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We Eight: 1905
New Zealand circa 1905. "Group of unidentified young women outdoors, probably ... survived such technical limitations, at least in New Zealand, however the subjects there have learned to smile, an expression ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/24/2013 - 10:49am -

New Zealand circa 1905. "Group of unidentified young women outdoors, probably Christchurch district." An interesting variety of countenances and coifs. Glass negative by Adam Maclay, Alexander Turnbull Library. View full size. All together now!Strange how a group of women living together somehow manage to get their hairdos in sync. Thousand-yard stareThe practice of random individuals gazing off-camera, so common in Civil War-era photos here in the US, was likely an attempt to animate and render somewhat less formal the effects of the long exposures necessitated by the plates of that era. Apparently, that affectation survived such technical limitations, at least in New Zealand, however the subjects there have learned to smile, an expression that few apart from Lincoln seemed to be able to hold for the requisite period during Matthew Brady's epoch. [Ahem. Mathew, not "Matthew," Brady. -Dave] Fashion DirectiveAll hair will be parted in the MIDDLE ! Troy PolamaluEAT YOUR HEART OUT! RebelsThe young lady on the right in the second row, along with her distinctive taste in dresses, has a wonderful expression; she looks like she's up for just about anything. Meanwhile, the pretty blonde on the lower left offers a fine (early?) example of a "Just take the darn picture already" face. Lovely picture. TrendsettersI wonder if these girls came up with this hair parted down the middle in front and the rest put up like the fashion dictated at the time, or if there was some Kiwi fashion icon that wore it first. Except for the little blond in front on the left, I can see why it didn't catch on! Age of Aquarius?All the remarks about parting their hair in the middle; have you forgotten the 1970's already? Puff, PuffStripey girl on the far left wins the most points for puffiness--biggest sleeves and biggest hair. (Adam Maclay, New Zealand)
Media Conglomerate: 1907
New Zealand, 1907. "Wanganui Herald newspaper staff and bicycles, photograph­ed ... the kid in the back. Missed the bus? If this is New Zealand, why aren't these men in camp? Or displaying appliances? (The ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/03/2014 - 3:03am -

New Zealand, 1907. "Wanganui Herald newspaper staff and bicycles, photograph­ed by Frank J. Denton. Newsboys holding copies of The Yeoman and Herald." Note the kid in back on the horse. Tesla Studios glass negative. View full size. No bike?No problem -- just use your pony, like the kid in the back. Missed the bus?If this is New Zealand, why aren't these men in camp? Or displaying appliances? (The Gallery, Bicycles, Horses, New Zealand)
Rice Bubbles: 1958
New Zealand circa 1958. "U-Rect-It fittings in Hill Bros. grocery store." A peek ... grocery stores looking when growing up in a small town in New Zealand. Also interesting to see the prices in the old pound, shilling and ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/12/2013 - 10:19am -

New Zealand circa 1958. "U-Rect-It fittings in Hill Bros. grocery store." A peek through the grocery-wormhole into an alternate universe of "Weeties" and Kellogg's "Rice Bubbles." Photo by K.E. Niven & Co., Wellington. View full size. "Product of the USSR"Socra Brand in lower right corner. Possibly caviar or other fishy item? Surrealism 101The best way to experience the illusion of travel to an alternative universe is to observe the details of quotidian life in a similar, but "not quite right" culture. Imagine an English-speaking civilization with car brands like Thermos and Celotex and snacks bearing labels like Lysol and Peterbilt. Kind of makes your clock melt, doesn't it? Please colorize this one!This photo begs being colorized! What I really like about this photo is that it's old enough for the scene to look foreign compared to today's stores, yet contemporary enough for the brands and products to still be recognizable. I love the vintage Kellogg's cereal boxes, the exhibit racks, the sign promoting the virtues of polythene plastic as a convenient food wrapping -- all this speaks of an era very different to our own, and yet still very near to us. Dave, risking being annoying, could you tell us what kind of film was used for this picture? Once again, I'm impressed with the grain texture and the balance of shadow and light. Thanks! [I have no idea -- it's a medium format negative. As you can see below, not very contrasty until I fiddled with it in Photoshop. - Dave] MaggiThat Maggi sign on the right brings back fond memories of our German maid when we lived in Frankfurt in 1951-52. She used Maggi flavoring in nearly everything she cooked. Kellogg's All-BranThat may be an alternate universe in NZ, but I'm willing to bet All-Bran tastes like compressed cardboard pellets, just as it does in the Northern Hemisphere! Knisper, Knasper, KnusperKellogg's NZ has a cute little history on Snap, Crackle and Pop. Snap, the first born of the trio was born in 1933 as a tiny gnome wearing a baker's hat and carrying a spoon and was featured on a box of "Rice Bubbles". Crackle and Pop followed six years later in 1939. Kellogg's NZ notes that Snap, Crackle and Pop sound different in different countries: Sweden: Piff, Paff, Puff Germany: Knisper, Knasper, Knusper Mexico: Pim, Pam, Pum No matter the name we certainly all know the sound!! It was a great time snooping around the store. Would love to know what the teacher in the cartoon on the door is writing on the board. SocraCould be tea, or chai as they say in Russian. That was about the only thing the Soviet Union did well, other than caviar. Substitute TeacherCan anyone make out the poster on the door? It looks to me like a potato (or a peanut?) writing on a chalkboard in front of a classroom filled with children. Times have not changed.I live in Wellington and I must say that many of the items are still sold today and the packaging has changed very little. Cheers for all the great photographs. Aulsebrooks - the Kiwi Nabisco/Keebler/Pepperidge FarmNote that the whole shelf on the left is devoted to the products of just one bakery. My aunt is a Kiwi war bride, and for years she used to get packages of Aulsebrooks biscuits and crackers sent from her family in Christchurch. Like to broke her heart when the company was bought out (late '80s, I think). KIWIBANANA?Wondering about that poster. In the 50s Chiquita had ads headlined "____ABANANA". Such as HAVABANANA, SPLITABANANA, MASHABANANA. Maybe it is my imagination but it looks like one little chap in the front of the room is about to pitch a banana overhanded. There's an image of a banana on the left wall and ____ABANANA written on the poster bottom margin but can't make out the rest of the word. Soviet SalmonThe Socra-branded cans are most likely salmon - as a kid I remember it being sold here in Australia as well as NZ. SchoolabananaFound a clearer image on the intertubes. We'll see if the attachment works ... I rememberThis is how I remember all corner grocery stores looking when growing up in a small town in New Zealand. Also interesting to see the prices in the old pound, shilling and pence currency before the change over to dollars and cents in the 60's. Laundry DayI have just returned from a six week visit to Australia and New Zealand, and if you hunt around you can still find shops just like this. New Zealand cities and towns feature small butcher shops and bakeries, with hot meat pies ready to "take away" or sometimes to eat in the shop. Most people shop at large supermarkets now, and the selection of "bikkies" is just as huge as is shown here. Canadians could also buy Sunlight soap, a yellow laundry soap, as shown in the attached photo, until a few years ago. The new version is slightly smaller, a brighter yellow, and has a slight scent to it. PolytheneMost baby boomer Americans probably learned this word when the Beatles released "Polythene Pam" on the Abbey Road album. It took a few weeks for most Alternative radio jocks to stop introducing it as "Polyethylene Pam." Nothing obscures record labels like marijuana smoke. (The Gallery, New Zealand, Stores & Markets)
High and Dry: 1920
Circa 1920, more trend-setting swimwear from New Zealand. "Young people in swimming costumes, Christchurch." Glass plate by Adam ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/09/2018 - 4:17pm -

