to say, I greeted everyone to breakfast with the best coffee sludge a newbie could make. Still thereThe Franklin Terrace apartments are now called the John E. Horan Garden Apartments. The old kitchen was tiny but charming; now, not so much. https://www.hace.org/housing-info/hace-rental-properties/john-e-horan-ga... https://www.hace.org/about-us/revitalization/ Snack TimeIt's about 2 pm according to the clock on the wall. I am just wondering what he did to get a snack at 2 pm. When I was his age, I didn't dare ask for a snack that soon after lunch. I usually waited until about 3 pm. Chances were 50/50. If if got to be 4 pm - it was too late - 'dinner is soon'. There's a busted light bulb in the trash bin. I wonder what wattage it was. Looks peaceful to meEverything spic and span and in its place while Mrs. Rogan whips up something tasty for her family, but I'm sure it reflects accurately on the home front during wartime. Those Servel gas refrigerators always seemed to produce a faint odor, but they did work using a science I never understood of how to make cool with a gas flame. Between 1955 and 1960 with I was in Boy Scouts, we'd spend Memorial Day weekend at a deer lease in the Hill Country of Texas between Kerrville and Medina. The first thing our Scoutmaster did upon entering the asbestos sided cabin was light the Servel refrigerator and that odor lingered throughout the weekend, but we had a lot of fun. [Fun fact: Servel is a contraction of "Serving Electricity." - Dave] Movin' on upIt's new, nice, clean, and not an attic nor a small travel trailer still on wheels. I couldn't find the Rogan family in the 1940 Census, but did find this description of their living arrangement progress: "Defense housing, Erie, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. B. J. Rogan and their small son, Bernie, at home in the living room of their new defense home in Erie, Pennsylvania. Mr. Rogan is a drill press operator at the nearby General Electric Company plant. He earns $42.50 a week, and pays about twenty percent of his income for rent. Before moving into a newly constructed defense home at the Franklin Terrace housing project, he lived in a remodeled attic, and then a trailer. For the latter he paid 6 dollars a week, including all utilities." I'm pretty sure the B. stands for Bernard. The Franklin Terrace housing project is now the John E. Horan Garden Apartments. Horan was/is the director of the Erie Housing Authority. These units are now public housing. PercolatorI suggest Baxado ought to retry the percolator for making coffee. I still have my parents' percolator which is used extensively on camping trips. Makes a great cup of coffee, but be careful of the grounds! Encyclopedias, The seat of knowledge Loco ...... motive on the table. 1941, huh?Since The U.S. didn't enter the war until December, why was this family living in "war housing?" [Yes, huh. Some googling might provide enlightenment. Keywords: Lend-Lease, Battle of Britain. - Dave] Found 'em Bernard J. Rogan, Sr., wife Lenore, and son Bernard Jr. are in the 1940 census, living in Washington DC, where Bernard Sr. is an insurance agent. All 3 were born in Pennsylvania. In 1948 they are living at 2130b Gladstone Ct., Erie PA. Occupation was listed as "Tool Rpr". In 1950, they are back in Washington DC, where Senior is manager of a service station. Lenore works for the Federal Power Commission. Senior died in about 1983. Lenore died in 1992. Junior died in 2016. Let there be (free) light."Light bulb in the trash can" reminded me that here in Detroit (and I assume other cities) the Edison Co. would exchange light bulbs (burned out for new) at no charge. That went on for years until some local store owner sued Edison for restraint of trade because he wanted to sell more lightbulbs. And won! What a yutz. Monday ... is laundry day. And this kitchen appears to have a combination kitchen sink and deep laundry tub. If Mrs. Rogan was lucky she would have an electric wringer washer, otherwise it would be the old washboard. It would lean against the angled portion of the laundry tub. My 1928 house still has its original double concrete laundry tubs. There were also refrigerators that operated on kerosene. Re: Snack Time by Soda_PopGiven his age, the social conventions of the time regarding raising children, etc., it's highly likely that Junior had a relatively early lunch - between 11:30 and noon, followed by a nap. Upon rising from said nap, he could have had a regular snack, followed by playtime in the yard all afternoon. Dad may have been at work until 3 or 3:30, and walked home by 4. Dinner may not have been until 5, so a 2 o'clock snack for Junior wouldn't have been out of place. Kids' stomachs are smaller than adults are, and their metabolism is generally higher. (The Gallery, Alfred Palmer, Kids, Kitchens etc., WW2)
Irma the Ironer: 1941
... red, white and blue. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer, Office of War Information. View full size. Palmer vs. Hine Her smile alone shows how glad she is to be employed. I ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2012 - 6:39pm -

December 1941. Akron, Ohio. "Manufacture of self-sealing gas tanks, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co." A patriotic ensemble of red, white and blue. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer, Office of War Information. View full size. Palmer vs. HineHer smile alone shows how glad she is to be employed. I have daughters who would kill for this dress.No, really. Irma the Ironer: 1941Where did you find this photo? I don't see it on the LOC site, and I don't see any color photos for Alfred Palmer in 1941. Did you colorize it? [It's here. - tterrace] [There are lots of color photos by Alfred Palmer from 1941 in the LOC archive. - Dave] First, it was all his shirtsNow he has me ironing his gas tanks. As time went byI'm sure there was a better way found to make gas tanks. I can't believe...I'm getting PAID to iron something other than a shirt! Pushing the Iron, er, the EnvelopeThis was very early in the lifetime of U.S.-built self-sealing fuel tanks because patents had just been issued that year. Check Wikipedia for their history. Here's a segment from the 1943 documentary "All Out For Victory" with one of those almost-British narrators. "Yes, I get into working on some queer things. I sure do." http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1785081081357314567# Kitty FoyleThis pic is used on Wikipedia, on the Kitty Foyle Dress page. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, WW2)
0001, 0002, 0003 . . .
... metal department." 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer, Office of War Information. View full size. Coloured Photos I ... and then slides. It was not a print film. - Dave] Palmer's Lighting One interesting thing about these great old war ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2012 - 6:38pm -

October 1942. Inglewood, Calif. "Parts are marked with this pneumatic numbering machine in North American Aviation's sheet metal department." 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer, Office of War Information. View full size. Coloured PhotosI love these early coloured photos, they just make this time period so real and, well, normal. Sometimes it's hard to imagine the early 20th century without thinking that everything happened in sepia. Was the 1940s the earliest decade to have coloured photos like these? [Color photography got its start in the 1890s. Kodachrome color film made its debut in 1935. - Dave] Re: Kodachrome"Kodachrome color film made its debut in 1935." Or as I refer to it, the year colors were invented. Time lagInteresting that all of my professionally-taken baby pictures were hand tinted in the early 30's. Wonder why they weren't in color to begin with. [That would have been well before color print film (and developing) was available for the average camera. Kodachrome was a transparency film, first used for 16mm movies and then slides. It was not a print film. - Dave] Palmer's LightingOne interesting thing about these great old war production photos that Dave's been posting is the lighting. It looks like they kept the rest of the production area dark and then just lit the immediate working space. It would be fun to see a "making-of" shot. Ummm . . .What a doll. Foy Las Vegas Pneumatic DollsDo you think S. California was really a magnet in the early years of the film industry for attractive people hoping to become stars (and who later found themselves, cute as they were, running pneumatic numbering machines)? More LikelyWhile it's true that Hollywood was a magnet for attractive young women who would find their way into war work it think a couple of other factors are at work here. I have a suspicion that the photographers were looking very hard for attractive women for the photos. I suppose it's possible that Palmer might have found the two prettiest girls in the department to pose for this photo. The other factor is that many of the women who worked in the war plants were the young wives of soldiers, sailors and airmen for whom California might be a long-term base before being shipped out. I don't suppose it would be unheard of for them to come to California while their husbands were based in the area and then gravitate into the war plants after - or even before - they shipped out. Lighting[A preliminary note: We know that Alfred Palmer used floodlights for at least some of these large format Kodachromes. Hand-held floodlights and cabling are visible in a number of his photographs. - Dave] Kodachrome, back in the day, was an absurdly slow film; that was one of the many prices you paid for shooting in color. Shots like this one were done with flashbulbs, and quite large ones. (My educated guess is that this was shot with one large bulb in a large reflector, off to camera left.) That was done, in part, to provide the necessary *amount* of illumination, but also to provide the right *color temperature* light - the floodlights in a factory would have made everything look horribly yellowish or orangeish, and light coming in through skylights and windows would likely have been too blueish. You can still get the same look today with slide film, a high-powered flashgun, and a camera with a leaf-shutter that synchronizes flash at high speeds: well-lit subjects in foreground, inky blackness in the background. Quite aside from the technical and aesthetic effects, this technique meant - for the wartime Kodachromes you see on Shorpy - that you only got to see the parts of the factories that, frankly, the government wanted you to see. No need to worry overly about accidentally disclosing wartime secrets off in the background of a photo when everything but the main subject is shrouded in darkness... Unsafe, but I look fabulousShe's wearing jewelry on a pneumatic press machine? Egads! The parts on the table are rib sections; these fit between the longitudinal spars of a wing or control surface. The parts in the rear are fuselage formers; you can see the notches for the stringers that run down the side of the plane. North American Inglewood built both B-25 bombers and P-51 fighers during late 1942; judging from the size of the formers, these are probably P-51 Mustang parts. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Factories, WW2)
Nacelle Belles: 1942
... the background." 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. View full size. Love the ... York in the 40s. No. 531 is oh so cute. Sigh. Palmer Picks In addition to being an excellent photographer, Alfred Palmer ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/17/2012 - 10:28pm -

October 1942. "Two assembly line workers at the Long Beach, California, plant of Douglas Aircraft Company enjoy a well-earned lunch period. Nacelle parts of a heavy bomber form the background." 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. View full size. Love the 40's Working WomenThese women are amazing - maintaining their glamour while working and supporting the war effort. Really fantastic. Thanks for this Shorpy - I dress 40's style and these pictures are a tremendous resource in color! Not that far from AnaheimThe brooch that woman is wearing makes her look like an usherette at Disney's Enchanted Tiki room. In ShorpylandIn Shorpyland, everyone is fit and attractive. I WANT TO LIVE THERE! Out of Time?No matter how many times I look at these Kodachrome photographs I never get tired of them, I always find myself transported back in time to the 1940s, just seeing how colourful the young girls dress up even for just going to work in an aircraft factory is a stark contrast to the black and white movies of the day. I've always had a feeling for the US during this period even today I love watching "On the Town" (sad I know) with Gene Kelly just to see some of the colour footage of New York in the 40s. No. 531is oh so cute. Sigh. Palmer PicksIn addition to being an excellent photographer, Alfred Palmer sure knew how to pick his subjects. Hubba-hubba. DeliciousOoh, look at those lunchboxes!! The one I had growing up was NEVER this cool. Les BellesOnce again the OWI photographers chose attractive women to include in their pictures. I guess they were trying to boost wartime morale and have a little fun themselves. Beats photographing the machinery. Those awful shoesLook at the pitiful shoes they're wearing. My mother was a 23-year-old bookkeeper then, and she remembers the sacrifices that were gladly made for the war effort. She says that because so many materials were scarce, the only shoes she could buy were made from substandard material, and quickly fell apart. Also, silk and nylon were unavailable, so the only stockings she could get were rayon, which were horrible. Beautiful girls, walk a little slower.......when you walk by me,..." I can hear Tony Bennett now with that appropriate song for this alluring photo. The one sitting down has a pencil tucked behind her right ear. Years ago anyone having to do paperwork often stored their always-needed pencil behind their ear, don't see that much anymore. Last but not least, my father who was born in 1909 enjoyed wearing red socks which made him a little different and quirky, even in the olden days. He was a fun guy (not the mushroom kind), very intelligent and sociable. This picture really captures a day on the homefront in WW2. How staged were these?I know that the majority of these women were actual workers, but how many were just models that they brought in for these photo shoots? [These photos are not "staged," they're posed. Using actual employees. - Dave] Who could forget those red socks?We've seen the lady on the right previously: https://www.shorpy.com/node/2592 Maybe she started the fashion? https://www.shorpy.com/node/2595 EchoI echo Joe on this one.I might add as a nurse I see fewer and fewer of these fine people. Nacelle Belles: 1942As a man who grew up in the 1940s and 1950s, there is an almost overwhelming nostalgia that I feel when I look at these idealized photos of young women from that period. No doubt, many men my age might be longing for the days when women were much more unequal, usually stayed at home, and slaved over the stove to cook memorable meals for their families. But I don't think that is what attracts me to these photos of women who are fashionable, yet ordinary, not glamorous. These women remind me of my mother. Most people who grew up in this era have lost their parents by now, and the missing of one's mother never ends. My mother and father were both modest people, especially my mother, and I don't think modesty is as common now, nor is it as valued - not by a long shot. The magic of KodachromeThe vibrant colours, the tone, texture and the almost 3D quality which Palmer achieves in this photograph are truly stunning. There is a piece of software in existence which digital photographers use to try to replicate the Kodachrome effect; all it does is increase the saturation, it cannot come close to the magic of the real thing. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Pretty Girls, WW2)
Muscle Shoals: 1942
... June 1942. View full size. Photograph by Alfred Palmer. Industry I love this photograph. There's something exciting ... What a photographer It's remarkable that Alfred Palmer doesn't seem to get the same praise that his contemporaries receive. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/30/2012 - 7:34pm -

