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Lincoln in Virginia: 1926
... more, the present owner signed the paperwork so that the interior woodwork, mantels, etc. are likewise protected from being "updated" by ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2012 - 7:54pm -

Alexandria, Virginia, circa 1926. "Dr. Fairfax home (Ford Motor Co.)" From a series of photographs, taken for Ford Motor Co., showing Alexandria landmarks. The car here is a Lincoln. National Photo glass negative. View full size. SimpleVery nicely done entry recess, but those shutters on the top really jar the eye. Harry LeePleasant surprise seeing this pic. I just found a few days ago this person is a relative. Thanks for sharing! Federal StyleLovely Federal (or is it Georgian?) style architecture! Things probably only a carpenter sees...It appears this was a time when shutters were becoming more decorative than functional. Telltale signs of non-use are the bird droppings and needed repairs, plus there are no knobs or latches to hold them shut if they were closed. And that broken piece of lumber along the roof edge raises a few questions about why it's there, what or who broke it off, and how does the bent gutter work into the mystery? And only one screen, second floor left window? Time stands stillI live a couple blocks up from this home, and aside from a much more lush garden on the right side yard, it looks identical to this photo. Being over 100 years old, the exterior is protected from being modified. What's more, the present owner signed the paperwork so that the interior woodwork, mantels, etc. are likewise protected from being "updated" by future owners. HardwareI'm seeing all kinds of hardware for holding the shutters in the hi-res version of the picture. [Another thing: The tall righthand middle shutter moved during the exposure. - Dave] +89Below is the same view from October of 2015. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Natl Photo)
And Step On It: 1917
... board. Don't you just love the brocade upholstered interior? How about my walking stick and buttoned gloves? The pince-nez? And ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/17/2016 - 8:27pm -

San Francisco circa 1917. "Chalmers town car." The ideal conveyance for European nobility, effete academics and the like. Und James, ve do hope zat zeze flowers in de vaz are fresh. 5x7 glass negative by Christopher Helin. View full size. Handset pocketAn early (short range, one way) mobile phone. Just in case James needs correction enroute. Earpiece conveniently mounted next to James' ear. Love James' gloves. SlummingNo spats? It must have been casual Friday. Leathery LiveryDamn, that chauffeur's wearing about half a cow! Back in the 'hoodWe're at Lafayette Park again; through the car's side window we can see the front of our recently-visited 2150 Washington St. DandyBehold my polished boot upon the running board. Don't you just love the brocade upholstered interior? How about my walking stick and buttoned gloves? The pince-nez? And do note the curled-up tips of my moustache. Well, I could spend all day talking about myself, but it's time to run. Class distinctionsButton shoes and striped pants vs leather gaiters and gauntlet gloves. A tad too tallSitting down, Monsieur could easily be mistaken for Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin, San Francisco)
Hobo King: 1924
... wanderer visited the Secretaries of State, War, Navy and Interior, in an effort to secure better legislation for the hoboes of the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/01/2013 - 8:33am -

August 1924. Washington, D.C. Jeff Davis, self-styled Hobo King (as well as founder of various Hotels de Gink, a chain of hostels for the homeless), standing next to his jalopy and driver. Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size. BuildingI believe that the out-of-focus building in the background is the U.S. National Conservatory, located immediately adjacent to the Capitol. [Looks more like the Renwick Gallery at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. -tterrace] Car?Does that say "WO" on the front? It doesn't look like a Willys Knight insignia, but it also looks like it might be painted on. The headlights are similar to a 1918-ish Willys, but the concave grille is not. Little help? [It's a REO. -tterrace] FascinatingI was so fascinated by this picture that I researched him and the Hotels. I created a Wikipedia article with a few of the sources. Feel free to expand it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotel_de_Gink Custom REOIt appears to be a Reo touring body mounted on a truck chassis (White?). Something easily done "back in the day." Classy is as classy doesHe may be the Hobo King, but his car says he's "now traveling Delux." Amen to that. Hoboes, Tramps & Bums Washington Post, February 26, 1915. “Hobo King” Sees President Jeff Davis, “king of the hoboes” and founder of the Hotel de Gink, for the unemployed of New York, was received by President Wilson yesterday morning. After his visit to the White House the wanderer visited the Secretaries of State, War, Navy and Interior, in an effort to secure better legislation for the hoboes of the country. Davis asked the President to set aside some public lands for a “Farm de Gink” for the use of the unemployed. He later discussed his project with other cabinet officers. “Christopher Columbus was a sea hobo before he was the discoverer of America,” Davis told the President. “The unemployed are divided into three classes—hoboes who are willing to work; tramps who won't work, and bums who can't work. We are doing our best to assist the hoboes who are entitled to help from the government. Any man is apt to become a hobo at some time.” … (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Harris + Ewing, On the Road)
On the Beach: 1904
... we became well-acquainted with artificially changing our interior environments to "iceboxes" in warm weather. I came to this conclusion ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/16/2010 - 10:07am -