Circa 1920, more trend-setting swimwear from New Zealand. "Young people in swimming costumes, Christchurch." Glass plate by Adam Maclay. View full size. Unfair!"Here are your new swimsuits, kids. Girls, you get these attractive, form-fitting, yet tasteful suits. Boys...you get a diaper." I Think We Can Be Pretty SureThe boys find the girls' swimsuits attractive. Girl on the right Thinking, "look straight ahead, don't look right, pretend you don't notice" What's going on here?Even though all four children make a fine grouping, as long as one looks at their smiling faces. If one checks the feet of the boy and the girl on each end of the line-up, something is amiss. The girl has a hammer-toe, I believe. As for the young lad on the far left, his left foot is enlarged and maybe deformed. Is this because of an accident or a disability? Could someone explain what is the matter with his foot? (The Gallery, Bizarre, Adam Maclay, New Zealand, Swimming)
Apple Store: 1920s
Circa 1920s New Zealand. "Greengrocery, probably Taranaki region. Chinese shopkeeper with ... missing One fruit conspicuous by its absence is New Zealand's most famous fruit, that of course being the kiwi fruit. At the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/24/2013 - 9:38am -

Circa 1920s New Zealand. "Greengrocery, probably Taranaki region. Chinese shopkeeper with baskets of apples and boxes of peaches, cape gooseberries and other fruits." Glass negative by John Reginald Wall. View full size. What's missingOne fruit conspicuous by its absence is New Zealand's most famous fruit, that of course being the kiwi fruit. At the time they would have been called Chinese gooseberries, the kiwi name not having become common until the 1960's. I've always said"People in America just don't eat enough gooseberries." The Genius Baris understaffed! No pre-packing hereand I bet the customer gets to select his own fruit. Orderly arrangements!Close inspection shows a wonderfully deft touch displaying all that produce and other goods. Look at the lemons all lined up for inspection. Very nicely done. Not all gooseberries the sameJust to be clear, the "gooseberries" referred to in the text picture are "CAPE gooseberries". These are a husked berry fruit, resembling and in the same family (Physallis) as a tomatillo. In the picture, the cape gooseberries are front and center, below the peaches. Cape gooseberries have nothing to do with the little berry fruits on the prickly woody bushes of the genus Ribes that Americans (and much more so Europeans) call a gooseberry. Gooseberries are indeed much underappreciated in the USA, most because it was (and still is in some places) illegal to plant them (and currants) in many areas for many decades because plants of the Ribes genus can be a co-host for white pine blister rust, a nasty fungal disease that kills pine trees. If you can plant them where you live, you should, as they are most tasty. And as Peter notes, "Chinese goosberries" are an older name for kiwis. They aren't related to either Physallis or Ribes either. Gooseberry is just a cool fruit name that everybody likes using. (The Gallery, New Zealand, Stores & Markets)
Roughing It: 1905
New Zealand circa 1905. "Sumner, Christchurch. Interior of large tent decorated ... we call this 'glamping'. I guess luxury camping isn't so new after all. Not a tallboy That's a lowboy with a mirror, not a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/12/2014 - 2:47pm -

New Zealand circa 1905. "Sumner, Christchurch. Interior of large tent decorated with posters and picture postcards, with tallboy and mirror, trunks with flags, lamps and 'Myrtle Camp' sign." For the men of Myrtle Camp, all the comforts of home and then some. Glass plate by Adam Maclay. View full size. Faith BasedAfter seeing the posted signs in this tent, I would say that this might have been either an Evangelical meeting place or a religious retreat. [One of the pinup-friendly denominations? -Dave] Or maybe they lapsed. My God Shall Supply All My NeedsAnd if that's not enough, there's always the Victorian pinups hung up everywhere. Pretty racy stuffArmless statue porn. The pinup on the far rightHanging from the dark part of the tent roof. Would be an interesting blowup. GlampingToday we call this 'glamping'. I guess luxury camping isn't so new after all. Not a tallboyThat's a lowboy with a mirror, not a tallboy. (Adam Maclay, Camping, New Zealand)
The Four Blades: 1905
New Zealand circa 1905. "Young men doing chores, next to tent at a camp site, ... museum figures." (The Gallery, Adam Maclay, Camping, New Zealand) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/06/2014 - 12:10pm -

New Zealand circa 1905. "Young men doing chores, next to tent at a camp site, probably Christchurch district." Glass negative by Adam Maclay. View full size. Soup strainer? Check!Even if they're not actually related by blood, they are definitely all Brothers of the 'Stache. Hey!Eyes on your work! My Other Brother DarrylLooking at the faces of the two on the ends and the other man standing up, I get the feeling these are three (maybe four) brothers. The little ImpProbably heated many hearty breakfasts for these gents! Catchy NameThey could be a barbershop quartet in the making. This picture is from one of their road tours. The Snake BeltHas been around a long time -- holding pants up (or not) since at least 1905. Keep It CleanCan't really say his knife holder is the most sanitary arrangement but I suppose it got the job done. Instructions for the shot"Everyone perfectly still, hold it and wonderful posing. Looking like wax museum figures." (The Gallery, Adam Maclay, Camping, New Zealand)
Clover Camp: 1905
Circa 1905 near Christchurch, New Zealand. "Young people with camping gear, having tea and cake in front of tent ... is glamping . (The Gallery, Adam Maclay, Camping, New Zealand) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/12/2014 - 2:49pm -

Circa 1905 near Christchurch, New Zealand. "Young people with camping gear, having tea and cake in front of tent with 'Clover Camp' sign." These natty campers have even brought umbrellas. Glass plate by Adam Maclay. View full size. A bowler hat and a concertinaRoughing it! Lotta Siblings!Based purely on facial characteristics, I am guessing that there are at least two brothers and two sisters in this grouping. Unhappy camperI hate wearing this pie plate on my head. Can you tell?? I Can RelateMy guess is that the young lady reclining and the young lady seated on the chair on the right are sisters, and perhaps twins? The blond boy standing on the left and the older boy in the dark suit standing right in the center are brothers? Just because one goes outdoes not mean one has to go out and be all wet. In this fertile soil-Ferns can spring up unexpectedly in the strangest places. All hats off!After the meal, they were probably all up dancing and singing while one played the Concertina. (lower left) Dressed To The NinesI'm trying to imagine what they would wear to a beach? Ferns of warningBack at the turn of the previous century, the wearing of ferns upon oneself meant 'do not touch'. No, really. Google it. [It could also mean I'm frond of you. - Dave] There's a word for it.The modern term is glamping. (The Gallery, Adam Maclay, Camping, New Zealand)
Speedy Cyclists: 1913
Christchurch, New Zealand, circa 1913. "Jack Suckling (center right with watch chain) and ... On the far right? (The Gallery, Adam Maclay, Bicycles, New Zealand) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/23/2013 - 7:36pm -