Furnace man at phosphate smelter, TVA chemical plant near Muscle Shoals, Alabama. June 1942. View full size. Photograph by Alfred Palmer. IndustryI love this photograph. There's something exciting about industry, something powerful and impressive about furnaces and giant steel pipes and their manifestation of the power of Man. dangerous jobThis reminds me of when I was young I worked in a foundry, they would melt pig iron in a furnace like this one, the man who operated the furnace was getting burned all day and also had to deal with the heat and always had to worry about a blow up, the iron after it was cast would stay "red hot" for a couple of days, actually glowed red the first day. thanks for the memory. What a photographerIt's remarkable that Alfred Palmer doesn't seem to get the same praise that his contemporaries receive. Maybe it's because his photographs always seem to be perfectly exposed, and perfectly posed. It is truly a shame, because his images are superlative..... Alfred PalmerThis is one of many terrific photos by Palmer. He doesn't get enough respect. On the walls of my home office I have prints of five FSA-OWI photos. Four are by Palmer. His photos of work and industry are stunning. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Industry & Public Works, WW2)
Star Pressing Club: 1936
... has been painted in the space between the doors. L. Palmer This is Joe Manning. In the 1930 census, there was one African-American person named Palmer listed in Vicksburg whose first name begins with L. He was Luther Palmer, born in 1890, his occupation given as a tailor running a tailor shop. I ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/12/2011 - 4:53pm -

February 1936. Vicksburg, Mississippi. "Negro shop fronts. Laundry and barber shop." Large-format nitrate negative by Walker Evans. View full size. Meter ReadersDid the electrical meter readers work on stilts? A little off the topDave, can we see a close-up of the hairstyle chart above the barbershop door? Zipper effectThe siding on the building shows the "zipper effect", where the joints in the boards follow a repeated pattern, usually due to the length of the boards as they were made at the mill, versus the width of the building. It's an effect you're supposed to work to avoid, by cutting boards at different lengths, to avoid creating a pattern. Bigfoot?The person who read the electric meters in Vicksburg must have been extraordinarily tall. Pressed HairI'm going to guess that the "Star Pressing Club" is for the purpose of pressing hair. [It's a laundry. See the clothes? - Dave] Pressing ClubIt's the name of a dry cleaner, some still operating in the South. Thought BalloonThe siding looks typical of the cartoons of the 1930's. Popeye for example. Also very Robert Crumby. Especially where the siding joins in the upper left. The horizontal splits in the siding at the joins and the nailheads are also typical of the comics of the period. 2D Barber PoleI love the way the barber pole has been painted in the space between the doors. L. PalmerThis is Joe Manning. In the 1930 census, there was one African-American person named Palmer listed in Vicksburg whose first name begins with L. He was Luther Palmer, born in 1890, his occupation given as a tailor running a tailor shop. I had a strong feeling he was the L. Palmer on the sign. Then I found a Luther Palmer, born in 1899, who died in Mississippi in 1963, and then found his son, a retired professor at Texas A&M University. I called him, and after a very interesting conversation which seemed to establish a good possibility that his father was the man who owned the 1936 business, I realized I had forgotten to mention that it was a "Negro" business. At that point, Professor Palmer told me he was white. Case closed? Probably, but is there a small chance that the business was owned by his white father, but run by African-Americans? He didn't think so. After 1930, there are no records for any other Luther Palmers who appear to be the one I found in the 1930 Census. Wrong PlaceSomeone's chalked "Wrong Place" to the left of the barbershop window. 120 Volt Electric serviceHaving been in the electrical distribution business for the past 40 years it is interesting (to me, anyway) to see the old style 120 volt meter service on both sides of this building. Each serving the business on either side. There were still, believe it or not, two wire 120 volt, 30 amp services still in existence up until just a few years ago! (The Gallery, Stores & Markets, Vicksburg, Walker Evans)
Palmer Park c.1910
Palmer Park, Detroit, circa 1910. The people in the pic are either distant relatives or family friends. The "Big Tree" in Palmer Park was quite the attraction during this time period (early 1900's). ... 
 
Posted by mackinaw - 10/24/2014 - 6:47pm -

Palmer Park, Detroit, circa 1910. The people in the pic are either distant relatives or family friends. The "Big Tree" in Palmer Park was quite the attraction during this time period (early 1900's). From a family collection of 4X5 glass plate negatives. View full size. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Paul Bunyan at Palmer Hardware
My Grandpa, Don Hobart, worked for Ace Hardware in the 1950s and 60s. I am pretty sure this is from Elkhart, IN. View full size. Moved Apparently, this Paul Bunyan has been moved to Virginia as of September 2011. http://www.roads ... 
 
Posted by drm - 06/08/2012 - 10:28pm -

My Grandpa, Don Hobart, worked for Ace Hardware in the 1950s and 60s. I am pretty sure this is from Elkhart, IN. View full size. MovedApparently, this Paul Bunyan has been moved to Virginia as of September 2011. http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/2578 Surprised nobody has axedWhere's his ax? When I was a kid, a local lumber yard had a Paul Bunyan identical to that out front. He held an ax, as this one obviously did at some point. Our Bunyan moved out some time back also. I've always wondered where such a thing ends up. One nearbyThere's a Muffler Man just up the road from me in someones yard, along with a giant Chicken and a Statue of Liberty head. It's been there a long time. http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/5893 (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Chickamauga: 1942
... Tenn." 4x5 inch Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer. View full size. Miles of Tiles All that tiling, for a room ... with appearance." (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Industry & Public Works) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/06/2023 - 7:17pm -

June 1942. "Generator hall of the Chickamauga Dam powerhouse near Chattanooga, Tenn." 4x5 inch Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer. View full size. Miles of TilesAll that tiling, for a room that's seldom seen. What's wrong with bare concrete? Awe-inspiring picture, especially with the little bloke in the distance providing perspective. Generational PrideThe tiling might be scored concrete or some other semi-automatic process, but the designers of this facility clearly obsessed over the appearance of their work. Although seemingly simple if not stark, all of the shapes and surfaces are carefully designed and highly finished to create a strong impression of ageless quality. Check out the almost "graphic" tool sets on the wall between each generator. Maybe they wanted to impress the visiting taxpayer or government official. Clean WorkshopOh wow - is that what they are?! Such perfectly arranged tools make this the cleanest workshop I've ever seen - almost surgically sterile. Miles of tilesThe tiling on the floor and walls is not "scored concrete". I know because I've walked on it. It's real ceramic tile, used not for aesthetic purposes, but for practical reasons. This facility was designed to last for a long, long time, and spilled or leaked generator lube oil would soften and weaken the concrete underneath the tile. The tiling is also much easier to keep clean, and cleanliness is a requirement around the delicately precise equipment that this is. I also observed the installation of the tile on the turbo/generator floor at Sequoyah Nuclear Plant north of Chattanooga, and wondered, at first, over the "obsession with appearance." (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Industry & Public Works)
Red Scare: 1919
June 1919. "Palmer house after bomb explosion." The shattered facade of Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer's house at 2132 R Street NW after the June 2 blast. The only casualty ... Award for 1919 goes to -- Mr Carlo Valdinoci! Palmer's neighbors Palmers neighbors (across the street at 2131 R St) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/09/2013 - 12:21pm -

June 1919. "Palmer house after bomb explosion." The shattered facade of Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer's house at 2132 R Street NW after the June 2 blast. The only casualty was anarchist Carlo Valdinoci, blown to bits when the dynamite-packed suitcase he was putting under the front steps exploded prematurely. A search by the police "revealed only fragments of the body of the dead man," the Washington Post reported. "A part of a shattered leg clothed in a red sock and a garter, and a mutilated head were picked up. Several spinal vertebrae were discovered in a front room on the second floor of the Swedish legation on the opposite side of the street." National Photo glass negative. View full size. Talk about a blowhardHe'll never have the guts to do THAT again. I understand the guy is totally spineless. A perfect example If ever there was a perfect and practical example of the old expression 'hoist with one's own petard', this surely must be it. One heck of a petard, and by all accounts Mr. Valdinoci was very thoroughly hoisted, too. RehabI guess they fixed the place up. Added ValueThe house is currently on the market for $2.7 million. Carlo ValdinociYeah, that's him all over..... No InternetI see two guys just casually reading the newspaper. Were they trying to figure out what happened? Interesting Articleabout the explosion. Real Estate Bubble -- Burst!$2.7 million is a bit of an explosive price. And the Darwin Award for 1919 goes to --Mr Carlo Valdinoci! Palmer's neighborsPalmers neighbors (across the street at 2131 R St) were Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. After the bombing, one of the Roosevelt children found a piece of the bomber on their doorstep. A previewof Diana Oughton and crew 51 years later in a New York brownstone! Alternate historyPalmers neighbors (across the street at 2131 R St) were Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. So let's say that FDR had been walking along Palmer's side of the street when the bomb went off ... no New Deal ... a different U.S. response to WWII ... no concessions at Yalta ... the alternate history possibilities are endless. J EdgarThis was depicted early in the recent film J Edgar, supposedly a key moment in the FBI Director's early career. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Politics)
Original Baseball: 1925
... Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Palmer Pretty fancy penmanship ... like the Palmer Method on steroids. Karl Fenning The man in the photo is Karl ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2012 - 7:57pm -

October 8, 1925. "Patent Office. Original baseball patented 1883 by S.D. Castle." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. PalmerPretty fancy penmanship ... like the Palmer Method on steroids. Karl FenningThe man in the photo is Karl Fenning. The following ran as a caption for a similar photo from the Harris & Ewing studio. Fenning, a Washington native, is buried in the Congressional Cemetery: his obituary (PDF). The original baseball, patented in 1883 by Samuel D. Castle, was found in the patent office yesterday among those patents which are to be sold or laid aside. It is being exhibited by Assistant Commissioner of Patents Fenning. Washington Post, Oct 8, 1925 My BaseballHoly cow!!! That looks like the baseball my buddies and I used way back in the fourth grade. Value?Would love to see that ball appraised on Antiques Roadshow.... Roy HobbsCould this be the ball Roy Hobbs (aka Robert Redford) knocked the cover off for the Knights in the movie 'The Natural'? Which leads to the obvious questionWhat did they play baseball with before 1883? Mr. Castle's BaseballHere's a link to Samuel D. Castle's original patent for this baseball. Castle did not "invent" the baseball, per se, but rather a seamless version of it. Castle, of Bridgeport Ct, held over a dozen patents, most relating to machinery for treating and stretching leather and furs. Curiously, his patent for the baseball does not consist of any leather. Instead, the lack of seams is achieved by repeated dipping in gutta percha (a natural latex) which builds up a durable leather-like surface. Base BallThis "base ball" was intended for the same mass consumer use as a golf ball -- durable enough to be used over and over without the stuffing flying out of it. Interestingly, it looks like the stuffing is flying out of it. Seamless BaseballHad the seamless ball been accepted, the game would never have progressed to where it is today. Those seams provide the hurlers with the ability to change the aerodynamics of the pitched ball. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Sports)
Woodward Avenue: 1917
... Granted, it was moved about seven miles up the road to Palmer Park. Before it was called Wootwart (Woodward) The definition of ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/24/2012 - 9:50pm -