Old Orchard, Maine, circa 1904. "Beach in front of Sea Foam House." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. How did they stand it?I've often wondered how in those days people stood the heat of the day dressed like that! And here she is, folksThe inventor of the beach blanket! But apparently it took years for the genius of her invention to be recognized. An innovation in the worksIn past beach pictures, viewers have wondered why everyone just sat or lay directly on the sand. Now take a look at the blond lady on the right. It may just be my own conjecture but I think a light bulb is about to go on. She may be thinking that it is a nice day and I don’t need this blanket wrapped around me for warmth. As she further studies the sand and the blanket she thinks, what if I just put it on the sand for Johnny and me to keep clean. After his swim he won't have sand on his wet behind and scratch up the leather seat in our new carriage on the way home. Another light bulb goes on; Also there won't be sand in the tub or on the washboard to wear out his clothes at laundry time. Could be, huh? Those rocks were still therewhen I photographed them in 2004. I'm not surprised that the people on the beach are covered up. Even in the summer months it can be quite cool there when the wind is blowing. You can see more of my Old Orchard images here. Bathing vs. swimmingMy wife is a collector of bathing suits (1860s to 1960s), and she informs me that recreational "swimming" did not popular activity until the 1920s. The seaside with plentiful breezes and exposure to fresh, if somewhat salty, air was the attraction. The idea of being extremely uncomfortable with the summer heat seems to be a product of later twentieth-century thinking when we became well-acquainted with artificially changing our interior environments to "iceboxes" in warm weather. I came to this conclusion while researching warm weather clothing circa 1850-75 for a series of presentations. (The Gallery, DPC, Swimming)
Fine Arts: 1903
... It's still beautiful inside, with most of the original interior quite intact, including in the private offices. It's worth a visit if ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/11/2018 - 8:39pm -

Chicago circa 1903. "Fine Arts Building, Michigan Avenue." Now playing at the Studebaker Theatre: Castle Square Opera Company's production of The Pirates of Penzance. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Photographic Co. View full size. Don't jump!Henry! Get back in here! Largely unchangedAn architecturally significant building, with a good view of Grant Park and Lake Michigan from its front windows. I took a tour in the 90s, and found it to be eerily unchanged from the 19th century, down to the elevator operator and sparsely-spaced carbon-filament lightbulbs in the hallways. The building houses artists and musicians and related offices. L. Frank Baum had an office here and may have written some of his work in it. Still worth a visit!I worked in this building, top floor right windows, for many years. It's still beautiful inside, with most of the original interior quite intact, including in the private offices. It's worth a visit if you are in Chicago: start at the top to see the original paintings on the walls, and walk the stairs down all the way. The whole building is filled with artists, musicians, violin makers, etc. https://www.fineartsbuildingstudios.com/ Rag in his pocketHe is the very model of a modern window washer +114Below is the same view from June of 2017. Elevator OperatorI visited some shops in this building in January of this year. The building still has one elevator operated by a human being; the other elevators (there are about five of them in the lobby) were out of order. You have to use this human-operated elevator because the door to the stairwell is locked on the first floor (although it does open from inside the stairwell, so I guess it meets the fire code). The building was originally built as the Studebaker Building in 1884-1885, and it did indeed house the sales room, service facility, and factory of the Studebaker Carriage Company. The architect was Solon S. Beman, the designer of the town of Pullman (among many other things). In its original form, the building was only 8 stories high and had two little domes on the top floor, one at each end of the front facade. After Studebaker moved to a new building on Wabash Avenue in 1897, Beman was hired to convert this building to artistic uses, which was more in line with its two neighbors on the block: the Auditorium Hotel & Theater (on the left side of the photo) and the Art Institute of Chicago (on the right). He raised the height of the building to its current 10 stories and installed two legitimate theaters on the ground floor. These theaters were made over into four movie theaters in the 1980s, when this building served as the principal art house theater in downtown Chicago. I believe they have now been converted back, although I couldn't tell if they were open for business when I went there in January. Pirate CastleI could only find two runs of the Pirates of Penzance by the Castle Square Opera Company at the Studebaker Theater. Both of these were from before the circa 1903 date of the photo. The first was from July 22 - 25, 1900 with Miss Maude Lillian Berri in the leading soprano role. Berri reprised her role in the performances that were held April 28 - May 4, 1901. The ad below is from the April 28th Chicago Tribune, and the review is from the April 30th edition. "The Castle Square company is devoting its week to a revival of "The Pirates of Penzance." The Studebaker was comfortably filled, and although the opera is not among the most attractive either in subject or music of the Gilbert and Sullivan creations, the performance was received with every evidence of enjoyment and pleasure. The book of the "Pirates" appeals less perhaps to American opera-goers than does any Mr. Gilbert ever wrote, it being peculiarly English both in its allusions and its satire, and Sullivan seems to have risen to the plane of the best tunefulness and cleverness only in the second act. Mabel's entrance solo with chorus is catchy and has the true Sullivan swing, but it is the only number in the first act that has. The "Policemen's Chorus," the duet for Mabel and Frederic, and the "Pirates' Chorus" are attractive, however, and make the second act pleasing and deservedly popular. "The performance last evening was fully up to Castle Square standards, which is equivalent to saying that it was well balanced, carefully staged and costumed, and moved with commendable smoothness. Reginald Roberts, as the paradoxical pirate apprentice, appeared to unusually good advantage, assuming well the boyish guilelessness belonging to the character and singing the music - especially the duet in act II - in highly acceptable manner. Miss Berri made all of Mabel that was possible, both from a dramatic and a vocal standpoint; Mr. Pruette was a capital pirate chief, Mr. Moulan a satisfactory Major General, and Miss Lambert a good Ruth. Francis J. Boyle came forward as a prominent principal in the role of Edward, the sergeant of police. He was an agreeable bass voice, which he uses acceptably, enunciates well, and discovered good abilities as a comedian. He would seem a young funny man of promise. Cora Spicer as Edith and Stella Bonheur as Kate were also new aspirants for solo honors. They have good looks and gracefulness in their favor, and it is believed when they master their nervousness will prove to be pleasing singers." (The Gallery, Chicago, DPC, Performing Arts)
Pinned: 1943
... is what brightened his day. AT&SF Rocks! The interior of this caboose seems much brighter and better kept than most of the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/04/2014 - 5:07pm -