Christchurch, New Zealand, circa 1913. "Jack Suckling (center right with watch chain) and cyclists outside Speedy Cycle Works, Manchester Street. Champion cyclist Phil O'Shea is third from right." Photo by Adam Maclay. View full size. No Lycra hereAn old acquaintance owns a couple of large and successful bike shops in Maryland. On his web site [bike123.com] he has a quote from his daughter: "Laurel's famous quote as a toddler was "bike rides are where you see more people in Lycra that shouldn't be!" Given the thighs on some of the guys, no Lycra needed. Re: Phil O'SheaMust have been a bit of honor to have Phil O'Shea show up for your picture taking. A very full cycling life. Suits?I wonder how the guys with jackets and long pants did racing alongside the guys in shorts? FixiesThese guys were riding fixed gear bikes before it was cool... in fact, it was just about their only choice for another decade or two. Still thereView Larger Map Great legs!There are some pretty impressive thigh muscles among that group! Mr. BeanOn the far right? David Copperfield's PalIn which Dickens novel was Jack Suckling a character? Old roadiesAn interesting mix of moustache bars and drop bars here. No brakes, balloon tires on wood rims and wool shorts. Geez I'm gonna feel like such a wuss the next time I go riding. Bobby DarinOn the far right? (The Gallery, Adam Maclay, Bicycles, New Zealand)
Barefoot Boy: 1902
New Zealand circa 1902. "Unidentified family group outdoors, probably Christchurch ... his face clean of the kisses! (The Gallery, Kids, New Zealand, Portraits) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/13/2014 - 8:10pm -

New Zealand circa 1902. "Unidentified family group outdoors, probably Christchurch district." Glass negative by Adam Maclay. View full size. Scowl"I'll get you for making me wear this stupid hat" Timeless expressionHe doesn't mind posing with a bunch of girls so much but making him wear his Grandma's hat was just too much! But when askedhis sister said, "No thanks, I'd rather skip it." Awww, Ma!You got shoes, Granny's got shoes, even Hermione has shoes ... everybody's got shoes but me! Meet the GlummsScary eyes seem to be a family feature! Aunt PollyLooks like two different families split left and right, all with inherited faces and expressions. The center boy doesn't seem to resemble any of them. While on his way to fish with Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, he is angry at being snatched by the ear and forced to sit with these people. Sharp eyes... and bare feet Make the family complete! HomozygosityI think we are looking at an inbreeding situation that is staring to go amok. Emotion recorded for posterityThis boy has a lot to complain about! First, they put a bowl on his head and cut around it. Then, they make him wear a cut off union suit with a serving platter on his head. Next, he surely had to stand still while Grandma and Aunts Sally and Effie kissed him and told him how cute he looked! No doubt, when he got home, he tore the clothing off and scrubbed his face clean of the kisses! (The Gallery, Kids, New Zealand, Portraits)
Whee: 1930
Wellington, New Zealand. "Woman using a vacuum cleaner in a hallway, photographed early 1930s ... NOT hoovering in NZ In reply to bobzyerunkl, sorry but New Zealanders do NOT slavishly follow British terminology. If you were to ask ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/22/2014 - 6:56pm -

Wellington, New Zealand. "Woman using a vacuum cleaner in a hallway, photographed early 1930s by Gordon Burt." Sign on the landing: "NOW is the opportunity to be quit of the DRUDGERY of housework." View full size. NOT hoovering in NZIn reply to bobzyerunkl, sorry but New Zealanders do NOT slavishly follow British terminology. If you were to ask someone here in NZ to hoover the carpet, they would understand but the usual term throughout the country is "vacuum". I believe "hoovering" never caught on as I don't recall my mother or grandmother (1899-1973) ever using the word. In modern NZ parlance, the lady in the photo is vacuuming the carpet. Another example: trucks are referred to as lorries in the UK, but "lorry" is never used in NZ and "truck" enjoys universal useage. If you come to NZ and start using "hoover" and "lorry", you will instantly be taken for an Englishman. If Kiwis follow the example of the BritsThis is known as "hoovering". Bagged beastThe unfortunate animal skin on the floor looks like it was once a leopard; possibly an African or Persian leopard. Princess LeiaWhy doesn't she get her Droids to do that? Great exercise for the bunsLooks like Leia has been hittin' the pasta. "To be quit"?An old New Zealander form of English grammar? [A largely archaic use of "quit" as a predicate adjective. You'll find it in Shakespeare and the King James Bible, for example, as well as in more formal 19th-century British English. -tterrace] Vacuum cleaner, or secret weapon?Superman vs the Mole Men IronicBeen viewing this site for a long time now, Very impressed with the Images. Today I noticed this image used the VACUUM play with the SHORPY logo - Great play. Strong suctionTo acknowledge the vacuum's effect on Shorpy. Nice touch. Nice Graphics!I like the way the "SHORPY" logo seems to be getting sucked up into the vacuum cleaner; a very sharp use of imagery... BTW - any guesses about what type of poor animal has been made into a floor rug? Suction!You should use better adhesive on your logo. LogoCute move with the Shorpy logo. Is this the first time you've done something like that? Lower right hand cornerLove what you did with "SHORPY". Very cleverVery clever use of the Shorpy watermark! That rugCan anyone tell us what kind of beast is lying flat on the floor? The SignCan anyone figure out what the sign on the stairs says? [It could be in the caption. -tterrace] I hate to break it to thembut we haven't "quit the drudgery of housework", even 80+ years later... (Technology, New Zealand)
Baby in Bucket: 1890s
... by son Edgar (1891-1983) to the National Library of New Zealand. View full size. Brave baby I know that I would have been a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/09/2018 - 4:14pm -

