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Buggy Buffet: 1919
San Francisco, 1919. "Grant Six touring car at Alta Plaza Park." Manifesting a variety of conveyances for young and ... (Footnote: running-board doormat.) View full size. Dealer License Plates The earliest dated ones that I have seen. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/04/2017 - 11:35am -

San Francisco, 1919. "Grant Six touring car at Alta Plaza Park." Manifesting a variety of conveyances for young and old, in this latest psalm from the Shorpy Bible of Bygone Buggies. (Footnote: running-board doormat.) View full size. Dealer License PlatesThe earliest dated ones that I have seen. [California dealer plates with both the word and the date were first issued in 1915. -tterrace] Love the descriptionShorpy has the best descriptions. "Shorpy Bible of Bygone Buggies". I also particularly liked "Forgotten Phaetons" and "Brobdingnagian Broughams". And The Dealer Is ...Frank O. Renstrom, who was previously seen here. The driver seems to be Renstrom. The entrance to the park behind the car appears to be at Washington and Steiner streets: (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin, Kids, San Francisco)
Peugeot Dealer: 1925
French Peugeot car dealer; no idea where ... circa 1925. View full size. (ShorpyBlog, ... 
 
Posted by Steeve GALLIZIA - 12/14/2012 - 8:21pm -

French Peugeot car dealer; no idea where ... circa 1925. View full size. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Futuramic: 1950
... that afflicted a lot of late-40s cars. Dealer Showrooms! PersonFromPorlock, do you remember when Ford introduced ... windows so folks couldn't get a peek at this amazing new car until the designated day of introduction. I remember passing by the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/28/2013 - 3:03pm -

February 15, 1950. New York. "Crystal Motors, business at 5901 Bay Parkway, Brooklyn. Exterior II." On display: the "Futuramic" 1950 Oldsmobile. Large-format acetate negative by Gottscho-Schleisner. View full size. I want..I would definitely take a few of those cool looking chairs, very artsy indeed. Re: Futuramic, indeedNot really. Between the very good Hydramatic automatic transmission and the first modern OHV V8 engine, Oldsmobiles of that time were pretty much the wave of, if not the future, then at least the next twenty years. They were pigs to drive, of course, but then American cars were pigs to drive for the next twenty or thirty years. When did downtown auto showrooms disappear, anyway? I remember them from the '50s - they were the rule rather than the exception, at least in the Northeast - but at some point everything moved to suburban lots and I missed the moment. Futuramic OldsesThe division's "Futuramic" body arrived for the 1948 model year, marking the debut of GM's redesigned postwar cars. Of Cadillac proportions for the first couple of years, by the early 1950s they'd had 5 inches lopped off their frames. The design with its integrated front fenders, full wheel openings and jet-tube headlights was progressive for the time, avoiding the dead-end vogue for bathtub-style bodies that afflicted a lot of late-40s cars. Dealer Showrooms!PersonFromPorlock, do you remember when Ford introduced the brand-new 1964-1/2 Mustang? Our dealer in Houma, Louisiana, had kraft paper covering all their windows so folks couldn't get a peek at this amazing new car until the designated day of introduction. I remember passing by the Ford dealer in our school bus and thinking that day would never arrive. RecommendedDon't forget to make an appointment for the 1,000 mile check up. Bring a list of the defects and problems with the car with you and we'll try to get it back to you in a few days. Odds are they won't fix them all on the first visit. Mid Century Futuramic The architecture is mid century futuramic. The vehicle is mid century. I had a 1957 Super 88 in high school in 1972. I loved that Rocket 500 power in a street boat. GM taught me about planned obsolescence from that car. Futuramic, indeedThe building, maybe, but not those dumpy crates. Olds buyers would have to wait until 1954 before they lost that look. Rite Aid PharmacyAccording to Google Street View, a Rite Aid Pharmacy now occupies the site. RadiosThe AM radios in 50s cars worked great, a lost sound. Recent road test, plus period filmMore on the 1950 Olds 88, from Motor Trend. Plus, some Futuramic period film on the 1948 Olds models as produced by the Jam Handy Organization. Mal, love your Hudson! If I remember correctlyThe Hudson 6 cylinder with dual H-Power still licked them at Daytona. [At the first NASCAR outing in Daytona Beach in 1949, the new Rocket Engine Oldsmobile ruled, taking the top four spots. - Dave] That's what I get for listening to a Hudson owner! Now that's a showroomLove, love the slanted windows of the showroom; so very up to date in 1950. I also remember car dealers in the Middle of downtown Minneapolis; I think some were still there in the 60s. I love the big "pig cars". I would trade in my Corolla for one any time!! To quote the Blues Brothers"The new Oldsmobiles are in early this year!" Not Until 1951It was 1951, the year of my Hudson Hornet shown here, when Hudson put Oldsmobile in its place. With the advent of the Hudson Hornet in 1951, Hudson became the NASCAR champion, a position they held through 1954. Hudson's big 308 cubic inch flathead six with dual carbs (Twin-H Power) when combined Hudson's vastly superior handling did the trick. Oldsmobile 98I learned to drive in a 1952 Oldsmobile 98 4-door sedan. It was a beautiful dark green monster purchased new by my parents in Dallas, Texas. The vehicle persevered until 1966 when it was sold to a young tow truck operator, for a pittance, after the fuel pump failed. Dad would say"Why pay for a Cadillac when you can get the same features on an Olds a year earlier?" My understanding was that tilted windows were placed that way to avoid the reflections of headlights. Sit!Please, sit down and admire our cars. Loewy RidersThe showroom itself appears to have been inspired-if not actually designed-by Raymond Loewy. In addition to creating the look of the postwar Studebakers, Loewy designed storefronts, filling stations, furniture, locomotives, etc. Never mind the OldsmobilesThis is a beautiful example of tricky exposure - getting the lit interior of the showroom, the neon sign, and the exterior at what looks like dusk to all be in balance. It reminds me of the photography of Julius Shulman. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Gottscho-Schleisner, NYC)
The Toyopet Kid: 1960
... right. Note the special bonus for fellow Shorpy obsolete car make aficionados. View full size. Look out below! That house ... generation of Willys passenger cars. First case of dealer buy-back? An elderly aunt of mine bought an early model Toyopet and ... 
 
Posted by tterrace - 06/24/2009 - 5:01pm -

In answer to countless requests for photos of 13-year-old boys smoking pipes while driving the automobile ultimately to be called the Toyota, I hereby submit this 35mm Kodacolor negative my brother took in January 1960. Full disclosure: it's my brother's unlit pipe and I'm not driving. I'm in a parked 1960 Crown Custom at Hil Probert's Toyopet dealership in Larkspur, California. That's our house up the hill at the top right. Note the special bonus for fellow Shorpy obsolete car make aficionados. View full size. Look out below!That house didn't slide down the hill and into the car lot did it? It looks like it is perched on the edge of a previous landslide. Fill er upIn a circa 1959 car mag I read an article on one of these early Toyotas (the Tiara, I think). The reviewer noted with some surprise that instead of a regular gas cap, the fuel filler was corked with rubber stopper on a nylon string. The pipe was a nice touchI never pictured your house on a hill. Maybe I got things confused, in my mind's eye with that picture of you and your brother in 1949, on your grandmother's steps. You shot an AeroI believe the dark-colored car is a Willys Aero from 1952-55, the last generation of Willys passenger cars. First case of dealer buy-back?An elderly aunt of mine bought an early model Toyopet and experienced considerable woes with its mechanical reliability. As this was a secondary product line with a well-established dealer in her town, he had the good sense to buy the car back from her. Not sure of the exact history from there, but a vague memory is that Toyota pulled out of the U.S. market until they had the bugs worked out of their export products. ToyopetI have heard that roller skates had more under the hood than a Toyopet! I hope your family never had the misfortune to have one of these sad vehicles. Of course, that same car might be worth a fortune today. Obsolete featuresSuicide doors at the rear, but is it a working semaphore on the B pillar or a delete plate for U.S. import? Former Toyopet ownersMy, I hadn't seen one of those since ... forever! My dad owned a light green Toyopet Crown back in the early 1960s. Used, but almost new, bought through a local Datsun dealer. Toyota didn't have permanent operations in Mexico at the time, so the car was basically an "orphan" which at best got serviced at the local Datsun shop with Datsun spares. I am told that once, when the little motor finally gave up, it was refurbished completely with Datsun spare parts, from pistons and rings to valve lifters and such. Funny thing is, they fit and worked nicely in that car, making it good for another several thousand miles. I've heard the Toyopet was indeed flimsy and had a whole lot of space under the hood - my brother used to joke that the engine was barely bigger than one of those exercise wheels they give hamsters to run in; he even said that the engine was rated at about "1 HP" (Hamster Power). Nevertheless, that car lasted well into the early '70s with the family, and in the meantime it made a lot of trips to my grandparents' home, a grueling, three-hour trip over a rutted dirt road that among other amenities crossed several BIG railroads and forded a river that could get you stuck in the rainy season. Lots of childhood adventures there! Guam ToyopetIn the late '60's our family was stationed on Guam, and my dad drove a dark blue Toyopet for a short time. Judging from the color slides I've seen, it looks like a 1959 model. I can't recall the circumstances (I was 4 or 5), maybe our Coronet wagon was in the shop, or we were waiting for it to be shipped from the States. We lived on Anderson AFB, and drove that thing all over the island. I wonder what ever happened to it. ToyopetMy father had a car repair shop from the 30s until 1972. I remember him and his friends laughing at a Toyopet that had been in a wreck. When he took off the front fender, on the inside you could see the printing on the cans that had been used to make it. House on the hillAbout that chasm below our house: up until two years prior to this shot, that was a continuation of the gentle slope seen above and to the left, covered by acacias. One day a crew showed up and, after clearing the trees, brought in earth movers that excavated up to within a few feet of our foundation - which turned out to slightly encroach the adjoining property. Other than scaring us to death, the eyesore remained vacant for several years - during which our house fortunately remained in the spot on which it had been built in 1906. A couple years after this photo was taken an ugly apartment building was built way down at street level, as seen on Shorpy here. All of it, our former home included, is still there today. Also, kudos to commenter argo for nailing the Willys Aero identification. Toyopet PowerI was stationed in Japan with the Navy in the late 1960's. My buddy and I owned a 1962 Toyopet Crown that appears to have been nearly identical to the one in the picture, but with right hand drive. There was a mild hill near the base, and if there were more than two people in the car, the extra passengers would have to get out and walk up the hill. I do remember we never had a mechanical problem with the car, and when we got new orders, we sold it for we had paid for it two years earlier. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, tterrapix)
Street Life: 1941
... Administration. View full size. Is that old car so old? I just realized that, if the two newer cars in this picture were ... there is no room even for a street stickball game. Dealer, I've Got 3 of a Kind -- along with a 9 and a Joker! That ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/07/2020 - 4:05pm -

June 1941. "Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Is that old car so old?I just realized that, if the two newer cars in this picture were from roughly 1941, and the old car was from the mid-1920s, the old car is as "old" as my own car is to 2020 cars. But, compare 'em. The old and new cars in the picture are dramatically different. My car? You need to know cars to know it's "old". Sad ViewWhat a misrable vista. That would be a poor area for a kid to grow up on. Can't see all of it but it looks like there is no room even for a street stickball game. Dealer, I've Got 3 of a Kind-- along with a 9 and a Joker! That old carThe old car to the right is a 1930 Model A Ford Coupe. But your point is well-taken. An 11 year-old car today is hardly noticeable, due to the bland styling of modern automakers. But much of that seeming lack of imagination is the result of complying with much stricter rules about safety and fuel efficiency. Not that oldModel A Ford, the radiator shell type and the silver Ford emblem would make it a 1931 model. So it's only a 10-year-old car. Not SadI grew up in several Pittsburgh neighborhoods similar to this one. They were communities, where neighbors talked to and depended on each other and we kids played with the other kids. We were poor together. We went to school together. We walked and talked together. There were vacant lots for make up baseball games. We didn't need the streets for stickball. They were for sledding in the winter. I was happier in these neighborhoods than when my mother moved us to the suburbs, where none of those activities existed, or exist to this day. Please don't be tempted to impose modern values on the past. There aren't that many of us left to defend it. Safety firstThe fatality rate in 1931 when the "old" car was built was 14.79 per billion miles traveled. In 1941, when the picture was taken, it had fallen to 11.43 -- a 23 percent decline in just one decade. In 2018 it had fallen by more than another factor of ten, to 1.13. (Mileage and performance have likewise drastically improved.) You might say that cars today are boring in a good way. Tough Life. When this photograph was taken, the Great Depression had dragged on for a decade. That Model A was very reliable and cheap and it got a lot of people through the Depression. (What make is the other car?) I wonder how that young lad felt. He would only have known the Depression all his life. He lived in a cramped neighbourhood. In a few months the U.S. would be at war and his father or uncle or older brother might be serving. My generation had grandparents who went through all of that and they talked about it to us. Life was tough and I see that in photos like this. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Kids, Pittsburgh)
Bumper to Bumper: 1920
... Under Arrest OK listen up, the driver of the second car from the left, DC Plate D-3-995, step out of the vehicle and put your hands ... tractors employ a version of the Metz Drive system. Dealer Plates I assume the "D" on 3 of the license plates stands for ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/25/2012 - 11:55am -

Washington, D.C., 1920. "Lanza Motors Co. -- Greenwich Village Girls -- Metz Master Six." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. He looks rakish and obviously is enjoying the ladies in his automobile, on the far left of the screen. This is our idea of what parking will be like in the future. You're Under ArrestOK listen up, the driver of the second car from the left, DC Plate D-3-995, step out of the vehicle and put your hands up. The charge, driving without a hat. Don't tread on meOr it should be, no tread on me (the tires that is). They all can't be bald, can they? Tread cost extraThe era was coming to a close but tread on your tires was still a premium feature. Black coloring cost more too but it got popular fast when people realized it made the tires wear longer. Time travelerin the second car from the left. Mr Sunglasses looks out of place, making sure he's seen above windshield. Rare to see someone wearing them in 1920. ["Sunglasses" as a retail marketing term didn't become common until after the late 1920s, but tinted spectacles, serving the same purpose, have been around much longer. They were common enough in 1920 to be sold at a military PX as shown in this Shorpy photo] Metz DriveMetz cars had a unique continuously variable transmission (now called CVT) that became known as Metz Drive. Some of today's new garden tractors employ a version of the Metz Drive system. Dealer PlatesI assume the "D" on 3 of the license plates stands for "Dealer"? I guess the rakish guy on the left had already purchased his car. Photo taken in Potomac Park looking back toward the Tidal Basin with the old 14th Street Bridge in the background? Metz DriveFar from being unique, the right angle friction drive is an age old variation on a windmill transmission. Many cars besides Metz used this super cheap method back in the day when they couldn't be bothered or hadn't the funds to design a proper gearbox. Merely access Friction Drive on Wikipedia for details. The system was present on my 1960 Lawnboy garden tractor, when as a child living in the country who desperately wanted a new-fangled go-kart, settled for the far more practical tractor and its 4 mph top speed for my forays into the woods. It worked well with 2.5 horsepower most of the time, and had for all that an amazing gearbox driven off the friction wheel. Kind of half-baked. Nevertheless, despite the fine engineering and great engine that Outboard Marine lavished on Lawnboys back then, the limitations of friction drive meant I was constantly replacing the friction element, and that cut into my allowance in the worst way. The tractor itself was bought from funds relatives had apparently given me as a first-born, not by my parents! Still, it was stuff like that and my need to understand things in detail which led to a mechanical engineering degree and career. I never was tempted to employ Friction Drive again, though! (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo)
Shiny Stockings: 1928
... of the spring. A few days ago there was a picture of a car with Gruss shock absorbers which acted on the end of the spring. Not to be ... Probably from walking up and down all those hills. Dealer plate Evidently using sex to sell cars goes way back. [And vice ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/04/2016 - 1:39pm -

San Francisco, 1928. "Graham-Paige at Golden Gate Park." Especially well equipped with fender-mounted spares. 5x7 glass negative. View full size. Air suspensionThere are what look to be small tanks under the fenders inboard each wheel. I think they must be shock absorbers that act on the center of the spring. A few days ago there was a picture of a car with Gruss shock absorbers which acted on the end of the spring. Not to be prurient but the San Francisco ladies certainly have upgraded suspensions too. Probably from walking up and down all those hills. Dealer plateEvidently using sex to sell cars goes way back. [And vice versa. - Dave] Let's take them to the speakeasy to find outOK they look great sitting on the fenders - but can they dance a hot Charleston? That's what the darbs want to know. Girls and GuysCan't decide if the girl on the right looks more like Tony Curtis or Jack Lemmon in Some Like It Hot. Elementary --The shocks are Watson Stabilators. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin, Pretty Girls, San Francisco)
Arkansas Travelers: 1920
... San Francisco circa 1920. Three gents in a dusty touring car with Arkansas and Colorado tags (and Yellowstone National Park windshield ... windshield pass. Studebaker, Tags, & the Day-Elder Dealer Based on the Studebaker and the tags on it, the photo can be ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/03/2015 - 10:36am -

San Francisco circa 1920. Three gents in a dusty touring car with Arkansas and Colorado tags (and Yellowstone National Park windshield pass) are the stars of this 5x7 glass negative with the caption "Studebaker. Chester N. Weaver Co., S.E. corner Van Ness & California. Remodeled and occupied by Crocker-Citizens' Bank in 1967." Photo by Christopher Helin. View full size. Glass sidewalksWe saw a big one here on Shorpy recently. Glass sidewalksDon't see much of those glass dot sidewalks any more. As I recall, they were designed to deliver daylight to the basement below. Arkansas & Colorado tagsAs a keen observer, Dave notices every detail. As a foreigner, I was not aware that a license plate could also be called a tag, but O.K. now I know. Finding examples of circa 1920 license plates was not that easy, but I finally found a site worldlicenseplates, which provides images of (nearly) all years and all countries. There I found that in Colorado only the years 1913 thru 1918 (**Correction** and 1920!) had the letters "COLO" vertically on the left side (Arkansas had these plates until 1923), so the photograph should be dated in those years. Unfortunately I could not find an example of the Yellowstone National Park windshield pass. Studebaker, Tags, & the Day-Elder DealerBased on the Studebaker and the tags on it, the photo can be conclusively identified as being taken in 1920. The Studebaker shown is a 1920-21 Big Six which is easily identifiable by the height of the hood, the number of louvers on the hood, and the windshield with the small lights at the lower corners. The wind wings at the side of the windshield are an accessory. As mentioned by 'Alex' below, the vertical "COLO" on the license plate identifies Colorado as the state issued, but this feature was also used in 1920 for the front license plate. This was the first year that Colorado issued a front license plate. What is shown in the photo, however, is not the accidental placement of the front tag on the back. The number '0' next to 'COLO' indicates this is a "Guest" license plate that was issued to people traveling through Colorado. Full reciprocity between all 48 states did not exist at this time, so some states required you to obtain an additional license plate. The embossed format on the Guest plate shown only matches 1920. The 1921 Colorado Guest tag was not embossed, and later year Guest plates are also of a different style. The size and coloring of the Arkansas tag also points towards the same year, therefore I have to conclude the photo is from 1920. A photo of a 1920 Colorado Guest license plate is below. The Chester N. Weaver Co., a Studebaker and Day-Elder distributor, can be seen here on Shorpy. Note the worm drive depiction in the Day-Elder logo in the window above the car. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin, San Francisco)
Grading on a Curve: 1922
... Not a lot of pictures of Stephens on the Web. [The car is indeed a Stephens. - Dave] Car ID suggestion 1922 Stephens ... working hard, still today. Beautiful machines! Dealer 27 The automobile dealer number on the license plate (27) indicates ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/24/2016 - 6:00pm -

San Francisco, 1922. "Cliff House road construction, view of Sutro Heights and Playland amusement park." 6x8 inch glass negative. View full size. My vote's with HayslipThe radiator shell is a match for the Stephens, and the logo is the right shape. The only thing that doesn't match is the hubcaps. Dave, can you please give us a closeup of the logo on the radiator shell? This one had me stumped, until Hayslip posted. Not a lot of pictures of Stephens on the Web. [The car is indeed a Stephens. - Dave] Car ID suggestion1922 Stephens Salient Six-93 A DuesieThe car is a 1922 Duesenberg. I have the book by Don Butler on Auburn Cord Duesenberg with the perfect match. The two brothers Fred and Augie are on the radiator emblem but can't be seen well on your photo. [The car here is most definitely not a Duesenberg. - Dave] True Steam ShovelThe ancient construction equipment in this photo would warm the heart of any old truck enthusiast. The excavator in the foreground is a true steam shovel complete with steam escaping from the safety valve. Other than museums, I have not seen one of those at work since the 1960's, and they were obsolescent even then. In the background, there's another steam-powered crane. We can't see what it's doing; likely working a clamshell bucket or a dragline bucket. The truck in front of the far crane seems to have a canopy on the back, possibly sheltering an air compressor. (The hoses strewn about the site are presumably air hoses.) Construction's finishedThis is the current view looking southeast along Point Lobos Avenue from the Cliff House. The sprawling amusement park visible in the 1922 photograph (which eventually became "Playland at the Beach") was demolished in 1972 and replaced in the 1980s by the dreadful condominiums visible today. Watch it now!If you go to Kinzers in PA, you can watch these earth-moving mechanical masterpieces working hard, still today. Beautiful machines! Dealer 27The automobile dealer number on the license plate (27) indicates that the car was being sold by W. J. Benson Co. located at 1420 Van Ness, San Francisco in 1922. Benson sold the Stephens marque circa 1919 - 1923, but he was in automobile business in San Francisco both before and after these years. Erie Type AJust a guess on the shovel, Erie Type A? Here's one in action, looks like a handful to operate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJEin7oVajQ (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, San Francisco, W. Stanley)
Bel Air Belle: 1963
... $500, then had to sell two years later. Oh to see this car now! 35mm Kodachrome slide. View full size. 57 - Meh The 57 ... models back then. Made pretty good cars, too. Chevy Dealer From the license plate frame, it appears that the car was purchased ... 
 