Detroit, Michigan, circa 1917. "Looking up Woodward Avenue." Dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. "Mellow as Moonlight"If I was a drinkin' man, I would be sippin' some a that Cascade whiskey. Motor city, for sure!Not one single horse in view. Temporal AcheMan, this is one of those Shorpy photos that really make me wish I had a time machine. Not much leftAbout the only thing still remaining is the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, and even it has been moved about 300 feet from where it stood for 130 years. An amazing photo. Casting against TypeI see the film "Somewhere in Georgia" is playing, where Ty Cobb stars surprisingly as a small-town Georgia baseball player who signs with the Detroit Tigers. Health InsuranceAlmost 100 years later, the country is in a major pique over health Insurance and the Detroit Creamery had the answer all along. This maybe the best urban photograph yet, it certainly is the busiest. Notice the #2 streetcar?It's got one of those fancy-schmancy 'people scoopers' on it, like this: https://www.shorpy.com/node/4468 HodgepodgeOne of the best urban pictures yet! Too much to take in at one sitting; The Opera House, that wonderful memorial, the traffic, those streetcars. I wonder what the tent was for in front of that fountain, just across from the Opera House. FascinatingThere's so much to look at in this photo. I especially enjoy seeing people going about their daily lives, not posing for a camera. The movie theater sign says "All Next Week, Somewhere in Georgia". According to IMDB.com "Somewhere in Georgia", starring Ty Cobb, was filmed in the winter of 1916 and released in June 1917. Is the 1915 date on the photo in error? [Do we know what "circa" means? - Dave] An Edison ElectricI notice that the Edison Electric is being driven by a woman. My grandmother (who lived in Detroit) said that the only car she ever drove was an Edison Electric. She was afraid of driving a gasoline-powered car. [Women liked electrics because there were no gears to shift, and no clutch -- shifting and clutching on cars of that era required quite a bit of muscle. - Dave] Cloudy crystal ballCover story in Time Magazine, October 5, 2009: "The Tragedy of Detroit: How a great city fell, and it it can rise again." Speaking of moonlightFarewell, good moonlight towers. Twenty years gone by the time of this photo. Is it a coincidence that Shorpy has hit upon another star of the silent screen? The theater beneath the Blackstone Cigar sign (far right)features Gladys Brockwell, who, like Kay Laurell (1890-1927), died in her thirties. Horrific 1929 car crash in California. Merrill FountainThe Merrill Fountain in front of the Opera House still exists, too. Granted, it was moved about seven miles up the road to Palmer Park. Before it was called Wootwart (Woodward)The definition of the "good old days" ... Traffic LightsGreat image. Did traffic lights look different then, or did they not have them in Detroit? [In 1917, traffic signals came on two legs. - Dave] Re: An Edison ElectricLooks more like a Detroit Electric car than the very rare Edison. The main reason the ladies like the electric car was no crank starting. Charles Kettering changed that a few years later with the electric starter motor if IC engines. Notice the complete absenceof horse poop. And horses. Stop sign doesn't apply...Surprised to see that pedestrains do not follow traffic signs as they crossed the streets. It seems that those signs were for trolleys and cars only. It anwered my question why my g-g-great uncle got killed by a trolley. ProsperityWow! You can almost hear the hustle and bustle of prosperity in this amazing photograph -- the essence of early 20th century proud American urbanity. Go to Google Earth or some other mapping web site and visit the corner of Woodward and Fort today -- a dreary, faceless, lifeless desert of glassy highrises without a pedestrian in sight. HeartbreakingWhen I go through Detroit now it is a vast third world, broken down, trashed city, with gangs and thugs peering from behind collapsed buildings. How in the name of all that is worthy could this magnificent American city come to what it is today? Almost makes me want to watch Glenn Beck. Oh what a feelingI had to smirk a bit when I opened of the intersection on Google streets and the first thing I saw was a shiny Toyota. FABULOUSThis image is go busy and wonderful. There is so much to notice. I wonder what the conversations were and so much more. There is a tent in the middle of the square to the left of the statue. Why? What is the statue of? All in WhiteI love the woman all in white crossing the street with her plaid skirted friend (near the front of the photo, just before the frontmost car). She looks so different than everyone else. I bet the two women just walking into the frame below them are talking about her. She's showing ankle AND calf! I'm sure she'll be a flapper in a few years! The girl in whiteI think that the girl in white is in fact a girl - probably a young teen accompanying her mother (the lady in the plaid skirt). Therefore she would be perfectly well dressed for her age. However that also means that she would be in the right demographic to become a flapper once the twenties (which would coincide with her twenties) rolled around. Great picture - Lord I could look at it for hours! That banner over the street"ENLIST NOW! YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU" And to your left...Seems even Detroit had its requisite "Seeing..." touring bus company. I count three "charabancs" in this photo, one across the street from Bond's with "WELLS" emblazoned on the back, and two in the centre-left crammed with mostly female tourists. Wonder what they were off to see next? I'm loving the little insignificant human moments the photographer caught and immortalized: the man at the lower left trying to make something out on a bulletin board; the hefty many putting his arm around his companion's waist next to the memorial; three ladies converging outside the theater. Fantastic. The building on the far leftis the 1896 Majestic Building, designed by the famous Chicago architect Daniel Burnham. Among other things, Burnham also designed the Flatiron Building in NYC, and oversaw the construction of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. The Majestic was Detroit's tallest building until 1909, when the Ford Building (also a Burnham creation) was completed. The Ford still stands today, as well as Burnham's other Detroit creations, the David Whitney Building and the Dime Building. Sadly the Majestic was torn down in 1962 to make way for the exponentially less-interesting 1001 Woodward Building. “Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will not die, but long after we are gone be a living thing, asserting itself with ever-growing insistence. Remember that our sons and our grandsons are going to do things that would stagger us. Let your watchword be order and your beacon beauty.” -Daniel H. Burnham Sight Seeing in Detroit ca. 1917The Dietsche Sight Seeing Company was one of several companies that offered tours of Detroit back in this time period. Below is a photo of their advertisement offering their services to local companies who might want to entertain their out-of-town customers with a "Sight Seeing Trip around the city, Belle Isle, or Water Works Park." Given the description of the street banner, this photo was probably taken sometime around June 5, 1917, which was the date on which all men between the ages of 21 and 31 were required to register for the draft. Soldiers and Sailors MonumentStill nearby, but not as nicely maintained. Very Nicely MaintainedThe Soldiers & Sailors monument is actually very well maintained. Notice how it's not all blackened with soot as in the old photo. When you view it up close you can also see where some very nice restoration has recently been done. Not everything in Detroit is a rotting hulk. Still busyNot like this, but the ice skating rink at Campus Martius is already set up and would be approximately directly in front of the Detroit Opera House. Downtown Detroit is not the home of thugs or crime at all, really, but is sadly quiet when the businesses are closed. Many of the buildings are still here, and magnificent. Come visit before they tear them all down. I'll be ordering a large print of this image! Thank you Shorpy. Re. "Mellow as Moonlight"I saw this photo a few days ago, and, like GeezerNYC, I was quite struck by the Cascade Whiskey billboard. Now, I know that Geo. Dickel is still in business, and I was familiar with Dickel's Tennessee Sipppin' Whiskey and Old No. 8, but I had never heard of Cascade. It must have gone the way of the buggy whip and Lydia Pinkham, I thought. But then today I stopped at the liquor store after work to pick up a bottle of wine, and GUESS WHAT THEY HAD?!?! shhhh...too loud. So, then and I bought some. And do you guys know what? It's pretty goood. I';m drikning it right now. And I just wanna True story I swear. Hey! do you know what? I bought some oft hat Cacsade whiskey? Or is it whishky? Aanyway, I just wanna You know what/ You guys are greatf. I just wanna Hudson's Grows, and...Hudson's grew with Detroit, and perhaps inevitably, declined with Detroit. Cascade HollowThe current Cascade Hollow Whiskey was created to deal with a shortage of the Dickel No. 8 and then just hung around. They didn't have enough whiskey of a certain age so they made a new brand and put their younger stuff in it so that the quality of the No. 8 wouldn't suffer. The Cascade Hollow has been discontinued, but it's still on the shelves in many places. The name Cascade was replaced by the Dickel name after Prohibition and a number. In order of price (& quality) the current Dickel offerings are: (Cascade Hollow) Dickel No. 8 Dickel No. 12 Dickel Barrel Select (which is one of the best whiskeys I've ever had. And I've had a lot.) Anyway, Dickel is currently owned by the evil international spirits conglomorate Diageo, which also owns Guinness, Hennessey, Smirnoff, Johnny Walker, Tanqueray, Bushmills, Cpt. Morgan, Jose Cuervo, Crown Royal and many many more. I can't relate to this picture at allThere is no one in this picture that looks like me or anyone else in my family and for that matter most of my friends...maybe that's how most of the people making comments about it want Detroit to look like. Movie ID helpIn the background, there appears to be a movie showing called "The Spoilers", but Wikipedia says it came out in 1914, not 1917. Just below that it looks like "Barrymore (?) as Georgia" and to the left of that is "Ty". Anyone have some ideas as to which movies are being advertised? [The movie is "Somewhere in Georgia," with Ty Cobb, released in 1917. - Dave] Re: Re: An Edison ElectricMy great-great-grandfather Frank Montgomery Foster was selling Kissel Kars in Detroit. In 1913, he also had "one of the Detroit's finest garages at the corner of Gratiot Avenue and Grand Boulevard." It looks like the two cars in the bottom left of the photo (with the barrel fronts) may be Kissels, but I don't know enough about autos of the era to ID them. KernsMy co-worker's last name is Kerns. I showed him this picture one day and eventually forwarded it to him. He then forwarded picture to his family and learned that his mother Americanized their Polish name around 1917 after seeing that building "Kern's Children's Clothes." One of the best!The photo is insanely busy and the comments led me on a couple scavenger hunts online. Introduced to Gladys Brockwell, Daniel Burnham, Cascade, Dietsche company, etc. A very entertaining hour and a half on this one pic! Of course, being from Detroit makes it that much more interesting. Also, Heartbreaking, Detroit is a pheonix. You watch what she can do! The people have so much spirit. We love our city like a member of our family. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Detroit Photos, DPC, Streetcars)
Shipshape: 1910
... a young Claire Danes in the center front row. Robert Palmer "Addicted to Love" video. Non-uniform uniforms It looks like ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/23/2012 - 11:43am -

Circa 1910. "Gunston Hall, Virginia." The "Gibson Girl on a Cruise" look predominating here. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. How do you tie a scarf?My first impression was that of a group of identically dressed girls, with similar hairstyles (why did women grow their hair long, then wear it up as shown in this photo?). I found their eyes to be surprisingly unexpressive for lovely young women. Then I noticed the scarves and the different ways they were tied - a bit of individualism in 1910 society. Tesla coilThat's the only possible explanation for some of those hairdos. Zowie! Them's some pretty girls! Looks like a young Claire Danes in the center front row. Robert Palmer"Addicted to Love" video. Non-uniform uniformsIt looks like buckles were "fielders choice." Handsome young ladies, would love to know their stories. They're all SO serious. Women of high moralsIn the mid-1800's and through the Gibson girl era, wearing one's hair long and flowing was considered a sign of loose morals. Prostitutes wore their hair hanging down. It would be another ten years until the flappers bobbed their hair, so these women all have hair that has never (or only slightly) been cut. They can't wear it hanging down and be considered respectable ladies. Though I did not come along until the 1960s, I was warned by elderly women about the sin of wearing my hair down and being thought loose. They always coaxed me to tie it back. And I watched my grandmother (born in the 1890s -- the same age range as these girls) stand over the toilet bowl, which her hair could touch, and twist it into just such a style, when she dressed in the morning. It was the fashion of the day, but it was also practical when you had three feet of hair to deal with. Except when she was combing it, I never saw that grandmother's hair down from on top of her head. More Gunston girlsCan be seen here on Shorpy. This photo was taken five years previously and some of the girls were actually smiling. Note the difference in hairstyles in this earlier photo. (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing, Portraits)
Classic Rockers: 1900
... Street. The two youngest (in the picture) are Seabourn and Palmer. Seabourn was born at sea according to the census record. I wonder if ... either 29 year old Helen or 27 year old Susie. Thomas Palmer Livingstone The young boy is Thomas Palmer Livingstone, born November ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/20/2012 - 3:51pm -