Circa 1890s. "Edgar Richard Williams, in a play pen tub with toy rabbit alongside, at Viewbank, Maitland Street, Dunedin, NZ." Glass negative by William Williams, one of thousands of photos taken by the Williamses and donated by son Edgar (1891-1983) to the National Library of New Zealand. View full size. Brave babyI know that I would have been a lot more upset if my rabbit had fallen overboard. "One of thousands"The quality of this photo is great. I took photography in college right before dark rooms went extinct. I can't help but wonder how many of the thousands of photos this guy took in the 1800s and early 1900s turned out this nice. Old babyIf you stare only at the face (forget about the bucket and the bunny and the frilly white clothing), you can easily imagine this baby’s face as belonging to any number of middle-aged Shorpy people. I thought immediately of the fellow with the radio tube, posted on August 30: https://www.shorpy.com/node/15951. AmusementLooks like it came off of the "Tilt-a-Whirl". As they sayI think this is the proverbial baby that got thrown out with the bath water. Not a climberCute picture! Most kids wouldn't stay in that, though. My third would have been out of it in less than two seconds! It's nice to know this baby had a nice, long, life! (The Gallery, Bizarre, Kids, New Zealand)
The Gray Hornets: 1911
... negative from the Steffano Webb studio in Christchurch, New Zealand. View full size. TV Flashback Reminds me about having to ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/01/2013 - 12:40pm -

1911. "Christ's College 1st XV rugby team." Glass plate negative from the Steffano Webb studio in Christchurch, New Zealand. View full size. TV Flashback Reminds me about having to adjust the "horizontal hold" on the early television sets. Ninety years laterWe'd look at this striped bunch as a "Where's Waldo?" convention group pausing for a photo. Scrum(p)tiousRugby players eat their dead, don't they? Colors Are AccurateChrist's College Rugby website: CamouflageWith the team suited up like that, how do you spot the ref? Does rugby even have any officials? As near as I can tell it doesn't have any rules. (The Gallery, New Zealand, Sports)
Rugged Ruggers: 1890
Wellington, New Zealand, 1890. "Post and Telegraph Department football team with men in rugby ... by thugs. Okay, that's a British expression, but the New Zealanders probably say it too. Nobody's smiling because ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/27/2014 - 7:44pm -

Wellington, New Zealand, 1890. "Post and Telegraph Department football team with men in rugby football kit. Postmaster William Copeland seated behind man with ball." Glass negative by Frederick James Halse. View full size. Rugby vs. soccerRugby is a thug's sport played by gentlemen. Soccer is a gentlemen's sport played by thugs. Okay, that's a British expression, but the New Zealanders probably say it too. Nobody's smiling because mouth guards were optional and no one has any teeth left? Rugby UnionThis picture features a full rugby team of 15 men. It was taken a few years before the Rugby League game was created in 1895 involving teams of 13 men. Until recently Rugby Union was purely an amateur game whilst Rugby League was played professionally. No pointy ears?If that fine fellow standing second from left isn't one of the wee folk, I'll eat his hat! (The Gallery, New Zealand, Sports)
Looking Sharp: 1914
1914. Whanganui, New Zealand. "Employees of Thomas Mitchell Ltd., Butchers." Glass negative by by ... the four most loyal employees are. (The Gallery, Dogs, New Zealand, Stores & Markets) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/06/2014 - 1:48pm -

1914. Whanganui, New Zealand. "Employees of Thomas Mitchell Ltd., Butchers." Glass negative by by Frank J. Denton of Tesla Studios. View full size. Well-fed CaninesI suspect the dogs are an integral part of the cleaning crew. CharactersI'm just glad the young man on the right in the front row does not live next door! Dress CodeWhat a crew! Does anyone know why some are wearing tied on (poor man's) leggings, while others are not? Also - The dude standing third from right, what kind of cap is that and where do I get one? Proves it.Cleanliness is next to dogliness. Canine CutletsI sure hope the names of those dogs aren't Beef, Pork and Chicken. Presumably not ingredientsThe dogs seem to have specific roles at the shop. The one on the right is dedicated to exemplifying relaxation irrespective of surroundings, while the other two have been assigned to keep watch for unholy things erupting from the earth. Apparently, one is just about to. have youever seen such a happy and contented looking group of workers from that time period? Another pooch locatedLook at the left arm of the man holding one of the dogs. There is another dog with only his head showing. LeggingsWell I don't know anything about early 20th century butchery practices in the remote corners of the Commonwealth, but I will observe that everyone holding a knife is wearing leggings/gaiters. I'd guess that the leggings people are employed in the messier, blood-splatterier areas of the company. Good lads one and allBut we all know who the four most loyal employees are. (The Gallery, Dogs, New Zealand, Stores & Markets)
Life Lessons: 1951
... sentiment open to a number of interpretations. Wellington, New Zealand, Evening Post photo. View full size. Now look Honey ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/09/2014 - 6:35pm -

Jan. 19, 1951. "Common accidents in the home." A sentiment open to a number of interpretations. Wellington, New Zealand, Evening Post photo. View full size. Now lookHoney here's how we unclog the vacuum, first of all we make sure it's plugged in, then stick this metal rod down this hole -- One interpretationI expect they are trying to tell you not to poke metal rods into your 12000 rpm vacuum cleaner motor with it plugged in. Particularly when you are also four inches away and staring into the hole. This is the "Before" picture, of course. Ultra ModThat vac has a plastic-insulated power cord, way ahead of its time. The 50's Electrolux my mommy used way into the 70's had a cloth-insulated cord, as did most of the pre-1960's appliances that I remember in the household of my youth. C'mon Mom, find it!I need my molar to get a shilling from the Tooth Fairy! Local AdaptationRemember, Julia, in the Southern Hemisphere we coax the motor in an anticlockwise direction. That needle isn't metalMy mother had those needles - same dark colour, same rounded-off ends. Those were early plastic needles - probably Bakelite. Horrible things, but those single-pointed needles usually were no matter what they were made of. Thank heavens for circs. "And always remember ...... to wet your finger before poking those shiny little wires!" Shut the cage next timeIf I leave the knitting needle here, maybe the hamster will climb out on its own. How many timesdo I have to tell you, "Don't use the vacuum while the cat's in the house?!" See JanieThis is what happens when you let Fluffy the gerbil out of his cage. Life lesson #32Always fix your vacuum in your jammies. One minute there were two gerbilsand then there was only one. The ProblemOf course it doesn't suck, it's Rocket Man's jet pack. Boys' Wind TunnelThe 50s Electrolux equivalent blew outwards if you plugged the hose into the other end, which provided the power for any number of wind tunnels for testing airfoils. Honey --Do you know what happened to my car antenna? Metal rodI think it's a knitting needle. Doesn't anyone remember what those were? Not that uncommonA lot of children are accidents. At least this one is learning a useful trade. Knitting a new vacuum bag. 1952Was the year my parents bought our Electrolux. The demo man came out to the house in a 1951 Buick Roadmaster sedan and put the machine through its paces. He dumped a pile of dirt onto one of our living rooms chairs to show how effective it was, then forgot to clean it up until I reminded him just as he was getting ready to leave--my parents said I embarassed them. I was disappointed that ours didn't have the neat cord rewinder on the front. I still have the big marbelized rubber zipper bag with the porthole for winter storage of furs. There's a port at the bottom to which you connected a cannister for moth balls, then the hose was connected to the front of the machine and the fumes blown into the bag. (The Gallery, Kids, New Zealand)
Bent Out of Shape: 1928
Wellington, New Zealand, circa 1928. "Car wreck after an accident." One dejected-looking ... waiting area and we'll let you know when we've got your new tires on. But unless you get that front end aligned properly, the new ones ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/10/2014 - 12:51pm -