March 1943. "Conductor G. Reynolds, checking his waybills in a caboose of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad between Argentine and Emporia, Kansas." Photo by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. The joy of black and whiteI am certain the Pepsi Cola ad looked far less stimulating to our Mr. Reynolds in full color than what is powerfully rendered here in glorious, gorgeous, and, may I dare say glamorous black and white. There was just something about the ads in that era. Cola ads were once far more enticing, even more perky, than now. Nailed downJudging from the number of fasteners on this gentleman's pinup picture, he's sure of keeping it for himself! The world is not grayHere is what brightened his day. AT&SF Rocks!The interior of this caboose seems much brighter and better kept than most of the others depicted on these pages over the years. Altogether, not a bad place to work, wartime or not. Jules Erbit, artistThis particular pinup is the work of Jules Erbit. Forced (along with Bela Lugosi) to flee his native Hungary after their 1919 workers' revolution in Budapest failed, Erbit set up shop in Manhattan, and painted many magazine covers and calendars. David Saunders has compiled an impressive summary of Erbit's travels and jobs. Although the name of his model for this painting seems lost to history, postcards, coffee mugs, and magnetic calendars bearing this likeness are for sale on various websites. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Pretty Girls, Railroads)
Winchester Mystery House: 1959
I have a vivid memory of the interior of the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California which we ... me would remember a half-century later! Some views of the interior, and the story behind the mystery house, can be glimpsed here . ... 
 
Posted by Rute Boye - 09/21/2012 - 9:34pm -

I have a vivid memory of the interior of the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California which we toured at the time this photo was taken in 1959. The house is huge and filled with stairs dead-ending at the ceiling, doors opening into solid walls, a seance room, closets with no floors, secret passages, and hundreds of other things an impressionable kid like me would remember a half-century later! Some views of the interior, and the story behind the mystery house, can be glimpsed here. View full size. Ghosts!Great photo! I think that would be a spooky place to visit; the story behind the constant modifications to the place is so strange. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Newark Luxe: 1944
... and blonde 1944 furniture with the intricately beautiful interior and lighting fixtures of an obviously 1920's or earlier building. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/15/2014 - 6:01am -

March 21, 1944. "Newark Athletic Club, Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey. Long shot of lobby. Morris Lapidus, architect." With a nice selection of 25-cent Pocket Books. Large-format acetate negative by Gottscho-Schleisner. View full size. Interesting ContrastThe bland and blonde 1944 furniture with the intricately beautiful interior and lighting fixtures of an obviously 1920's or earlier building. Working GhostLooks like a resident ghost at work behind the counter back left, behind the Pocket Book display. The Judas WindowWritten by John Dickson Carr (1906-1977), published in 1938 under the name Carter Dickson, a locked room mystery novel featuring detective Sir Henry Merrivale. Newark Ex-LuxeAfter becoming the Military Park Hotel and then going into a long period of decline, the building was demolished in 1993 to make way for the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. The view below, which may have been the same lobby, was taken sometime before it was imploded. Paperback Library"Crime of Violence" looks interesting. Assignment In Brittany!I had that one. By Helen MacInnes. Have read it every few years since. Fast CompanyWritten in 1937 by Harry Kurnitz (1908-1968), published under the name Marco Page, and made into a movie in 1938 starring Melvyn Douglas and Florence Rice. (The Gallery, Gottscho-Schleisner)
Wreck on the Highway: 1939
... Additional Views Here Some additional exterior and interior views here: https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.al0705.photos/?sp=1 ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/11/2019 - 10:16am -