Posted by Deborah - 01/20/2013 - 6:27pm -

Circa 1961 1963, L's 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air two-door hardtop. She bought it used and paid $500, then had to sell two years later. Oh to see this car now! 35mm Kodachrome slide. View full size. 57 - MehThe 57 Chevy gets all the attention now, but the 55 and 56 were essentially the same car, and for my money nicer looking, especially the straightforward looking 55. My mom bought a 55 two door, very similar to this, in 1958. It remained her favorite car long after. She traded it in for a 59 Ford, which turned out to be a total lemon. You can have oneMy cousin has restored one of these, same turquoise two tone. A bit more than $500 though. It's HUGE inside, and you sit upright like adults. 6 BangerThe Bel Air undoubtedly has a 6 cylinder engine, as the tailpipe is on the left side. If it had the standard V8 it would be on the right side. Power Pak cars had dual exhausts. Judging from the shift lever position, it's more than likely a Powerglide automatic transmission. [As noted above, the V emblem on the trunk denotes a V-8 powerplant. There was no standard engine; buyers had a choice of a Blue-Flame 6 or Turbo-Fire 8. The V-8 tailpipe was on the driver side of the car. - Dave] What a lovely photoIt's hard to say which is more lovely, the stunning Chevy or the very pretty young woman. Safari55 is right, the picture could only have been taken in 1963. That was the only year that black plates were used without a date sticker. It replaced the yellow 1956 plate that used stickers to update them through 1962. The black plate was then updated with stickers from 1964 through 1969. As an aside, the California DMV is considering bringing back black and yellow plates as a special order option. V=V8V on the trunk means it is a V8. 265 Cubic inch V8. I think it's a V8I was under the impression the silver V on the trunk indicated of the 265 V8. Yes, late summer 1963 in VirginiaL and her aunt had just driven cross-country from California to Virginia in the summer of 1963. She is newly married and she is just shy of her 19th birthday! There's no easy segue into this next image. This is where the gas cap is located. Sticker in window - VALLEY...This could be one of the earliest photos of an automobile with a sticker in rear window. Yes? [School decals like this weren't a particularly uncommon sight when I was mooning over cars in the 1950s. - tterrace] Fine ModelThey sure made some fine models back then. Made pretty good cars, too. Chevy DealerFrom the license plate frame, it appears that the car was purchased at Rancho Chevrolet in Reseda, California. I can't find them on Google, so perhaps they are no longer in existence, or were swallowed up by another dealership. Date changeI think you are probably right. I will change the date! $39k todayHere is a similar '56 Bel Aire 2 door, $38, 995! And the black CA plate would be worth a premium today. 1963 not 1961The black California plates with the yellow digits were the first year for the 1963 base plates, so this photo was taken sometime in 1963. Even later than 1963Yes, black plates in California began in 1963, and quickly exhausted the first part of the alphabet. However, the "P" series plates weren't issued until the 1st quarter of 1965. This plate was likely issued spring or summer of 1965. Dating LMost Kodachromes of this vintage would have the processing date stamped on the mount. Barbie ShoesI love her little shoes. Looks just like the shoes that came on the first Barbie dolls. First rideI believe the '55 Chevy was the first time I rode in a car. Unlike the rest I fell in love with the steering wheel. Also liked hanging out the rear seat window. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Grant Six: 1920
... Somewhere around San Francisco in 1920. "Grant Six touring car." Pointed straight into the 20th century, although the Grant brand itself ... are many of the guys who probably built the car. Dealer 24 The Grant auto was being sold by the Frank O. Renstrom Company at ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/28/2014 - 12:21pm -

Somewhere around San Francisco in 1920. "Grant Six touring car." Pointed straight into the 20th century, although the Grant brand itself was not long for this world, expiring in 1922. 5x7 glass negative by Christopher Helin. View full size. Once Rail, Now Bike Trail.Today's bike trail is probably on or near the railbed in the photo. The Golden Gate Bridge would be in the distant background today. Golden Gate That certainly appears to be the Marin Headlands to the right of the car's roof. To the left looks like old Fort Winfield Scott (Ft. Point) without the familiar Golden Gate Bridge over it. If so, the only place I remember a railroad track that offered that view would have been on the East Bay, somewhere between El Cerrito and Berkeley. However, one would have needed a telephoto lens to bring in those mountains that high (judging from the Google street view). Angel Island would also have had that view, but no railroad. Here's a view from 1902: NON SKIDWhich tire manufacturer made those treads? You left their advertising copy (backwards, of course) on every dusty or muddy road. In the seventies, there was a curved dash Oldsmobile with those tires, permanently on display at Egizio Chevrolet-Oldsmobile in Naperville, Illinois. Every time my dad would take our '76 Chevy Beauville van in for service, I'd spend ten minutes ogling the new Corvette, and five minutes on the other cars. After that, I was checking out the "merry" Olds. I never got tired of looking at that car. View from Fort MasonMy first posting was a little vague. I believe this was taken in the vicinity of Fort Mason. When last there (2011) I noted some rail still existing in the sidewalk while riding the bike trail along Marina Boulevard. Rail within the fort still exists. The distant hills align quite well with the Shorpy image and Google street views. Grant TinkerersHere are many of the guys who probably built the car. Dealer 24The Grant auto was being sold by the Frank O. Renstrom Company at Van Ness and Golden Gate Avenues in San Francisco. Frank Renstrom immigrated from Sweden with his family in 1883. By 1896 he was working as an apprentice at the Union Iron Works along with his brothers. He became an electrician, and he remained at Union Iron until about 1905. The International Motor Cyclopedia for 1908 states he established his automobile business in March of 1905, and that he incorporated the firm in December 1906. By 1907 he was selling automobiles under his name at 424 Stanyon Street. He later began repairing cars, selling automotive supplies and tires, and also opened a branch in Oakland, California. In 1908 he was selling the Pullman and Pennsylvania marques. In November 1910 the garage that housed his business on Stanyon caught fire, and it was completely destroyed resulting in a $10,000 loss. Before the end of December 1910 Renstrom had established a new presence at the Southeast corner of Van Ness and Golden Gate Avenues which was in the heart of the automobile sales district. A picture of the building from the May 1914 "Pacific Marine Review" trade periodical is below along with a recent Google street view. In addition to the Oakland branch, Renstrom opened additional outlets in Los Angeles and Stockton, California as well as Nevada and Arizona. He handled many different automotive brands over the years including Kline, Regal, Briscoe, Grant, and Premier cars as well as Atterbury Trucks, Grant Trucks, and Twin City Tractors. Renstrom became one of the biggest automobile distributors on the Pacific coast. In September 1923 Renstrom filed for voluntary bankruptcy. He appears to have lost his entire business, and in 1924 he is shown working for H.O. Harrison's Hudson and Essex dealership. Renstrom's former dealership location became the Buick franchise of Charles S. Howard. Renstrom worked for Harrison for a couple of years, but then he started to sell real estate and insurance in 1926. He built up this business which was eventually handed over to his son. Frank Renstrom passed away during April 1947 at the age of 70. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin, San Francisco)
Niagara Street: 1908
... Oink Inc. You just can't find a good pig iron dealer around town anymore. Get your pig iron here I've heard of putting ... and wagons being used for transportation. Get a Car Note how by 1908 the autos are outnumbering the horses. Traffic ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/21/2011 - 11:55am -

Buffalo, New York, circa 1908. "Erie County Savings Bank, Niagara Street." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Oink Inc.You just can't find a good pig iron dealer around town anymore. Get your pig iron hereI've heard of putting lipstick on a pig, which looks stupid, but the pigs don't mind. But getting them to do your laundry? Turns out pig iron is not some porcine alternative to a "Chinese hand laundry." Pig iron is the intermediate product of smelting iron ore with coke, usually with limestone as a flux. Pig iron has a very high carbon content, typically 3.5–4.5%, which makes it very brittle and not useful directly as a material except for limited applications. I guess you would use it for things like still banks, toys, and ornamental iron work (such as decoration on an andiron). But I still wouldn't want to walk up to the fourth floor of this gorgeous gothic building to buy iron ingots. I hope they delivered, and this was just their office. 16 Niagara StreetAnother great image of buffalo this week!, thank you so much for this beautiful shot. This is the former erie county savings bank, which was demolished in 1968. more info here. Click below to enlarge. The site today: View Larger Map Poor BuffaloShould passenger rail service ever return in a big way, Buffalo is standing by with its huge abandoned railroad terminal. The straddle methodThe guy on the 4th floor of the building on the left is using what looks like a horizontal pole placed for just the purpose of window cleaning. Tragic EndDemolished around 1970 to make room for a mall. The mall is barely hanging on, and is generally despised. Here is a link to a slide show of the demolition. Frank F. WilliamsFrank F. Williams, officing to the left of Norton, was a corporate lawyer of admirable conscience. Secretary for the Buffalo orphan's home and the public library board, Frank (with his wife Ruth Churchyard Williams) was a leader in Andrew Carnegie's international peace movement. The Williamses were in the American delegation to the annual 1914 peace conference - scheduled for August 1, 1914, on the German side of Lake Constance. The peace conference was "postponed to a more propitious time" when war broke out that week. The Williamses safely returned to London, then to Buffalo. STOPCheck out the traffic control device over the street, and the window washer. Bountiful BuffaloA magnificent city in its day. It's been said that Buffalo never came out of the recession of 1958. The city still struggles to deal with its slow decline. But it still has magnificent architecture, beautiful homes in lovely neighborhoods, a park system designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and enough industry to pay the rent. I think that's the Guaranty Building at the left, one of America's great architectural treasures. In spite of decline, Buffalo is still a very nice city. More & More AutomobilesWe have seen a lot of city street scenes from 1900 to 1905 with no automobiles visible. Now it is 1908 and motorized vehicles outnumber horse drawn by almost two to one! I count 15 automobiles and busses versus 8 or 9 horse powered. Who areFrank F. Williams and Chas O. Norton and why do they have the niftiest offices in Buffalo? Chas. P. NortonCharles P. Norton, the occupant of the law office atop the second turret, was not just any lawyer. In 1908 he was three years into his fifteen-year term as Chancellor of the University of Buffalo. Times are Changing.This photograph along with many others you have posted show the revolution in transportation that took place in the first decade of the 20th century. This photo, taken in 1908, includes a mixture of automobiles and horse drawn wagons, but photos taken of city streets a mere five years or more earlier portray horse and buggies and wagons being used for transportation. Get a CarNote how by 1908 the autos are outnumbering the horses. TrafficInteresting balance of vehicles- about 13 self-propelled as opposed to eight horse-drawn. One car looks like a Model N Ford, and there is at least one curved-dash Oldsmobile. Wonderful photo! Ferrous Dealer's Half OffIt's not that there is no market for pig iron -- it's just that people wouldn't walk up to the fifth floor to buy it. Even when a 2-for-1 ingot sale was on. Streetcar StopIf my guess is right the sign highlighted is a blue background with white letters porcelain marker used as a control sign for streetcars because it is hung from the cross span wire which holds up the power providing trolley wire. At this time I believe there were very few traffic signs for general traffic as such signs start to come into play in the late teens and early 20's as automotive traffic increased. Guaranty BuildingThe building on the left is the Guaranty Building, one of the first skyscrapers, which was designed by Louis Sullivan and Dankmar Adler and built in 1894. At first I thought that it couldn't be, because it's at 28 Church Street, one long block from the foot of Niagara Street. However, a map of Buffalo from 1896 shows that Niagara Street used to extend all the way to Church Street. Not only is the Erie County Savings Bank gone, the block on which it stood is gone too. Tower Admission 10 CentsI wonder how many people paid 10 cents for the view from the tower in the building across the street. I guess that would be a couple of dollars in today's money. FlagsI've noticed in most of the cityscape photos that the numerous flagpoles perched on nearly every building never have flags flying from them. Anyone know on why and would they only fly them on holidays? (The Gallery, Buffalo NY, Cars, Trucks, Buses, DPC)
Vacation Wagon: 1964
... trips in those cars I also spent some hot days in a car like that on the way to the grandparents. My mother flattened the second ... from the 60s on. I think they were usually a factory or dealer option in later years, but I really don't know specifically about this ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/31/2022 - 1:09am -

        Our annual salute to the start of vacation road-trip season, first posted here 15 years ago. Everyone buckled in? Let's go! "Great Falls, Montana. Return after 3 weeks Vacation. June 27, 1964." This Kodachrome of a 1960 Chevrolet Parkwood station wagon is from a box of slides found on eBay. View full size. family trips in those carsI also spent some hot days in a car like that on the way to the grandparents. My mother flattened the second seat, put a mattress on the floor and loaded three of us and the stuff in on top of it, us and the stuff equally loose and not tied down. We whined and fought and slept our way to Cape Cod from southern NJ. My father always "had to work" (they were her parents), so she did the drive alone, I think maybe 12 or 16 hours? Seemed like forever. NostalgicThese people still had a bright future ahead of them, full of great hopes for the days to come. They hadn't gone to the Moon yet, and to them, by 2007 we'd have personal helicopters and robots would run everything. The possibility of the President being indicted for a crime was unthinkable. My job as a web designer hadn't even been invented yet. The lawn looks like it's literally astroturf. Were the colors really like that, or is it an effect of the kodachrome? Holy cow! We had a 59 chevyHoly cow! We had a 59 chevy stationwagon back in the day. Does this bring back memories. We would drive to Florida from Virginia a two day trip usually in the heat of the summer to visit grandparents. Five children two parents no ac. Damn! [This is a 1960 Chevrolet. - Dave] DeflectorsDoes anybody know/remember what the deflectors left and right of the rear window were for? These may have been an aftermarket item. It is amazing how well the colors in this slide are preserved after almost 50 years. It looks like Kodachrome all right, including the telltale blue cast in the shadows The Astroturf look......to my eye, seems to come from the little flowers (or toadstools?) that are in the lawn. At the smaller image size, they look like specular reflections, making it seem like the grass is shiny. [The white flowers are clover. - Dave] 1964As I remember it, this was less than a year after the assassination of JFK, there were race riots in the south and we (I was 14) were all starting to question attitudes towards women, blacks, hispanics, homosexuals and the culture we had grown up with. One of the more minor cultural things was the importance of your front lawn. 50 years?I was born in 1964, and trust me, it hasn't been 50 years since then, yet.... ;) Re:DeflectorsThe deflectors on either side of the rear window were intended to blow air across the rear window to prevent snow from accumulating. A similar deflector is often fitted along the roof on station wagons from the 60s on. I think they were usually a factory or dealer option in later years, but I really don't know specifically about this model or when they might have first been used. OK, 40 years.Sorry, I was too vexed on the year of manufacture of the car. I remember that someone in our street had the sedan version of this Chevy. Like any 8 year old, I was fascinated by the winged tail and the panorama windshield. You didn't see many of these in Europe around 1960; everbody, including my father, was driving Volkswagen Beetles. (He later had a new Ford Mustang 1964 1/2 , with a 289 ci V8 and a four speed box, rally pack and (optional) front discs, which I found very impressive at the time. A real gas guzzler by European standards. Family TrucksterThis is probably what Clark Griswold's dad took the family on vacation in. It's a 1960 Chevy, and I'm guessing it's a Kingswood model. The Brookwood was the more stripped down model and I think the "full dresser" was called a Nomad. This one isn't completely chromed-out and it has the small, dog-dish hubcaps so I'm thinking it's the middle of the line model. I think the rear air deflectors also helped keep exhaust gas from entering the rear passenger compartment when the vehicle was moving with the tailgate window was lowered. Though it doesn't look like there's room for anybody in the third row of seats for this trip. With the window up they also helped keep the rear glass clear of snow and dust. These are Parents of the Year......in my book. Can you imagine going across country now without all of the luxuries and Wendy's and portable DVD players and Nintendo and cell phones and credit cards? These parents did it all the HARD way...and I'll bet they made a lot of memories that summer! My jaw droppedOnce again the red stationwagon family blows me away. The color composition here is perfect. Chevy ParkwoodThis is a 1960 Chevrolet Parkwood. Parkwoods and Kingswoods both use Bel Air trim (mid-level). The Kingswood, a nine-passenger wagon, has the third-row rear-facing seat, and two steps on the rear bumper (one on each end just outside of where the tailgate would come down). Less obvious is that all Kingswoods have power tailgate windows, an option on the other Chevrolet wagons. I still drive a '59 ChevyI recommend owning one. In 2000 We took the ultimate road trip with mine from near the Canadian border in Washington State through the desert to Las Vegas and back up through California and Oregon. There really is nothing like seeing the U.S.A. in your Chevrolet. Cruising the Strip in Vegas was a blast. We might as well have been driving a space ship with the reactions we got. Sadly, these Chevrolets were mostly scrapped and very few survive. 60 ChevySadly, the third row seat had not been invented as of yet and the deflectors were used to deflect air into the rear of the stationwagon at slower speeds. I may not be an expert but I'm old enough to have ridden and slept in the back section of a folded down stationwagon. We didn't know about SUV's yet. Chevy WagonChevy's Parkwood and Kingswood wagons could both be had with a third-row seat. And back then, for the record - wagons WERE the "SUVs" of the day! [According to the 1960 Chevrolet sales brochure, only the Kingswood was available with third-row seating. The International Travelall and Chevy Suburban Carryall were two of the SUVs of the day. - Dave] The luggage rackis something you don't see anymore. It hung on the wall of the garage when not in use. Once my dad, who was in a big hurry, didn't secure the tarp on top properly... We played car games, like Alphabet, Road Bingo, and License Plates, read books, colored,sang songs and squabbled. You took your chances with local restaurants. We hadn't got used to entertainment on demand, so we didn't miss it. And to Dave Faris: It's the film. I once assured my daughter that colors when I was a kid were the same as today. "The Fifties," she said, in her narrator's voice, "were an oddly-hued decade." Slide ConversionHow does one convert slides to digital photos? Any website links or advice? [You'd use a film scanner. I used a Nikon 4000 ED for this one. - Dave] Family TrucksterWe had a green Ford station wagon, not nearly as nice as this, and with our family of six, it was a masochistic experience to take family vacations. Every summer we said that's it, we will never do this again, until the following summer when we did it again. The best part was arriving home again, but I will say that NOT having DVD's and high tech electronic gadgets forced the kids to look out the window and they gained incredible geographic knowledge from seeing the U.S. I could truthfully call these annual trips "purgatory on wheels." Road TripMost all of my long-distance car trips were connected with moving as my father was in the USAF. In August 1954, after being in the UK 2½ years, we got in our in our '53 Chevy coupe and went from New York City to the SF Bay Area, mostly along US 40. Entertainment consisted of looking at the scenery and checking off the towns on the free roadmaps that the service stations provided in each state. Iy being the pre-Interstate era, one did go thru many towns back then! (Excepting on the PA Turnpike) Burma-Shave signs relieved the boredom in the rural areas. We had a car radio (AM only, of course), but for some reason I can only recall it being used while crossing the salt flats west of Salt Lake City. Westward HoIn 1951 our family, my wife, son and daughter, living in Detroit, started taking trips to Cheney, Washington, to visit my WW2 buddy. All on old state highways, no air conditioner, 4½ hours to get through Chicago and the kids loved it. Took these trips out west to the 1970s. We still go west to see my buddy and my daughter in Seattle and we enjoy crossing Nebraska on old U.S. 30. It is a treat to be off of I-80. Nostalgia Ain't What it Used to BeDon't look at this picture and pine for the old days. Change the car to a green Olds Vista Cruiser and that's us in 1969. Back then, dads bought a new station wagon to kick off the summer vacation. Dads don't buy an SUV today for that reason. Without repeating some of the horrors already mentioned below, there was the additional joy of Mom sending back a Coca Cola bottle for one of her sons to use in lieu of a loo. If the girls had to go, we had to pull over. Not so with the boys. Watching mom backhand-fling a Coke bottle out her window, filled with fluid far different that what was originally intended, and seeing it bounce and spill along the shoulder as we whizzed along at 75 mph (pun intended), that's about the fondest vacation memory at least from the car perspective. Today with the daughter hooked up to a video iPod and the sons enjoying their PSP, it's a pleasure to drive for distances. Back then, we didn't play License Plates. We played Punch Buggy and Slug Bug, etc. Fistfight games. Let's go!I loved car trips, and I never had DVD players and Nintendo. I watched the scenery and kept a travel diary. those were some of the greatest times of my life. Road TrripWe had to make do with pillows & blankets. A mattress would have made it actually comfortable. I don't know if Dad didn't have the imagination for that, or just not the money. I suspect the latter. We'd sing sometimes. It was 12 hours from north Georgia near the North Carolina line to south Georgia, near the Florida line, where my grandmother lived. I see the moon; the moon sees me. The moon sees the one that I want to see ... Thanks for the memoriesMy folks had the four-door sedan version of this car, in sky blue & white. My mom used to have a station wagon, don't remember what kind, but it was memorable for its pushbutton transmission on the dash instead of a gearshift! However my favorite "finned" car was our family's Buick Invicta. Now that was a car! Third Row SeatsFords had third-row seats in 1955. I'm pretty sure Chevy had them by 1958 at least. Chevy didn't offer woodgrain sides until '65. Sunday ridesWe had that same car, only in light blue. No seat belts or infant seats for us! We'd put my baby sister in one of those deathtrap baby seats that hooked over the front seat and off we went! What a picture!This picture takes me back almost 40 years to the road trips our family did during summer holidays when I was a little boy. It feels like I myself am stretching my legs after coming home. The colours, the moment -- one of my favorite pictures in Shorpy. My Favorite Car was a 1960 Chevrolet Impala 2-dr hardtop. Bluish gray with white segment on the side, red and white interior. The first car my wife and I bought. Paid $1750 for it used in 1962. We made some wonderful trips in that car. Re: Family TrucksterJust saw this item on TV yesterday about a real family named Griswold that had their station wagon modded to look like the Family Truckster from National Lampoon's Vacation movie for their trip to Disney World. http://tinyurl.com/plo5kub See the USA in Your ChevroletFor our family, it was a 1962 Buick Invicta wagon. Huge car designed for doing massive mileage on the interstates and that's what we did -- six or seven hundred miles a day from Indiana to the Rockies for our annual vacation. Procedure for Accessing the Cargo AreaWe had one of these when I was a kid as well. Ours was a silver gray color. See the chrome disk on the trunk door? Upon arriving at destination, here's what you had to do: 1) Put trunk key in center slot (separate keys for ignition and trunk back then) 2) Open flap (as seen in photo) 3) Rotate flap several times till rear window is fully down 4) Reach in and grab handle to drop tailgate Simple, huh? Looking at old red carsmakes my elbows hurt! Seemed like some of those old single stage paints, reds in particular, had to be waxed every two weeks to keep them looking decent. The widespread adoption of clearcoat finishes in the late 80's to mid 90's freed modern kids from the dreaded frequent waxing chore, thereby giving them the leisure time to start the video gaming revolution... As Long AsThis isn't really the "End of the Road"! That's a scary title for all the Shorpy Faithful. 3 Adults + 7 Children =1000 mile round trip to see grandma. We kids didn't mind a bit. Seat belts?I don't think you heard "Everybody all buckled up?" all that much in '64. I'm not sure of the exact dates, but if you had seatbelts back then, you bought them at a discount store or an auto parts store like Western Auto or J. C. Whitney, and they were lap belts only. Three point seat belts didn't come along for several more years, if I recall correctly, and it wasn't until the government mandated new cars with ignition interlocks in the 1970's that "real men" started to actually use them. Back then, we used to spend our vacations camping, so the car was packed to the gills, including the center of the back seat. My sister and I each got little cubbyholes next to the doors, with just room enough to sit for the trip to northern Wisconsin. My dad drove a two tone green '55 Oldsmobile Delta 88. I saw a picture of that car a few months ago, and as soon as I did, I started remembering a surprising amount of detail about the car's details. It was handed down to me when I went off to college in '64. Seat beltsbobdog19006 is correct in that seat belts were not standard equipment in 1960. However, they had been available as a dealer-installed option since the 50s. By 1966, they were standard in all Chevys, and by 1968, they were federally mandated. I spent many a happy hour on family roadtrips in our '68 Ford wagon, nestled in the narrow gap between the second row and the rear-facing third-row seat, no seat belt, of course. Neither did my siblings in the third row. Service StickersI remember those stickers that service stations or car dealers put on the inside edge of the driver's door when you got your car serviced. This Chevrolet has two. Our road trip rigWe had a '76 Chevy Beauville van, a ho-hum light brown rather than red, which made up for the lack of chrome spears with its cavernous interior: two bucket seats in front for Mom and Dad, two bench seats, and a homemade plywood bed. Strangely, all that space wasn't enough to prevent sibling quarrels. The best story of this van was the return trip of its maiden voyage, when my uncle, who owned a small niche-market manufacturing firm, talked my dad into towing a piece of equipment from South Texas to a parking lot near Chicago, where we would deliver it to his customer from Wisconsin. We quickly got used to being asked at every single hotel, gas station, and rest stop, exactly what was the three-wheeled contraption with the hydraulically-actuated vertical roller-chain conveyor with teeth. The looks on everyone's faces when my dad told them it was a grave-digging machine: Priceless! Curtains?Every August for years we travelled from Birmingham to Cincinnati for a week of visiting my parents' relatives. Before our last such trip in '69, we went through a black-and-white '57 Plymouth Savoy, a metallic-beige '63 Ford Country Sedan wagon (the one without wood on the sides) and a '67 Olds VistaCruiser. I'd love to have that VistaCruiser back today. Ours was burgundy red and my dad put red stripe Tiger Paw tires on it. Imagine a 442 station wagon. As for Shorpy's '60 Chevy wagon, I only just noticed the homemade or aftermarket side curtains, with vertical stripes of brown, gold and red to compliment the bright red car. Thanks, Dave, for showing us this photo again... and including all the original comments, too. Great to relive all the great summer vacation stories with everyone! Re: deflectorsIn the days before the rear window wiper on a station wagon, some folks put these on and the deflected air current would help to clean off that window to a degree. Not having either, within a mile that rear hatch would be almost impossible to see through. Been there, done that and got the tee-shirt. This does bring back memoriesWe had a similar station wagon, but it was salmon (or was it mauve, or ecru?) colored with a white top (I think). It had a 460 a/c (four windows down while traveling sixty miles per hour, some times 560 with the rear tailgate window down). I remember taking a trip from Mississippi to Six Flags over Texas on U.S. Highway 82 (two lane most of the way) in Summer, 1964. The back seats were folded down, and the four of us kids had pillows, blankets, books, and board games to pass the time. It was replaced soon after with a 1965 Ford Country Squire Wagon with a/c, and fake wood paneling on the side. Instead of a rear facing bench seat, it had two small seats on either side that faced each each other. Memories of summer tripsWe also lived in Montana back then, and our family truckster in the 1960s was a 1963 Rambler Classic station wagon. (Yes, I suffered greatly for it among my friends.) That's what I learned to drive, and we ranged all over the western US and Canada in it. Before that, however, we traveled in a 1949 Studebaker Land Cruiser 4-door sedan, which my dad (both inventive and frugal) had outfitted with a set of three back seats that, when covered with the mattress from our roll-away bed, filled the back seat and trunk area with a very passable sleeping unit. That's where I spent most of my time on our travels. At other times, I would climb over the front seatback into the front bench seat between my parents. That's where I was on August 5, 1962, when we were preparing to leave Crescent City, CA, and heard on the radio that Marilyn Monroe had died. Deflector's actual purposeWas to break the "vacuum" the "wall" that was the rear of that wagon created which would suck exhaust into the car if that rear window was open even a little bit. The fresh air, the snowless/cleaner rear window were merely bonuses... Buckle up?A 1960 Chevy wagon probably didn't have seat belts unless the owner installed them. The kids in the back were pretty much free range as long as they didn't make too much noise. Lots of people piled the stuff on the roof and put a mattress in the back for the kids. It was a great way to go and most of us survived. [Seat belts were optional on all 1960 Chevrolets. - Dave] Car playgroundMy folks had a Ford wagon of that era. No seatbelts. Folks put a mattress in the back. Became our playground on long trips. We had no desire to "sit" in a seat. Miss station wagonsI miss station wagons. I prefer them to the SUVs that replaced them. I also miss the bold bright colors that cars use to come in. No SquattingLooking at all the stuff already loaded, I'm surprised the back of this wagon isn't dragging on the ground. In fact it's sitting pretty level. I wonder if dad had overload springs installed? We've had one built for you.To BillyB: Station wagon suspensions were designed with the idea that they would have to haul some combination of eight people and their luggage, so they did OK when loaded down. They *were* softer than contemporary pickup trucks, so the back end of the station wagon wouldn't bounce all over if there were only one or two people in it. Especially at the time of this photo, gas was 25 cents a gallon and would be that price forever, so the factory didn't mind spending a little extra weight on a beefier suspension. Also, most of the really heavy luggage went on the roof rack, which was fairly close to being in the middle of the wheelbase. The back-back, behind the rear seat, tended to contain lighter things, like blankets, pillows, the picnic basket, and - as the trip progressed - bags of souvenirs. If Dad wanted to use the inside rear-view mirror, you couldn't stack stuff much higher than the seats, anyway. Source: I rode in the back of a '79 Oldsmobile wagon every summer from '79 to '87. I think the longest trip we took in it was from Kansas City to Washington, DC and back. WagonsWe had a 1956 Ford wagon, then '61 Mercury wagon, finally a (I think) 1964 Ford wagon. I remember one year with the Mercury, my mom ran low on gas. We were up in the mountains in a resort town. To get to the gas station, she had to reverse up hills, turn around for the downhills, turn around again for going up the next hill. What a ride. Another time, 1965, we were in a typhoon in the current wagon. There were eleven of us in it. Another wild ride driving on a road along the bay. Waves washing over us, my mom hugging the middle of the road (there was an island we could not get across). Wagons were great. The 283 V-8with its 170 gross horsepower is not going to have much highway passing reserve with all that weight. Cross-flags over the V on the tailgate would have indicated one of several 348's which would have given more than enough reserve. That car is 58 years old but properly equipped could have kept pace with most cars on the road today in equal comfort. A 58 year old car in 1960 by comparison was barely even recognizable as such it was so rudimentary by comparison to the 1960 version in its looks and capabilities. The same comparisons held true in all other realms of life comparing 1960 to 1902--homes, conveniences, dress, you name it. Virtually any of those later areas are not that significantly different from their 1960 versions. Those deflectors... were supposed to keep dust off the back window Nikon CoolscanI am having a problem with mine. Can you recommend a place that can repair them. [There aren't any. Try buying them used on eBay. - Dave] 283 V8Although I agree that a 348 engine would have been a better choice for this station wagon. The 170hp 283 was the base V8 engine with just a single two barrel carburetor. The next option up was also a 283 but with a four barrel which the above wagon may have had, which would have given it a little more passing power. Koolscan softwareDave. What software program do you use with your 4000? As it seems the program that came with it is only works for Microsoft VISTA. [I use the NikonScan software that came with the scanner, on a Windows 10 workstation. To install the software on a modern operating system, you have to disable Driver Signature Enforcement. And it's Coolscan, with a C. - Dave] (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Kodachromes 1, Travel & Vacation)
Larkspur, Calif.: 19xx
... anyway? View full size. Carspotting The car facing out of the garage is a '40 LaSalle. The Packard in the foreground is ... optional "swan" one. I think he was a Toyota dealer by the time you were in high school. BTW, was Hil. an abbreviation ... 
 