Grosse Ile, Michigan, circa 1900. "Group at Rio Vista." The Great Lakes shipping magnate and Dime Savings Bank founder William Livingstone and family. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. I'm Not WorthyIt's been said before, but Dave you are the Headline Master. Gimme your best shot, Mister, we're hot!Doesn't appear that Mr. Livingstone contributed DNA to his offspring, except maybe a bit to his youngest son; they all are clones of Mrs. Livingstone. Appears hot enough to wilt the vine, and yet the family remains composed during the long exposure time, excellent breeding, eh. Wooden, you knowStudying this photo and the two other Livingstone family images triggers some observations (one mark of a good photo, I suppose): - Are the wood walkways a clue that this substantial house is the family's river side cottage (OK, OK, river view, as it's billed), and a more traditionally built home (you know, not a boardwalk in sight) in center city Grosse Ile is where they really live? [The family's main residence was a mansion in Detroit. - Dave] - In the photo of the boy and dog, is the sturdy-looking apparatus in the left corner a block-and-tackle boat hoist, indicating a rather serious boat down below? - Doesn't this look like a place where the Bobbsey twins come to visit, and the Livingstone kids wheel out their mom's fresh lemonade and cookies? Bert, of course, can't wait to get his hands on that spiffy new fishing pole leaning against the wall. The OthersInteresting family and location. A cursory search in Google reveals much about William Livingstone but nothing about his handsome family. Talk about a family resemblance! I wonder if we could somehow learn the names and relationships of this group? Which one is Mom?The two boys certainly take after Mom. If we could only figure out who Mom was? On closer inspection, I'm going to guess the woman on our left is Mr. Livingstone's wife. She has a wedding band on her finger, and woman on the right does not. EnigmaticThe enigmatic look on the William Livingstone's face makes this a photograph that make me exceptionally curious about the people in it and what happened to them in their lives. It is interesting that the house was so notable that information on it can easily be found but I have had no luck finding details of the people who saw to its creation. 1910 CENSUSAs of the 1910 census the William Livingstone family was quite a large one, living in the aforementioned house in Detroit. William 66 head Susan R 61 wife William A 43 Son Helen E 38 Daughter Susan A 36 Daughter Robert B 34 Son Isabourn 21 Son Thomas W P 18 Son William is an owner of a publishing company and Robert is a salesman for the same company. I find it quite interesting that apparantly NONE of the children are married. Pretty unusual for that point in time. Maybe that austere face scared any potential mates away. Well Guess WhatAs I noted in a previous post the oldest son was a publisher. Well we all have to give him a great thank you. The Detroit Publishing Company was an American photographic publishing firm best known for its large assortment of photochrom color postcards. The company was founded as the Detroit Photographic Company in the 1890s by Detroit businessman and publisher William A. Livingstone, Jr., and photographer and photo-publisher Edwin H. Husher. Nervous? Anxious?Look at the right hand of Mom. Livingstone FamilyAncestry gives the family in 1900 as William and his wife, Susan- age 51, and seven children living on Eliot Street. The two youngest (in the picture) are Seabourn and Palmer. Seabourn was born at sea according to the census record. I wonder if the other lady is either 29 year old Helen or 27 year old Susie. Thomas Palmer LivingstoneThe young boy is Thomas Palmer Livingstone, born November 1891 in Wayne County, Michigan, died 1950 in Wayne, Michigan, has a child still living. 1918 Photo Wifey?Whoever the mom is they both seem quite young to be Mr. Livingstone's wife! It is quite hard to tell who is who because they all look alike in some ways. The boys have very similar features to the lady on the right (chin and mouth). I am leaning towards the lady on the right to be Mrs. Livingstone. Even though the outfit the lady on the left is wearing is quite nice, I can't imagine a banker's wife wearing anything less than the outfit on the lady on the right. [Plus, the conventions of a pose like this would have the kids between the parents. - Dave] Detroit Publishing connectionI found this about the family - boys' names, at least: Detroit Publishing Company, founded in 1895 as the Photochrom Company by the photographer Edwin Husher with backing from the Detroit financier Rudolph Demme and Colonel H. Wild of Zurich. Demme and Wild withdrew in 1896. Husher then enlisted the financial support of William Livingstone, Detroit publishing and shipping magnate, and his sons William and Robert, who expanded operations, first as the Detroit Photographic and then as the Detroit Publishing Company. Until its collapse in 1924, the company was the most important North American source of mass-produced photographs, lantern slides, postcards, and colour reproductions for business, tourism, and education. Success was based on the skill of staff photographers William Henry Jackson, Lycurgus Solon Glover, and Henry Greenwood Peabody and the exclusive American rights to the photochrom process acquired from the Photoglob Co. of Zurich. — John V. Jezierski The Others Might BeThe 1910 Census lists the following people in the Livingstone household: William (66) head, Susan R (61) wife, William A (43) son, Helen E (38) daughter, Susan A (36) daughter, Robert B (34) son, Seabourn (21) son, Thomas WP (18) son. Subtract ten years and I think we have (from left to right) unknown married woman, William NMI (56), Thomas WP (8), Seabourn (11), and Susan R (51) Interesting names, A father and son with the same first name isn't unusual but mother and daughter with the same name is much less common. By the way, Seabourn was born at sea. My familyWilliam Livingstone Jr. was my great-great-grandfather and so I have quite a bit of family history and photos to draw upon. William and Susan had 8 children, plus an adopted niece. The 8 children were: William Allan (b 1867), Margaret (b 1869), Helen Edith (b 1871), Susan Alice (b 1873), Robert Bruce (b 1875), Florence Mildred (b 1881), Seabourn Rome (b 1888), and Thomas Witherell Palmer (b 1891). I am quite confident from family photos that the two boys are Seabourn and Palmer (as TWP was known). See the attached for another portrait of them. I'm also quite certain that neither of the ladies is Mrs. Livingstone (who was just five years younger than William) but rather they are two of her daughters. It's hard to tell which ones since they were very similar in appearance. However by 1900 Margaret (my great-grandmother) was married to James Scott, so that could be her on the left. (Their second child, my grandmother, would have been born earlier that year.) In fact this seems likely since the family history that I have indicates that Florence Mildred did not marry until 1908, and does not mention any marriage at all for the other daughters. Nor were any of the sons married in 1900 according to the family history. About the LivingstonesI've found some information about the Livingstones. In Bentley Historical Library, William Livingstone Papers there's a biography of William Livingstone ("A more detailed account of their family history can be found in David Sanders Clark's unpublished genealogy Notes on the Livingstone Family of Lanark, Scotland, and Detroit, Michigan and Related Families, located in the present collection"). In Young Henry Ford: a picture history of the first forty years, pages 160-2, there's more information about William Livingstone and two other photos. In The Henry Ford, Detroit Publishing & Co you can find a photo about 1917; Livingstone wife, Susan, is second from the right (also in the photo, William Livingstone Jr., and sons William Allan and Robert Bruce Livingstone) Same source, other photo, about 1910, William Allan Livingstone stands far left, his brother Robert Bruce Livingstone is third from the left Suecris commented on 01/14/2011 that success of Detroit Publishing Company was based on the skill of photographer William Henry Jackson; in this two photos (same source and same source), Robert Bruce Livingstone, also a photographer, appears with William Henry Jackson. About Seabourn, the elder of the sons in Shorpy's photo, I've found some quotations in old newspapers, here's one taken from Oswego Daily Palladium, 1918; Seabourn "returns to the sea to fight for his country." Seabourn married Marion Henrietta Scherer in 1920 (daughter of Hugo Scherer); a photo or Marion Scherer in 1915 here; they had a son, Seabourn Scherer, and a daughter, Marion Helen. Seabourn S. Livingstone died in 1998 at the age of 74. Marion Helen Livingstone is Helen Livingstone Bogle, donor in 1996 of the William Livingstone Papers. (The Gallery, DPC, Grosse Ile, Kids, Portraits)
Wabash Avenue L: 1900
... "lost" Sullivan ornament was recovered in the process. Palmer House The building on the left reads "Potter Palmer" near the top, which makes me think this might be the back of the second ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/20/2012 - 3:44pm -

September 1, 1900. "Wabash Avenue north from Adams Street, Chicago." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Direct connectionThe walkway from the building to the station used to be common; many stops in the Loop on the L and in the subway had a direct connection from some adjacent business; it was a selling point for the business. The ones on the L are all gone now. Most of the subway ones are closed as well, with the exception of the ones that are part of the pedway. GottchaWonderful street scene. Can you find the "Gottcha"? Or what on first glance appears to be a "Gottcha." Signage That is an interesting sign behind the Pilgrim Press Booksellers. The one that has pictures of monuments or crosses on it. It would be nice to have a closer look at that. I did a little more research just guessing it is a monument companies sign and found the Charles M. Gall Company in Chicago at that time. They were also mentioned in the "Monument Mans Handbook" from 1919. The book had illustrations of types of monuments and it seems that some on the sign are military monuments. Of course, I could be totally off base and if anyone has any other ideas let me know. A Story In Every SignBarely visible below and to the right of the Windsor Clifton sign is a sign for Alfred Peats. According to his March 1915 obituary in the NYT, Peats made money so fast he was "crazed by riches" and driven insane. He ended up at the Bloomingdale Asylum. For that total Shorpy experienceI like to play my Scott Joplin CD while looking at these turn of the century street scenes in Hi-Def. It's almost like watching a Ken Burns documentary. It seems odd that his music was used in a soundtrack for a movie set in the 1930s (The Sting) when most of his work was written around 1900. I would have thought hot jazz a better choice for that movie, given the period. The GottchaIs that someone misspelled "gotcha"? How Often ...Jake: How often does the train go by? Elwood: So often that you won't even notice it. Are these what are known as "cold water" flats due to the water pipe running vertically from the sidewalk? There seems to be one valve or "tap" for each flat accessible from the veranda. What happened in the winter when the water froze? Got HER!The man walking by the bookshop at lower left appears to be goosing his female companion. GotchaAre you referring to the woman who appears to be scratching her behind? At first glance it looks like the man walking slightly behind her is "taking liberties," but after closer examination I believe he is innocent. [I think she's lifting her skirt a bit to keep it off the sidewalk. Hey lady, you're on the Internet! - Dave] Her Own ParadeAnd believe me, I'd be in it too! PlumbingThose look like standpipes for firefighters. You can see the terminus of one on the top of the building on the right side of the street. Rather than drag a hose all the way up from the street hydrant they could hook on to the standpipe and direct water to whatever floor needed it, or all the way to the roof. Chicago in the mid 1970sAs a HS student and camera buff, I used to go to the photo stores on Wabash Avenue, under the elevated tracks. Altman's Camera was one of the best places to buy equipment, and I would ride the train from Milwaukee with a pile of cash, arrive at the train station and then walk, nervously, east through pimps, hookers and street thugs to Wabash. Then I would walk back to the train station with my purchases, just as nervously. Boy, has Chicago cleaned up its act since those days. Re: SignageMy guess is that it from the florist shop and shows designs for wreaths, possibly funerary. CivilizedI notice not a hint of graffiti on the support beams for the elevated railway. Fire ProtectionI'd guess those tall pipes are dry standpipes for firefighting. They'd be empty of water until hooked up to a pumper during a fire. (And I think the hand on the lady's bottom is her own. The man appears to be carrying a parcel.) Direct Connection, Part 2The bridge connecting the L Station (Madison & Wabash) to the buildings on the left side of the street was designed by Louis Sullivan for the Schlesinger & Mayer department store in 1896, when the Wabash Avenue leg of the Loop L was brand new. This was Sullivan's first work for the department store; he later built an entirely new building for them around the corner at State & Madison Streets (1899-1904). This building is better known by the name Carson Pirie Scott & Co., which occupied the structure from 1904 to 2007. While Sullivan's bridge is long gone, the building that it "plugged into" has recently had its facade restored, and some "lost" Sullivan ornament was recovered in the process. Palmer HouseThe building on the left reads "Potter Palmer" near the top, which makes me think this might be the back of the second incarnation (1875-1923) of the Palmer House hotel. The front faced State Street, a block to the west. Wabash Avenue L: 2010Some of the buildings on the right in the 1900 photo, just past the train, still exist. The very tall building in the center is the Trump Hotel and Tower across the river. And yes, Pete is correct, that's the Palmer house on the immediate left. Between 1923 and 1925, the 2nd Palmer House was torn down while the 3rd (and current) hotel was built. So the hotel never closed during construction! (The Gallery, Chicago, DPC, Railroads, Stores & Markets)
Stings Like a B: 1942
... Aviation, Kansas City." Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the OWI. View full size. I never realized how small a I ... I see at least 19 people. The photographer was Alfred Palmer, who took hundreds of pictures like this for the Office of War ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/04/2017 - 2:28pm -