        The Solomon Siler House in Pike County, Alabama. May 1939. "Old home in Alabama built about 1850 called 'Silver Place,' owned by Mr. Frazier, now rented by two families." Medium format acetate negative by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. It's for saleThis 4023 sq. ft. house at 5843 County Road 7714 in Troy, AL, is priced at $175,000. It sits on 4.2 acres and has 5 bedrooms and 2 baths. A 4-inch paintbrushAnd a quick trip or two or three or four to Sherwin-Williams would spruce the place right up. I think. I went to the scene of destruction.Admittedly looking pretty sketchy in these photos, this is really a well proportioned, handsome house. Beautiful staircase and hallway inside as well. And thank you, Dave: now I will have Roy Acuff singing in my head the rest of the day. "When whiskey and blood run together, Did you hear anyone pray?" More than a 4-inch paintbrushHappily, there was more in the resto budget than paint! They even got the county road moved away from the front porch. Additional Views HereSome additional exterior and interior views here: https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.al0705.photos/?sp=1 Almost like a real estate listing, but not. A fast photographerI'm impressed that the photographer was able to move all the equipment across the road and set up for another shot before the dog could leave the porch. (The Gallery, Dogs, Kids, M.P. Wolcott)
Union Garage: 1924
... seems to be 613-621 G street. Elsewhere on Shorpy: The interior is also seen in this photo of the Semmes service department. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/12/2011 - 12:06pm -

Washington circa 1924. "Union Garage." The Union Building on G Street, venue for the 1917 Auto Show. In July 1917 it was taken over by the Semmes Motor Company, offering 24-hour repair service as well as showrooms for Dodge and Hudson cars. National Photo Company glass negative. View full size. Union BuildingWow, so much to see in this photo. I love the old skyline shots. The Union Building was erected in 1892-93 at the suggestion of the Postmaster General, who wanted space for a new city post office. It was initially run by a private company and rented to the federal government. Congressional investigations in 1911 revealed that the government was being ripped off by exorbitant rent for the building and suggested this might be due to political connections of the buildings owners. Converted to garage in 1915 and purchased by Semmes Motor Company in 1919. The address range seems to be 613-621 G street. Elsewhere on Shorpy: The interior is also seen in this photo of the Semmes service department. Also an article on Semmes plans to update the building as a "modern" service station. And that rhymes with "P"How convenient - you can play a game of pool next door while you're waiting for your flivver to be fixed! Market BuildingIs that the old market building, later the wax museum in the Mount Vernon triangle, peeking up above the garage in the background? [You mean the Liberty Market at Fifth and K? Yes it is. - Dave] Union Garage: 1924What cemetery is that in the background, and what's the huge building far away with the colonial tower? [I see a lot of tents in the background. Maybe Camp Meigs. I'm not sure about a cemetery. - Dave] Adverti$ingThomas Cusack was quite the entrepreneur. Started in 1875, with nothing but a paintbrush and ambition, and now the company is worth $26 million. Verizon HorizonThis whole block is now the Verizon Center, where the Washington Wizards and Capitals play. On the right is my church, St. Mary's. It used to serve the German Catholic Population in Washington. It was still a German-speaking parish when this photo was taken. The building immediately to the right of the church is the old school and to the left is the rectory. I believe the domed building behind and just to the left of the Union Building (partially obscured) is the historic 6th and I synagogue. Most everything else is gone. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo)
Beam Me Up: 1940
... & Co., Newark, New Jersey. Quality Dress Salon. Interior view. Raymond Loewy Corp., architect." Eljay Photo Service. View ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/12/2013 - 12:33pm -

1940. "L. Bamberger & Co., Newark, New Jersey. Quality Dress Salon. Interior view. Raymond Loewy Corp., architect." Eljay Photo Service. View full size. Quality Dress SalonWhile there's no date on this store directory, the reference to a "Status Jeans" department means it's probably not from any earlier than the late 1960's. It appears that the Quality Dress Salon is gone. The Bamberger's name disappeared in the 1980's when Macy's, which had owned the company for decades, decided to put its own name on the stores including the Newark flagship store shown here. Although the Newark store closed around 1990, the huge building still stands, though except on the ground floor it's used for offices and other non-retail uses. The Original Star TrekKirk, where can I get some 'a 'dem heaters? Another creditShoulders courtesy Joan Crawford. Next Floor, the Twilight ZoneThe branch of Bambergers in Princeton New Jersey that my family took me shopping at, in the mid 1960's, never had anything as luxe as this. The only locations where they placed a couch would have been in furniture sales. This display really makes me think of the Twilight Zone episode where the mannikins come to life after hours. ResemblesA small stage set for the merchandise. The customers could walk behind the 'set', perhaps to lounges? That would be an interesting way to provide them and avoid ugly signage. EljaySamuel Gottscho didn’t answer the phone when Raymond Loewy called on that particular day? Faux MarbleI like the marbleized paint job on the back of the mannequin's stage. (The Gallery, Stores & Markets)
Paradise P.O.: 1940
... outside chimney helped prevent the spread of fire to the interior of the building. A common practice to contain a chimney fire was to ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/29/2020 - 1:14pm -