Posted by tterrace - 09/29/2011 - 6:20pm -

Your task: answer the following about this photo, taken in my former hometown. 1. What year was it taken? 2. Identify the cars. 3. What the heck's going on here, anyway? View full size. CarspottingThe car facing out of the garage is a '40 LaSalle. The Packard in the foreground is a '40 of some sort. Other than that, no ideas. Those pumps certainly are 'modern' looking, aren't they? If they were all there was, I'd say the photo's from the late '50s. But the Packard looks fairly new. InfoThis photo was taken around 1937 which is the time Hil. Probert decided to bring his Gas Station there. As you mentioned, it was taken in Larkspur, California. In 1945 Hil. Probert turned this house into an adjacent car showroom. This house was featured in a movie entitled Impact in 1949. Hope my info helped! More infoTerribly sorry to post a secondary comment but I found out that the type of car is either a Packard V-12, or a Desoto, which is what Hil. Probert specialized in selling. ObviouslyIt's Larkspur's annual Packard Polishing Day. The car in the Mobilubrication bay looks to be a circa 1940 LaSalle. The big car: 1939 Packard Super 8 touring sedan? The gas pumps look circa mid-1950s. My guess: 1956. My guess is a 1936-37 Packard...as the centre car, possibly a V-12 Sedan? Cheers HAC I'd say late '50sThe Packard looks most like a '39 to me but I could be off by a couple of years. There's a '39 Olds in the garage on the left. I won't attempt to identify the roadster in the garage or the car preceding the Packard. I think I see the right taillight of an early '50s Studebaker peeking out from behind the building. The gas pumps say late '50s to me, but it could certainly be a decade later. Someone else mentioned a license plate. Assuming the car in the right foreground is registered in California, this would not be later than 1962 (black on yellow). 1942The prominent car is a 1940 Packard 180 Custom 8. Judging by the 1942 strip on top of the 1941 base license plate issued by California at the time on the Chevrolet coupe in front of the Packard, the photo was taken in 1942. What was going on at the time? Someone was bored waiting for "Miss Daisy" to finish her shopping & decided to take a photo of the car he had just washed & polished for the trip into town. Not 10 seconds later after the photo was snapped, a huge sea gull left his calling card on the windshield! My attempt1.Roughly 1960 to 1965, those are late '50s gas pumps with the logo that was phased out about the same time as the "-cation" typeface and a rather different logo came in around 1962. 2.Front-and-center is a late '30s senior series Packard, an approximately '40 LaSalle is in the bay on our left, on our far right in the alley is something that looks very Model A-ish, the roadster in the bay on the right is hard to ID from this angle but it's unlikely to be much newer than 1935 or so. 3.Word gets around in the old car crowd, Mr Probert, or someone working for him, was obviously the go-to guy for servicing older cars in Larkspur. Larkspur LaSalleThat looks like a mid 40's LaSalle 1960http://sonic.net/~tterrace/larkspur/thennow/thennowprobert.html They say 1960, and that it was part of a 200 car collection. Looks like the same photo with a slightly different crop. Are those feet sticking out from under the LaSalle in the left bay? [A postscript: "They" is none other than tterrace himself -- you googled his website. - Dave] The day that Larkspur became famousIn 1961 at 10:10 in the morning, the town of Larkspur was visited by a cluster of UFO's. The residents were all processed in the alien medical unit. The memory of the incident was then erased in the townsfolk's memory bank. This photo was taken by Elmer Shine who just happened upon the event as he was traveling from town to town polishing Packards. The event is soon to be revisited on the History Channel. The story will be told by a goofy guy wearing shades and a baseball cap with UFO written on it. Riveting TV. 1940 PackardA 1940 Packard is the closest I can come to the main auto. Here's a pic that looks like it except for the lack of the horizontal chrome strips on the front and rear fenders and the different hood ornament. The hood ornament in the Larkspur Packard is the optional "swan" one. I think he was a Toyota dealerby the time you were in high school. BTW, was Hil. an abbreviation for hilarious, Hillary, or Hilton? Dating LarkspurDarn. Dual Freq was just too smart for me, except for the "they" part. All the cars in the shot belonged to Hil(dred) Probert. And yes, the station (and Larkspur itself, masquerading as "Larkspur, Idaho"), was featured prominently in the 1949 Brian Donlevy/Ella Raines film "Impact." Big giveaway is, of course, the gas pump style, plus that of the "Mobilubrication" lettering. Kudos to Lectrogeek for spotting the rear end of what I too believe is a Studebaker. Below, a shot I took in 2002 from about the same angle: The Last PackardI remember a Lawyer who lived a block or so away from me who had a Packard like that and a uniformed chauffeur that drove him. His son was a friend of my brother. When the son came home from his WW2 service he became the driver. A few years later he taught me to drive in the Packard's replacement, a Kaiser 4 door sedan. Whoosh!Those speedlines on the Packard look like someone's attempt at customization. Early to mid '50's.The rear end in front of the Packard looks to be a '47-'48 Chevy. That location became a Toyota dealership in the early '60's. The gas station pump area is now a barbershop, flanked by two retail stores, the former dealership to the left (out of picture) is now a collection of retail stores. A bird of a different featherSwan hood ornament, my spare tire. Any Packard owner will tell you that the bird is a cormorant. I made the mistake of calling one a duck once. I learned the hard way, not a duck. Kaiser a replacement for the Packard?>the Packard's replacement, a Kaiser 4 door sedan
Service in a Flash: 1952
... this scene? I'm trying to figure out the name of the Ford dealer behind the cars - there's a Ford V8 emblem on the side of the building, ... proceeds across the Chattahoochee River. This remained a car dealership until the late '90s, when everything for several blocks along ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/30/2015 - 12:17pm -

Columbus, Ga., circa 1952. "Radio Cab Co." A fleet of two-door taxis -- Ford Mainline Tudor Sedans. 4x5 negative from the News Archive. View full size. Don't be like this guyNotice how the cab with the bent bumper is parked all by itself. Are there some other shots of this scene? I'm trying to figure out the name of the Ford dealer behind the cars - there's a Ford V8 emblem on the side of the building, and it looks like at least one on the front, and probably two, flanking the entrance. Which season?Are there two different seasons on opposite sides of the street? On the left the trees are bare, but on the right the leaves are all out. [It's spring. When trees can come into leaf weeks apart, depending on the species. - Dave] This must be a southern phenomenon with which this northern boy is unfamiliar. Up in Canada, trees come into leaf pretty much simultaneously, with a light green fuzz appearing overall, followed by full leaf. The autumn situation is more like this photo, where one tree can be bare of leaves while another is still full, albeit in glorious fall color. [If it were early enough in autumn for the tree on the right to still be in leaf, there would be leaves all over the ground, and a few still in the big tree. - Dave] Oh, I agree this is not fall. It's just a spring I'm not familiar with. The further south I go in life, the more disoriented I become. 1st Ave and 16th StreetThis is looking north toward the Southern Railroad (now Norfolk Southern) bridge, which then proceeds across the Chattahoochee River. This remained a car dealership until the late '90s, when everything for several blocks along 1st and 2nd Avenue was demolished to make way for a corporate campus. Today the day-care facility for the company sits on this site. Aerials?Being "Radio" dispatched, wouldn't these taxis all have aerials? Radios!I'd like to see a picture of the two-way radios used back then. Before solid state, and VHF they must have been low-band and would require fairly long aerials. Why?A two-door taxi fleet would certainly keep the back-seat fares from leaping out and running away without paying, but otherwise the logic escapes me. [Tudors cheaper than Fordors. - Dave] Well, that. But it must have cost them dearly in the less-than-lithe rider market. Must have cost a fortune.I counted 22 cars in that photo. All 1952 Fords equipped with two way radios. Add in the cost of a base station, dispatchers, etc. Even in 1954 dollars, the cost must have been astronomical. [Those are 1952 Fords. - Dave] Regarding the radios High-band VHF was available in 1952. Taxicabs were typically around 152-Mhz. A quarter-wave antenna for that frequency is thin and short, about 16 inches long and usually mounted in center of roof for best radiation pattern. The transceivers, being all-tube, were the size of a small suitcase and were located in the trunk with only the control console with mike and speaker on the dashboard inside. Hi-bandWould be the right era, if new, for Motorola "Research" line radios. http://www.wb6nvh.com/Moto42/Moto42.htm Also, just a thought, perhaps this photo is a delivery shot from a nearby dealer/paint shop where the radios and antennas haven't been installed yet. Lots of businessWith a massive army base next door (Fort Benning with the Infantry School and paratrooper training) I'm sure they had a lot of business, especially on weekends. I took basic training at Fort Benning at the height of the Vietnam War, in old WWII wood barracks at Sand Hill that had been taken out of mothballs. Being a basic trainee, I never had the privilege of actually seeing Columbus! A Big InvestmentBase price of a 1952 Ford Tudor = $1629 Times 22 cars = $35,838 Adjusted for inflation = $321,791.43 in today's prices. Even in the 60`sAs Zoreo commented the radios of the time were pretty cumbersome. I invested in a cabbing company in the 60`s in the UK (using Fords too!). Our PYE brand radio equipment had its box of tricks in the boot (or trunk if you prefer). In built up areas the range was limited, barely adequate, but was very useful. Next stop, the radio shopInstallation of the 2-way radios would be a job of an FCC 2nd Class or 1st Class Radiotelephone license holder not the factory or dealer. Re: Bent BumperThat vehicle just came in from Oakland, Calif. Radio in the trunkIn the first summer I ever worked as a cab driver (1977, age 19), I was hit from behind by a new driver (he looked 14, but had to have been at least 16), and he crumpled my rear end. I wasn't as freaked as he was (he literally could not speak, and so I gave his version of the story to the cop, who wrote it down!), but I was fairly frantic in repeatedly calling in the accident on the cab radio, frustrated by the lack of response from dispatch, until I realized the radio was disabled by the wrecked rear end. Radio DazeEch. As a former Second Class Commercial Radiotelephone (now General Class) licensee, I've done many installs of remote-controlled, trunk-mounted radios. Not much fun, they could take two to four hours to complete and could be dirty work. The worst were dynamotor-powered hundred-watt units. Thank heaven solid-state radios soon replaced the tube-type boat anchors! DealerThe dealership was Hardaway Motor Company at 1541 1st Avenue, Columbus, Georgia. In 1939 Strickland-Rogers Motor Company had a Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln-Zephyr dealership. Within a year the Ford dealership was split off and Hardaway Motor Company came into existence as 1216 - 1222 1st Avenue. This was previously Strickland's main location. Strickland continued at 1227 1st Avenue which was previously Strickland's used car lot. Hardaway was Benjamin H. Hardaway, Jr. who also owned Hardaway Construction Company. By 1941 he had relocated Hardaway Motors to the 1541 1st Avenue location. By 1960 the president had beome Hardaway's son, Benjamin H. Hardaway III. The business continued at least into 1966. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Columbus, Ga., News Photo Archive)
CarMax: 1921
... is due to factors that have nothing to do with the actual car? Looking Forward to the Future Washington Post, Mar 23, 1919 ... Post, Apr 5, 1978 Pioneer Washington Auto Dealer Celebrates 100th Birthday George C. Rice, a resident of ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/13/2011 - 11:00am -

Washington, D.C., circa 1921. "Geo. C. Rice Auto Co., front." These deals won't last long, folks. Come in TO-DAY! National Photo glass negative. View full size. Great site! I visite evereday! Greetings from Brazil! I want onePutting those prices through an inflation calculator, the range is from the low $4,000's to $27,000 for the Willys. Today's cars are certainly far more complicated and safer, but how much of that price is due to factors that have nothing to do with the actual car? Looking Forward to the Future Washington Post, Mar 23, 1919 To Handle Stearns-Knight Geo. C. Rice Auto Co. Will Represent Builders of Knight Type Motor Stearns-Knight cars will henceforth be represented in this city by the George C. Rice Auto Company, who has handled the Davis line for the past two years in addition to operating a large garage and accessory store. To better display the new line this company is enlarging its salesroom, which when completed will give a window frontage of 40 feet on H street and a depth of 50 feet. The Stearns line, built in both open and closed models, was the first to adopt the sleeve valve motor [video] in this country. This type motor had already won recognition abroad, though an American invention. Daimler in England, Panhard in France and Minerva in Belgium use it in their chassis. During the war the Stearns factory was selected by the British government to build a number of Rolls Royce aviation motors. So large did this business become that by the time the armistice was signed practically the entire factory was given over to this work. Washington Post, Apr 5, 1978 Pioneer Washington Auto Dealer Celebrates 100th Birthday George C. Rice, a resident of Washington, D.C. since the age of four, began his career as owner and operator of a feed, grain and hay business here, adjacent to the Old Center Market on what is now Constitution Avenue. In 1914, foreseeing the demise of horse-drawn transportation, he opened the first Stearns-Knight Agency on H and 13th Streets N.W., selling and servicing such early cars as the Marmon, Davis, Columbia, Dagmar, Fiat and Chevrolet. Mr. Rice was honored last Saturday at a reception given by his three sons, six grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren, most of whom were able to attend. His comments were that surely there is a difference between driving to work in a horse and buggy or a horse car and driving through heavy traffic in the fast cars of today. However, all the new things invented during his lifetime have made life much easier and he is looking forward to seeing what happens in the future. (click on following ads to enlarge) Disappearing BrandsLast year I would have made some wisecrack about the brands that this dealer sold. None of them were around. Now we can list Pontiac, Plymouth and Oldsmobile among the missing. Jackrabbit shiftsThe Apperson was the only car of its time that afforded its driver the ability to select a gear ahead of time. If you saw a steep hill ahead you would slip the transmission into a lower gear, and when the motor started to labor a quick press on the clutch would shift gears. Or you could start with the transmission in low, the shift lever in second, and "She's off like a jackrabbit!" Making it ideal for "ladies" and the uncoordinated. BullwinklemobilesFans of the old Rocky and Bullwinkle shows will recall that two automobiles involved in various episodes were the Apperson Jackrabbit and the Stearns-Knight Runabout. You've got personalityCars back then were more anthropomorphic. With those big round headlights, this place has more of a feel of a pet store. The autos are waiting to be adopted and set free on the open road. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo)
Underdog: 1952
... I'm crazy I'm crazy 'bout a Mercury. [The car is a Lincoln. - Dave] SF today On Post Street looking toward the ... drivers no doubt muttering darkly to themselves. Dealer plates Dealer plates; perhaps pressed into service courtesy local ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/09/2013 - 2:20pm -