Wellington, New Zealand, circa 1928. "Car wreck after an accident." One dejected-looking Jewett. Wellington Evening Post glass negative. View full size. One Bright SpotAll of that automobile carnage and the headlights are unscathed Check your tire wear regularlyOne wonders if that slick right front tire had something to do with the accident. Also looks like a crude soldering repair to the center of the radiator. Just have a seat in our waiting areaand we'll let you know when we've got your new tires on. But unless you get that front end aligned properly, the new ones probably won't last any longer. It's up to you. Bald tiresmight have been a contributing factor here. I'll bet the front brakes with the external bands were only marginally effective in extremis. I feel your pain.Hopefully the airbags deployed. I'm sure the occupants were OK though,protected by the powerful Jewett dashboard amulet, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewett_%28automobile%29 the forerunner of safety enhancements like four wheel brakes, seatbelts and airbags. My own add-on"There was a crooked man and he walked a crooked mile. He found a crooked sixpence upon a crooked stile. He bought a crooked cat, which caught a crooked mouse, And they all lived together in a little, crooked house." P.S. He didn't like things straight, he had this curious quirk, So he bought a crooked car that needed lots of work. I'll Be OKYou shoulda seen the other car. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, New Zealand)
California Modern: 1950
... that Southern California had long been a place where the new, the novel, the offbeat was a familiar part of the culture; also that there ... What goes around comes around... I'm from New Zealand, and this style of interior is becoming extremely popular again. I ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/05/2008 - 12:47pm -