May 1940. "A residence and post office at Paradise, Cochise County, Arizona, former center of mining development, now a fruit section." Acetate negative by Russell Lee. View full size. Holy smokesThe stand-alone chimney reminds me of very early Colonial homes. The Post Office in Paradise?I am guessing that they mainly use text and email these days. Fire PreventionAn outside chimney helped prevent the spread of fire to the interior of the building. A common practice to contain a chimney fire was to pull it down! So remoteSo remote that even Google Streetview didn't get there yet. A perfect spot for the socially anxious and the enochlophobic. Good fenceMuch is in need of repair or replacement here, or the usual paint, but the fence is solid and recent. (The Gallery, Frontier Life, Mining, Russell Lee)
In Dutch: 1920
Washington, D.C., circa 1920. "Old Dutch Market, interior, Ninth & G Streets N.W." Multiple familiar faces here, all ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/15/2017 - 11:19am -

Washington, D.C., circa 1920. "Old Dutch Market, interior, Ninth & G Streets N.W." Multiple familiar faces here, all belonging to Aunt Jemima. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Sawdust on the floorTaverns and grocery stores used to have a layer of sawdust spread on the floor, I suppose to sop up spills. It certainly doesn't do much for pedestrian traction. A recall a "Gay 90s" song, probably composed nostalgically well after that time, which went something like "Put that sawdust back on the floor, / Or we won't come here anymore." One suspects that the composer's favorite gin mill had recently gone all fern-bar on him. Yes! we have noLooks like those are red bananas hanging on the right. Once as popular as the yellow ones we seem to only see anymore. Taylor Pork Taylor Pork Roll. An import from New Jersey. Brings me back to my Rutgers days. Porky pig"Don't forget your Taylor pork" A smaller sign located near center of picture. I guess most pork was salt pork because I don't think refrigeration was very advanced then. And why are the employees behind glass, that is strange considering most help then was a hands on type help. Love Shorpy......Long live Shorpy. [The people in the glass box are the cashiers. -tterrace] Healthy AuntieThough not from that far back, I do remember the healthy-looking Aunt Jemima (like the one on these boxes) from my youth, and then they slimmed her down and she looked ill to me. I miss my old Aunt Jemima! Makes My Mouth WaterAs a photographic restorer of old photos, this makes my mouth water, and not because of the challenge but all that delicious food that you don't see any more. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Stores & Markets)
Cat Nap: 1936
April 1936. "Interior of rehabilitation client's cabin. Jackson County, Ohio." A close-up of ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/10/2007 - 6:30pm -

April 1936. "Interior of rehabilitation client's cabin. Jackson County, Ohio." A close-up of the little girl's room shown four pictures down. 35mm nitrate negative by Theodor Jung, Resettlement Administration. View full size. love the little pup curledlove the little pup curled up in a fetal position. [That's a cat. - Dave] (The Gallery, Cats, Theodor Jung)
The Boudoir: 1940
... Dan Cooper, decorator; Edward D. Stone, architect." Interior of the Rockefeller Center ranch house last glimpsed here . ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/16/2013 - 11:17am -

July 11, 1940. "Collier's House at PEDAC, New York. Master bedroom. Dan Cooper, decorator; Edward D. Stone, architect." Interior of the Rockefeller Center ranch house last glimpsed here. Gottscho-Schleisner photo. View full size. The Honeymoon SuiteAt Motel 6. GeeseGoose-neck lamps: the ultimate in modernity. So comfortable!The lamps are not appealing to me, but the rest of it---cushy stool, and all else clean and organized and tidy and refreshing. I'm sitting here in a pile of clutter, too buried in homework to have time for housework, and wishing I had this room. I guess it's motivation to graduate so I can have time and money to redecorate. Twin bedsTwin beds in the master bedroom? How modest. And are the walls made of prefab panels? Could've passed as a mobile homeExcept for the sprinkler heads, it definitely has that look about it. Oh, myGoodness graceless. (The Gallery, Gottscho-Schleisner, NYC)
Red and Blue: 1942
... Fiber Waco vermillion w/ correct black trim. Grey velour interior. Original rear seat. Original NC registration number on tail and ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/08/2008 - 10:48pm -