1952. Motorcade to nowhere: Democratic presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson in San Francisco. Photo by Bob Lerner for Look magazine. View full size. I'm crazyI'm crazy 'bout a Mercury. [The car is a Lincoln. - Dave] SF todayOn Post Street looking toward the intersection with Stockton. Out of sight on the right, Union Square. View Larger Map 1952 Election ChantsI Like Ike. Adlai Gladly. Question for the localsWhat was Gump's? That's how I read the partially-covered sign about in the middle of the photo. Was there a Forrest or Bubba involved? [Gump's is an upscale home furnishings and decor store, tracing its history back to 1860s San Francisco. My mother worked for some relatives of theirs in the 1920s as the children's cook. -tterrace] Next to AdlaiI think the fellow next to Adlai Stevenson is San Francisco Congressman Franck R. Havenner. After graduating from Stanford, Franck went to work for Senator Hiram Johnson. In 1925, Franck was elected to the first of three terms on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on the 'Clean-out Slate' dedicated to public power. During his third term in 1936 he ran for Congress as a candidate of the Progressive Party and defeated twelve year incumbent Florence Prag Kahn, the second woman elected to Congress from San Francisco. After five months in Congress, Havenner publicly opposed the House Un-American Activities Committee. He lost to Tom Rolph in 1940. Rolph's brother Sunny Jim was elected mayor five times leaving to become governor. In 1944 Franck came back defeating Rolph over his wartime profiteering. In 1952 he joined Stevenson in defeat losing to William Mailliard who red-bated Franck out of office. Four years laterThe Republicans (gasp!) held their convention in San Francisco's famous Cow Palace and renominated Ike for another four years. When he showed up for the convention, he too rode through the streets in an open car parade. I am not going to swear to it, but I think that's a 1956 Chrysler Imperial modified to be a presidential parade car. Such a scene today is unthinkable. How sad. [That's the so-called "Eisenhower Bubbletop," made from a 1950 Lincoln. The photo was taken kitty-corner across Union Square from our Stevenson shot. -tterrace] Cosmo ToplessYes, a 1952 Lincoln Cosmopolitan/Capri convertible. Perfect product placement by photographer Bob Lerner, as far as we Lincoln lovers are concerned, as the '52 has just passed that huge "ZEPHYRS" sign on the corner, which of course refers to a Western Pacific train, but also recalls the Lincoln-Zephyr of 1936-42, America's first popular streamlined auto. HastingsHastings was a quality menswear retailer. My father used to wait for their once-a-year sale and stock-up on suits, ties, shirts and shoes. They were also one of the original stores in Stanford Shopping Center when that was first established on the Peninsula in Palo Alto. Cruising right by the White HouseBetween Bond and Gumps it looks like there's a sign for the nearby White House Garage. [The White House department store was a San Francisco institution, 1854-1965. -tterrace] Things would soon changeOf course what caught my eye is the HUGE corner city ticket office of Western Pacific Railroad, with signage as prominent as anyone else's on the street proudly proclaiming them to be "Route Of The Zephyrs." Contrast that with the relatively small, hole-in-the-wall office behind WP's, occupied by Pacific Southwest Airlines, which would go on to become a major component of USAirways. Western Pacific itself was eventually assimilated by The Borg, sometimes referred to as the Union Pacific. Shed a TearAlthough Gump's (the tony store with the silly name) continues, albeit under different ownership, this shot reminds us of a several once-prominent entities that are no more, PSA and Bond Clothiers prominent among those vanished household names. I'll takeThe brand new tan Fleetwood for mine! [Two years old -- that's a 1950 Cadillac. - Dave] Niche ClothierOn the left, "Nothing But Ties." Koda or Ekta?Color values in this photo are interesting. Sky and Lincoln don't 'pop' like you might expect from a Kodachrome shot on a sunny day. Was this a Kodachrome, or a faded Ektachrome/Eastman that you corrected? If the latter--nice work! Madly for Adlai. . .was a great but ultimately unsuccessful slogan. Though no less than Lauren Bacall AND Myrna Loy admit to having a crush on the guy in their autobios. So his egghead wit and here, his fine showy car, did impress some, just not enough. Playing bridgeI love the peek of the top of the bridge over the buildings down the center of the street. [That's the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. -tterrace] No big dealAside from the open car, the amazing thing to modern eyes is the apparent lack of planning. It seems they just staged the parade and traffic just pulled over until it passed, drivers no doubt muttering darkly to themselves. Dealer platesDealer plates; perhaps pressed into service courtesy local supporting LM dealership? Gump's and Shreve & Co.Gump's is the store that always fascinated me as a kid. My grandmother and mother used to take me to Post Street at Christmastime when the windows of Gump's were beautifully decorated. It was always mobbed and riding the creaky elevators was an adventure! Shreve & Co. is the white building on the corner and another marvelous store with jewels, silverware and fine tableware. Brings back memoriesBrings back fond memories seeing downtown San Francisco, despite this being 10 years before I was born. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, LOOK, Motorcycles, Politics, San Francisco)
Hop In: 1937
... in Annapolis, Maryland, and Newport News, Virginia. The car, a Cord convertible, would be worth around a zillion bucks today. View ... convertible used as a daily driver by a retired auto dealer. (I'd hate to see his insurance bill). Our smirking driver here is no ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/06/2012 - 5:39am -

Uncaptioned photo from a batch of 35mm negatives taken by John Vachon in the fall of 1937 in Annapolis, Maryland, and Newport News, Virginia. The car, a Cord convertible, would be worth around a zillion bucks today. View full size. Suped-upAh, the Cord convertible. In "Anybody Can Do Anything," a sequel to "The Egg and I," Betty MacDonald writes about the cream-colored Cord convertible her brother owned, and how the family would go for rides on weekends until they couldn't afford the gas. Then the Cord became part of an intricate series of trades that I think ended up with him acquiring a house. I found this interesting, from Wikipedia: Supercharging was made available on the 1937 812 model. Supercharged 812 models were distinguished from the normally aspirated 812s by the brilliant chrome-plated external exhaust pipes mounted on each side of the hood and grill. With supercharging, horsepower was raised to 170. It was too late to save Cord, but the contraction "Suped" (referring its supercharged engine) lived on in American lexicon as the hot-rodding phrase "Suped-Up." [To be taken with a grain of salt. The expression is "souped up" -- for which Webster's gives an entirely different derivation. - Dave] A Gazillion Equals $75,0001937 Cord 812 Convertible Must be that "new math"It seems that $75K only gets you the original steel body, with all mechanicals replaced with modern equipment. A complete original will go well into 7 figures. There's a nice original yellow '37 here in my hometown that I see at the post office or court house now and again, owned by a local retired grocer (who owns more than 60 cars of similar caliber). Another pricey car I see frequently is a '37 Auburn boattail convertible used as a daily driver by a retired auto dealer. (I'd hate to see his insurance bill). Our smirking driver here is no more attractive than the grocer's daughter whom I dated in high school, with a face too high a price to pay daily for a chance to inherit even that collection. $185kThere is a nicely restored '37 Cord Phaeton currently in Hemmings for $185k. http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/cord/810/1412757.html Thought balloon"That's right, my car is better than yours." Of course,it's not a doozy! Tom Mix had oneA nice supercharged 37 went for 130k at last fall's auction in Hershey. I believe it was a former AACA winner from the 70's, but still a 90+ point car on the CCCA scale. Tom Mix had one of these and it still exists and has been restored. Front Wheel DriveOne of the most important features of this car is the front wheel drive. It is one of the few front wheel drive American cars made before WWII that were produced in any appreciable quantity (1,146 in 1937). The Cord 812s with superchargers are even rarer (less than 200 built over two years). Cost in 1937 was $2,560. Prices today vary depending on condition, originality, presence of a supercharger, provenance, options, etc., but expect to pay $200,000 - $275,000 for a supercharged exampled in very good condition. InsuranceOldFogie wonders below about insurance premiums. One of my colleagues restored Studebakers. I asked him about insurance, and he said it was quite reasonable. The impression I got is that insurance companies figure collectors/restorers are good risks. Can any of you more knowledgeable guys/gals chime in on this? A first and a last.This car was noted for being an early front wheel drive vehicle but it was also one of the last cars to be designed entirely by one man. Gordon Buehrig was the designer's name. He was also responsible for Auburn's boat tail speedster and many other notable design concepts. And blinking headlamps, too.Aside from the front wheel drive, another innovation is the disappearing headlamps. Geo might have a point about insurance for collectors as good risks. I pay $56 a month, full coverage, for a fleet of vintage Jaguars and one vintage Cadillac (no accidents, ever). Most I know pay far more for a single car. But I'm betting insurance on a real classic *driven as a daily driver* would be considerably higher than for one infrequently driven (a point my insurance agent checks annually with odometer readings). Quotes for my insurance varied by a factor of 20. Timeless beauty The 810/812 series Cords replaced the disastrous L29s. Errett Lobban Cord wanted a car bearing his name. Front wheel drive. On the cheap. Thus, it was decided the straight eight Auburn motor would be used in order to save the R and D costs associated with a new engine. The result was that the normal front to rear sequence of engine, transmission and differential was simply reversed in the L29. From the front it became differential, transmission, and the very long straight eight. The car was engineered by the one and only Harry Miller, and design was under the supervision of Auburn chief designer Al Leamy. Industrial designer Brooks Stevens worked up a stunning one off L29. Functionally the cars were a disaster, as the long wheelbase put very little weight over the front drive wheels. Uphill movement, especially in the rain, became hazardous because there was so little traction. The wheels would slip, and frequently ignore any attempt at turning. The model lasted two years, I believe. By the time the beautiful Buehrig ‘coffin nose’ masterpiece came to market, engineered and designed to perfection, it was too late. The depression pretty much did the car and the Auburn, Cord Duesenberg Company in. I understand Cord was in England settled in for the long haul, as the Securities and Exchange folk wanted to talk with him. Buehrig eventually ended up at Ford, where he had a hand in designing the lovely 56 Lincoln Mark II, among other cars. It’s a rare ‘most beautiful cars ever’ list one will see that doesn’t include the Cord 810/812s. They’re timeless. InsuranceCollector Car insurance is pretty reasonably priced (compared to the value of the vehicle). It's generally based upon very limited street usage, with severe limits to the number of miles that the car can be driven. Unfortunately, things like Cords tend to mostly be trailer queens these days, with the majority of their miles put on during tours before or after car shows. (Thus speaketh the car show judge) Old Car InsuranceTo chime in on this subject, most collectable and antique vehicles (25 yrs. old and older) are insured by companies that specialize in this coverage. They agree on a stated value, and limit annual mileage to 2500 miles (this may vary depending on the insurer). This coverage will not allow the vehicle to be a daily driver, just what would be considered normal driving to car shows, swap meets, cruise nights, and the occasional spin around town. Because of these restrictions, the cost of insurance is very reasonable. As OldFogie noted, driving one of these classics "every day" is a different story. You would have to find a mainstream company to agree to a stated value and then pay through the nose, I'm sure! So he was an artistRE: "Buehrig eventually ended up at Ford, where he had a hand in designing the lovely 56 Lincoln Mark II" -- interesting point I did not know. I liked that Lincoln, and only that Lincoln. It seemed rather out in left field compared to Ford's other production. His hand in it explains that anomaly. Stars with CordsThere's a much circulated Internet photo of the happily-married Hollywood stars Joan Blondell & Dick Powell in their Cord convertible, taken about 1937 looking both glamorous & prosperous. Also, cowboy star Tom Mix met his untimely demise speeding through Arizona while driving his Cord convertible in 1940, when an unsecured heavy metal suitcase slammed into the back of his head. TM's restored car survives and was recently featured in an Antique Automobile Club magazine article. Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg FestivalBorn in Motown, having a father that loved autos and then living in South Bend, Indiana from 1970-79 afforded my family the opportunity to visit Auburn during the Labor Day weekend "Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Festival" in its infancy in the early 70s when I was about 10 or 11. My dad's territory (he was a salesman for Belknap Hardware, a Louisville-based hardware wholesaler) was northern Indiana and SW Michigan and had heard through the grapevine about a classic car festival and auction at Auburn High School. We were off! The museum is a wonderful tribute to art deco architecture and for anyone passing through Fort Wayne or with an appreciation for the classics, this is a must see. Though I would highly recommend attending during the Labor Day weekend. Studebaker was but a distant memory for South Bend even in the 70s. We moved back to Detroit in the 80s and visited Auburn during the festival a few times since. It has grown considerably in size and attendance and a few years ago went through tough times with the auctioneer being accused of not paying sellers after their vehicles sold. Auburn is where dad taught his daughter true appreciation for--and identification of--the classics. My favorite is indeed the Auburn Boattail Speedster! Invitation to the pastIt's as if this lady is beckoning us to come back in time and take a ride in this classic car. The chrome is pristine, the paint glows. The leather is soft and supple. The finely tuned engine purrs with restrained power. Take a ride and relish an era before plastics and electronics rob us of the soul of the machine. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon)
Shiny Datsun: 1971
August 1971. A car that today you'd most likely see as a rusting hulk in a junkyard or vacant ... still recovering from the 1970's. I totally love that car. I totally love that car. Then again, I drive a Mini Cooper. My ... sun roof. Those were the days when an American new car dealer told you to write down any problems with the car when it when you bring ... 
 
Posted by tterrace - 09/29/2011 - 6:49pm -

August 1971. A car that today you'd most likely see as a rusting hulk in a junkyard or vacant lot, and clothes in a Goodwill. My brother and sister-in-law pose with their 1967 Datsun Bluebird parked on my father's garage ramp on Walnut Avenue in Larkspur, California. All kidding aside, I think they're both pretty snappily dressed, and her expression is pricelessly inscrutable. My Kodachrome slide. View full size. Easy GuessI think you could classify that expression as "resigned"; she knows that the picture has to be taken and will be taken! Desert boots!I must have worn out 10 pairs of those crepe-soled, ankle high boots with the soft brushed leather. Most comfortable footgear I ever owned until they began making running shoes that were light and flexible. Haven't seen a pair for years, so I doubt they even make them any longer. LeMans San BernardinoThat dealership brings back memories. Meet the Swinger ...... Polaroid Swinger. For some reason this reminds me of that insidiously catchy jingle. Suddenly it's gonna dawn on you... Datsun saaaaves!I went to hear folk singer Greg Greenway tonight. He mentioned buying a used Datsun 510 wagon "mostly orange, with a 2.5 Briggs and Stratton motor." It's a rare day when I encounter a "Datsun" reference twice in a day. I think she's amusedI think she's amused actually. I sense a definite "That's my brother taking the picture" type feeling from her. With that in mind, I would guess she's a bit older than her brother. [The photographer is the girl's brother-in-law. The guy in the photo, her husband, is his brother. - Dave] Re: Desert Boots!It's suede, and they haven't stopped making them. I used to wear desert boots during college in the '80s. http://clarks.zappos.com/n/p/dp/42711682/c/231.html ClarksLike most things these days the new Clarks are not the same as old. Manufacturing moved to Asia for the past 10+ years and the quality has taken a hit. [That's too bad. Former Wallabees wearer myself. - Dave] TwisterActually her expression may be one of bemused pain, as it looks like he's got her in a solid arm lock. Meanwhile, America is still recovering from the 1970's. I totally love that car. I totally love that car. Then again, I drive a Mini Cooper. My first Datsun: 2001What 30 years of cheeseburgers will do to you. Datsun jingleActually, I feel the title of my post "Shiny Datsun" should be sung to the tune of "Tiny Bubbles" (which has been popping unbidden into my head since submitting it). Incidentally, it's shiny because I had probably washed and waxed it for them earlier in the day. I was always a fan of shiny cars, and this was back when I still enjoyed doing it. Back around 1960, I took a series of shots of our 1956 Rambler, all sparkly, parked in this very spot, freshly Turtle Waxed, chrome polished and with whitewalls scrupulously SOS-ed. A year after this shot, this spot became the roost for my own first car, also a Datsun. Big Bro's BlingmobileThe DATSUN nameplate is gold. It came that way from the factory? Mona LisaI'm surprised nobody's compared your sister-in-law to that other inscrutable beauty. Bemused pain?Check out her Vulcan Death Grip on T-Bro's trapezius that Mr. Spock would envy. Rumor has it that it can turn hair prematurely gray, it's that painful. All I can say isI am totally digging the funky patterns on those super funky clothes. Car and DriverWow, she's a hotty. Looks like Minnie Driver!! Car washingMen do spend a lot of time washing and polishing their cars. I first noticed this when I was a kid in the 1930s. I thought what a waste of time and effort so I now buy white vehicles and wash them every 6 months or so even if they don`t need it. That 70's LookLet's face facts. Guys from the 1970s come off looking infinitely worse than the ladies. Regardless of how quirky the girl's clothing may look today -- peasant dresses, bellbottoms, granny glasses, overly long untamed hair, funky hats, etc. -- the overall appearance can still come off as, well, sexy. But the guys -- sheesh!!! The hair, the glasses, the shirt, the belt, the jeans -- yikes!!! Can you say "dork"? I would be very interested to see what these two people -- contemporaries of mine (and yes, my old photos from that period show my wife in sexy miniskirts, black turtlenecks and patched jeans, and me in just hideously awful things) -- look like today. That GirlShe's gorgeous! How is she doing these days? Did the marriage last? Texting while driving.What's the book on the dashboard? Tech TipsWhat do you use to transfer your slides to digital? Re: Texting while drivingIt looks like a wrapped present, although the present may well be a book. Reminds meOf the 1969 Toyota Corona, my first car. Bought it used for $100. I treated it so badly, and ultimately totaled it. Now I have to see what they are selling for these days. The book on the dashLooks like one of those "Reader's Digest Condensed Edition" anthologies. Inscrutable? In the 70s?Chemically induced, I would say. Not that I have any such experience... The more things change....Funny thing is that those clothes and hair would fit right in with today's hipster kids. It's the belt!Check out the Hippy belt slid over to his left. How cool to be to the "Grove", hair and all. Design by Pininfarina The Datsun 411 here was styled by the Pininfarina studio in italy. It does have a bit of an Alfa Romeo vibe. A pretty litle car, but was eclipsed by the Datsun 510, a more modern and powerful car, and a real looker as well. The meaning of archivalKodachrome rocks Datsun Dash MysteryI'm virtually certain it was a box of Kleenex. In answer to the slide scanning question, see here. She's Absolutely GorgeousI would like to see more pics of her. Dang She is HOT!Dang She is HOT! It's no Nissan Figarobut the Datsun has a certain homely charm. B210In 1977 I decided to buy a commuter car. I paid $2700 for a B210 coupe special edition called the Streamliner. It was a great little car and got good mileage. I liked it so much that in 1981 I bought the introductory model of the Maxima. The car cost $11,000. fully loaded with among other things a voice warning system. The only factory extra you could get was a luggage rack. I sold it in 1987, it had 128,000 miles and the only major repair was for a malfunctioning sun roof. Those were the days when an American new car dealer told you to write down any problems with the car when it when you bring it in for the 1,000 mile checkup. The list would have at least 6 items on it and they probably didn't fix them the first time. The Japanese competition caused the U.S factories to start building more reliable cars but they never caught on or caught up. The DatsunI purchased a new 1970 Datsun 510, bright orange in color, at Annex Motors in San Rafael, near Larkspur. I was stationed at Hamilton Air Force Base in Novato, just up the road. It was a great car priced at $1,750 and it's a beautiful area of Northern California. It's only fair.......to run a present day photo of these two......if possible? ...Please TrailBlazersYou had to be a major trend setter to buy a Datsun in 1971. I imagine that this car attracted more attention at that time than a Mini Cooper or a Smart Car would today. I would also guess that if they ever drove this car to within 100 miles of an American auto assembly plant that they received a lot of negative attention and possibly some threats. I would have been terrified to drive this car around at a time when all the other cars weighed two tons, had 300+ horsepower and four wheel drum brakes. What goes around...Add either a chunky belt or fun necklace (not both) and I would wear her outfit tomorrow, shoes and all! Datsun Copy CatI hate to say it, but this little car shows the Japannese pention for ripping off other designs. It is almost an exact copy of a 1967 Alfa Romeo Guilia Sedan which I used own. The styling is so identical that the cars are almost twins on the outside. Unfortunately, the Datsun didn't have the all alluminum dual overhad cam engine that that the Alfa had. Hence about 40% less horsepower. [Those overhad Japannese pentions were always breaking! - Dave] American MuscleAm I the only one here who would NOT buy a Datsun/Nissan? Never AGAIN. I had one of the God-awful things back in the '80s. My DH is an automotive technician and he won't have one either! Give me American muscle ANY day (says the owner of an '06 Chrysler 300C WITH a Hemi)! Just curious, Tterrace, what is your brother driving today? I see him in any of the following: a Volvo, Lexus SUV, a VW (probably a Jetta), or a BMW. How far off am I? That Datsun GalWell, my sister-in-law seems to have a fan club here. Here she is in a very 70s mode, smiling enigmatically again, in a shot I took at a crafts fair in Santa Cruz, California in 1974. You can also see her here, here, and here. Still asking...Tterrace, did you see my post about your brother's car? (the "American Muscle" post is mine). What's he driving today? Brother's Other Cars"What's he driving today?" His most interesting car was a Fiat X-19. His most boring car was a Fiat station wagon. He doesn't have a car anymore. Not that I'm a stalker....But since I live pretty close to this neighborhood, I drove by to see if the driveway was still gravel. Well, I couldn't quite figure out exactly which house this was, but I didn't see any houses with gravel driveways anyway. Did you live next to that super long and steep set of stairs that run down to Magnolia? I bet those where fun to run up and down. I bet you know exactly how many steps there are too. To the driveway stalkerrgraham, the gravel in the photo is actually the shoulder of Walnut Ave. Our "driveway" was the wooden ramp, since replaced with a concrete one. The northern tip of it was truncated a couple years ago to make room for a carport for a new house on the other side of the long flight of stairs, which is actually Arch Street, an official city thoroughfare. So today, what was our garage/driveway is now the second one immediately to the south of the top of Arch St. Below, our garage and Arch Street in 1955 Ektachromes by my brother. Ok, maybe a bit of a stalker.So here is what it looks like today. The stairs are looking down instead of up, and the basic garage hasn't changed. Cool neighborhood. Rust rust rustI had two Datsuns in the 1970s, a 1974 610 wagon, and a 1978 510 wagon. Both were reliable cars but they rusted like crazy. Nevertheless they were a good alternative to the Detroit small car offerings of the era, the Pinto and the Vega. The body of my '78 was about 20 percent Bondo when I junked it with 146,000 miles ten years later. Fark the CarFarked again. (With apologies to your sister-in-law.) Good Grief...The Farkizations of this photo are hilarious! (Well, except for one certain B&W shot.) A Hot Wheels-style Mustang? Herbie The Love Bug? Spinners? Getouttahere! What would/does Sis-In-Law think? Shiny, shiny / bad times behind meThis image inspired the last part of a lengthy and rambling blog post I wrote a couple of days ago: http://women-and-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/10/last-summer-of-kodachrome-i... It's part of a longer series about Kodachrome. My thesis is that Kodachrome -- despite being around for ages and being very long-lived -- has had a surprisingly small impact on the collective consciousness, in part because it has always been a formal film aimed at the kind of professionals who do not produce images that are meant to last. News photographers very rarely used it and it wasn't all that popular for family snapshots as far as I know, at least outside California, because it was expensive. I just made that up, although it sounds plausible. I would need to have solid figures that detail Kodachrome's sales figures globally compared to other slide films and films in general. Was Kodachrome unusually expensive in California in 1971? Was there an alternative, or was it the default choice? Was it hip? [If I may interject a few words: For many years, Kodachrome was the most popular slide film in America. It accounts for billions of 35mm transparencies (by one estimate, 35 billion) of birthdays, vacations and weddings. Just my parents and grandparents alone have dozens of carousel trays holding thousands of Kodachrome vacation and holiday slides. Multiply that times a few million other families. - Dave] My sub-thesis is that Kodachrome was thus used mainly for posed formal family portraits rather than snapshots, and that the subjects tend to look uncomfortable because of this, although in this case the people nonetheless exhibit character and appear to be real human beings with lives and a sense of fashion that would be perfectly natural in a world where The Flaming Lips were the dominant cultural force. Not our world, not yet. Posed formal portraits date badly and do not grab a mass audience; they grab the people who read Shorpy, but we are not a mass audience. On a tangent, my Theory of Woman: The 1970s includes a timeline that begins with Marilyn Lange - Miss May 1974 - and ends with Farrah Fawcett. The lady in this picture is clearly at the earlier end of the scale. Was it that this kind of look was popular at the time, or were women different then? Where did they go in the 1980s? Kodachrome assumptions in "Shiny Shiny..."Wow, talk about way-off assumptions - of which there are many more in the person's blog. Just briefly, and as I'm sure many here are aware, it wouldn't be even remotely reasonable to expect that my brother and sister-in-law, or anyone else in these circumstances, would be giving the slightest thought to the kind of film in my camera. 15-20 years earlier people might wonder "is it color or black-and-white," or maybe they'd be interested to know it was going to be a color slide rather than a print, but being concerned over whether it was Kodachrome? Come on. Another head-shaking contention is that color slides in general were always merely a niche product. I'd like to send this individual back in time and make them sit through some random person's slide show of their vacation last year. It is the wig I love!It is especially the wig terrace's brother wears that I like. My car -- almostImagine my surprise when I clicked on this page and saw my old high school ride -- almost! My Datsun 411 was a maroon colored wagon. It served me well through two years of high school and two years of commuting to college in the late '70s and early '80s. I'm so glad to see this shinier sedan version a decade earlier. I'm sure these folks enjoyed this baby like I enjoyed mine! SighYour sister-in-law appeared to be living the life we all aspired to in 1971. Cool, confident, stylish, beautiful and such a handsome husband. Brother-in-law sold separately. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Farked, tterrapix)
La Coquille: 1954
... what's up with all the Ford ragtops? [ Hertz Rent-a-Car . - Dave] A Plethora Of Mid-Fifties Fords! A white '55 coming at ... back end of '55 (56?) station wagon on the far left. Ford dealer meeting perhaps? Given all the Fords I'm gonna guess the red ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/17/2023 - 2:27pm -