1950. Cocktail hour at the Spencer residence in Santa Monica. Note the mirror-view television sunken into the table. Architect: Richard Spencer. Color transparency by Julius Shulman. View full size. Is Uncle Miltie on tonight? Where is Hugh Hefner?This is reminiscent of the mood of the old TV Show "Hugh Hefner's Penthouse Party." It was all so "chic and stylishly sophisticated" and only the young and beautiful need apply. I do LOVE the streamlined clean look of it all but the guy standing by the fireplace appears to be wearing sandals with a suit, kind of a strange combo. And the powder blue chenille chair in the left foreground would have left lots of lint on black clothing. Quite a slick depiction of the trends of 1950, although most of it is timeless good design. Thanks for the flashback, I love your Shorpy time machine. Meaningful Look...... between Standing Man and Black Dress Woman. Who knows what else they have in common besides biblical footwear? The night is young... Time and placeSandals and a suit? Hey, this is California -- not only that, Santa Monica. As California goes, so goes the future, and it was true in 1950. Granted, I was only 4 then, and my family wasn't in any way immersed in this kind of lifestyle and fashion, but I grew up aware of it, so this scene is completely believable. About the only thing not cutting-edge that I can see are what appear to be 78-rpm record albums (they were literally albums) on the bottom two shelves. 1950 ArmaniWhen I saw this, I immediately thought of Armani Casa, the style is so similar. And the woman on the right in the black dress with the small pois pattern is pure Emporio. SandalsSandals on men are just wrong. Sandals with a suit are an abomination. This guy wuld probably be wearing flip flops to work today. Steak TartareIs that a big plate of raw hamburger there? [Probably not. - Dave] Name that tune.How about you all guess what suave, very cool and modern music that fits the scene might have been playing on the stereophonic hi-fi in 1950. I'm guessing something with Les Paul and Mary Ford. [There was no stereo hi-fi in 1950, but what the heck. Miles Davis. - Dave] Books!The thing that struck me immediately was the prominence of books in this otherwise very spare room. Note the tapered, built-in bookcases, the hard-bound volume carefully placed on the coffee table and the stack of books in the centre unit of sectional couch. Clearly, those who "dressed" this room could imagine the living room as a space where people would read, and they wanted to project the possibility. Today's living rooms -- and the "entertainment units" with which they are furnished -- are designed around electronics, with some allowance for a few magazines or decorative items. Bookcases, where you actually find them, tend to have oversize shelves for binders, photo albums and magazines, not octavo sized books. Soviet ChicI love the Soviet Chic concrete block wall. It reminds me of the university building where I currently work. Probably constructed in about the same era. Two observations: (1) without a ladder, how do you reach the books at the top of the 12-foot-shelf? (2) I love that the flask on the table matches both the drink on the table (which looks like Hawaiian Punch to me) and the pillows behind the bored blonde. [The "flask" is a table lighter. - Dave] Huaraches Going out on a limb here that those sandals are huaraches which were big in the 60's. I know because I had a Rat Fink surf themed LP, Surfink, in the 60's that mentioned huaraches. I suppose that qualifies me some. Modern and Cold...I like a lot of the modern designs from the 50's. However, this one looks too cold and industrial. This is one cocktail party that I am glad I didn't go to. Just look at how much fun they are having! Oh my! Swank padThe future was going to be so cool, and look what we did with it. Shag?Is that SHAG carpetting on the chair? And why is Mr. Spencer wearing Birkenstocks with his suit? Even the ladies shoes seems to be.... less than fashionable. House overall seems somewhat dated, but functional, but the furniture (except maybe the TV) needs to go. And the TV needs to be an LCD pop up with something like Microsoft Surface. Otherwise, this looks like a bad retro-istic look at yesterday's today. Looking like today!High ceilings, simple, sparse furnishings, even the fashions look contemporary. Usually there would be a grey brick fireplace and evidence of robin egg blue palette or chrome and blond furniture around for the fifties. This could be 2009 decor. Santa MonicaSo, tt, what was "this lifestyle" that was on the periphery of your awareness? Spooky ChicThe very chic woman on the right looks so contemporary it's almost spooky. Going DownI thought it was simply a blocky coffee table, until I saw the opening to the steps leading to the chic pleasure dungeon. The guy in the suit and the blonde are obviously planning an immediate descent. Playboy PadThe guy in the suit and sandals looks like a cross between Woody Harrelson and Hugh Hefner. Yeah, Baby . . . So Cool!This is probably the first Shorpy pic that truly makes me want to time travel and immerse myself completely into this scene. I love the coolness and sleekness and the fact that 58 years later, this looks like something that I could probably mimic today without too much fuss. Well, except the smoking. About Santa MonicaI phrased that poorly; my intention was to zero in on Southern California in general, not Santa Monica specifically. What I was driving at was that Southern California had long been a place where the new, the novel, the offbeat was a familiar part of the culture; also that there was a particular style of upscale living - influenced by, among other things, the climate, the movie industry and that tolerance for the idiosyncratic and unusual. A scene like this, in a ritzy, high-concept-design postwar modern living/entertaining room, with a guy in open-shirt designer garb in sandals, well, this is so totally Southern California that I can't stand it. And it's 1950. We're witnessing the dawn of casual chic. Hi-De-FiThe hi-fi system is highly unusual. They were not commonly built into coffee tables! They were commonly custom built, however. The components often didn't come with cabinets. I assume that the TV mirror is so thick because it has a layer of that zebra-grain plywood on it. I also assume that the preamp sticking out near Black Dress's knees tucks in when not in use. There would also be a record changer that slid out when the records needed changing. As someone noted, the records are those old-fashioned 78s. The 33 rpm LP record was just coming into vogue at that time, being introduced c. 1948. The draperiesThe draperies--I assume that is what they are--are amazing. But I really, really want that lamp on the right. [Those are probably boards set at an angle. Your classic mid-century room divider or window baffle. - Dave] True date of this photoThe unbroken horizontal top of the bodice on the sleeveless and strapless gowns gives me pause about the date 1950. I've found only one photo of 1950, "Carmen's Armpit" by Norman Parkinson, that shows a model in such a gown, but the top of that bodice has a break in the overfold to suggest cleavage. By 1952 such gowns as appear in this photo were worn; by 1954-1955 they were common. The short hairstyle on the blonde belongs to 1951-1952, or to 1955, especially if she has a flip curl in front. This image could be as late as 1955. Perhaps a source for the unusual TV setup will help pin down the exact year. [This photograph was taken in 1950. - Dave] More on the SpencersI found the Spencers' wedding announcement (in the January 28, 1949 Long Beach Independent). Based on the accompanying photo I'd bet that they are the two standing by the fireplace. Most remarkable was her wedding dress - "an apple green dressmaker suit and orchids." He was described as an industrial engineer, originally from Denver, who studied abroad. She was the former Josephine Caruso, whose parents had a Long Beach address and who graduated from Polytechnic High. "They will make their home in Santa Monica Canyon." Neal Cassady by the wallWith Kerouac chatting up the local hipsters, while traveling "On the Road." HotDo you suppose the fire is actually burning that wood? If so, Mr. Sandals wouldn't be able to keep his hand on the fireplace screen very long. That is unless he is so mesmerized that he doesn't notice. [Some people are just too cool to get burned. - Dave] As seen on AMC's Mad MenThe woman on the right sure looks like Betty Draper. Of course this would have been before she met her future hubby, Don. Time TravelerI can't believe that woman in the black outfit is from 58 years ago. I am intensely curious as to how she aged in the following decades... How did she look in 1965? 1974? 1995? The writer Robert Benchley once had to console a man who was in love with a woman who'd been dead for a hundred years. I feel myself falling in love with this woman, and wish I had a time machine. The lobbyistsThis room looks more like an upscale lobby or waiting room than a room in somebody's home. I'm guessing the little Spencers didn't play in this room. I think one of the biggest reasons the woman in black looks so contemporary is her millennial borderline-underweight figure, in a time when most of the starlets were more pneumatic. [You'll note from the caption that the owner of the house is the architect who designed it. - Dave] That mirror TV cabinetLet's see if we can figure out how that mirror cabinet for the TV worked... We need two mirrors to keep from reversing the image. Could the TV screen be facing the photographer, with one mirror out of sight reflecting the image up to the mirror we can see? No, then the viewer would see a sideways image, unless the TV is on its side. Probably the TV needed to stay upright? Or could it be on its side, or upside down? [Mirror view televisions, whose sales peak was sometime around 1948, were used for the larger screen sizes (17 inches and up) back when the bigger picture tubes were too long to fit front-to-back in a standard cabinet. Generally the tube was wired to display a reverse image. The standard design was an upright cabinet with mirrored lid. Some used a prism or extra mirrors. They were superseded by direct-view sets once picture tubes got short enough to fit front-to-back in a 24-inch-deep enclosure. Custom installations continued to make use of the principle. - Dave] Time is relative...Our family was totally working class, but, I remember the homes (and offices) of more "sophisticated" people looking much like this when I was a kid. Ours was a two-university town. This looks like the home of a prof or department head, and it resembles a lot of the university architecture being built at the time, the time being the early 1960s for me. It took a decade or more for California Chic to percolate down (and up) to the likes of us in Southern Ontario. This room is ugly and the people look strange.Why does the woman in black appear to have been decapitated and then had her head put back on the neck? What is wrong with this picture? There certainly is a lot wrong with the room. It's about as homey as a public toilet. Another worldWow. I can't even imagine how wealthy one would have to be to live like this in 1950. When I first saw the picture I assumed these people were all movie stars. My father was born in 1947, and his working class upbringing in Northern England, in an unheated home lacking an indoor bathroom, would have been almost literally on another planet compared to this. Astonishing. Kind of Cold In Here...I agree with all those who find this room cold and impersonal, but I suppose it would be a good place to hang out and smoke a couple packs of butts, like these people are doing. Girl in the black dress is exceptional by the standards of any era. For those who like this room I suggest a visit to Aqueduct Racecourse. That was built in 1961, but style hadn't changed all that much, and the little foyer below the grandstand escalator is still furnished something like this. A real time warp. What goes around comes around...I'm from New Zealand, and this style of interior is becoming extremely popular again. I think it's wonderful, nothing like a public toilet. (Art & Design, Julius Shulman)
Violet Camp: 1905
New Zealand circa 1905. "Men in front of 'Violet Camp' tent, Christchurch." On the ... to meet the bottom of his tie. (The Gallery, Camping, New Zealand) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/12/2014 - 2:48pm -

New Zealand circa 1905. "Men in front of 'Violet Camp' tent, Christchurch." On the lookout for ... foxes! Glass negative by Adam Maclay. View full size. Camping?Camping for the wealthy? They have two alarm clocks, a mirror, cloth for table, nice bed. My kind of camping. Is it me or the angle of the camera, but don't these guys look really small? Mr. CravatsWhat's with those extraordinary knots in their ties? Were they part of the camp dress code? Amazing. On the lookout for foxes?So these are two wild and crazy guys. But at first I thought the the fellow on the left was the third place runner up in the Stan Laurel look alike contest. High pocketsThe guy on the right probably has a wedgie from trying to pull his pants up to meet the bottom of his tie. (The Gallery, Camping, New Zealand)
See You Next Fall: 1951
... Accident Lady is back. Have a nice trip! Wellington, New Zealand, Evening Post photo. View full size. Common errors in ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/19/2014 - 10:45am -