June 1942. Bar Harbor, Maine. Plane of Coast Patrol #20 at the Civil Air Patrol base. View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by John Collier. That plane isA Waco YQC-6 [NC16576] (1936). Here's another view: This aircraft still fliesI found a sale listing for this Waco (current on Oct. 9, 2011) on the site of the American WACO Club. I like the site motto, "After the last WACO gracefully flies, the sky will become merely air." For Sale: 1936 Waco YKS-6 NC16576. TTAF 1344 26 hours since complete restoration by Russ Harmuth to specs and condition of original factory delivery order. Log books. 245hp Jacobs R755-9, MOH by Aero Engines, HamStd 2B-20. Engine operating and maintenance manual. "Eyeball" air vents. AmeriKing ELT, TDR Txpdr, Garmin GNC 250 GPS/COM. PS Engineering PM1000 II, Back lit panel. Instruments overhauled by Instrument Pro and screened with "radium color" print and logo. Cessna 310 wheels & brakes, Wheel pants, Locking tail wheel, Grimes retractable landing lights. Original nav lights. Strobes. Poly Fiber Waco vermillion w/ correct black trim. Grey velour interior. Original rear seat. Original NC registration number on tail and wings. Original operable speed brakes. O'hauled Curtiss-Reed prop available. $120,000. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Aviation, John Collier, WW2)
Handyman's Special: 1936
... is shabby and in dire need of repair, but my guess is the interior is clean and tidy. Look at the clean, ironed curtains in the windows. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/13/2015 - 2:18pm -

February 1936. "Shabby housing near Bound Brook, New Jersey." Medium format negative by Carl Mydans for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. PaintWere these houses ever painted? NEW TO MARKET! 4BR, 2.5 BA Bound Brook fixer-upper $179,900BOUND BROOK - This charming, century-old home is looking for the perfect buyers who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty. This home with great bones has four bedrooms, one full bath upstairs, a master bedroom ensuite bath and walk-in closet, and a downstairs powder room, large eat-in kitchen, fireplaced living room and formal dining area. The basement is unfinished, and has lots of family room / man cave potential! Exterior features include period details and trim, wood windows with shutters, gorgeous double front doors, a large covered porch and trellised sun deck. Big yard with lots of landscape opportunities! Bring your open mind and your tool belt and have a painting party! Home will be sold as-is, no home warranty. Contact Shorpy Real Estate for details, ask for Mr. Higginbotham! For The Growing FamilyIt appears someone removed the upstairs shutters for the latest update and aluminum siding. With the window curtains and rods already there, a cuboard stocked with cans of beans, and a really nice porch swing this could be a good buy. A shovel and rake are handy for cleaning up the yard. The good part is there are no HOA rules in this location and the nearest neighbor is a mile away. You Can't Judge a Book By It's CoverThe exterior is shabby and in dire need of repair, but my guess is the interior is clean and tidy. Look at the clean, ironed curtains in the windows. The shades are clean too. The shades and curtains are hung straight. Somebody is working to keep it up on the inside. Still ProudUnmaintained, but this old girl was built with pride and was probably the talk of the town when built. Great trim detail, the roof line we see is still unwavering. I doubt todays chipboard McMansions will fare as well left unattended. Didn't I see this place....in "Mr. Smith Builds his Dream House"???? [Or in "Mr. Blandings goes to Washington," perhaps. -tterrace] The Gothic-arched minature door by the front doorThat little gothic-arched door and frame resting against the wall next to the front door may be a cast-iron coal-burning fireplace front. There was a time when fireplaces, as opposed to stoves, for coal were built around a cast-iron insert with a door. There were grates inside for the coal fire. (The Gallery, Carl Mydans)
Grand Exit: 1920
... - probably a Model 45-B. This had a box pleated leather interior and the tops of the doors were also leather. There were two ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/01/2015 - 11:54am -

Northern California circa 1920. "Touring car at Yosemite National Park." Our second look at the FAREWELL sign, but with a different car. 6½ x 8½ inch glass negative, originally from the Wyland Stanley collection. View full size. Grampa had oneThanks to Zcarstvnz for identifying the 1920 Olds. When I was young my Dad used to tell me about my Grandfather having a 1920 Olds with a V8. He said it was "Brewster" green. I'm thinking that it was the same colour as the one in your link. Oh to have it now. "Come Away With Me Lucille . . ."Some merry people in a 1920 Oldsmobile - probably a Model 45-B. This had a box pleated leather interior and the tops of the doors were also leather. There were two independent braking systems - one operated by a foot pedal, and a second hand operated system. Both operated only on the rear wheels. This particular example appears to have a California style winter top in place. The twin spare tires were an option. The Olds was powered by a 90 degree V-8 engine producing 58 horsepower. Cost was $2,045, it weighed 3,195 pounds, and it rode on a 122 inch wheelbase. A restored example of a similar car is here (click on the photo for close-up photos). Re: "Come Away With Me Lucille . . ."I have listened to and played that song many times, but still don't quite know what automobubbling is. Maybe I need to buy an Olds. Tired OutFrom the looks of that front tire, he's going to need those spares. Well, one of them anyway! Camp CurryLooks like Camp Curry aka Curry Village. Foster Curry will greet youAnd wave goodbye as you leave. Camp CurryHere's the other side of the sign. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, W. Stanley)
The Hold: 1906
... this. Mystery boards A fascinating view of the vast interior storage area of a steam ship. I'm surprised both by how large it is ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/22/2012 - 7:14pm -