December 1954. "La Coquille Club, Palm Beach, Florida." 35mm Kodachrome by Toni Frissell for the Sports Illustrated assignment "Sporting Look: La Coquille." View full size. Very nice!Love the light blue Caddy with the soft top ! Thanks ! Cadillac AbuseIt's just a year or two old, but it sure looks tired. And what's up with all the Ford ragtops? [Hertz Rent-a-Car. - Dave] A Plethora Of Mid-Fifties Fords!A white '55 coming at us, an aqua '56 to it's its right, then a blue '56, and another aqua '56, all Sunliners. Then, coming in, are two more '55s, both Customlines, and exiting the lot looks like another '55 Sunliner. Finally the back end of '55 (56?) station wagon on the far left. Ford dealer meeting perhaps? Given all the Fords I'm gonna guess the red roadster behind the trees is a T-Bird. [They're Hertz rentals. - Dave] WowWhat a nice assortment of cars! Through most of the 1950s and the early '60s my dad drove a Studebaker like the one in front of the red Ford. He loved that car. Heard much about it.My late grandmother worked at La Coquille several winters, during the 1960s, as a chambermaid. She worked her entire life in the hospitality industry up North and, to hear her tell it, working here was as good as a vacation. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Florida, Toni Frissell)
Queen of the Mustangs: 1966
... Avenue in Larkspur, California. And if two brand-new, dealer stock Mustangs weren't enough, an early Studebaker Lark in the used car lot. The other Twin City was neighboring Corte Madera. My Ektachrome slide. ... 
 
Posted by tterrace - 09/23/2011 - 1:31am -

July 4, 1966. Twin Cities Fourth of July Parade on Magnolia Avenue in Larkspur, California. And if two brand-new, dealer stock Mustangs weren't enough, an early Studebaker Lark in the used car lot. The other Twin City was neighboring Corte Madera. My Ektachrome slide. View full size. Love that Lark!'59 -- and if it has painted trim rings around the headlights, it's the Deluxe (entry-level) model, though someone paid the dealer ten whole bucks to add those nifty bumper guards. The Lark was essentially a '58 Studebaker with the front and back ends lopped off, but kept the car company afloat for several more years. Steve Miller Still working on a '63 GT Hawk someplace near the crossroads of America BirdsAnother great photo and another that brings back a flood of memories. When we'd get a new car this is how it worked: My Dad would just show up after work in a new car. Never consulted Mom, she hadn't a clue. Brother and I never knew either, of course we were small but still never saw it coming. Can't imagine doing that to my wife and living. So, for example, that's how he got his 1964½ Mustang on a trade in on his '59 T-Bird. Sky Blue with white vinyl top but there were paint problems so it was repainted silverish by the dealer. He came home once with the car that had the Warner Bro's Road Runner on the side but that was just a joke to make Mom freak out. She did. I think it was just a joke. Will you be moving the focusWill you be moving the focus of the blog into the 60's and 70's? I do hope not. I love Shorpy as a glimpse of a past and a way of life I wasn't able to see....this just reminds me of going through my photo box. Nothing wrong with that, but I'm less likely to check Shorpy everyday. Dear ComplainerTo the tipster that complained about 60's and 70's contributions: Who cares if you check back less often. This isn't about you. Grow up. Glimpse of an unknown pastPersonally, what strikes me about tterrace's 50s and 60s photos is how, in many ways, they feel more distant and distinct from today than images from earlier decades. Part of the somewhat tragic appeal of this site is recognizing modern elements of social regression within the sort of hapless, untrimmed clash of poverty and wealth of the the 10s and 20s. These less somber shots of hiked socks and parked cars offer a potent contrast, showing the more abundant and egalitarian affluence of the post-war era, which some claim as a myth but certainly seems real enough in these rich and warm Ektachrome reds. I've come to regard these entries as a very fitting complement to Shorpy's standard fare. I mean, two lovely Mustangs adorned with flags rolling down Magnolia Avenue on Independence Day 1966! Could anything BE more perfectly iconic of an era on the verge of being razed into wistful memory? Such A Different PerspectiveBrian said it much more eloquently than I could have, but it makes me sad when I see someone getting upset to see Tterraces great photos. I have collected and been fascinated by photos from the early part of the last century forever, but Tterrace's photos touch me in a totally different way. They are my own past, seeing them brings back so many memories, it is as if I am seeing my own family. I hope his treasure box doesn't ever run empty, although I know it will. Until then, I adore the memories that his and his brother's work brings back for me. And yes...it's all about me! Seriously, we will never run out of great photos from the more distant past. I hate to feel bad for enjoying these great images of my own childhood. Kathleen Dad's SurprisesJNC, my father would come home from work with a new car exactly like yours did! I can remember every one, I think. And that is probably why I am such a sucker for cars from the fifties and sixties. NOTHING was more exciting. I remember all us kids, and mom too, racing out the front door to see our brand new car! I remember our '62 Chevy station wagon came home the day before we took our family trip to North Dakota from California. That car was so cooooool because we could lay the back seat down and sleep in a heap of blankets. No seatbelts required...I guess we survived! Steve, I love the Lark, too. It brings back memories of my friend's when we were in high school. We lived on top of a hill, and had to push it halfway down to get it going, but it was our transportation and we loved it. A few years ago, the same friend bought the same model, yet again. This one is a pet. Kathleen Another candidate for the tterrace fan club ...Please don't ban more recent ('50s-'70s) pictures from the site. Remember, not everyone who visits here is a baby boomer. I'm 33 and have been loving tterrace's photos, particularly those of family life in the 1950s. I wasn't born then, and popular memory of that era is now distorted by myths both good and bad. I have found it fascinating to look at these pictures and see a true record of how (some) people lived back then. Also, many of the pictures are very interesting or even beautiful in their composition: this one and this one, for example. The '60s and '70s stuff I'm not so crazy about, but I'm sure there are viewers who get the same enjoyment from them as I do from the '50s photos. Pictures from the '80s onwards would probably be pushing it, but in general, I think that if there are adults around today with no memory of an era, it can probably be classified as "historic." Not that it's up to me, of course! Imported Indeed!Larks (the only surviving Studebakers at the time), for the last few years until their demise in 1966, were all made at the Studebaker plant in Hamilton, Ontario Canada. Just my two cents worth...In regards to the "Will you be moving the focus" poster, I too had similar thoughts. I don't think he was complaining so much as he was just asking an honest question (seems to me). We all have our reasons for coming here. I heard about the site through the podcast "This Week in Photography", and was instantly grabbed by the exceedingly high-resolution, pin-sharp view into the distant past. I didn't know such high quality shots exsisted; it makes it very easy to see that people were just people, especially in the more candid shots (meaning unposed, "slice of life" shots). Yesterday was no different from today, a week ago was no different from today, 100 years ago was no different from today; it was just another day, only the scenery and technology has changed (and yes, obviously, child labor, etc.). If there were high-res photos from the 1600's, I would be craving those. TTerrace's photos certainly hold a value to many - evident by all the fans he has. I like his shots (I really like the "then and now" shot of him as a kid and an adult in the same location; the Knott's Berry Farm shot is great, too). If I had to hazard a guess, I would think that Dave and the Shorpy gang are interested in what all of his customers have to think, and why they come here, and why they return. For me, it's the older shots. I grew up in the 60's, "The Wonder Years" was basically the way my life was (maybe that's why it doesn't draw me in the same). I just dig the Victorian era, through the 20's - 30's; that's the draw to me. If the focus of the blog did change, I wish you well; if that's where your customers want you to go, by all means. Just for me, that isn't where the draw lies. One thing Shorpy did do for me, it made me aware of the storehouses of old, high-res shots I didn't realize exsisted. If you do change, well, you did me a service, and opened a door to where I now know these storehouses exsist. Just my two cents. I'm six again!Seems like my memories of being a kid are all in Ektachrome too. I'm enjoying Shorpy very much, thanks for a great site. PicturesI love all the pictures on this site! I think Dave has done a great thing. There really should be no debate about when the pictures are from. They are all fascinating in their own way. This site......does not belong to you or me, it belongs to whomever runs it and we are all but time travelers who are lucky enough to find someone such as this to let us rest here for a while. Now that being said, they can do as they see fit relative to content, 50's, 60's,70's, 30's, 20's, civil war era- it doesn't matter to me WHAT gets posted, I was not even born till the late 50's and I love ALL the pics posted here. It seems some here forget the postings are for your INTEREST and not your CRITIQUE. I'm just very, VERY grateful and thankful for all the hard work that's put in to this place. I'll GLADLY take whatver's given here and never, EVER complain. If some here don't like it, and are such sticklers (English translation: whiners)I'd suggest going and starting your own site maybe and invite us all over to have a look, otherwise, just enjoy....Fischer Couldn't Agree MoreFischer, I totally agree. And I suppose this is as good a place as any to say *THANKS A MILLION* to Dave and any other powers that be, that we have this site. I am absoulutely sure that all of us scroll past photos that don't grab our interest at times. I think that is easy enough for anyone to do...."this one's in color! Ok, I will move on." It's as easy as that. Photos of day to day life, of any era, are truly amazing. Far from the movie set 'reality', we actually can look inside the lives of others. I am sure I am not the only one who blows these photos up as huge as possible, looking for details; figurines, shoes, toys, books...just the objects that surround the main subject are probably the best thing about these great pictures, at least for me. They are all amazing, and a gift for us to see it all for free. Kathleen The LarkI had an uncle who loved Studebakers. In fact until they stopped making them the only cars I ever knew him to own were Studies. The interesting thing about the Lark in this picture is that it seems to be parked on a used car lot under a sign that says "Imported Car Service." I guess even in 1966 the Studie had become an exotic bird. The interesting thing aboutThe interesting thing about the Lark in this picture is that it seems to be parked on a used car lot under a sign that says "Imported Car Service." The lot is part of Hil Probert's Toyota dealership, one of the first, if not the first dealer to sell Toyota products in the USA. In fact, the sedans were called "Toyopets" when he first sold those c.1958-9. Lark PowerOur '60 Lark (the second Stude in our family) was a thing of beauty and I thought it would last forever. It turned me into a hot rodder with no power steering or brakes but power power in its V8 engine. Our taxi model held as many kids then as a van does now but, of course, with no seat belts -- they just piled in. Our children learned to drive in it and after that we figured they could handle anything. BTW, our first Stude, 1935, ended up in the Imperial moat in Tokyo in '48 after we sold it. They pulled it out and I bet it's still running. Great cars. I like the 50s/60s picturesI'm only 17 so even pictures from the 80's seem historic to me. Pictures from the 50's and 60's really interest me because it's like looking at the past that wasn't too far away and yet so familiar. It's strange that I have a soft spot for these pictures even though I wasn't born yet. My parents keep saying how great the time they were growing up was and the pictures on this site help me tap into their familiar past. Keep them coming! [Thanks, Tony. (Why do I suddenly feel about a million years old?) - Dave] The 100-year-old photo blogWith respect, I think people are coming down too hard on the Anonymous who asked about the focus of the blog. The blog is titled "The 100-Year-Old Photo Blog" and the sidebar description says it's about what life was like 100 years ago. It's easy to see where their expectations on the age of the photos came from. The 100 Year Old Photo Blog?Surely then by strict definition of the name, the only pictures that should be posted here this year should be photos taken in 1908. No photos of the Civil War and its aftermath, no images of Bohemian youth in the post World War One era, no 1920s auto accidents, and of course no Kodachromes at all of course. In fact pictures from 1909 wouldn't be allowed until next year and we'd never see another picture from 1907. Let's not take ourselves TOO seriously. Wow, I was just asking....I asked a question and gave my opinion. I did not whine, complain, or intend to do anything to offend the amazing authors of Shorpy. I thought they might want to know what their readers, commenters and buyers of their photos (I've bought a couple) think about a recent change. I certainly did not ever say that Shorpy cannot post anything they want. They can run a picture of one Monopoly piece everyday if they wish, it's their website! Thanks to those who saw it for what it was...a question by someone who really loves these amazing glimpses into a past I hadn't before realized had been preserved in such detail. But don't worry, you prickly, angry, hair-trigger Defenders of the Light, you have succeeded. I won't be back to the comments section. I might make another mistake or ask the wrong question. Back to lurking quietly as I should have done all along. Why Can't We All Just Get Along?I love this site and check it several times a day. I have a soft spot for tterrace's pix because they are from my era. But I also enjoy looking back even further. Everything is a learning experience and I for one am thankful to have the opportunity to visit here and glean some insight into our society's history. I especially enjoy hearing visitors' comments, so to the anonymous tipster who now prefers to lurk quietly in the background, don't let one somewhat rude comment spoil this wonderful place for you. I'm stepping off my soapbox now... To Anonymous TipsterTo the Anonymous Tipster who posted at 6:23 a.m.: Now don't be that way. It's rather childish (and I should know because at almost 52 I get that way myself sometimes). I actually think that you, and others who have commented negatively on this question of photos from the '50s to the '70s have sparked an interesting and lively debate. My comment (100 Year-Old Photo Blog?) was directed not at you but rather at Stacia showing the absurdity of taking the description of this blog too seriously. Personally I like the posts from the more recent times because I remember these times and things like the Studebaker Lark, or the picture of Hollywood and Vine before it was populated by assorted low-lifes (never been there but TV was). But you are entitled to your opinion and as they say I defend to the death your right to hold whatever position you want. I, at least, do not intend to ridicule you - unless you post something absolutely moronic, and it has happened - but rather to engage in debate over a difference of opinion. But if you can't take it, then don't post (but if you do, I'd hope you'd register for an account and be willing to back your opinions with your name.) Brent McKee Focus of ShorpyJust wanted to point out that Dave - who posts the "official" Shorpy pictures - is posting the same range that he always has. These more recent ones belong to tterrace and he is kindly sharing them with all of us via the Member Gallery. I'm enjoying them all! It's the huge range of subjects in the photos - from grocery shopping to world war armaments - that makes this site so addictive. tterrace is adding to that range, not taking away from it. ToyopetWe live up in the Pennsylvania mountains, and would not expect to see what I saw last week in a client's warehouse: a well-preserved Toyopet. What a silly-looking little car! Fortunately for the company, Toyota was management-agile enough to refocus and retool to produce the envy of Detroit: a long-life dependable car for the American public, not an imitaion of American cars. Otherwise, we'd all be driving pieces of junk like the Falcon or the Vega. [The Falcon, by most accounts, was a pretty good car. It was also the basis of the Mustang you see here. - Dave] PicsI like all the photos I've seen. I'd also be disappointed if the pre-40s pictures got pushed out for the Boomer pics, but I won't complain about the flavor of the free ice cream! But do remember that posting under your own name should be done carefully. It can be searched by prospective employers (loads of companies do it) and can open you up to harassment, especially if you have a strange name like I do. Zsa Zsa's LarkStangThis brings back memories for me, my first car was a '68 mustang convertible, white, like in the picture. The year was 1976, but still. nothing like driving a big V8 convertible. Toyopet - year?MacKenzieK, I'm doing research on the old Toyota Toyopets. you said you know someone who has one? Do you know what year it is? 1958? 1959? There are only a few known to still exist, it would be great to track this one down, too. thanks. dpitts@cdfms.org ~Daron Toyopet - Larkspurtterrace, I just returned from Larkspur this past week doing research in to Toyota's history and the dealership Hil Probert had. What do you know about the early Toyota dealership and the fact that it was/may be the oldest/first toyota dealership in the US? Thanks for any help you can give me. dpitts@cdfms.org ~daron [San Diego Union-Tribune: "John A. Rose opened one of the first Toyota dealerships in America in 1957 on a remote parcel in Mission Valley." Below: Probert Toyopet ad from 1959, and 1958 Toyopet Tiara sales brochure. - Dave] Probert ToyotaI worked at Probert Toyota right after Mr. Probert died. The story at that time was that Hil Probert was the "Pioneer Toyota Dealer" i.e. the first Toyota Dealer in the United States. He started importing Land Cruisers in 1957 and had a famous scenic ride up Mount Tamalpais to his favorite spot in the whole world under a large oak tree. The only way to get there was in a Land Cruiser, so Hil became a deputy of some sort, either with the Sheriff or the Fire Dep't in order to gain access to the restricted lands. Hil died in 1968, just as the Toyota Corona was taking off as "The New Hot One". They were selling about 50 cars a month in 1968. Hil also had a car collection on the property. Where the Lark Creek rear parking lot is today, used to be large tin sheds, home to about 40 old cars. There were various makes, but the one that I remember most was the Kaiser-Frazier. There were maybe a dozen or so, including a Henry J and a four-door phaeton convertible. Underneath a bedspread was a mint condition Kaiser Manhattan, jade green with a white "Bambu" vinyl roof. The plush green interior was complemented by its white padded dash. 1958 Toyopet CrownI own a 1958 Toyopet -- this was a dream for me to find and it took over 30 years to locate. Working for Toyota for the last 30 years I was happy when this one came around. The car has been shown all over Arizona and California for all to enjoy. When I bought it in May 2007, the car had not been on the road since 1964. Rebuilt the engine and some detailing. Original paint, just polished it out. The car can be seen on my website, www.Frenchysrides.com. Comments are welcome. Thank you for reading my story and visiting my Web site. Frenchy Dehoux I was 2 Months Young!When this photo was taken. I was being held by my loving mother. I was her firstborn. I didn't know it at the time (or much of anything else) that I would be the oldest of six children. I love parades and the celebration that accompanies the 4th of July. This past 4th of July was the first one, we as a family, celebrated without my loving mother. This month, August, one year ago my mom entered into Heaven. I know I will see her beautiful smile and hear her sweet, soft voice again. Until then, memories brighten my days and prayers calm my nights. I love you mom and I know that you love me more. 4th of July ParadeI was honored to be asked to participate in the annual Fairfax City, Va. 4th of July Parade in 1968. I was Oakton High School's first Sweetheart Queen my Junior year. A blue Mustang was the vehicle that I rode, waving & smiling. Halfway through, my facial muscles cramped & my wrist tired. It was the longest parade ever. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, July 4, tterrapix)
Pittsburgh: 1941
... immediately brings forth the smell of rain, the hiss of car tires as they pass and the drip drip drip of rainwater off the eaves of the ... The filling station and church are now the site of a car dealer. Unless there was a street name change that the Atlantic ave in the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/17/2023 - 2:46pm -