Jan. 19, 1951. "Common accidents in the home." The Accident Lady is back. Have a nice trip! Wellington, New Zealand, Evening Post photo. View full size. Common errors in photographyseems the flash stand or umbrella stand is in the shot there. Can't say I've seen that before on Shorpy. Cameraperson reflection, yes. [A photo light stand indeed, correct down to the wingnut. -tterrace] Remedy for common errors in photographyAs the veteran of art directing dozens of photo shoots (a number of which took place B.C. – before computers), many photos are taken knowing that they will crop out any offending objects or images within the viewfinder of the camera. An unwanted shadow running across the image is another matter. Back in 1951, the photo retoucher would have had to get the frisket paper out, along with the retouch greys (water based paint similar to tempera or gouache), and the Thayer Chandler or Paasche airbrush! Thank God for PhotoShop! Just like a comedy sketch.."Honey, have you seen my bowling balls?" "Why, yes, dear, they're right up here in this valise. I'll get them down for you." Hijinks ensue...... It was at that moment . . . . . . that her son picked the absolute worst time to come out of the closet. I See London, I See FranceI see her needing an ambulance! (New Zealand)
Rotorua Express: 1909
New Zealand in 1909. "The Rotorua Express leaving Auckland, alongside Customs ... View Larger Map (The Gallery, A.P. Godber, New Zealand, Railroads) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/20/2014 - 6:35am -

New Zealand in 1909. "The Rotorua Express leaving Auckland, alongside Customs Street East." Glass negative by A.P. Godber. View full size. Not Galway Street, actuallyUntil the Auckland Railway Station moved to Beach Road in the 1930s, Galway Street didn't exist -- so the original caption is correct: the lines ran beside Custom Street East, at the back of buildings fronting that road. NZR class "A" 4-6-2The train stepping smartly out of Auckland is powered by an NZ Railways "A" class Pacific (4-6-2) locomotive. These locomotives were built as four cylinder, balanced, de Glehn compound locomotives. Fifty eight were built, with the last not being withdrawn from service until 1969. Also, unlike most early century compound locomotives, they had long service lives as compounds, the first not converted to simple operation until 1941. Two examples have been preserved. Galway Street, actually.Customs Street is on the other side of the buildings, we are seeing them from the back. And both the A J Entrican and Arthur H Nathan buildings are still there: View Larger Map (The Gallery, A.P. Godber, New Zealand, Railroads)
Cock Fight: 1914
... Change of uniform I just read that about 10% of New Zealand's entire population served in the military during WWI, between ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/09/2018 - 4:11pm -

1914. "Maranui Surf Life Saving Club 'cock fighting' at Lyall Bay, Wellington." Glass negative by Sydney Charles Smith, Melba Studios. View full size. Call it what you willBut at this point they appear to be using only their hands. [Buoys will be buoys. - Dave] Change of uniformI just read that about 10% of New Zealand's entire population served in the military during WWI, between 1914-1918. Chances are, most, if not all of these men were in uniform, not long after this. (The Gallery, Bizarre, New Zealand, Swimming)
South Pacific: 1958
... to radio and relaxing at Oriental Bay Beach, Wellington, New Zealand." Evening Post photo archive. View full size. Oh the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/21/2013 - 1:05pm -

1958. "Swimmers listening to radio and relaxing at Oriental Bay Beach, Wellington, New Zealand." Evening Post photo archive. View full size. Oh the hardshipImagine having to carry around that heavy radio to listen to music, and you had no way to play your favs, except by changing the channels. It was rough in the '50s. Oriental BayIt's always been considered Wellington's own little slice of the Riviera and after its $7.5 million facelift that's an even more apt description. Wonderful RadiosBack in the early 1960s, we had a radio somewhat larger than that one that could not only pick up broadcast TV channels, but had a microphone input and could be used as a little PA. Once, when my mom and dad were watching the news, I was able to turn the volume down on the TV set and play through the radio without them catching on. When Chet Huntley resumed a news segment after a commercial, I mimicked his voice to announce that, "In news today from Washington, President Kennedy announced that Jimbo Page required an allowance greater than a mere 25 cents a week, and would be meeting with Congress to discuss this urgent matter." My dad instantly knew what I had done, but my mom was astonished and never did figure it out. I didn't get a raise in my allowance but I did get a chuckle from my dad, which was something. --Jim (New Zealand, Pretty Girls, Swimming)
Myrtle Camp: 1905
Circa 1905 in Sumner, New Zealand, a coastal suburb of Christchurch. One of 10 glass plates by the ... port, and I can't be sure. (The Gallery, Adam Maclay, New Zealand) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/23/2013 - 7:51pm -

Circa 1905 in Sumner, New Zealand, a coastal suburb of Christchurch. One of 10 glass plates by the photographer Adam Maclay showing the denizens of "Myrtle Camp," possibly over a span of years. These fellows are always up to something -- their recreations included cricket (we hope), playing with Rover, reading, shooting, ping-pong (?) and whatever one does with an accordion. View full size. No myrtle in sightThey certainly enjoyed whatever they were doing there! The variety of activities is to be admired. What would they be sporting today, I wonder? iPhone, iPad, iPod etc.? About those facesIn this photo, more than in any other I've seen on Shorpy, I see familiar faces. The first fellow looks a bit out of my ken, but the others look like guys I've known and liked a lot. Even the dog looks familiar, but that was at happy hour in a distant port, and I can't be sure. (The Gallery, Adam Maclay, New Zealand)
Kiwi Bikers: 1920
New Zealand circa 1920. "Young men on motorcycles, probably Wanganui region." Ready ... with wheelies and donuts. (The Gallery, Motorcycles, New Zealand) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/21/2014 - 9:04pm -

New Zealand circa 1920. "Young men on motorcycles, probably Wanganui region." Ready to run some errands, and you'd better not get in the way. Or else they might be late. Tesla Studios glass negative. View full size. All tied upAh the dilemma - is the proper attire for a ride a suit and tie, or is just a sweater acceptable? How much power?I wonder how much that crowd was into showing off with wheelies and donuts. (The Gallery, Motorcycles, New Zealand)
High Class Milk Bar: 1935
New Zealand circa 1935. "Milk Bar at the Opera House, Manners Street, Wellington. ... a few years later: (The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, New Zealand, Stores & Markets) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/16/2013 - 11:05am -

New Zealand circa 1935. "Milk Bar at the Opera House, Manners Street, Wellington. Next door to Plaza Theatre." Photo by Gordon Burt. View full size. ThroatiesNot to be confused with Neckies. BarsGotta tell ya, folks, I've been in my share of bars..high class, low class and every class in between. But I just don't remember "milk" being part of any of them. Glorious!OH! The candy, the milk shakes, the soda pops, the beautiful hanging glass fixtures.... The heck with the lights! OH! the candy, the milk shakes, the soda pops.... First time I've heard of a milk baroutside "A Clockwork Orange". [A milk bar is also where one may purchase lollies. -tterrace] Horror ShowI prefer the Korova Milk Bar. Laurence of Arabia?Prior to this, I never knew there was a 1935 version of "Laurence of Arabia". [There wasn't. T.E. Lawrence was popularly referred to as "Lawrence of Arabia" at the time. -tterrace] Lawrence of Arabia 1935The showcard is likely referring to a documentary produced in response to T. E. Lawrence's recent death (May 1935). I suspect several were produced. IMDB lists one Canadian B&W production but has no other detail except the directors name. SpidersOne of the treats we used to have in Geelong, Australia, over 50 years ago, was a spider. This was the Aussie and Kiwi term for an ice cream float, made with Coca Cola. Other flavours might be a lime an orange spider. The Milk Bar is known in Canada as a Dairy Bar, with a similar fountain serving milk shakes, floats, etc. Both my local childhood shops still exist in Windsor, Ontario (Glidden Dairy Bar) and in Geelong (now Rumbles Fine Foods). In addition to the Aussie lollies we would buy, you could also buy cigarettes, fireworks, and hot meat pies. I used to buy Hudson's Eumenthol Jujubes, a spicy and effective cough drop. The Milk Bar photo was taken on a visit to Geelong in October, 2013, and is a leftover from the 1960s. War time Emergency PackNestlé's Winning Post, a few years later: (The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, New Zealand, Stores & Markets)
Hat-Mart: 1915
New Zealand, 1915. "Display cases in the Economic drapery store, Wanganui." Tesla ... used at some zoos and hotel lobbies. (The Gallery, New Zealand, Stores & Markets) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/31/2014 - 7:47am -