        Time flies like B-25's. Another Kodachrome from the Early Days of Shorpy, enlarged and re-restored. October 1942. "B-25 bomber assembly hall, North American Aviation, Kansas City." Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the OWI. View full size. I never realized how small aI never realized how small a B-25 was. That thing's tiny. Also, where are all the people? Bright yellow!Not exactly a stealth bomber, eh? Where are all the peopleMight be that a security guard on night duty took the picture. Where the people areThey are mostly hidden by the planes. I see at least 19 people. The photographer was Alfred Palmer, who took hundreds of pictures like this for the Office of War Information. BombersNot many of you know about WW II planes, first the rest of the outboard wings haven't bee assembled and put on yet, next the yellow color is the primer paint, the finished coat would be olive drab, camouflage or desert colors light & dark sand depending what theater of war the plane would be sent to. North American AviationThat was not a B25 (a four engine heavy bomber) The plane in the photo appears to be the twin engined B26, a much faster, lighter "attack bomber" for lower level pin-point missions rather than the carpet bombing that actually the larger B-17's and B25's were best suited for. B25 bomberThe B25 was a twin-engine medium bomber. I have some more pictures of the assembly line to post later in the week. B25 bomberGood plane; wasn't it a B-25 that hit the Empire State building late in the war years?? Harry B25 BomberYes, that was a B25. From Wikipedia: At 9:49 a.m. on Saturday July 28, 1945, a B-25 Mitchell bomber flying in a thick fog accidentally crashed into the north side of the Empire State Building between the 79th and 80th floors, where the offices of the National Catholic Welfare Council were located. One engine shot through the side opposite the impact and another plummeted down an elevator shaft. The fire was extinguished in 40 minutes. Fourteen people were killed. Elevator operator Betty Lou Oliver survived a plunge of 75 stories inside an elevator, which still stands as the Guinness World Record for the longest survived elevator fall. Despite the damage and loss of life, the building was open for business on many floors on the following Monday. B-25 or B24?You're thinking of the B-24 4 engine "Liberator" bomber which was cousin to the B-17 "Flying Fortress" that did carpet bombing before the advent of the B-29 "Super Fortress". The B-26 was a twin engine light bomber made by Martin Aircraft Co, and in the same category with the B-25 "Mitchell". This is definitely a pictureThis is definitely a picture of a B-25, also known as a Billy Mitchell. I flew as a passenger in one of them in 1948 on my way to an Air Force tech school to become a radio operator. It had to be the noisiest ride ever in a medium bomber, but it was fast. Kodachrome?Was this taken on Kodachrome? Look at how well the colors are retained. - Nick [Yes,a 4x5 Kodachrome transparency. - Dave] This is definitely a B-25This is definitely a B-25 Mitchell, not a B-24 Liberator, and not a B-26 Marauder. I have shot B-25s in the past, so I have personal experience with this plane. This is the same type of plane that Jimmy Doolittle flew off of the deck of the USS Hornet in 1942 to bomb Tokyo during WWII. Above comments very interesting Some knowlegable,some not.I flew this plane (B-25) in the South Pacific. What a beauty it was. It was a medium bomber that was turned into a strafer with 12 50's firing forward, very lethal. We flew tree top missions on land and mast top missions when hitting ships. B-26 and A-26Just to confuse the issue there were A-26s too. Twin engine ship built by Douglas. B-25The plane is a B-25...the b26 has a different tail configuration and the b-24 looks similar but has 4 engines. B-25This is an early model B-25, probably a D model due to the aft location of the upper gun turret and the lack of a tail gunner position. B-25 D'sThose are B-25 d's at the Faifax assembly plant. My dad built em there. He's still kickin and saw the photo. Brought back a lot of memories. He says thanks for the great pic. Nacelle Tips?I spent a lot of years in aviation, working on everything from light aircraft to WWII war birds. I even worked in a factory for a while on Swearingen's final assembly line in San Antonio. Later, I went on to fly professionally ending my career with about about 2700 hours, many of them in various types of WWII vintage aircraft. I was wondering if anybody knows what the red covers are on the ends of the nacelles [below]. I have never seen anything like this before. Nacelle CapsInteresting. The appear to be temporary rather than permanent, held on by bungees attached to the incomplete wing assemblies. Interestingly they are only found on two of the aircraft; the plane nearest to us where the worker is at the tail assembly, and the plane ahead of it to the right. Neither of these aircraft has wheels or propellers. Most of the other aircraft in the assembly area do. Trouble is that the plane to the right of the second plane with the caps doesn't have a cap but also doesn't seem to have either props or wheels. I'm just guessing here but I think my reasoning is good. It seems obvious that these nacelle caps are used to indicate that some step in the assembly process, probably related to the engines or the hydraulics of the landing gear, hasn't been completed and tested yet and so long as the red cap is remains on the nacelle the aircraft can't go further in the assembly process. But as I say this is just a guess. Nacelle capsThese appear to be in place to protect the metal while the wing root and nacelle are lifted into place or while the a/c is being pushed about, at least until the wheels are installed. Perhaps a tow bar is attached to the nose gear strut at that point. Then again, they may be giant hickies. Fairfax B-25 PlantThe Fairfax B-25 plant was NW of the tee intersection of Fairfax Trafficway and what's now Kindleberger Road in Kansas City, KS. The photo is in what was the final assembly high bay near that intersection and facing north. The plant was bought by GM after the war and used for auto production until it closed for good in the mid 80s and then torn down. The old Fairfax Airport next door was bought out about that time, closed and a new GM-Fairfax plant built on the airport site to replace the old auto plant. Here's a nice KSHS pdf history of the B-25 plant: http://www.kshs.org/publicat/history/2005winter_macias.pdf The B-25 plant site is now a fenced off, vacant, scrubby field. The only facility remains are the parking lot with what's left of the main entrance drive. You've got a great photo blog. This photo is my new wallpaper, I hope that's okay. Mellow YellowI had no idea that planes would have been painted yellow at this stage! You always see B&W photos so I just assumed they were still just bare metal. B-25 Fairfax plantI'm pretty sure that Fairfax plant was in Kansas City, Missouri, not Kansas. I live withing walking distance of the plant and I'm on my side of the state line. Those B-25 bombers were always Bushwhackers, built by the ancestors of Captain Quantrill. The B-25 Bomber ain't no jayhawker. george.todd [The B-25 plant next to the old Fairfax Airport is now part of the General Motors Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas City, Kansas. - Dave] Mickey the B-25My mother-in-law worked at the Fairfax plant installing bombsights in B-25's. She would taxi the aircraft out herself once the bombsight was installed for the ferry pilots to deliver them. She often talked about one that had the name "Mickey" painted on it. I was wondering if anyone knew anything about this aircraft. Any news would be appreciated. Thanks. B-25 Bomber Plant locationJust to clarify, the plant that produced the B-25 bombers in Fairfax was located on the north side of Kindleberger Road, east of Brinkerhoff Road. It was west of the old Fairfax Airport and has since been torn down, however the parking areas from the old plant are still in place. The new GM Fairfax assembly plant was built on the east side of Fairfax Trafficway, right in the middle of the old Fairfax airport. [aerial photo] That yellow paint is a primerIt was a nasty zinc chromate concoction meant to prevent corrosion and also allow the top coat of paint to adhere better. Worn paint revealed the primer underneath in contemporary pictures. Eventually it was realised the average wartime airframe didn't last long enough in service to allow corrosion to begin and the primer was dropped, a cost and weight saving. B-25 plant LocationHere there is an aerial photo showing the plant and airport. The plant was immediately adjacent to the NW corner of the airport. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Aviation, WW2)
James Dawson: 1902
... flourishes? Even when they're writing in chalk? Maybe? Palmer Method Every schoolchild was trained cursive penmanship; this slate ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/17/2012 - 11:41am -

"James Dawson, arrested for Indecent Exposure. North Shields Police Station, 9th June 1902." Our first image from a photograph album of prisoners brought before the North Shields Police Court in England between 1902 and 1916, now in the collection of the Tyne &amp; Wear Archives and Museums. View full size. The fingers!Look at his fingers! They are long, strange, with compound joints or something. Nice mustache, though. James, James, James That's funny, he doesn't look at all suspicious. Creepy handsLooks like we found Jack the Ripper. Those hands look like they can eviscerate a human in 5 seconds. Times ChangeWonder what he actually did? Back then indecent exposure could have been walking down the street with no shirt on. Marked for many livesWonder if he was actually convinced of this crime? Sure doesn't look happy about the charge. [One would hope he'd be convinced if convicted.] People wear three piece suits for police mug shots?The Shields Daily Gazette (dated 9 June 1902) provides a little more information: "Today at North Shields, before Mr. J. Walton and Mr. T. Byers, James Dawson (38), a shoe maker, was charged on a warrant with behaving in an indecent manner in Albion Road on the 15th inst. Mr. G. R. Duncan prosecuted, and Mr. A. Whitehorn defended. Accused, who is a married man, was sent to prison for one month in the second division." The 1911 census of England lists a likely candidate - James Dawson (46), a boot maker born in Leeds and living at 46 Sidney Street, North Shields, married to Mary Ann (45), with five children living at home - George Albert (25), James (18), Eva (14), Thomas (16) and Willie (4). An additional child, Amelia (12) is listed in the 1901 census; the family is living in Chirton, Northumberland, and James is listed as a boot repairer and shop keeper. In 1881, they are in Leeds (10 Prince of Wales Yard, Marsh Lane), with James listed as a boot riveter; also living with them is James's mother, Margaret (58). For a sex offender He was probably polite. The eyes of an angry manHe looks pretty torqued off that he got caught! A tale gone awry Red Riding Hood: "My, Mr Dawson, what large >hands< you have!" Mr Dawson: "Why-uh-the-the better to REPAIR YOUR BOOTS, MY PRETTY!!" Common Decency British StyleUhm, gee, what wasn't this fellow wearing? His hat and tie? Better late than neverTen people "like" you. Not exactly William Mossop is he?I wonder what Master would say? You only rent beerMr. Dawson was on his way home from the pub, lamenting the particular lack of conveniences in North Shields. "I'll just duck behind this shrub, nobody will notice" he thought. A bit cloudy from several ales, he failed to notice the town constable standing on the verandah beside him. The lad&#039;s gannin doonWay aye, this wanker is gannin to gaol for offending the lads and lasses of Toon. Let he who is without sinManalto may well be right. Perhaps Mr Dawson is not quite the dangerous pervert which he looks but rather an ordinary man seething with resentment at his arrest. Many years ago, when I was 16 or 17, a school friend of mine was arrested for indecent exposure, just like Dawson. It all happened late one night when my friend was caught short whilst walking home. He turned into a quiet street and, as he was furtively relieving himself against a wall, he felt a hand on his shoulder and a voice said "Expensive piss, son". It was a pair of policemen who were probably just looking for an excuse to return to the warm police station with a prisoner. My friend was duly convicted of Indecent Exposure and fined. Oh, how we laughed. The handwritingThe fancy handwriting for such a utilitarian sign fascinates me. I guess that people who grew up learning to write with a pen you had to dip in wet ink are more likely to make those kinds of flourishes? Even when they're writing in chalk? Maybe? Palmer MethodEvery schoolchild was trained cursive penmanship; this slate demonstrates an individualized variant of standard handwriting for the era. (Tyne & Wear)
Kodachrome Goes to War: 1942
... Kodachrome film. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer, Office of War Information. View full size. Woot! Saddle ... I'm kidding.... (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Aviation, WW2) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2012 - 1:11pm -