June 1941. "Rain. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. I love the rain...This photo immediately brings forth the smell of rain, the hiss of car tires as they pass and the drip drip drip of rainwater off the eaves of the porch. Pittsburgh by VachonThis is a beautiful picture. John Vachon's photos did not have the pathos and personal drama of Dorothea Lange's work, but more than any other American photographer, he has left an invaluable scrapbook of the vernacular American landscape. He is my favorite photographer. What are the towers ...... in the background? Is that another church? Looks Orthodox. Perhaps someone familiar with Pittsburgh will know. A Rainy DayThe person walking with the umbrella really makes the photograph work. You can almost feel the rain.. Pittsburgh PrecipitationI agree with others here about the evocative quality of this photo. Staring at this for a few moments I swear I can hear the rain coming down! Canada Dry SpurCanada Dry Spur ("the cola drink with Canada Dry quality") was Canada Dry's attempt at entering the cola wars. By this time of course the company was owned by P.D. Saylor and Associates and the only connection with Canada was the name. Such a wonderIt's 103 degrees on my front porch (yes, that's in the shade), my part of Arizona hasn't seen rain in 3 or 4 months. Guess whats going on my desktop. Thanks. DSS Look how it falls straight down!Not only can I relate to DSS since we don't get a lot of rain in West Texas, but I'm just amazed at how it's coming *straight down*. (Huge gusts of wind aren't sucking her umbrella inside out, and the rain isn't coming in sideways and raising welts on her skin!) P.S. Not that I'm complaining...I love it here, and my glasses usually protect my eyes from the infrequent SIDEWAYS rainstorms! Tioga Street, PittsburghPittsburgh has a lot of onion-dome ethnic churches all over town. The 1941 City Directory lists a Wm. James Confectionery at 7314 Tioga Street, which is where Point Breeze meets Homewood meets nothing original still standing. This would be east of downtown. South Side P-BurgThis looks like the "South Side" of Pittsburgh and if I am not mistaken, this is an orthodox church which is now the private home and studio of the owner of the number one Pittsburgh chain of hair salons and spas. Morrow TriangleAtlantic ave is a one-way northward running street to the east of downtown. The only intersection that makes a bend like the one photographed is at Liberty and Baum. There are no row homes or churches there now though. The vantage point of the photo is a parklet called Morrow Triangle. The filling station and church are now the site of a car dealer. Unless there was a street name change that the Atlantic ave in the picture is different from the current Atlantic ave I think I'm right. [The "Atlantic" sign is advertising a brand of gasoline. - Dave] It's SouthsideI've lived in Pittsburgh all my life and this shot looks remarkably like the Southside (flats) to me just off Carson Street. Many churches of similar Greek Orthodox venue there. A previous poster indicated he thought that Atlantic sign was a street. It looks like a gas station to me, or something else. It's DeutschtownThis is the corner of Madison and Lockhart, looking west. The church with the onion domes is St. Mary's -- Bavarian Catholic, believe it or not. You can't go and see this intersection anymore since it was destroyed in the 1980s so that the Parkway North could be built. The church is still there, although now it's a hotel. Pressley StreetThe previous comment is correct. That's St. Mary's (now known as the Priory) which sits at 614 Pressley Street. Atlantic GasThe Atlantic sign is for the gas station. Atlantic petroleum was founded in Philly, then eventually acquired by Sunoco in the 80's or 90's. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Pittsburgh)
My First Car: 1972
... I'd have learned to drive before I was 26, and b) my first car would have been something a bit more spectacular than a 1972 Datsun 1200. ... was also my first car, only mine was green, and had the dealer installed Shelby 12-inch mag wheels and a "Datsun" racing stripe running ... 
 
Posted by tterrace - 03/03/2023 - 12:26am -

Summer 1972, Lake Tahoe. You'd think, after hearing me rhapsodize about my lifelong obsession with cars, that a) I'd have learned to drive before I was 26, and b) my first car would have been something a bit more spectacular than a 1972 Datsun 1200. That's Nissan to you. Well, I had nice pants, anyway. Not bad for a Polaroid, though scuffed as usual. View full size. This must be coincidence Sunday...What a coincidence, T. If that photo was from the last week of June of 1972 we may have crossed paths in Lake Tahoe. I was in my '70 VW headed north to Canada on the first leg of a two-month, 10,000 mile, figure 8 trip from Escondido to NYC and back. I was the one who recognized Sequoia Natl Park. Might as well use my name from here on out, since I seem to be commenting more and more lately. It's gotten bad when even my friends have taken to calling me A. Tipster. -- Allan Tahoe coincidenceThis was taken on or about June 21, 1972. Beats my firstI had a 66 AMC Ambassador that my dad got for free and paid for the "repairs." The two 20-something "mechanics" (one of whom later became a boyfriend, largely to keep the car moving) stuffed the fenders with old T shirts and covered them with Bondo and primer, and put in a rebuilt carb. The problem was they put it in with the butterfly valve upside down. I had to keep a flathead screwdriver in the car at all times because whenever it was the least bit damp (and I live in Michigan) I had to pop the hood, remove the air filter and jam the screwdriver in the valve to hold it open, get back in the car and start it. Then I had to repeat the process in reverse, praying I wouldn't stall. Other than this, the car did what I wanted. Got me the 2 miles to work, and took me road-beering on the weekends. MemoriesThis reminds me of my first car, a 1972 Toyota Corona. Good times. My First Car Was FreeDave Kersten gave me my first car because I was the only teammate to pass him the ball (he was the 6'8" center on our basketball team). It was a 1965 Impala convertible. The last straw against keeping it in his family was when his mother drove the car home in a driving rainstorm because she did not know how to put the top up. Thanks, Dave. Datto 1200My first car was a 1200 cc Toyota Corolla. Your Datsun was hotrod in comparison! Datsun 1200s are collectible now, especially in Australia. [I understand that tterrace himself is wildly popular in Australia, as well as France. - Dave] My First CarMy first car was a 1962 Rambler I shared with my sister. Its most memorable feature was the pushbutton automatic transmission on the dashboard. It was built like a tank, which was why my dad trusted us to drive it. Top speed: 40 mph going downhill. I don't miss it, but good memories. Talking Strine[I understand that tterrace himself is wildly popular in Australia, as well as France. - Dave] Mais oui, mate. My first car was furrinIn early 1968 as a young airman at Barksdale AFB in Louisiana, I paid $500 for a 1956 Mercedes-Benz 219 sedan. Considering I was clearing $88 a month that was quite a buy. Looking back, it was a piece of junk waiting to fall apart, but the next month I had orders to Vietnam and unloaded it on another unsuspecting airman. In Okinawa in 1970 or 71 I saw a Datsun Bluebird, a sweet little convertible sportscar which unfortunately was not street legal in the USA. In 73 I was in college and my girlfriend had a Datsun identical to tterrace's. That relationship fell apart. Since then it's been a steady stream of Hondas. Identical dented DatsunMy first car was identical to yours, although I bought it in about 1986. It was hail damaged, and it cost $850 Australian. But it's still my favourite of all the cars I've owned. First love never dies! My first car too!The 1972 Datsun 1200 was also my first car, only mine was green, and had the dealer installed Shelby 12-inch mag wheels and a "Datsun" racing stripe running down the side. I bought it new and paid $2,588 out the door for it. I had a ball in it -- autocrossed and drag raced with my friends on the weekends. It was surprisingly quick for a 1175 cc, 68-horsepower motor. It would hit 90 mph at the end of the quarter mile, and I didn't get beat very often. Now I own real cars though, good old fashoned American Muscle Cars. Sideways!I had one of these. In the late 80's. I seem to recall it being sideways in the wet any time it rained. It was a sensational car when sideways. The A10 engine used to be modified by some freaks and would reach something crazy like 10000 RPM!!! I believe that the A15 engine in forklifts went well in these. One of the sweetest cars I heard at a sprint meet at Philip Island was one of these with a 2L OHC engine with twin Webers. It was also the fastest lap time around the track that day. The only weak thing in my car was the gearbox. The rocker post bolts used to strip out of the head very occasionally on the A10, otherwise excellent powerplant. VroomDefinitely kinda cute. Car's not bad, either. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, tterrapix)
Zines & Beans: 1938
... now, though! Hurry up! I don't know what that third car from the left is, with the 1-1813 license plate, but I want it and I want ... was taken, the "Zines" store had been one of two news dealer stores of Charles C. Savage. This one, at 1618 Capitol Avenue, was ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/12/2017 - 4:07pm -

November 1938. "Capitol Avenue storefronts, Omaha, Nebraska." Medium format negative by John Vachon for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Oyster stew!It's been forty years since I've made oyster stew! I'll bet mine was better, because I used oysters we picked up off the beach, at Dabob Bay, on Washington's Hood Canal the night before, and opened that day. In Nebraska, I'll bet they had to use canned! I'd even settle for canned right now, though! Hurry up!I don't know what that third car from the left is, with the 1-1813 license plate, but I want it and I want it now. I also want 45 cents worth of oyster stew, with some of them teeny little saltines and some Tabasco. And make sure that the oysters are the kind that grow in the ocean and not around Omaha, Nebraska, if you please. Top to BottomSam in 1616 and 1616½ has you covered from one end to the other. Spotted car1-1813 is a 1935 Oldsmobile top of the line sedan . Spotted Car1-1813 is a 1935 Oldsmobile L-35 touring car as seen here. No longer thereThe buildings have since been torn down. A Doubletree hotel sits in its place. Don't know if the restaurant serves oyster stew or not. FlawedThe adulation for that Oldsmobile would vanish quickly when one of its pistons blew --- - common problem for the 35s and 36s. Mine failed leaving Jackon Hole, Wyoming in 1948. Had to limp over the mountains and down into Salt Lake City where the second piston failed necessitating an engine tear-down in a parking lot. Before Parking LinesHave the feeling the 2nd car from the right, is going to be a little upset when it's time to back out. 1-1990 must have squeezed into that parking spot. Even after parking lines, he's probably still parking like that. Precursor?I favor the funky one fifth from the left, with the interesting back door. Anybody know what it is? Maybe it is my fondness for VW buses in my youth, but it looks intriguing. Travel Rule #1Don't order the seafood when the nearest ocean is 1000 miles away. Or do, but eat it with a side of Imodium. What Kind Of Oysters?As a son of The Land Of Pleasant Living I have always been leery when traveling of restaurants advertising oysters. If a restaurant isn't within 50 miles of a major oyster producing body of water I won't order them since my preference in oysters run to the Chincoteague style and not the Bull Durham variety. Precursor?The Funkymobile is a 28/29 Ford Model A Sedan Delivery. Very rare and desirable to the restorers and hot rodders alike. I'd choose it over all the cars in the lineup Rear door1929 Ford Sedan Delivery Current prices begin around $30,000 Oysters in Omaha? You betcha!Just a few blocks south of 1610 Capitol Ave (Now the Doubletree Hotel and First National Bank) lies a great seafood joint called appropriately 'Shucks' with a great oyster stew and all sorts of the succulent bivalves on the half shell - from both coasts, and even occasionally from the Choctawhatchee Bay in the Gulf. I've lived in Omaha for 31 years and vouch for the freshness of the seafood offerings here in our fair city. (Also has pretty good beefsteaks, as well!!!!) Can't say I've ever seen that 1935 Olds still around, though we like our classic cars here as well. Salty roads in the winter have been the ruin of many a fair classic, including my old '71 VW Westphaia. Shorpy and history.My son hooked me up to the Shorpy site years ago. Have just recently gotten the nerve to register and leave a comment. I really enjoy all the photos, the depression era by Dorothea Lange, And the photos of the old cars. Keep up the excellent work Dave. Shop to right?What is the shop between New Capitol Bar and Dean Lunch? I can only make out the word "Falstaff", and the objects in the window give few clues as to what they sell. [It's part of the New Capitol Bar; Falstaff is a brand of beer. -tterrace] Half-Seen Zine StoreA big bunch of people on FictionMags, an invitational Yahoo group I'm in, have been fascinated by the "zine" shop on the far left, and what the kid visible in the window is reading. Other images of magazines and especially newsstands here on Shorpy, for instance the recent 1938 Omaha newsstand, have been widely dissected. Falstaff BeerThe Falstaff brewery was south of downtown Omaha near 25th and Vinton Streets. Another Omaha local beer (also defunct) was Storz. Of course, there are numerous craft beers now brewed locally - and those have much more flavor than the old locals! Try 'Lucky Bucket' if you can find it. TrunkThe second car from the left is a 1932 Ford sedan with an aftermarket trunk mounted on an aftermarket support made by Kari-Keen or possibly Potter. Queued CarsFrom left to right: 1. 1937 Ford Tudor or Fordor (slant back) 2. 1932 Ford V8 with non-standard bumper 3. 1935 Oldsmobile L-35 4. 1936 Studebaker, likely a Dictator 5. 1929 Ford Model A Deluxe Delivery 6. 1936 Ford Deluxe Tudor Touring Sedan 7. 1933 Plymouth coupe (Business Coupe?) 8. 1937 DeSoto S3 Touring Sedan Note the partial reflections of the cars in the store windows. Bygone 'Zines DealersShortly before this photo was taken, the "Zines" store had been one of two news dealer stores of Charles C. Savage. This one, at 1618 Capitol Avenue, was being run by his daughter Hazel Lydia Savage. Two of her brothers both worked at the main family store at 1260 S. 16th in 1938. Hazel married Paul Colgrove on November 6, 1938, moved to Bandon, Oregon where she spent the rest of her life, and had a daughter, Colleen. The couple divorced in 1966. Hazel was born on September 12, 1917 in Omaha, and died January 15, 2011 in Bandon. After Hazel Savage, the store on Capitol Avenue became the business of Paul William Lehn. His last name can be partially seen in the window. He was born in Nebraska to George and Madeline Lehn in 1920. Less than a year after the photo was taken he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps on June 19, 1941. After WWII he became an accountant, and he remained in Omaha at least through the late 1950s. He died on Chrismas Day, 1971 in Los Angeles, California, but he was buried back in Omaha. Re: Error in descriptionThe information that I provided in regard to the store is easily found in the Omaha city directories from 1936, 1938, and 1940. I have attached extracts that verify the information that was provided. Perhaps Hazel's daughter was simply just never told how her mother ran a news store prior to being married, and that her uncles also were clerks in their grandfather's store. Not a traceThe street was redone sometime in the 1950s. The Edward Zorinsky Federal Building was originally completed in 1958 as a home to the US Army Corps of Engineers. It's been modified a couple of times, most recently completed as a post-9/11 security and environmental retrofit in 2008. It is an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly and sustainable building. But I'd do anything to sit in Sam's Barber Shop shown in the original image and listen to the stories drift in and out with each customer. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Eateries & Bars, John Vachon, Omaha)
Christmas Story: 1953
... his lantern when a train went by, and even the Giraffe Car. Anyone remember the Giraffe Car? Several locos too, both steam and ... fixin's. Fifteen years ago I sold the lot for $450 to a dealer. Dumb move. But revenge is sweet as I have just started ... 
 
