Among its other functions the Office of War Information produced magazines for foreign readers - presumably readers in neutral countries - to "showcase American manufacturing power and to foster an appreciation of the American lifestyle." And of course not every photo shot for the OWI was used in one of its publications or whatever other areas that it operated in.

Those cans were made to handle hot coal ash as can be seen by some ash spilled on the ground next to one of the cans.

Just out of curiosity, why would the Office of War Information be interested in a mundane street scene like this? We've many other similar scenes commissioned by this agency, none of the seemingly related to the war effort.

I always liked the sound of a chain drive truck. Note that coal delivery job backed into the curb.

Those are bullet-proof trash cans! They were the bane of the trash collectors as the empty can weighed probably 40 lbs. Very difficult to even dent those cans.

Must be a lot of kids around, or this is near a school, as there are a many drawings on the papers in the trash cans.

Boy, they sure knew how to build a proprer trash can back in the day!