October 1942. "Women are trained as engine mechanics in thorough Douglas training methods. Douglas Aircraft Company, Long Beach, California." Skipping ahead to 2009, and the end of an era: Today Kodak announced that, after 74 colorful years, it will stop making Kodachrome film. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer, Office of War Information. View full size. Woot!Saddle shoes! Awesome Kodachrome, so long..Nothing is as sexy as a woman with a wrench in her hand! Farewell, My Lovely!My first job out of college in 1973 was as a Kodachrome Quality Control Chemist at Berkey Photo in New York. It was an incredibly complex process that got incredibly beautiful results. As Mark Twain said of the Mississippi steamboat: "So short a life for so magnificent a creature." Somebody&#039;s gotta say it Kodachrome They give us those nice bright colors They give us the greens of summers Makes you think all the world's a sunny day... Momma, don't take my Kodachrome away. Hubba HubbaThat is one gorgeous airplane mechanic. (Yes, wisenheimers, I'm talking about the one on the left.) HyperrealWhat a grand picture; it has sort of a "heightened" look, for lack of a better word. Lovely as Technicolor. (And I'd say the mechanic on the right is pretty cute, too.) She and HeShe's cute. He, on the other hand, is hottimus maximus. Hats off to Kodachrome. Such beautiful, limpid color. KodachromeAs a photographer all of my working life, this is a very sad but not unexpected day. I was too young to be shooting in the era where you could shoot 4x5 Kodachrome. That's one of the things I love about this site. I shot quite a bit of it when it came back briefly to the medium format world in the mid-80s. I've come very close to selling my 4x5 camera given the dearth of emulsions still available but the images on this site keep me in the game, so to speak. Definitely the real dealIf there is any question as to this young lady being just a publicity model or the real-deal mechanic, look closely at her fingernails. The dirty saddle shoes could be a set-up with a model, but no gal I know that only poses as camera candy would have those fingernails! Definitely a real engine assembly worker. What type engineI wondered what engine this was and a quick photo search shows this as a R-1830. Long Beach built C-47 cargo planes and they used this type engine. What&#039;s on the clipboard?Nice to see the details on the shipping tag; can someone enlarge the clipboard at center-left, in case there's anything of interest on it? [Alas, it is out of focus. - Dave] Keep your heads down!Those external cylinder head oil pipes look very vulnerable to me. They are critical to the engine's operation yet in use they'd be hiding behind a thin aluminium sheet. Meanwhile the baddies would be firing all sorts of assorted sharp pieces of ironmongery in their direction. &quot;Oil lines&quot;The "oil lines" of concern to the first commenter are actually spark plug leads. Each cylinder has two spark plugs, fired by separate magnetos. I was also taken with the fact that this pretty girl is no mere model. De-colorization.With all the controversy surrounding the use of the computer to colorize black and white images, I thought I'd do the opposite. Face it, WWII and color just don't seem right. I'm kidding.... (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Aviation, WW2)
Tractor Pull: 1942
... View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. Wartime ingenuity Does anybody ... never "borrow" stuff? Who watches the guard? [Alfred Palmer and his giant, ever-present camera. And all of us. - Dave] ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/22/2012 - 12:47pm -

October 1942. Kansas City, Kansas. "B-25 bomber plane at North American Aviation being hauled along an outdoor assembly line." View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. Wartime ingenuityDoes anybody know if that tractor was "pressed into service", or built specifically to haul planes? Snappy dressers.The tractor is an I-4 International industrial, the model was built from 1941 to 1953. 24 hp measured at the drawbar. The B-25 obviously met her maker long ago but the old tractor might still be around in the hands of a collector, or maybe even still in use somewhere. Many repair parts for the old tractors are still available. The old Fairfax (Kansas City, KS) B-25 plant was demo'd in the late 80s. Nothing is left but a vacant lot. Why was a guard posted to watch the employees? Afraid someone would go for a joy ride? Old tractorsThe I-4 was the industrial version of the W-4 standard tread tractor that International Harvester/McCormick built for wheat farmers. The differences were fairly minor and only included things like a beefed up/fixed width front axle, rear drawbar mods, transmission change gears to allow higher transport speeds and the obvious substitution of street tread for the rear ag tires. On-line references only say I-4/W-4s were built at the Farmall plant in Rock Island, IL but I think I've seen historical photos of 'em going down the line at the old McCormick Works in Chicago, too. Even during the war, tractor production was kept up. The old McCormick Works in Chicago is the site of the current Cook County Jail and the old Farmall Works in Rock Island is just now being demo'd. The I-4 was built for common industrial uses and pulling aircraft around was only one of the many ways they were pressed into service. Many were built for all kinds of industrial uses. I haven't seen any for a while but it was fairly common to still see these in plant use through 1990 anyway. With only minimum maintenance, the old girls will almost last forever. Security GuardPeople walking off with scarce or rationed supplies (tools, tires, wiring, paint, gasoline) and selling them on the black market was a problem in a lot of the big wartime plants. Who watches the guard?They never "borrow" stuff? Who watches the guard? [Alfred Palmer and his giant, ever-present camera. And all of us. - Dave] SabotageI'd guess that guards around military production plants were as common as could be. Less than a year after the attack on Pearl Harbor (re:photo date) potential sabotage was a major concern (and one of the reasons behind the internment of Japanese-Americans in "relocation camps"). An aircraft plant would have been a primary target for a saboteur. Including a guard in the picture was probably one of those things that was done as a "show that we're always alert" item. Pull!The funny thing is that I-4 International Industrial tractor was hooked up to the first B-25 and simultaneously pulled all of those 10 B-25 that were hooked up to each other behind that first plane you're seeing in that picture. What a feat! That feat made it into Ripley's Believe It Or Not book of 1943 and was pictured on page 124 just opposite of the two-headed Martian. I-4 and I6There was also an I-9 model, the first tractor my grandfather was able to buy after the war. It was ill suited for farm work as the seat was so far behind the rear axle that the slightest bump tried to dismount the driver. I attribute most of my back problems to the many days I spent on that tractor driving a diagonal path across cotton rows harrowing the crust off sprouted seedlings. The toll in drivers may be uncounted but like all IH products of the time, it continued near daily service for at least 15 years until I lost track of its whereabouts. How clear the photo is for so long ago.I have been a Shorpy fan for some time and it still stuns me to see such great photos. How do they maintain negatives so well? The modern digital camera has nothing on these fine, fine pictures. Thank you to whomever supplies these. I look at these men and there either long gone or very very old. This also amazes me. [Kodachromes are transparencies -- there are no negatives. They're clear because they're big. - Dave] (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Aviation, WW2)
The Jolly Grenadier: 1942
... a road to Berlin or Tokyo." 4x5 acetate negative by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. View full size. Please label ... Of its accelerated grimace. (The Gallery, Alfred Palmer, WW2) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/16/2022 - 3:05pm -

November 1942. "Grenade throwers. Ready to make a shipment of pineapples to Hitler, Hirohito &amp; Co. An infantryman at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, holds a double handful of deadly grenades that may one day blast open a road to Berlin or Tokyo." 4x5 acetate negative by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. View full size. Please label explosive contentsI've mentioned before I go to thrift stores, looking for treasures that have fallen through the cracks. I've had some luck, but so far haven't found anything worthy of Antiques Roadshow. A few years ago, I was in a St. Vincent De Paul store when the intercom instructed everyone to leave the store - now. The police were already outside. It appeared they were after someone in the warehouse. The next time I was in the store I asked a manager what the excitement was all about. He said they had opened a donation box filled with hand grenades. Fortunately, the grenades were duds; but it took a while to figure that out. Dedication and DeterminationThat GI is determined and seriously dedicated, and I hope he came home safely. &#039;03 Springfieldnot an 03A3. Working in the Park Slope Armory, Brooklyn, we found a cut-away 1O5mm artillery shell, an instruction aid. We huddled and decided to call the bomb squad, "when we got back from lunch". We did, the bomb squad dutifully removed it using a man in a Michelin tire suit. Worked four, hours paid eight. Thank You For Your ServiceVery powerful picture. My sincere hope is he made it back safely and used those same hands to cradle his newborns and build a life for his family. My father never spoke of his service years during WWII but he seemed to have a great appreciation for the simple things in life. Maybe when you've been through hell it doesn't take much to feel you're in heaven. Hey Adolf!!You wanna play Horseshoes or Hand Grenades??? You get a point for being close. Jolly?At first I thought it might be a sort of smile, then a strange kind of grin, or maybe even a grimace. Now I think he might be emitting the same type of sound a dog in the corner makes when it has its eye on you and is working its way up to a growl. Watch out, Jerry or Tojo. Happy in VirginiaHe may be jolly because he's at Fort Belvoir rather than fighting Vichy French troops in North Africa as part of November 1942's "Operation Torch." He might be on his way to North Africa, Sicily, and Italy soon, though. Don&#039;t play with the rocksI grew up overseas in a neighborhood built up over a WWII battlefield. In the '50s we used to go over and play in a nearby park. We were always told to never bring anything home, and don't pick up the rocks. Leave them on the ground. One year a couple of kids did play with the rocks. End of story. At times during construction of the houses, work would have to stop when an explosive was found. Never heard any stories of any workers getting injured or dying due to explosives. Something other than jollityThis calls forth Ezra Pound (on an earlier war): The age demanded an image Of its accelerated grimace. (The Gallery, Alfred Palmer, WW2)
American Pineapple: 1942
... View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer. Cut & Paste This image looks tailor-made for masking. The ... illustrations and bond drive posters. In 1942 Alfred Palmer traveled to Fort Benning, Fort Knox and Fort Belvoir, often shooting ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2012 - 6:37pm -

November 1942. "An American pineapple, of the kind the Axis finds hard to digest, is ready to leave the hand of an infantryman in training at Fort Belvoir, Va." View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer. Cut &amp; PasteThis image looks tailor-made for masking. The blue background looks like it would help Photoshoppers today in copying the soldier with ease. Could that have been part of the original reason for the framing, so the image could be used in different compositions? Re: Cut &amp; PasteThe 4x5 Kodachromes were used as studies for painted illustrations and bond drive posters. In 1942 Alfred Palmer traveled to Fort Benning, Fort Knox and Fort Belvoir, often shooting from near ground level with a floodlight, aiming up at his subjects with a background of clouds and sky. The results for the twilight shots were often a bit underexposed, as was the case here. DaveDave is it possible to see a larger size on the tank that you see the 3 soldiers? Ron [Those are all elsewhere on the site. Click where it says "Alfred Palmer" to see all of his pics. - Dave] Tanks er I mean ThanksTanks er I mean Thanks Dave Ron InfantrymanI think I had this little green toy soldier pose along with the spread eagle shooters and the "on-one-knee" Walkie Talkee Guys. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Patriotic, WW2)
Mike Hunter: 1942
... Beach, California." 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. View full size. A-24ish ... and Stephen Colbert. They even pose the same. Other Palmer photos of this fellow identify him as "F.W. Hunter". The leather ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/17/2012 - 10:24pm -