Posted by der_bingle - 12/09/2008 - 6:58pm -

Christmas 1953. Oak Park, Illinois. My cousin Tom experiencing the thrill of his first Lionel electric train. My Uncle Bill is manning the transformer, and my dad, who was a real-life railroad engineer, is on the right. 35mm slide. View full size. There's a tree somewhereUnder all that tinsel! SparksWow! I can practically smell the ozone. This could have been me, except we didn't have sense enough to take pictures of anybody with our electric train, only pictures of it, like this one from December 1954. I think it's Lionel, I forget. This was the time of my life.I might as well be in this picture. The timeline and all that is going on is perfect. Wonderful family shot. WOW! what great memories. Thank you and Merry Christmas to you and your family. Tinsel HazardsHere's a question for you Boomers -- I see that tinsel was big in your growing up years (understatement). Did people keep their pets outside then, or did they all just die horrible, tinsel-blockage induced deaths? (I know that it doesn't always cause serious problems for them -- but with the sheer amount of tinsel on these trees, it seems like the chances for intestinal problems would be good.) tterrace, I really like the attractively arranged couch pillows behind your train. What were you hiding back there? Or are they simulated mountains? Who's having the most funI was so glad when our son was old enough (1957)for me to buy the thing I'd always wanted for Christmas but, because I was a girl, never got. Unfortunately, he was still at the push-toy stage so it didn't work for him but I had a ball. Re: Tinsel hazardsWhy would pets be eating tinsel in the first place? None of ours ever touched the stuff. I grew up in the tinsel-lovin' Fifties. Dogs and cats eating tinsel was not anything people ever talked about happening. Sounds like some sort of 21st century consumer worrywart issue. TinselitisI don't know ... because it's shiny and stringy and fun to play with? My cat would go crazy for the stuff, as would most cats I've owned. Maybe even the pets were perfect in the 50s. It was just a question. [It was an excellent tinsel question. Speaking of which: Garlands or icicles? We were always a garland family. Not that there's anything wrong with icicles. - Dave] Simulated mountainsVery good, Catherine. I usually have to explain to people what the pillows are doing behind my toys in a number of my photos from back then. These we had retained from our old chesterfield which had been relegated to a slow, moldering death in the basement a couple years back. If you could look above them, you'd see my mother's renowned curtains and drapes. We never used tinsel ourselves, but I remember enjoying it when we'd visit friends or relatives who did. Those were the days when tinsel was made of, or mostly of, lead. I liked to slip strands off and ball them up into little wads or, better yet, if there were lighted candles around and nobody was watching, dangle them in the flame and watch them melt. Don't tell anybody. Twin tops?It appears that someone improvised and used some of the TinkerToy pieces to make stands for the 'billboard' signs. It also looks like the Tinkertoy was also a present that may have been wrapped in aluminum foil. And, there appear to be two identical toys in the picture, possibly spinning tops. Great picture! TransformerLooks like the transformer is a Lionel model 1033 (made from 1948-'56). I have one of these units, still in perfect working condition. As far as I know, the only maintenance it ever had was the replacement of the power cord, due to the insulation drying out and cracking (a common problem). I never cease to be amazed at how durable those old Lionels are. Great picture! LionelI agree, it's probably a Lionel in tterrace's photo. I had an American Flyer I received for Christmas in 1948. American Flyer did not have the middle rail in the track. A way of lifeAs they say, a way of life gone with the wind. I love this blog . . .It is threads like this that keep me hooked on this blog. It's comforting to know I'm not the only whack job walking around unattended. Foy Las Vegas Cat TinselWithout the prompting of previous posters I wouldn't have mentioned that during the Christmas season at our house our Siamese cat Tabetha would walk around with a piece of what she usually left in her litter box instead dangling from a piece of tinsel she had once presumably eaten. That's the most tasteful way I can explain it. Now That's Christmas!Real Tinker Toys, the "real" old-school Lionel train sets, and not those modern knockoffs made by a company that simply owns the name. What do kids get today? Lead lined Chinese plastic "toys" from Wal-Mart. Boy, give me that old fashioned Christmas anytime. Thanks, and Merry Christmas to you. My Dad and Uncle have passed on, but Tom - who's now in his sixties - still has that Lionel train set. Last time I was at his house he had it set up in his basement, along with several accessories he's accumulated over the years. [We're all glad he finally got to play with it! And thanks for this wonderful photo. - Dave] Chestnuts roasting on an open plasmaThis picture just radiates warmth and good cheer. We're leaving it up all night on our plasma display. It's better than a fireplace! California TinselI have to think our state banned tinsel production due to environmental concerns, because it's virtually nowhere to be found. I say "virtually," because Michael's has it. No tinsel at the dollar stores and such. At Michael's it is in packages that need to be cut. The tinsel comes attached at the top. Same stuff. Thanks to Michael's, our tree looks like this one. [I think its scarcity might be due more to child-safety concerns. - Dave] Nothing to add.I have nothing to add. Just love this picture and reading all your comments -- the wallpaper is killer. Shorpy forever. How we tinseledAround our house, we would always begin with laboriously stringing one strand of tinsel at a time on a barren branch until it was somewhat filled. Yet invariably, we two boys would get rambunctious and throw a handful up where we couldn't reach. And Mom, patient Mom, would sigh and give us permission to begin the fusillade of tinsel throwing that produced a Christmas tree neatly stranded with tinsel about 3 feet up, but above that utter disorder that only little boys could love. But I hasten to add the "tidy line" rose as we grew. Making a much happier mom. The Train Don't Stop Here No MoreMy Dad had a huge 60's-70's Lionel train set, with all the accessories: the lighted passenger cars, the little signal box with the trainman who would come out, holding his lantern when a train went by, and even the Giraffe Car. Anyone remember the Giraffe Car? Several locos too, both steam and diesel, and that big control transformer with the power supply handles on both ends. The whole setup ran on a plywood table, about 6 x 8, which he built himself. Sadly, when he died, my mother sold the whole outfit for a hundred bucks, and today it would probably be worth ten times that much. I wish I still had it! Tinsel informationTo RoverDaddy who is looking for tinsel, try the cheap, cheap, cheap stores. I found it at Dollar General Store but also Family Dollar Store, Dollar Tree and other bargain centers are most likely to have it. You can see I am the last of the big spenders and I have to add that one time when my mother was removing tinsel to save it for the next year, my father asked her, with a straight face, if she was going to make tinsel soup, as she always stretched the life out of a dollar by making lots of soups and stews. Voices from the kitchenLove this photo! While the menfolk are intent on the train, I can hear Grandma and the aunts in the kitchen talking over each other while getting Christmas dinner ready. Is the turkey done? Did you hear about Great Aunt Stella? She's already wrecked that brand new beautiful car. Mom, that's enough gravy for an army! Did Bill get you that brooch you've been wanting, Madge? And, naturally they're all wearing dresses, heels and festive aprons. This photo is CLASSIC. Lead-foil tinselThe tinsel on a tree of this vintage is probably made of lead foil. The good news is that it was reusable year after year. The bad news is that you could get lead poisoning from ingesting it! Lead foil tinsel has long since been removed from the market, along with several other dangerous items from Christmases past! See: http://www.familychristmasonline.com/trees/ornaments/dangerous/dangerous... Kids AgainI love this photo because the uncle and the dad are suddenly about 9 years old too. Windows 53Love those window blinds. All our cats have eaten tinsel. It makes the litter box more festive. We use both kinds -- short hunks of garland and the stringy silver "icicle" stuff. I too heave the stuff at the tree rather than place it carefully. Dave, I think Anonymous at 11:25 was talking about the train in tterrace's photo. [You are so smart. Thank you! - Dave] Wow.Well this brings along even more memories. I was born in '65 and I remember playing with a train like this in '68 or '69. I do not remember what brand (Lionel or American Flyer), but I do remember putting in a pill pushing a button or something and it would smoke when I pushed it. I remember pissing Daddy off because every time the train would go in front of the TV while he was watching it, I would push that button! Talk about pushing Daddy's button!!! I also remember throwing tinsel on the tree, Daddy helping, and Mom getting upset with both of us. In addition, we also had those bubble lights. After they warmed up they would start bubbling. I need to go lie down and look at Shorpy some more and see what else I can remember. Too much tinsel...My mother would always complain that my father and I put too much tinsel on our trees. And our beloved Cocker Spaniel, Sherman loved the taste of tinsel. Xmas ExpressOur house had a very similar Christmas morning about 25 years later. My dad found a second train in a garage he was tearing down. I got them out last Christmas and they still run. I put a video on our site. RetinselingYup, we did the tinsel thing too, but we were thrifty New Englanders, and my mother took at least some of the stuff OFF the tree every year and carefully put it on cardboard to use it again the following year. My grandmother, bless her, had the job of untangling the resulting mess and handing each of us little handfuls to drape over the branches one by one. Needless to say, we weren't allowed to throw it because then it couldn't be taken off. All That to be an Engineer????I can't tell you how envious I am of your father. When I was in the ninth grade one of my teachers decided to play guidance counselor and advise me on what courses to take in high school. She asked what I wanted to be and I told her I would like to be an engineer. She told me I should take Algebra II, Calculus, Physics, etc etc etc. I sat there in stunned amazement thinking, "All that just to drive a train????" When it dawned on me that we were talking about two entirely different things I was too embarrassed to correct her. Where can I find tinsel?This year I'd love to introduce my kids to the fun of cheap old shiny plastic tinsel (yes I'm a masochist for wanting to clean up the mess later). Unfortunately, I can't seem to find the stuff anywhere! Does anybody still make plastic 'icicles' as the package often called them, or have they been made extinct by concerns over fire hazards and unfortunate pets? Retinseling 2And I thought my family was the only one who did this, except we didn't put it on cardboard. All the tinsel went into a cardboard shoe box, year after year. We would add maybe one package of new tinsel every couple of years. The new tinsel would hang straight while the old would be more and more crinkly over the years. My sister & I had to put it on one strand at a time (except when Mom wasn't looking). Being from the Depression era as my mother was, I'm sure that box of tinsel is still up in the attic to this day. Our cat also loved the taste of tinsel, with predicable results. Lionel 027It's 027, the less expensive Lionel product compared to big heavy "O". Same gauge, lower rail, slightly sharper curves, simpler switches. We had a mixture of both, purchased used from various sources, and we figured out ways to use the 2 sizes together. That switch is a manual 027 one, with no lighted position indicator, we had a pair of them. Didn't make the satisfying "clack" sound that the "O" manual switches did when you threw the lever. We never had remote control switches, since you could buy more manual ones for the same money. Some "O" gauge equipment couldn't operate on 027, the curves were too sharp. Made a serious mistake about 30 years ago, sold all of it except a couple special cars. Smokin'!My own American Flyer set of that era had tablets that, when dropped into the locomotive's smokestack, would emit little puffs of real smoke. Gift itI gave my 1948 3/16 model American Flyer to my grandson last Christmas. Much better than selling. Alas ...In 1954, just after we moved into our spiffy suburban ranch house, my uncle started a large 8 x 16 Lionel O-gauge layout in the basement. Presumably for me, or so he said. After everyone died off, I inherited the six large boxes of trains and all the fixin's. Fifteen years ago I sold the lot for $450 to a dealer. Dumb move. But revenge is sweet as I have just started construction on a huge (roughly 100 x 150) garden train layout behind the house. The RugWhat really caught my eye is that rug -- a dead ringer for one we had for many years! My dad got it at Barker Brothers in 1943. The hopper car and caboose also look exactly like the ones from my Lionel train set from the late '50s, though the rest is different. I just wanted you to knowI just wanted you to know that you brought a tear to the eye of this grumpy old man, remembering the exact same scene from his childhood. Thank you. You made my day, GrumpyGlad this evoked a fond memory for you, as well as for so many others. Another tinsel commentGrowing up in the later 50s and 60s, we also did tinsel every year. Like many others, we would save it from year to year until it was too crinkled to hang right. Then we'd have to get one or two new packages, probably from Woolworth's or "the drugstore" since Target and Walmart were not born yet. We kids also tossed it up to the top of the tree. These days, I want to get some but my wife says no - you can't recycle it with the tree, she says. Too messy. Too bad. I did see some this year at Target, except the 'new' tinsel has that prismatic glimmer to it where it reflects like a rainbow, not like regular silver stuff. I'll kep trying. Tinsel and SnowLike Older than Yoda, I can remember taking the (metal foil) tinsel, which we always called icicles, off the tree and saving it. As soon as the plasticky stuff came out, that was the end of that. Another long-gone Christmas memory was a box of mica chips of that Mama would sprinkle on the cotton batting at the base of the tree. That box lasted years and years. When you had parents that came up during the Depression, you learned about saving. My dad: "Turn off some of these lights, this place looks like a hotel!" American Flyer, no LionelGreat picture ... we all laid our heads on the track and watched the train coming right at us. This is actually an American Flyer 3 rail O gauge train. It was made before WWII. After the war American Flyer went to 3/16" to the foot S-gauge two rail track. [If it's not a Lionel, why does it say LIONEL LINES on the tender? - Dave] We used tinsel alsoThat brings back memories. We would go to the woods and cut the "cedar" tree. My family had a flocking machine, and several households on the street would put their tree up the same day, so the flocking machine would only have to be used once per year. We also used to take a strand of tinsel, wedge it in between our front teeth, and blow. I don't know why that was so much fun but it was. A (real) Christmas storyMy brothers (who were 18 and 9 years older than me) made me a train set for my 5th or 6th Christmas -- I walked into the garage while they were painting the board and I asked if I could help and they told me they were painting a sign and I could help paint it green. When I got it Christmas morning I was the most surprised boy in the world. It was a great gift that I helped make without knowing! Disney train setWhen I was 5 (back in 1970), my parents bought me a Disneyland Monorail train set. My father had it already assembled for me on a large piece of plywood that had been covered in green fake grass, and had miniature buildings to go with it. Considering what that original set would be worth today, I almost wish he had just left it sealed in the box. All that I have remaining from the original set is the 12v-18v transformer. Maker of lead foil tinselI'm not sure if anyone is still looking for lead foil tinsel - the stuff some of us fondly remember from our childhood. It's available from Riffelmacher and Weinberger in Germany. Or rather it's shown in their wholesale catalogue. See p 50 of their 2010 Christmas catalogue, Item 91152 is silver ... exactly what we all remember! Now your only challenge may be ordering in bulk from Germany. I can smell the coal smoke from the furnaceGreat picture. I love how the kid's old man gets to run the locomotive, his Uncle is playing Conductor and the kid gets to be Switchman! Gotta pay your dues kid! Looks like they just setout the hopper and tank car and are about to back the engine to re-couple onto the NYC gondola and caboose. A very similar scene played out in many households of the era. I like the Hamilton or Gruen wristwatches that the guys are wearing too. My cousin Tom, the boy in the photo...turned 68 this year. Sobering perspective on just how long ago this was! Your photo and story for magazine articleHi, I am senior editor at Classic Toy Trains. We would be interested in publishing this vintage color photo and learning more about the background . Please contact me at: Roger Carp 262-796-8776 ext. 253 rcarp@classictoytrains.com Thanks, Roger (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, Christmas, Kids)
Mr. Magazine: 1908
... ever clear this up for her. -- James Thurber ("The Car We Had to Push") No Business Like It Publications suspended under ... Blue Book. Now I get it. It lets you know how the car dealer is going to #@$% you on the value of your car. Learn something every ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/14/2012 - 3:46pm -

1908. "Smallest news & post card stand in New Orleans, 103 Royal Street." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Next doorI see cabbages, bananas, oranges, apples, peaches, walnuts, and ... waffles? Re: BlueBookAnother bid for one of each! From Antiques Roadshow archive: APPRAISER: "This is one of the later ones-- there's no date here, I think this was done about 1915, 1916 or 1917.the last copy I was able to track down at auction, sold for more than $2,000, some years ago. GUEST: Wow. APPRAISER: My guess on this is it's worth somewhere between $3,500 and $4,500. GUEST: My goodness. APPRAISER: Not bad for something you picked from the garbage, right? Magazines and NewspapersI'll say what we're all probably thinking: I'll take one of everything on your stand, sir. Hey, there's a magazine for everybody. The Information HighwayBefore the internet was invented. Sagebrush Philosopher"Sagebrush Philosophy" was published by the Wyoming writer Bill Barlow: Shortly after locating at Douglas he began the publication of a little monthly magazine called Sagebrush Philosophy, which soon had a circulation that extended to all parts of the Union. His writings scintillated with wit, philosophy and optimism, and his vocabulary was both extensive and unique. Sagebrush Philosophy was built up on his personality and when his death occurred on October 9, 1910, it was realized that no one could continue the publication of the magazine, so its last number was issued in November following his death. The JewelThis photo has a great example of an Etched - Glue Chipped Glass doorway on the right. I would lay money down and say that the gilded wood letters (on the upper left & above clerk) are most likely manufactured by the Spanjer Bros. This photo would look great in color with all those magazine covers too. Dietz Sign Co.Saw that at the top of the picture. Googled it. Got as far as this page. Dietz Lantern Company. Read through it, you'll see mentions of places and things seen on Shorpy. I will start a-looking. The Big QuestionHow did he get IN there? ThurberesqueShe came naturally by her confused and groundless fears, for her own mother lived the latter years of her life in the horrible suspicion that electricity was dripping invisibly all over the house. It leaked, she contended, out of empty sockets if the wall switch had been left on. She would go around screwing in bulbs, and if they lighted up she would hastily and fearfully turn off the wall switch and go back to her Pearson's or Everybody's, happy in the satisfaction that she had stopped not only a costly but a dangerous leakage. Nothing could ever clear this up for her. -- James Thurber ("The Car We Had to Push") No Business Like ItPublications suspended under the ledge, below the proprietor, are The Dramatic Mirror, Billboard, Variety and Show World. Someone once said that everybody's second business was show business. Looking at these magazines for sale in 1908 New Orleans sort of reinforces that theory. Gimme the lot!I'd buy the whole lot. Can you imagine what all those are worth today? It looks like this may have been a cafe entrance once. June 1908The Saturday Evening Post in the lower right corner was dated 13 June 1908. I did a quick search online and voila, now I have that warm, fuzzy feeling one can get from a successful treasure hunt. Thank you, Shorpy, for the thrill of the hunt. My Order"Hey buddy, I'll take a bunch of bananas, two pineapples, some mixed nuts, five melons and a dozen postcards. By the way, do you have July's edition of The Railroad Man's Magazine?" Ex-PresidentGrover Cleveland--definitely him--has been out of office for nearly ten years. Why is he gracing the cover of the Chicago Tribune? [His uncanny impersonation of William Howard Taft. - Dave] Naughty BitsInteresting to note that on the bottom row is the notorious "Blue Book," the guide to houses of ill repute in Storyville, the area of New Orleans where prostitution was legal until WWI. Just CuriousHow did they close up shop for the night? It looks like this is right on the sidewalk. I can see that some of the display looks like it might swing into the opening where the proprietor is standing but it still looks like there's a lot of effort to open and close for the day. Tag SuggestionCould you also tag this and future images like it with "Postcards"? Images like this that depict the retailing of postcards are incredibly rare and of great importance to we deltiologists. Thank you. Taft of Ohio, Not ClevelandThe Chicago Tribune cover is graced by the future president, William Howard Taft. He was the Republican candidate in 1908. [I think you're right. At first I thought it was Cleveland, who had died on June 24, but this does look more like Taft. Especially the ear. - Dave] Oh yes, we have bananas!Didn't say they were fresh, just said we had them. For everybody, indeedCowboy Bill is surely referring to this. 1908.It took me a while, but here is the evidence. First, "The Railroad Man's Magazine" on the bottom cannot be from 1906, because it wasn't published until October of that year. I then found the cover for Collier's Magazine from June of 1908. Finally, there is an advertisement on the bottom left for the 1908 World Almanac! [I misread the date on the cover of the 10 Cent Story Book last night when I posted this, thinking the 8 was a 6. Thanks to all who set me straight! - Dave] Hardly Naughty The Blue Book Magazine displayed on the bottom row is not the notorious Blue Book guide to "sporting houses." It's a copy of a legit magazine that was published until 1975 featuring fiction by writers like Agatha Christie, Booth Tarkington, and Edgar Rice Burroughs. [This particular magazine, Stageland Blue Book, was a theatrical publication. - Dave] Re: Naughty BitsThe Blue Book would not have been sold openly at a newsstand. It was also very plain in appearance. Sugared SnacksThe stacked, flat items in the case on the far left could be beignets, the Official State Doughnut of Louisana, but more likely are New Orleans-style Pralines. Clean 'em outAccording to my rough count, there are about 100 different postcards on display. Figuring 10 of each at 15 cents per dozen, one could have the entire stock for just over $12. Great magazines, buttucked in among the postcards is a very interesting, small publication: Sagebrush Philosophy. It wasn't the magazine for everybody, but that's what made it so special. MoneyTime travel to this place in order to buy these itmes would be very interesting, just don't forget to first get into your family's coin collection and grab some Barber dimes and quarters, Liberty nickels, and Indian Head pennies. You show this guy dead president coins and bills and he'll have you hauled away by the police. Another ClueChecked one more thing on why that is probably Taft on the Chicago Tribune cover. The Republican convention that nominated him was held in Chicago from June 16 to June 19, 1908 which would coincide with the time frame here. It is interesting, however, that Grover Cleveland died June 24, 1908. Please note that the Tribune was a very Republican leaning newspaper in those days, so it's more likely they would feature the new Republican nominee that the recently departed former Democratic president. Dangerous leakagesWe can laugh at it now, of course, bit it was common during the early years of electricity for people to believe that electrical sockets "leaked electricity" if they didn't have something plugged or screwed in. Many families have stories of people insisting on removing the plugs or bulbs and putting in stoppers at night. People even complained of smelling the electrical "vapours" coming from the sockets. Closing up shopRegarding how they closed up shop at night. The middle section above the hatch flips down. The two shutters on either side close inwards. The magazines below are simply unclipped and taken indoors. Sidewalk CafeLOVE the tile sidewalk sign for the Jewel Cafe. It's the same type that some streets still have that say Rue Royale or Rue Bourbon. Very cool. Then and NowThis photo is featured in the 1996 book "New Orleans - Then and Now." In 1996, there's also a newsstand, just to the right of this one. In addition, I found a vintage postcard (postmarked June 1908) that shows this same newsstand. So it's a postcard of a postcard stand. (I know there's a name for things like this, but my coffee hasn't kicked in yet.) Speaking of post cards within postcardsWonder if any of the pictures featured on those postcards ever appeared on Shorpy? Now there's a heck of a scavenger hunt for you. Politically Incorrect Period HumorLook inside the kiosk to the left of the proprietor and you'll notice section of postcards devoted to those comical darkies and their antics. Very popular at the time, and very collectible now despite (or perhaps because of?) the transgressive stigma of racism. Now I understandI always wondered why they called it the Kelley Blue Book. Now I get it. It lets you know how the car dealer is going to #@$% you on the value of your car. Learn something every day on Shorpy. Cornucopia--The younger man on the right has the look of one not to be trifled with; --The cafe doors are almost identical to the doors on the front of Antoine's Restaurant; --I wonder who the ball player is on the front page of the Sporting News. Walter Johnson? Ty Cobb? Honus Wagner? --Among the many old framed articles and pictures on the walls of the main dining room at Antoine's there is a lengthy one about W.H. Taft and his eating exploits at the restaurant during a trip to New Orleans. Marvelling at his stature as a "trencherman," the writer tells that Taft had a great love of boiled shrimp but didn't like to have to peel them. Taft claimed there was no serving of boiled shrimp so large he couldn't finish it. In an attempt to test this claim, Jules Alciatore (the proprietor at the time) had 50 pounds of shrimp delivered the morning before Taft was to dine there. They boiled them and he and his staff peeled them all, yielding a seving bowl with 7 1/2 lbs. of shrimp meat. According to the article, Taft finished them all but was so surfeited that he could barely speak afterwards! --The items in the case look too big, flat, and uniform to be either beignets or pralines, but I'm not sure what else they would have been. They certainly do look like waffles, which would have kept all day in the case I suppose. About that ArgosyIt's the July 1908 edition. What fun hunting this stuff up! Cover BoyWhile the individual covers of Sporting News are not readily available, issues of Sporting Life can be easily found. The photo shows the June 13, 1908 issue of Sporting Life with Edward Siever of the Detroit Tigers on the cover. Five days after this was published Siever played his last major league baseball game although he played another two years in the minors. Less than a year earlier he had been in the 1907 World Series. A copy of the front of this issue of Sporting Life, along with the caption that goes with Siever's photo, is shown below. Note that most sources state he was born in Kansas in 1875 (not Illinois in 1878). He died in 1920 while coming home from his job as an inspector for the City of Detroit. "EDWARD SIEVER. Pitcher of the Detroit American League Club. Edward Siever, the noted south-paw pitcher for the Detroit American Club, was born April 2, 1878, at Lewistown, Ill. Siever was originally a locomotive fireman of the Grand Trunk. He made his professional debut with the London Club, of the Canadian League, in 1899, which, largely owing to Siever's fine pitching, won the championship. He was sold to the Detroit Club the following year, and sported the Tigers' stripes continually until the Fall of 1903, when he was transferred to the St. Louis Club. After a season with the Browns he was transferred for 1905 to the Minneapolis Club, with which he did such fine work that St. Louis re-drafted him for 1906. During that season he was sold to the Detroit Club for which he has played since. In the 1907 season he very materially helped Hughey Jennings' Tigers to bring to Detroit a championship pennant for the first time in twenty years." Jewel CafeThe Jewel Cafe, at 131 Royal Street, was listed in the program for the 5th Annual Sugar Bowl Classic in January of 1929 as a sponsor:         Jewel Cafe ... 131 Royal Street; Oysters 45 cents per half dozen; First time in the history of New Orleans, Oysters a la Rockefeller are prepared before your eyes. This deep mystery of the culinary arts is now almost within the price range of raw oysters. Louisiana's choicest cultivated oysters, served in all styles at our counters and tables; open all night. (The Gallery, DPC, New Orleans, Stores & Markets)
Bike Shop: 1912
... the old Biddle house. He became the first independent auto dealer in Detroit and probably the US. Below, the Huber & Metzger bike shop ... Got Around Bill Metzger was also behind the Metz car, which has previously been a Shorpy subject. I learned that from a friend ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2013 - 4:13pm -

Detroit, Michigan, circa 1912. "Metzger bicycle shop. Detroit City Gas Co." This photo of a cycle (and phonograph) shop was taken to show off the gaslight fixtures. 8x10 glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. MotorcyclesI see four motorcycles on the left. An Excelsior Autocycle (Ignaz Schwinn was behind Excelsior motorcycles). Behind the Excelsior is a "camelback" Indian of about 1909 vintage, I think. Then another Indian and perhaps another Excelsior. In today's market those old motorcycles would extremely valuable and sought after by collectors. I think music, bicycles, and motorcycles would still make for a fun shop today. RiddleWhat do gramophones and bicycles have in common? No, seriously, I want to know. [Horns. - Dave] Flash!Is that the reflection of the magnesium flash going off behind the men? [It is! - Dave] Huber & MetzgerBill Metzger started the first retail automobile store in Detroit in the old Biddle house. He became the first independent auto dealer in Detroit and probably the US. Below, the Huber & Metzger bike shop at 13 Grand River Avenue. A hipster's dreamWhat beautiful bikes. As a cyclist, I would love to have one of them. Just like today's hipster bikesNo brakes - no coaster brakes, no hand brakes. All the with-it college kids are riding fixed gear bikes with no brakes these days. Safety third! FixiesAs far as I can see, none of the bicycles on offer have any brakes whatsoever. Such carefree times. Well that's puzzlingI don't see any light fixtures that look like gas burners. I'm not aware of any glass bell shades pointing down that were ever used on gas lights. I'm pretty sure I can see bulb sockets on the perimeter lights, although I can't quite make them out. The fixtures in the center of the room have pull-chain switches on them. [Each gas chandelier has a pair of pulls to regulate flow. Below is another example from Detroit City Gas Co. - Dave] An Odd MixThe left side of the shop has a good selection of Victor Talking Machines. The right wall has shelves of Edison cylinders . I think I see a Columbia at the back of the shop. And all those bicycles! What a combination. Mail CallI'd say those envelopes, in the showcases behind the Victrolas, hold recordings by John McCormick, Enrico Caruso, Rosemary Clooney and Elvis. Early ironSome of those "bikes" are motorcycles. Not all are bicyclesI spot at least two Indian and two Excelsior Auto Cycles on the left row and can't quite identify what is in back behind the two men sitting though I suspect another Excelsior. All NaturalNot single black tire in the shop. Everything is natural rubber. The sound of bikesI find it quite amusing that the two leading bicycle store chains in Israel, where I live, are called Matzman and Mintz. Something with the "TZ" sound drags people to deal with two wheeled vehicles, apparently! The 8-track of 1912Those shelved items on the right are music cylinders. Music discs were a growing market in 1912 but looks as if this shop's owner had a lot of inventory to move before he could think about selling discs. (Judging by their loose-looking packaging, I don't think the items in some sort of vertical envelopes on the shelves on the left are discs, although if they are, they're way outnumbered by the cylinders.) Some of the songs of the day: "She Pushed Me Into the Parlour," "Daddy Has a Sweetheart (And Mother Is Her Name)," "Ragtime Cowboy Joe," "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling," "The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi" and Irving Berlin's "Keep Away From the Fellow Who Owns an Automobile." Used MotorcyclesIt seems that these fellows dealt in used equipment as well, Indian Motorcycles produced the last Camelback gas tank single cylinder machine in 1908 (according to my father, who's the curator of a very large motorcycle museum). The Metzger Bicycle Concern would have a heart attack if they knew what that "old" Indian single was worth today. [This picture could just as well be from 1908. - Dave] Metzger Got AroundBill Metzger was also behind the Metz car, which has previously been a Shorpy subject. I learned that from a friend who I had sent this photo to. Gas and ElectricThe center fixtures are gas, but the perimeter fixtures are electric. Best of both worlds when electric lighting was not necessarily bright or reliable. Obsolete Stock The items on the left-hand shelf are most likely Victor records. Victor & Edison allowed their dealers to carry both lines, until Edison introduced a disc machine & Victor ordered its dealers to drop Edison. All of the cylinders appear to be 2 minute records, although Edison introduced the 4 minute "Amberol" cylinder in 1908. Both were about to be discontinued in late 1912, along with open horn machines. The celluloid "Blue Amberol" record and a new line of Amberola (inside horn) cabinet machines were introduced in the Fall of 1912. Dealers were then allowed to discount the 'wax' cylinders, to clear their stocks. By this time, Edison's consultants said people were "Victrola crazy", while Edison's cylinder business fell disastrously & Columbia quit cylinders altogether. Bicycles & gramophonesIt's what they don't have in common that matters. Bicycles sell well in warmer months when people are outdoors. Gramophones sell well in colder months when people are indoors. I believe this is Metzger's shop at 351 Woodward and not the one he shared with Huber. http://www.m-bike.org/blog/2010/12/11/metzger-bicycle-shop-in-1912/ (The Gallery, Bicycles, Detroit Photos, DPC, Motorcycles, Stores & Markets)
Sporting Life: 1935
... as this Pontiac, even with its muddy tires. DLR 5 Dealer license plate, I assume. [This is a promotional photo for a car dealer. -tterrace] Right side up I wonder if someone with a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/29/2015 - 1:49pm -