Circa 1906. "Cargo hold, looking forward, S.S. J.H. Sheadle." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Just last weekI went to a Goth bar mitzvah held in a place that looked a lot like this. Mystery boardsA fascinating view of the vast interior storage area of a steam ship. I'm surprised both by how large it is as well the the sturdy, watertight construction. Any riggers or stevedores who might be able to explain the function of those long boards hanging at the top of the hold? Were these used as partitions in the hold or perhaps as platforms for loading/unloading? Coulda BeenFrom the Journal of Daily Fabrications; May 16, 1906: A photographer and his enormous camera were discovered today buried under 25,000 tons of iron ore in the hold of the lake bulker SS JH Sheadle following her maiden voyage. The photographer miraculously survived the unexpected loading by huddling underneath his sturdy oak tripod and camera hood. Said victim Roland Shutters, 33, of the Detroit Publishing Company, "I think I got some good shots!" Shutters then collapsed in a humorous manner. Bigger than a bread box.Glad this pic had some ghost people up on top right side and left so you could get a size perspective of this place. Batten the hatches, and the cargo.The long boards are called "battens." In a bulk-cargo ship, for transporting large amounts of iron ore, grain, or other cargo that doesn't come in packages, the boards are lowered and clamped together to form zones smaller than the whole hold, in cases where the hold isn't full. This can be done for several reasons: the cargo might shift when the ship rolls and pitches, or it might need to be concentrated in a particular area to keep the ship balanced level. In a general cargo ship, battens are used to secure portions of the cargo so it doesn't shift into other parts, or (as with bulk) to keep it from moving around when the ship moves. Less-than-load and general cargo truckers use the same system if the objects being restrained are too heavy for straps and tiedowns to work. Battens may be separately stowed timbers or, as here, suspended from the overhead of the hold so they can be placed when needed. Overhead suspension is most common in bulk-cargo ships, because the fixed position makes it easy to define particular zones where general cargo might require more random placement of the battens. Battens may also be used in extreme weather, when the hatches leading to the hold might be pushed out of position by wind, wave, or water breaking over the deck. In that case they would be placed over the hatch(es) and "belayed" (tied down) to fittings on the deck. Thus the phrase "batten down the hatches" meaning preparation for extraordinary conditions. Regards, Ric One rm, no vuGlad you called about that one-room apartment down by the lake. Yes, still available, and although you can't actually see the lake from it, it has some great things going for it, which I am sure you will love, such as really fabulous storage space. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC)
Northward Ho (Colorized): 1905
... you! One small change please The Minister of the Interior asked me to discreetly inquire if you could change the appearance of ... 
 
Posted by Dennis Klassen - 02/06/2011 - 7:06pm -

Circa 1905. Colorized Motor car, Canadian Government Colonization Co. Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. Hang on to your (bowler) hatI'm no automotive engineer, but I'm guessing that the solid rubber tires and leaf springs on that contraption made for a very rough ride. The machine is, however, so much more interesting than those mobile billboards one occasionally sees plying our streets nowadays. It must have been quite a sight after dark, what with all those light bulbs (I imagine the "Canada" sign on top was illuminated too). And yes, a fantastic work of colorizing! Thank you! One small change pleaseThe Minister of the Interior asked me to discreetly inquire if you could change the appearance of the, umh, white colored material to something else. But otherwise, an original Kodachrome could not have improved anything. What an apparition! Beautiful!You did an outstanding job! GadzooksIf what they wanted was babymaking immigrants, they were going after the wrong demographic. (Cars, Trucks, Buses, Colorized Photos, Very Old Ads)
Green Cars: 1920
"Trew Motor Co. interior." Circa 1920, the Reo automobile showroom (and conservatory) in Joseph ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/04/2012 - 12:57pm -