October 1942. "Lieutenant 'Mike' Hunter, Army test pilot assigned to Douglas Aircraft Company, Long Beach, California." 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. View full size. A-24ishThe airscoop is wrong for a Dauntless, plus this plane is in Army Air Force paint. Perhaps the AAF variant, A-24 I believe, had a different engine cowling His story.Whatever became of him? Did he make it through the war? PrototypeAnother dead ringer for Steve Canyon! SBDA Douglas SBD Dauntless, I think. They recently raised one from Lake Michigan. Steely eyed missile manI have the feeling that he had no problem gettin' the ladies. More MikePosted earlier here. Yeah, A-24 now that you mentionAhhh, I did not notice the olive paint. I think the scoop is OK, though, I found pictures of SBDs with and without. Here's one with. Aircraft IDMost likely the aircraft is A-20B Havoc 41- 3440 produced by Douglas at its Long Beach facility between December 1941 and January 1943. The give-away, beside the partial serial number in the added photo, is the little window just above the pilot's shoulder. This odd shape was typical of the A-20. It is definitely not an A-24/SBD—a single-engine tail dragger. Both photos indicate this acft is sitting on tricycle gear. It&#039;s a Douglas A-20 It was a twin engined light bomber with a tricycle (i.e. nosewheel) undercarriage, pretty advanced for the time. A really smooth aeroplane that did its job. It was also a major success for Douglas. The A-20 was used right through to VJ Day by the USAAF. The RAF had them too and the USSR received a lot. A-20Was the A-20B the only Havoc with the scoop right on the leading edge of the cowling? I can't find any other A-20 pictures where the cowling has a scoop. They all seems to have scoops on the top of the wing, behind the cowling. [The engine with the scoop on top is a Wright Cyclone. - Dave] A-20, I stand correctedIt took awhile, but I found a photo matching that air intake. Very few A-20 pix I found showed an intake like that. And here's one showing the little window and red "Fire Extingusher" label. Modern HistoryOf course it helps that it's in color, but pics like this from the '40s always strike me as though, other than technical anachronisms, they could have been made today -- "modern" in the sense of the subject of the pic could step right out of the frame and fit right in. Compare him to the guys in Company "D" below. Some of 'em look as foreign as headhunters in Guinea!! I suppose it could also be a function of familiarity with the medium. By '42 most Americans would know what the heck to do when somebody pointed a camera at you -- but look at Company D!! Some of them seem pretty natural, but most of them look like their granny just walked in on them taking a bath. And, time seems like it's flown, but there are plenty of people around (and commenting here) who were around in '42. Maybe we're just distracted by the minutia (cell phones, the internet, etc.) and the essentially "modern" attitude was put on long ago, before our parents were born, or before. F.W. HunterYes, the aircraft is an A-20B. I can't believe no one has pointed out the obvious kinship between Lieutenant Hunter and Stephen Colbert. They even pose the same. Other Palmer photos of this fellow identify him as "F.W. Hunter". The leather nametag on his flight suit also says "F.W. Hunter". By taking the name "Mike" instead, what awful name his mother gave him was he running from? Fillmore? Francis? About that scoopThe extended carb intake was intended to hold dust filters for use in the desert. The A-20B was an early USAAF model and the filters don't seem to have been fitted much after that though I believe the late versions (A-20G and J) had the filters fitted further aft. The RAF had a large number of A-20 variations and I have seen pictures of Boston III aircraft fitted with the long scoop. What a guy"I have the feeling that he had no problem gettin' the ladies." Haha. But there's something about the glasses and the headphones and his generally weedy physique that makes him look a bit geeky. I second the man above - whatever happened to him? How did he feel about being a test pilot and not in front line combat? By the numbersIf it is 41-3440 (and it sure looks to be), that was one of the Douglas A-20B Havocs in the 41-2671 through 41-3669 build group. Note this portside prop was installed 10/14/42. The absolutely pristine condition of the cowling, prop and engine indicate this baby hasn't even been flown yet. I have one of those T-30 throat mics and it is incredibly well made. In WW II movies when the frantic pilot put his hand to his throat and yelled "I'm going in!", this is what he wore. Of course, some were Steve Canyon-cool when they were crashing. Not Mike Hunter-cool, perhaps, but cool enough. Bomber PilotThe aircraft is a B-25B. Mike was a post production test pilot meaning he tested the aircraft prior to acceptance and ferry to an operational command. In 1942 in Long Beach he had a job far removed from the USAAF 8th Air Force. [The plane he's shown with below is an A-20 light bomber. - Dave] (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Aviation, WW2)
Avenging Angel: 1942
... Co., Long Beach, California." Kodachrome by Alfred Palmer, Office of War Information. View full size. Recently spotted on ... [As we have pointed out elsewhere, most of the Palmer photos were posed. Some were used as studies by illustrators painting ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/15/2019 - 9:13pm -

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds." October 1942. "Woman at work on bomber motor, Douglas Aircraft Co., Long Beach, California." Kodachrome by Alfred Palmer, Office of War Information. View full size. Recently spotted on PBSNo, but she's the spitting image of Ruth Gemmell who played a similarly aged woman in a 1940 UK setting ~73 years later. Rosie the Riveter?As part of our world war II time line - we could include the working women who built the machines to doom Hitler. [This one is more Ruby the Ratcheter - Dave] Engine installerFor one thing, I think this picture is posed as well as the other one with the 3 ladys also installing engines, you wouldn't be that clen and neat or wearing a loose hanging sweater and rings on your fingers doing any type of engine or mechanical work. Safety would require anyone to remove those items to prevent getting stuck on the equipment or any FOD (Foreign Object Damage) to engines while being assembled. [As we have pointed out elsewhere, most of the Palmer photos were posed. Some were used as studies by illustrators painting recruitment and bond drive posters. - Dave] It&#039;s the Wright engineAfter it's first startup a piston engine will never again shine so pretty. Looks like a Wright Cyclone R-2600, 1,600 hp beast mounted on Douglas' A-20 Havoc. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Aviation, WW2)
Sweet Home Alabama: 1935
... More on Sunny South Minstrels In 1927 Harry Palmer organized and put on the road under canvas the J. C. Lincoln's Sunny ... half a dozen trucks. It is not known whether or not Palmer had the show out every season but photos indicate it was on the road at ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/22/2009 - 10:53pm -

December 1935. "Sidewalk scene in Selma, Alabama." Large-format nitrate negative by Walker Evans for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Cook Grocery CompanyIn ancient times, it looks like the former site of the Cook Grocery Company per the faded sign across on the top. That was one very small grocery company. The building had seen way better times by this point. Those things in front might not have been kicked-over sidewalk signs. They may be among the scads of things just falling off the place. J. C. Lincoln&#039;s Sunny South MinstrelsTaken from an old Broadsheet circa 1930: =========== Broadsheet- J. C. LINCOLN’S SUNNY SOUTH MINSTRELS "Featuring the Famous New Orleans Brown Skin Models. See ALVINA the Fan Dancer. Free Street Parade. World’s Greatest Mammoth Minstrel Review. Sweet Singers, Fast Dancers, Funny Comedians." Well...This is really more "Ballad of Curtis Loew" if we're speaking strictly to the Skynyrd lexicon. All dressed upI love how these guys are completely dressed to the nines -- possibly with very shiny shoes -- and are lounging as if they have nowhere on earth to go. I've never been to Selma, but I always thought it was way out in the country so it's surprising how 30's hipster the sitters/leaners look, despite what looks like poor circumstances. Only one guy in work clothes in sight. Minstrels? Yikes!I would think that Lincoln's minstrel show has probably not appeared much lately. Also, nice ghost inside the building. More on Sunny South MinstrelsIn 1927 Harry Palmer organized and put on the road under canvas the J. C. Lincoln's Sunny South Minstrels. It was motorized and travelled on probably half a dozen trucks. It is not known whether or not Palmer had the show out every season but photos indicate it was on the road at least for 1930 and 1931 seasons. Mrs. Palmer says that Harry's last show was also a minstrel show under canvas and went out of Dothan, Ala. in 1934. It was motorized and also used the J. C. Lincoln title. Photographs indicate the tent was about a 60 ft. round with three 20 ft. middles most of the time but at others it seems a square end tent was used which was usually customary for minstrel or dramatic shows. Mrs. Palmer said the minstrel show had 87 people connected with it and that J. W. Foster, known as "Jockey" was the advance man for several years. Palmer's show was one of the last old time minstrel shows under canvas to tour the country. He closed the show in Centralia, Illinois in 1938 and retired from show business for good. He moved to DuQuoin, 111. where he started the Palmer Press, a printing firm, which he operated until his death Nov. 3, 1958. -- From The Bandwagon (Nov.-Dec. 1971) Hungry?I wonder if that's a grocery store the little dog is peering into. She looks like she could use some grub. Cole Bros. Circus The Cole Bros. Circus is coming here in 2 weeks. The cost, unfortunately, is now $20 (regular seating) and $25 (VIP). Probably more fun when it was only a quarter. Character and DepthThe amount of detail in this picture is spellbinding, the way the bricks are textured, the scale in the shop next door, the dog, clothes for sale, tattered posters and faded signs; it really is a treat for the eyes. The car, the shadows, the sidewalk, shoe-shine stands, its exactly how I picture the stories my grandpa tells me about the depression. (Albeit in NYC, not Alabama) More Than DocumentaryWhat a superb photograph. What wonderful tones and textures in the brilliant sunlight. This evokes all kinds of feelings. Thanks for adding this one to your collection, Dave. (The Gallery, Small Towns, Stores & Markets, Walker Evans)
A Face in the Crowd: 1942
... View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. I could not find a single I ... hair are a minority. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Factories, WW2) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/03/2012 - 10:15pm -

