I had heard years ago that jewelers displayed watches at 10:10 to commemorate the time of night that Lincoln was assassinated. Seems to be a false tale.

The new "Shorpy" building immediately to the right of 1221 F. Street NW address was soon occupied by an enterprise owned by James S. Topham, selling steamer trunks for travelers. Thankfully, a reference librarian in the Prints and Photographs Division at the Library of Congress was interested in discovering the history of that building, and blogging about it on the Library of Congress's website: https://blogs.loc.gov/picturethis/2019/04/double-take-a-trunk-full-of-qu...

I wonder what they imported?

Sixty years ago my granddad told me that the only person who knows the correct time is the one with only one watch or clock.

The 8:20 time strategically places the hands in a position where they do not cover jeweler's name. Looks like good marketing to me.

the reason for the clock hands in the 8:20 position was to not obscure the watchmaker's name that was located beneath the centre.

Apparently the modern psychological discovery of the 10 and 2 happy face hands vs the frown on timepieces had not be discovered or Mr. Ramsay was a rebel. If you notice virtually all timepieces for sale are set at 10 and 2 so you are happy to buy.

[As veteran Shorpyites will tell you, it's always coming up on 8:20 at the local jeweler's. - Dave]

I love that business names were straightforward and to the point. No confusion about the services or goods they offer.

I can remember when almost all the shops in the downtown area where I grew up had those awnings out front. That was in the days before AC units on the roof. The stores tried to keep out the direct sunlight and they had ceiling fans in the store and swamp coolers on the roof.

My dad once told me that clocks and watches in advertisements always have their hands at 20 after 8 or 10 to 2, not just for the pleasing symmetry but to keep the fields of the clock/watch-face clear directly beneath the 12 and above the 6 so as not to obscure any ancillary dials or timepiece insignias.

The buildings and facades in this photo are long gone - including the Shorpy edifice - replaced by larger, taller, more modern structures. Fortunately, Shorpy is still very much alive and well, having relocated to a virtual community in a virtual world.

I was thinking that it would have been clever if Mr. Ramsay had painted the hands of the clock face on his sign to read 12:21, his street address.

Seen on the right is the impressive Shorpy building. Rising high above F St NW. Probably lost to a fire at some time.