New Zealand, 1915. "Display cases in the Economic drapery store, Wanganui." Tesla Studios glass negative by Frank J. Denton. View full size. Gilly Selfie Downunder Selfie ninety-nine years ago.....but your legs show. Camera is in left corner mirror reflection. Aviaries Those huge showcases look more like the bird cages used at some zoos and hotel lobbies. (The Gallery, New Zealand, Stores & Markets)
Dork Dynasty: 1910
No slapdash campsite for these circa 1910 New Zealand outdoorsmen: "Unidentified men sitting between two open tents with ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/27/2013 - 7:19am -

No slapdash campsite for these circa 1910 New Zealand outdoorsmen: "Unidentified men sitting between two open tents with beds, tables, pictures, flags and posters on the walls, and Gaiety Camp sign, quoits game in front, pine trees behind. Sumner, Christchurch." Glass negative by Adam Maclay. View full size. Harp Poster ?The poster in the middle of the sleeping tent on the left depicts a winged figurehead harp which has me wanting to know more - Can anyone enlighten me as to its origin and what it represented ? One also wonders how far out of town these campsites actually were, did they have a matching fancy outhouse or did they just go across the road to the church hall - and was it the butler or the maid that took the photos ? Camping Merit BadgeI don't know when the Boy Scouts came to New Zealnad, but earning the "Camping" merit badge must have been a chore. The Gaiety CampAs evidenced by their cheerful demeanor of its residents. Nary a smile present, in spite of all the apparent creature comforts of rural Edwardian NZ. Shocking! I tell you. Shocking!!All of those girlie pictures and tobacco ads on those walls! Harp posterIt looks like a version of the Harp of Erin so maybe one of the gents had an Irish connection. Bob's your uncleThe British flag is a Second Boer War commemorative featuring Lord Roberts, whose nickname—Bobs—is a contender for the origin of the title phrase. (The Gallery, Adam Maclay, Camping, New Zealand)
The Clean Team: 1956
Jan. 19, 1956. Wellington, New Zealand. "Anthony and Paul Banks with a Hoover washing machine." The pint-size ... clothes in Reef Knots. (The Gallery, Kitchens etc., New Zealand) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/17/2014 - 6:45pm -

Jan. 19, 1956. Wellington, New Zealand. "Anthony and Paul Banks with a Hoover washing machine." The pint-size washer for small families. View full size. Little machine; high(er) capacityThe capacity of that little machine is greater than it may appear. There is no agitator to take up space in the tub leaving a lot more space for laundry. There is a fan or propeller type thing on the wall of the tub. Water and air (? there seemed to be lots of bubbles) was recirculated by being forced into the tub through the fan blades. That's how it appeared when I looked at the empty tub in my aunt's Hoover. Her machine had a power wringer/mangle--maybe a later model or for the North American market. Hey, kidMind where you put your hand. If I only read ShorpyI would assume that all Kiwis are obsessed by camping, milk bars and home appliances. Great little machineMy mother had this same model. As Max says, the capacity is quite high. Behind the mangle there is a horizontal rubber hose. There is an agitator on the back wall of the tub, under the mangle, and a drain in the base. Water is pumped from the drain through the rubber hose band back into the tub. When you think your clothes are clean enough you switch off the mahcine, disconnect one end of this hose and put it in your kitchen sink. Switching back on then empties the tub. There was a separte hose that fitted over the end of a kitchen tap, allowing you to fill the machine. As far a I know, there was no heater in the machine, so you had to fill it with hot water. For storage, the handle folds over the mangle and the mangle folds back into the machine. There was an aluminium lid which fitted over the whole thing. Was it madeBy the same company that made the famous vacuum cleaners? A very old and respected name even by then. Kiwi HeavenTony and Paul go to Appliance Camp! Boy scoutThis Hoover could well be named the 'Boy Scout' because it often tied clothes in Reef Knots. (The Gallery, Kitchens etc., New Zealand)
Do Not Touch: 1910
Christchurch, New Zealand, circa 1910. "Vacuum Cleaning Company machine at DIC store." Steffano ... the condenser of a steam turbine. Turbines were fairly new technology at this time. Very cool. Proper name for that machine I ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/31/2014 - 5:29pm -

Christchurch, New Zealand, circa 1910. "Vacuum Cleaning Company machine at DIC store." Steffano Webb Photographic Studio glass negative. View full size. Steam punksThe kids hanging around the steam-powered vacuum cleaner must be steam punks. It's nice to finally be able to make sense of that term. Telephone contacts1. A 3 digit telephone number? Wow ... 2. Interesting that they have 2 numbers, one for evening. Chief salesman's house number, for those after-dinner sales questions? Just Missed ItThat sale last week. 7:1The lady in the background lost her head after seeing seven men so interested in a vacuum cleaner. This Really SucksWith a vacuum motor that big you wonder how much suction it put out. If I were the family poodle, I'd be scared. How modern!We have a "one lunger" hit and miss oil engine running what I believe might be an air pump from the condenser of a steam turbine. Turbines were fairly new technology at this time. Very cool. Proper name for that machineI believe that, technically speaking, that unit is a "contraption." And the carefully placed chocks under the wheels were an important safety requirement, because no one wants a contraption rolling around unchecked in a crowded urban environment. That would be bad. WowBet that sucks. And I thoughtour old Kirby Classic III was cumbersome! Three NumbersMy family moved to a small southeast Nebraska town in the early 1960s to run a hotel. That town had its own municipal telephone company. Every phone in town had a 3-digit number - our hotel had two lines, 117 and 118. To place a call, one lifted the receiver and waited for the operator to inquire, "Number please". After receiving it, she'd connect you. I don't remember how they dealt with long distance calls - I was grade school age, and such calls were expensive and therefore, rare. In the later '60s, our local company was bought out by a regional one based in Lincoln, and we finally got dial service with 7-digit numbers. Oh, how people complained about the "loss of service"! (The Gallery, New Zealand, Stores & Markets)
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