April 17, 1935. "Pontiac convertible coupe at Tanforan racetrack, San Bruno." This fine filly looks like a mudder! 8x10 inch nitrate negative. View full size. SnappyIt's a pre-WW2 word just made to describe things as great-looking as this Pontiac, even with its muddy tires. DLR 5Dealer license plate, I assume. [This is a promotional photo for a car dealer. -tterrace] Right side upI wonder if someone with a careful eye pried the hubcaps off, then popped them back on? The Pontiac script is turned the proper way on both. Tanforan's other useWow, there's some history at that track, as a Japanese Internment Camp. Check out the internet. Wicked carRounded "Speedway" front end, teardrop headlights, suicide doors -- I would so drive that bad boy today. That car has major style. Just NoticedThis shot was taken on my mother's 17th birthday. I was there yesterdaybut the site is now a shopping mall. I bought a book at the Barnes & Noble. Great Looking Car What a great looking car. I would be willing to bet that it's red. It just looks like a car that needs to be red. Also...do we see the photographer in the front hubcap? (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses)
Driveway Drama: 1954
... View full size. Where's the bonfire That car looks like a great big marshmallow. Excuse me while I get a stick. But good ... step ahead of the Joneses, see your local Lincoln/Mercury dealer. [Like the caption says, it's the two-door sedan. - Dave] ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/28/2022 - 1:17pm -

Dearborn, Michigan. "1954 Ford Mainline two-door sedan." A thrifty ride for the suburban bride. Color transparency from the Ford Motor Co. photographic archives. View full size. Where's the bonfireThat car looks like a great big marshmallow. Excuse me while I get a stick. But good call by davidk: The driver's fingernails should be varnished blood red. One of 123,329Mainline was the entry level Ford for 1954. Since two passengers are set to embark and the car has been tarted-up with whitewall tires ($27 extra), I will assume that the vehicle shown is a two door sedan rather than a business coupe, which has no back seat. The basic six cylinder, three-speed manual two door sedan was priced at $1651 from the factory; the front seat only version was $103 less. Very few options were available for the Mainline. Overdrive, Ford-O-Matic transmission, heater/defroster, passenger-side sun visor and armrest, etc., were available at extra cost. You could shop upmarket in the Customline or Crestline series. At the top of the heap was the Sunliner V8 convertible at $2241. Plus options, of course. If you want to stay one step ahead of the Joneses, see your local Lincoln/Mercury dealer. [Like the caption says, it's the two-door sedan. - Dave] 3640 Eastham RoadWell preserved. [But a Chevy in the driveway -- horrors! - Dave] Mainllne???I've never heard of a Ford Mainline! Nor seen one until now. Seems they go for 9k to 19k today, restored. They looked good back then. Today, not so much. Flawed but FabulousAdvertising, regardless of the era, always has a distinctly staged appearance, and is too often edited to a surreal and, for me, uncomfortable perfection. This house, rather than the car, invited close inspection, which revealed blistered paint on the dormer, weeds growing in the concrete joints, and the top of a weathervane over the breezeway roofline. The image is better for the presence of flaws. Squirrel!Thanks, JW Wright - the house got even better, being on a coveted corner lot, AND a trip around that corner shows the rodent-themed weathervane on the cupola of the neighbor's garage that appears over 3640 Eastham's breezeway. Attention to DetailThey may not have removed the weeds from the concrete joints, but they paid attention when it might make a difference. The made sure the hubcaps were aligned so FORD was horizontal and could be read easily. A stain in my memoryMy Army officer dad had a 1949 Dodge when I was born and we took that one to Germany in 1951. He sold it before we left in '54 and picked up a 1954 Ford two-tone (blue and white) two-door when we got to New York. Like an idiot, I left an 8-crayon Crayola box on the shelf behind the back seat and it melted completely in the summer sun on our trip down to Georgia. That stain in our days-old car was there for the rest of time that we owned it and I was never allowed to forget it. Driveway realityWhat a dose of gutsy reality, those weeds in the cracks! Ford was really pushing the boundaries here. The bright, sharp clarity suggests it's a large format transparency. [8x10. - Dave] My only quibbleBoth that cutie and the car she’s in would look a lot better if she had bright red nail polish. Mileage Maker SixDevoid of V-8 badging this bare-bones Mainline appears to have been equipped with Ford's Mileage Maker Six. Introduced in 1952 in 215-cu.in. form, and with a 3.62 x 3.60-inch bore and stroke, a 7.2:1 compression ratio and a one-barrel Holley carburetor, 1954's updated 223-cu.in. version made 115hp at 3,900 rpm and 193-lbs.ft. of torque at 2,200 rpm. This six-cylinder was noted for its economy, averaging 25.1 mpg, and despite being down two cylinders on the optional V-8, their performance was very similar, making the six a viable engine choice for the frugal minded. (USA average retail gasoline price in '54 was 29 cents a gallon) Good looking Ford in '54!I have always liked the design of the 1954 Ford. Thanks for posting this color photograph. I noticed Ford used Firestone tires at that time. Regarding stainsI did the same thing when my older cousin brought over his brand new 1956 Thunderbird with the hard top, and took my brother and me for a ride. I tossed my box of crayons on the rear window shelf. It was a hot day. I am sure that was the last time he took us for any rides. Publicity Shot Locations MapI thought I'd try to determine if Ford's publicity folks favored a specific neighborhood for their shots by mapping them out. If so, it might be possible to determine the location of the elusive Ford Customline's backdrop. No dice. Bottom of the line... was Mainline, as louJudson mentioned he'd never heard of. It had identical drivetrains as the more trimmed up models all the way up to Crestline. This one has the base six cylinder engine as there is no "Y"-8 emblem at the front of the front fender just above the decorative trim. This was the first year of a redesigned overhead valve V-8 engine to replace the 30 plus year old flathead V-8 and it was described as being in a "Y" configuration for greater durability. This one makes do with the third year of a redesigned overhead valve six cylinder that was leagues ahead of both Chevrolet's ancient Stovebolt and Plymouth's flathead six. As for transmissions, the trunk tells the tale. No script means standard, but Ford-O-Matic and Overdrive get their script on the right side of the trunk handle. There's a certain beauty to the trim-free lines that the higher line models don't enjoy. The only model lower than this one would have been a Mainline Business Coupe which had no back seat. [That black rubber windshield molding does have a certain minimalist charm. - Dave] Power of the Purse This ad photo, populated only by women, reveals Ford's understanding of the role of women in major purchase decisions. Meanwhile, Packard was still crowing "Ask the Man Who Owns One." Look at what happened to them. [Strictly speaking, these were promotional or publicity photos -- distributed with press releases, etc. -- and not used in advertising. - Dave] It's a Wonder!As a died-in-the wool motorhead, even I have to admit: That's the most white-bread car I've ever seen. [Psst. "Dyed." - Dave] Correct, Dave! I'll never read Ngaio Marsh again! Thanks! White car paint... was a really new thing in 1950, as plain as it looks to us now. Still, I'd be tempted to paint the wheels bright red for contrast with those whitewalls and the main body color. Re: White car paintMyself, I'd be tempted to paint the fingernails bright red for contrast with those whitewalls and the main body color. Like a beautiful blank canvasWhat an appealing photo! I really am surprised by how attractive the car is in this color and minimalist trim. I also love the brickwork on the visible corner of the house. It resembles the Georgian style buildings on the campus where I work. The car also beckons as a sort of canvas upon which a modern day owner might put some fetching details or mechanical modifications. I find myself wishing I could just step into the scene. Not so random locationsTimeAndAgainPhoto's publicity shot locations map shows a suspicious clustering around golf courses. Nice job if you can get it. Dad had twoMy father had both 1955 and '56 Fords. I have no idea why, but the two were completely different. I think that neither had power steering but the ‘55 took serious muscle to guide. It was also almost impossible to start in a Missouri winter, while the ‘56 took only a couple of foot pumps to roar to life. Not to nitpick... but the dormer needs to be scraped and painted. Just sayin'. Missed somethingDid the photographer intentionally leave the weeds in the driveway cracks, or was this left intentionally to show this is a real home? [This was back before the Internet and "comments," when nobody cared about crack weeds. - Dave] (Kodachromes, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Pretty Girls)
End of the Road: 1966
... If you think this is just a photo of a well-worn old car, you're wrong. It's actually a significant moment in our family's history. ... out all our personal items prior to the trip to the dealer to pick up our new car - a 1966 Rambler Classic station wagon. Oh; our ... 
 
Posted by tterrace - 01/28/2012 - 5:12pm -

If you think this is just a photo of a well-worn old car, you're wrong. It's actually a significant moment in our family's history. June 27, 1966 was the last day for our 1956 Hudson Rambler. Previously, we saw it all shiny and sparkly, mere days after we got it. During the following ten years, it: took my sister to the church for her wedding; took us to graduations, my grade and high school and my brother's college; took us on our first visit to Yosemite, and later our very first camping trips (see our decals?); took my folks to visit their first grandchild; and perhaps most important of all, took me to my first visit to Disneyland. I decided to record the event in a series of Ektachrome slides. Here, my father is clearing out all our personal items prior to the trip to the dealer to pick up our new car - a 1966 Rambler Classic station wagon. Oh; our trade-in allowance for this one: $50. View full size. I love the colors on that car!Colors in the 1950s were wonderful, today everything is a shade of brown or gray. My childhood car was a white 1965 Plymouth Belvedere four door. Purchased new by my dad, it was the most stripped down model available, three on the tree, AM radio, vinyl seats, Canadian built 318, and no AC. UglyMan, that is one ugly car. Of course, I can't talk: in the 60's my folks didn't even have a car - and we lived in a way outer outer suburban area. So outer suburban that we didn't even have a made road, our street was a collection of potholes loosely joined together with gravel. Our family's first car was an Austin A50 "ute" (pickup) with wooden floorboards in the back. Romney connectionWell, Hudson merged with Nash-Kelvinator to form American Motors, and George Romney (Mitt's dad) became president of AMC in 1954. Not a bad looking car, in my opinion. I'm sure a lot of happy memories were associated with it. Reminds me of the great "Wonder Years" episode where the Arnold family are prepping their memory-laden station wagon for sale. StrangeThat fellow doesn't look like Chevy Chase. They don't make 'em like this anymoreWas it like that episode of The Wonder Years? Be still my heartOooh. My Edsel and Studebaker would love to share their driveway with that car. You just don't see many of those today, even at car shows. Hope it had power steering and an automatic transmission. Too much to ask for it to have air conditioning too. I'm pretty sure it did not. Where is that time machine when you need it? It probably sold for less than one day's wages in today's money. [How IS that Edsel of yours. Pic? - Dave] Product LoyaltyYour dad was like I have been, loyal to the make of car I drive. Like your dad, I made my way from a Detroit built Hudson "Step-Down" and on to American Motors products built at the old Nash factory in Kenosha, Wisconsin. All were well built cars and doggedly reliable. Thanks tterrace for another glimpse into your fine family's interesting history. My family car in June 1966 was ...This 1960 Edsel. My father bought it new for my mother to drive me in the kindergarten carpool. Thankfully my father never traded in any car we had, ever, so I still have it. This pseudo vintage photo of it was taken August 30 2011, at Center Studios in Los Angeles. It, and the other cars on the street, were working on a TV program set in 1966 that night. In answer to your question Dave, the car is in turn key condition. It has about 300,000 miles on it and is never trailered. Don't you agree that the green Hudson wagon, with its white roof, would look real good in the driveway next to it? [My first (and only) 1960 Edsel encounter was circa 1977 in Lake City, Florida. It was parked tail-out in an alleyway, and as it loomed into view I remember thinking "What the hell IS that?" I considered myself to be a car guy but had never seen anything like this -- it looked like the mutant offspring of a 1960 Ford and Little Orphan Annie. The rear end is, to put it mildly, unique. - Dave] The way cars were meant to be builtThe bodies for these cars were built in Milwaukeen at the old Seaman Body Division of the Nash-Kelvinator Corp., on North Richards Street. They were trailered south to Kenosha for drive assemblies, interiors, etc. My car-freak friends and I witnessed hundreds and hundreds (thousands?) of car bodies heading down 27th Street (Highway 41) on their way to Kenosha. The 1956 Rambler was pretty much the design work of Edmund Anderson, the first design chief Nash ever had. By 1956 George Romney was in charge at AMC, and bet the whole farm, with mixed results, on the small car niche. I believe one of the engines offered in this car was a 262 cubic inch inline 6, with 7 (yes, seven!) main bearings. With proper maintenance one could be driving a 56 Rambler yet. Design stops at the rear wheelsEverything to the front of the rear axle is sculpted; everything to the rear is extruded. Miss the colorsI agree with Vintagetvs. I miss the shiny chrome, bright vivid colors and bold distinctive designs of the '50s. Today's cars may be full of hi-tech electronics but they are drab and monotonous on the outside. Oooh! That's a grand carAnd so was the '66 Rambler Classic! I grew up with the 66 four door at the turn of the 70's and even slept with the whole family with the front seats reclined to join with the back on a rainy camping trip. What American design genius! The white roofInteresting factoid about the white roof on our Rambler wagon: that's not the way it came from the factory. Originally the car was solid green; the dealership talked my father into having them paint the roof, pointing out it would keep the car cooler inside. I remember it chipping slightly around the edges, and I was never able to get a good shine on it like the factory paint. Later that day, our new Rambler (Larry Brink Motors, Mill Valley, Calif.), ready to drive home: Car trade insI vividly remember accompanying my late father when we took our '55 Chevy from Madison, Wisconsin to a nearby town to trade it in on a brand new '59 Chevy wagon. He said nothing at the time, but for years afterward complained that his impulse at the time was to take the wagon back for the '55. Too bad, because the wagon proved to be pretty awful, requiring numerous, expensive repairs. That damaged his brand loyalty for a long time, though he never joined the mass of his friends by purchasing a Japanese car. Pretty much a buy-American guy except for one area. When I returned from overseas service in the Army, there was a brand new Sony TV in the house, a quantum leap ahead of the dreadful American sets we had endured before. I'm utterly amazed that I don't recall any wagons like that Hudson. I remember the older slope backed ones, Studebakers, Kaisers and the rolling refrigerator-like Nash Metro though. 1960 EdselI too apparently have somehow escaped seeing a 60 Edsel before now, or at least I didn't notice, I had to Google it to see the back end. The front is really quite attractive and "normal," but the back got an extra helping of weird! Our 1959 Cross Country RamblerA photo of me and my younger brother in Mamaroneck, NY 1961. He always wanted to ride in the rear, facing backwards. When I was 21, it was a very good yearThis was my ride in 1958, a '54 Studebaker Starliner hardtop coupe, shown in the one photo with my friend Roger Baxter's chopped '48 Mercury. The Starliner (by Robert Bourke, a Raymond Loewy associate) has consistently been ranked as one of the best-designed cars of that era. Mechanically it was not a winner but oh those lines. I dropped a small block Chevy engine in it with a Chevy overdrive transmission, lowered it by torching the springs, and transformed a poorly-handling slow car into a seriously poorly-handling fast car. The color photo shows it after I dechromed it, painted it Chinese red, and slapped on a set of Moon aluminum wheel covers, just like they used then at Bonneville. (I was a dreamer.) My next car was a 1960 Austin Healey 3000. Photos taken on the Jaffa Mosque (!!!) lot, Altoona, Pa. I'm confusedWe had a 1953 Nash Rambler in our family in the 60s. When did the Nash/Hudson change take place? Was there a period when they were both using the Rambler marque? I'm pretty sure ours was pre-AMC. Maybe one of you Shorpycar experts can set me straight. It was a 4 door sedan and the front fenders looked the same as this one, although the grillwork was different. The taillights were exactly the same. It also had the very neat full reclining seats. Speaking of color, ours was a most hideous shade of green similar to an Army olive drab, only uglier! It was, however, as sturdy as anything the Army had on hand. It had a quite strong in-line 6 and 3-on-the-tree. ... Oops, sorry tterrace and Dave. Had I jumped to your other link I would have found my answer in the comments there. That'll teach me! Back o' the RamblerLike JD's little brother, I loved riding back there too, rattling around like a loose screwdriver in an empty toolbox, getting that vertigo-inducing backwards view through the roll-down window and getting slightly high on carbon monoxide. Great photo op angle, too. Check out my '57 Ford FairlaneThis was the first new car I ever owned, bought with a loan cosigned with my Dad. It cost us $2300 and was worth every penny of that. It came without a radio, so I bought one. Its cable was very short, so I had to install it upside down for the fit into the dash. That confused a lot of my friends. I drove that car for about 18 months, but then sold it to a coworker when I accepted a job in Manhattan and moved into the City. Within two months, he 'totalled' it in an accident somewhere between Plainfield NY and Brooklyn. I still miss that car. Rambler/Hudson connectionIn 1954, Nash bought Hudson to form American Motors. The head of AMC, George Mason, died shortly after the merger and his second in command, George Romney, took over. The warmed over "step down" Hudsons were deleted and their new small car, the Hudson Jet, didn't sell in big numbers and was a potential threat to the 100 inch wheel base Nash Ramblers. From 1955 to 1957, Hudsons were rebadged Nashes with some extra doodads and Hudson dashboards. The Rambler was essentially the same, as I have the pie pan hubcaps from my '58 with the "R" in the middle instead of the "H". Romney decided to concentrate on the Rambler line for '58 with no more Hudson or Nash nameplates, and it proved to be a wise decision as they made lots of profit and even beat Chrysler out in auto production in the early '60s, before Romney left to be governor of Michigan. For many years, the Rambler Station Wagon was about 40 percent of their production. The little slope in the back roofline was due to welding the extra length of metal to the sedan roof, as they didn't have large enough stamping machines for a one-piece wagon roof. The addition of the chrome luggage carriers made the roofline more straight. The engine for most Ramblers was the 195.6 straight six which evolved from the earlier Nash "Flying Scot" engines. Romney was asked if it bothered him that most Ramblers were in the slow lane when it came to roads. He responded that it didn't bother him as long as there were a lot of them. BTW, AMC was the only company to bring back a car from the dead. In 1958, they had the dies from the old 100-inch-wheelbase Ramblers, and slightly remade the car and put it out as the Rambler American to sell with the 108 inch "larger" Rambler. On the Other SideWell gee Dave, now everybody is going to be wondering "what did Dave see on the rear of that car?" So here is what Dave is talking about, the rear of a 1960 Edsel. TransposedWhen I was a kid my grandmother owned a Rambler. On the front grille the word "Rambler" was supposed to be displayed, but it was placed as R A M B E L R. True. Those were the daysI agree, they knew how to design cars in the '50s and '60s. That's why I bought a Chevy 210 in Lake Tahoe some years ago and shipped it to the Netherlands. Great pictures by the way (as always). Keep 'emI'm not too sure I could take my old car in for a trade. I still have my first new car, a 1971 Toyota Land Cruiser. Just before it was due to change over to 400,000 miles, the odometer broke (third engine). Ah, Ramblerstterrace, your parents' '66 Classic wagon pictured below sits in front of a car that looked just ours - a Frost White '66 American 4-door sedan. Ours was the high-line 440 model, with the all the brightwork that was missing on the cheaper 220. It had the 232 2-bbl Commando Six, a "Shift Command" (Borg-Warner) three-speed automatic, factory air conditioning, and pushbutton AM radio. Ours came from Marty R's Roundup Rambler, in the Pleasant Grove section of Dallas. I can remember going with my dad to pick up the car. We had no trade-in, since the Ultramatic transmission in our '52 Packard Mayfair had gone out the year before. For several months, travel meant borrowing cars or bumming rides, while my parents saved up for the down payment. Fifty BucksAs an avid S.F. Bay Area car-kid born in 1962 I remember seeing old used cars such as your dad's '56 Hudson-Rambler, in places like Berkeley and San Francisco, being used by college-aged kids as their daily transportation. These old cars lined the streets around campus, beaten by years of hard use and on their final decline before the scrap yard. Your dad's '56 wagon could have gone on to become a college kid's cheap wheels before succumbing to the pressure of 'planned obsolescence.' I seem to remember Hunter S. Thompson bought a new Rambler back in the late '50s or early '60s, he had nothing but trouble with it, and one of his books contains letters to the manufacturer over his car's ailments. Seeing your dad's ten-year old '56 makes me think of all the well-worn old cars around when I was a kid in the late 1960s. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, tterrapix)
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