October 1942. "Thousands of North American Aviation employees at Inglewood, California, look skyward as the bomber and fighter planes they helped build perform overhead during a lunch period air show. This plant produces the battle-tested B-25 'Billy Mitchell' bomber, used in General Doolittle's raid on Tokyo, and the P-51 'Mustang' fighter plane, which was first brought into prominence by the British raid on Dieppe." View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. I could not find a singleI could not find a single overweight person in this crowd. You would have a hard time taking such a photo in the USA these days! Come to think of it, I'm not sure I have seen overweight people on any Shorpy photos. I still thinkGreat picture!! Yet I still think the buttons are to apply for the job, and thats their number in line. They all look like they are waiting to go through the fence to the table on the other side. I'd bet this was a type of 'job fair' despite what the caption said. Theres so many of them dressed like individuals, not co-workers, if you know what I mean. [The caption is from the photographer and there's no reason to think he is wrong. In fact, people drinking and snacking indicates break time. -Ken] Gamblers VisorI bet the the man a "gamblers visor" is an accountant. They were used to prevent eye strain. More here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_eyeshade Repeat after meI will never complain about my crowded lunchroom again! Therewere no overweight people then, only the few naturally stout. No one had a potbelly or a fat face. I&#039;m observing1. Only 2 men smoking and one man with a pipe. 2. The man with the pipe could be Norman Rockwell (looks like him a little). 3. The girl in red with her hand on her forehead is thinking "I could'a had a V8." 4. Why is the man to the extreme left wearing a gamblers visor? 5. Below "visor man" one of the few men wearing shades sports a Hitler mustache, which I think might not be considered a good idea during 1942. 6. Apparently the men wearing ties are the "management" and as apparent are together because the workers seem to not mingle with them. 7. The girl with the black coat and blue dress (in the middle of the picture) is beautiful. Great picture Dave, the clarity is outstanding. The more I look at this group the more I see...So many stories here. What do you suppose the yellow buttons with the numbers are for? Could they be their IQ? Or the number of friends they have? The fellow in the blue shirt who looks to be picking his nose doesn't seem to have a button. They are all have different numbers, as far as I can tell. A crude security badge? I love this shot. This picture looks like Norman Rockwell could have painted it. Classic. I love the pocket protectors, too. I can't believe I used them for so many years. [The buttons are ID badges similar to the one below, from a different photo. - Dave] Yellow buttonsI suspect that the yellow buttons are union membership badges... Try AgainCome to think of it, I'm not sure I have seen overweight people on any Shorpy photos. Here ya go: https://www.shorpy.com/webb-and-mother &quot;I could not find a single"I could not find a single overweight person in this crowd." The fella to the left of thermos guy looks a little husky. Okay, 1. :-) The caption says they are on a break, but it appears that many that aren't looking at the camera are facing to the left, if not looking that way, as if they are waiting for something to happen on the other side of the fence. employee badgesI think those yellow buttons are employee ID badges. In the days before instant photos and laminated paper "nametags", numbered buttons were sometimes used. I have one from a cannery that looks similar to these. Hilarious! I frgot thatHilarious! I forgot that one. But seriously, can you imagine how different a present day photo of a couple hundred American factory workers would look? An alien viewing the two photos would probably think it was two different species. It was probably the more the active lifestyle that kept these people thin than the food. I have an old cookbook from the 50's and it seems every recipe back then started out with heaps of butter, lard or (gasp!) bacon fat. Clark GableCheck out Clark Gable next to the gal in the white spectacles! Every FaceI've been looking at every face to see if my maternal grandfather is in this crowd. He was born in 1898, served in the navy in WWI, and had 2 children when this photo was taken. I know only that he worked in an aircraft factory in Cowtown during the war...don't know which one. Something tells me he would't have been standing patiently by the gate while eating lunch...more likely he was running a craps game in the shade under the wing of the aircraft in the top left corner. Goober Pea SurpriseI'm surprised to see so many men of military age. Men of military age.The war, for America, was less than one year old when this picture was taken. Also, contrary to the myth, not every able-bodied American male felt compelled to run down to the recruiting center and enlist on 12/8/41. eventually, conscription was used to fill the ranks. Additionally, the physicians at induction centers were shocked by the effect of 10 years of hard economic depression on general health of American men. Many willing young recruits were turned away because they just weren't fit enough the stand the rigors of training and fighting. So many men of military ageIf you had a job that was vital to the war effort, such as building bombers, your draft classification was 2-A, "Registrant deferred because of civilian occupation (except agriculture or activity in study)." Meaning, you were not going to be drafted. I know a lot of men who studied engineering in the 1960s so they could get jobs in the aerospace industry, to gain that deferment. Re: SurpriseI think these men were probably deferred from military draft because they were engaged in essential war work. The deferred classifications for occupational status were: II-A Men necessary in their civilian activity II-B Men necessary to national defense II-C Men necessary to farm labor No fat peopleWhere are all the fat folks?, there are none. I've noticed this in photos that predate 1960, everyone looks like they're the right weight. We can assume they all smoked like chimneys and got lots of bad diseases like TB, rickets and other things we'd consider less of a health problem today. Nevertheless it's scary to think that an entire society has become so inclined towards obesity in less than 60 years. Just about the time TV hit the mainstream and car ownership skyrocketed. Coincidence? Consolidated Fort WorthI like this photo - I just wish we could see more, since I actually work at this plant now. 6. Apparently the men wearing ties are the "management" and as apparent are together because the workers seem to not mingle with them. They look like engineers to me. There are more jobs than aircraft assembly. The caption says they are on a break, but it appears that many that aren't looking at the camera are facing to the left, if not looking that way, as if they are waiting for something to happen on the other side of the fence. It's possible they were watching something or several somethings take off. The plant is side by side with the runway, and planes still take off and land all the time. I'm used to seeing F-16s and C-130s, but I'm wouldn't turn my back if I'm just standing there on break. Aircraft workersMy dad worked in aircraft factories before and during the war. At one point he was called up for service, and the examiner noticed he could only see out of one eye. Told him he'd be of more use to the country building airplanes. When America was youngI notice there's hardly any gray hair in this photo. Though I'm in Florida, at my place of work (a building with hundreds of employees), people without any gray hair are a minority. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Factories, WW2)
Old Reliable: 1942
... mechanism." 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. View full size. Garand Rifle ... The soldier in both the photo taken in June 1942 by A Palmer of the OWI, and this one, are members of the US Army. Both are wearing ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/15/2019 - 3:55pm -

June 1942. Fort Knox, Kentucky. "Infantryman with halftrack. A young soldier sights his Garand rifle like an old-timer. He likes the piece for its fine firing qualities and its rugged, dependable mechanism." 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. View full size. Garand RifleInteresting photo. Latest rifle, the Garand and a World War I type helmet. Looking at the markings on the vehicle, it doesn't seem to be US ARMY. Could it be US MARINE CORPS? [U.S.A.W. - Dave] HelmetIf I remember correctly, the US used those WWI/British style helmets until early 1942, when it switched to the more familiar "wrap around" helmet used through the rest of the war. I suppose the old helmets could still be used for training. Helmet TransitionI have photos of my father in the Army in 1941 and 1942. In the early photos, in training in Alabama, he is wearing one of the doughboy style helmets. After the war started, there are photos of him in Hawaii in 1942 with the newer, more familiar GI style helmet. Tire&#039;s on backwardThe directional tread on that tire's going the wrong way, so either the tire was put on the rim wrong or the right and left wheels were switched. The factory shots have them mounted correctly. [I bet they knew what they were doing. See above. - Dave] Tires on backwardIf it was a drive wheel it is definitly on backwards. A drive tire put on this way would not be self cleaning. It would fill up with mud and lose traction. Put on correctly the tire will be self cleaning and retain traction. With non-drive tires the direction of the tread is irrevelant. ["Irrevelant"? See above. - Dave] The tire is on backwardFarm kids pick this stuff up early, with chevron-type tread like that on a powered wheel the bars won't self clean and the tire is effectively bald in mud or snow. This is the recommended mounting for a non-powered wheel, unfortunately it's on a driven axle. The government was in the process of changing to the more familiar NDT (Non Directional Tread) right about the time this picture was taken, it simplified maintainance and eliminated possible future issues like this halftrack might experience. [If only you'd been there to tell them. And them and them and them. - Dave] Leave it to ShorpyLeave it to Shorpy commentors to start a tire tread direction thread. Surprised me to realize I've never thought about it before, and I'm an old guy. It would seem having the tread chevron point first as it contact a dry surface would provide a modicum of extra grabbing force. Although, as the below people noted, it would be gunked up immediately in mud and snow. It's hard to imagine they'd stop and turn their treads every time the weather changed. Just choose one and live with it. So, it's easy to see where mult-directional treads would take care of having to make a call on the old treads and their direction. Solving problems, one of man's more useful abilities. Can't believe I just wrote three short paragraphs on tire tread direction on large vehicles of long past decades. Maybe that's why I love this site. Brings out some unique discussions and responses at times. Tire Treads"This is the recommended mounting for a non-powered wheel, unfortunately it's on a driven axle." I was not aware that the front axle on a half-track was a driven axle. In fact I don't think it was - the front wheels were for steering while the tracks provided power. You will observe on the photo of the truck (the middle of the three that Dave posted) the front tires was chevrons forward and the rear tires were chevrons back. [As we can see from the axles and differential cases in the photos already posted, the front wheels are driven. - Dave] Stuck in the MudWhile I shouldn't try to second guess the military thinking of the day regarding which way to mount their front tires, I can report why we would occasionally run farm tires "backward". The idea in mounting R-1 (chevron) tires backward was that you had better traction going in reverse than forward. Thus, with superior traction in reverse, you could (almost) always count on being able to back out after you got stuck. Yes, it also meant you were more likely to get stuck in the first place but the chances you'd have to call for a tow in that event were supposedly less likely. While you wouldn't likely see this done on a tractor, it was fairly common to see it on combines. Especially in areas known for a wet harvest like Oklahoma wheat harvest or soybean harvest in Mississippi. The other possibility for running their front tires backward might have had something do with wear issues. Chevron tires wear out quickly on pavement when run the "right" way. As I recall, the leading edge of the outside tread bar will wear away fast. By running the tires backwards, they may have found the tire treads wore down more evenly and lasted longer. Well, just a thought anyway. [Note that the WW2 tire and the R-1 tractor tread (below) are totally different designs. In the R-1 the tread is made of separate ridges. Which is what gives you traction and self-cleaning at the same time. You could put it on either way and get dig-in, either from the middle or from the edges. On the WW2 tire the ridges are all connected at the middle. The only dig-in is from the edges. - Dave] RotationYou guys are amazing. Good point about not trying to second-guess military thinking on these matters--no doubt they did have their reasons. One might simply have been that the front wheels on halftracks run on paved roads would certainly wear unevenly, and with no back wheels to add to the mix the only way to rotate them is to run them with the treads going the other way for a while. Perhaps they were more likely to do this in conditions where dig-in was less of an issue, or when the front wheels were being used unpowered (though I don't know whether that was an option, as it was on my old Power Wagon). At least in training or other less time-critical situations, they could still switch them back before conditions were likely to get muddy. I'll bet there was a manual on this at one time. This is speculation, but I'm wondering if the central tread ridge connection on the WW2 tires was perhaps designed to improve wear on pavement, since it puts a more or less continuous band of rubber on the part of the tire with the most road contact. I would think it might also help the tire retain its shape as it compresses on contact, which could also improve wear on pavement. Related question: I've often wondered whether the powerful rear tracks on halftracks could sometimes overpower the steering capabilities of the front wheels in certain particularly loose conditions, especially since I understand most of the load is over those tracks. Thus the wisdom of driven front wheels--but I'm wondering if there was also an option to brake a rear track individually, as with a tank. I would think steering like that from both the front and rear would be the ultimate combination. Historical tiresLow pressure, pneumatic farm tires first appeared only 10 years before this photo was taken. Not long before the war, new tractor production had finally just made the switch over to majority rubber tires in place of steel wheels. The first farm tires evolved from knobby aircraft tires into the 45 degree barred tires still common today. Many of the early barred farm tires had a tread connector strip down the center of the tire similar to the tires on your halftrack. I don't know when the tread codes (R, F, I) first appeared but my guess is not until the 50s or 60s. Your halftrack tires are probably closer to what is today an R-4 tread rather than an R-1. The R-4 is directional and similar to the R-1 but has less open area. At low speeds (under 12mph), the barred tire self-cleaning action comes as mud is forced from the center of the tire to the outside. Squished. Trust me, if you reverse a directional barred tire, this self-cleaning mechanism disappears quickly. The tires ball up with mud and won't self-clean run backwards until you get enough speed up (25mph+) to "throw" the mud off. "Reid Gray" may have hit on your answer though. The tires may have also been run backwards to keep them clean and maintain front traction for steering. That makes more sense than anything I mentioned. Keep up the good work. Thanks. M1 Garand RifleThe soldier in both the photo taken in June 1942 by A Palmer of the OWI, and this one, are members of the US Army. Both are wearing the M1937 helmet and their M1 Garands are the very early "gas trap" model. This system was was discontinued in July 1940 in favor of the "gas port" model which continued in use until production was finally discontinued in 1957 in favor of the M14 Rifle. Both soldiers are wearing the obsolete helmet and using the obsolete rifle because they are probably participating in training field exercises. I suspect both photos were taken by Mr. Palmer, probably on the same day in June 1942 as it appears that the markings on the bumper indicate that it is the same half track. M1 GarandThe Garand shown is in color photo is a Gas Port design and not the earlier Gas Trap design. http://www.fulton-armory.com/GasTrapGallery.htm It&#039;s a gas port all rightAgree, that's a gas port rifle. Gas trap rifles were in use as well, although they were to be refitted with the newer design parts when they were sent back for depot maintenance or overhaul. Note the early sight knob without the lock bar. Only the Army had M1 Garands at this point. The Marines stuck to their trusty 1903 Springfield rifles until first-hand experience alongside the Army at Guadalcanal convinced them that the new design was preferable. Note the mix of WW1 gear (belt, canteen and other gear), interwar helmet (WW1 metal, 1934-era liner) and new rifle and herringbone twill uniform. This was common then, and I admired the movie "The Thin Red Line" for getting that right. Bumper #The "D-R" stands for demonstration Regiment. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Cars, Trucks, Buses, WW2)
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