"Trew Motor Co. interior." Circa 1920, the Reo automobile showroom (and conservatory) in Joseph Trew's new three-story building at 14th and P Streets N.W. in Washington. National Photo Company glass negative. View full size. Trew BuildingA 1923 Washington Post article says this building, then described as new, was at 1509 Fourteenth Street, the site of the present Studio Theater. [Below, a 1920 article on the new building. - Dave] Ransom Eli OldsREO: Ransom Eli Olds. The Oldsmobile is also named after him. He, not Henry Ford, developed the first assembly line. Anti-theft Potted PlantsMan, they sure were nuts about ferns and palms in the teens and 20s, weren't they? They were almost as much a part of the era's style as were fringy lampshades and ugly hats on women. (The lampshades could be on lamps or women—you pick.) Reo SpeedwagonWhen I was a teenager in the 60's, my best friend's dad had a Reo Speedwagon, mid-1920s but not sure. It had a straight four, not the later six they came out with. The two things I remember about it was it had exposed rocker arms above the engine head that were lubricated by drip cups. Before starting, a rocker valve was raised that opened the valve in the glass cups which "dripped" oil onto the rocker arms every few seconds. The other thing I remember was that the traditional H pattern of most floor shifts was mirror image. 1st was at the forward right, 2nd was back right, 3rd was left forward, etc. Made for fun shifting switching back & forth between the Reo and my VW. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo)
J-Ride: 1950
... trunk lids and glove boxes and also had a higher grade interior. They could be had with a 134 cubic inch four or 161 cubic inch six, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/04/2013 - 7:50am -

Publicity photo from late 1950 for the Kaiser "Henry J," a small car (named after company chairman Henry J. Kaiser) that was a few years ahead of its time. By 1954, the Henry J had tootled off into oblivion. View full size. Basic transportation for sureApparently Henry J. Kaiser hoped to become known as the next Henry Ford, or American answer to Adolph Hitler, when he wisely sought to produce a low-priced new car for low-income folks shortly after World War II ended. But the first models of the Henry J. had no trunk lid, so you'd access that area by folding down the back seat. Also, the rear windows didn't roll down, there was no glove compartment and no arm rests either. A friend of mine owned a used Henry J in the early 1960s and it was a fun car to buzz around in. But our OSHA and highway safety people wouldn't let Americans even near one if they tried to market them now. They were made and sold for only four years. Quite possiblythe worst looking automobile in history, and there were plenty to choose from. Darrin influenceAlthough the Henry J prototype wasn’t a Dutch Darrin design, he did tweak it a bit. The signature ‘Darrin Dip’ at the trailing edge of the door betrays his involvement. As well, he is credited for insisting on the rear fender mini fins. AllstateIf you didn't like the bare bones austerity of the Henry J, then beginning in 1952 you could buy a more nicely equipped variant at your local Sears store with the name Allstate in its place. Most of the Allstates came with trunk lids and glove boxes and also had a higher grade interior. They could be had with a 134 cubic inch four or 161 cubic inch six, which probably resulted in a nice power to weight ratio for the 2,300 lb. car considering that the almost 600 lb. heavier Studebaker Champion only had eight more cubic inches. 1566 were built in 1952 and only 797 early in 1953 when Sears discontinued the program of selling a car through its stores. The top priced six was only $100 less than the lowest priced Studebaker, which had four doors and even in the base model Champion seemed like a better buy. Today the Allstates are far rarer than comparable Henry J's. Airbrushed photoThis photo was retouched by an artist as can be seen by the white line around the left front bumper guard. See also the outline painted on the rear edge of the fender. This practice was very common in the '50s when photos were used for ads in magazines. This prototype car seems to be missing the top part of the doors. [That kind of retouching was meant for photos appearing in newspapers, which is how this picture was used. - Dave] Henry JMy parents bought a Henry J in 1952. It was the worst car they ever owned. You couldn't get it started in the morning at least once a week without fiddling with it for 10 or 15 minutes. I remember my father kicking the door and cursing at it, and my mother getting so upset at him. We had it for about two years. Popular for drag racingThey were popular bases for drag racing cars - as were any small, inexpensive cars that could be stuffed with a bigger engine. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses)
Bowling Green: 1900
... a very early use of skeleton framing in its upper story interior light court. Alas, the Produce Exchange was demolished c. 1955 and ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/11/2015 - 11:19am -

New York circa 1900. "Bowling Green and Broadway." Oldest public park in the city. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Washington BuildingThe "turreted" building on the left at No. 1 Broadway is the Washington Building, designed by Edward H. Kendall and built 1882-1885. Believe it or not, it is still there, but you would hardly recognize it. It was completely refaced in white limestone c. 1922 and renamed the International Merchant Marine Company Building. In the process the building lost its colorful red brick facade, its frenetic roofline, and its tower. Across Bowling Green is another red brick structure of the 1880s, George B. Post's Produce Exchange Building of 1881-1884. This handsome edifice (of which you can see only the last 3 bays or so) was widely admired as one of Post's best designs, and it even had a very early use of skeleton framing in its upper story interior light court. Alas, the Produce Exchange was demolished c. 1955 and replaced by the (to put it charitably) nondescript building called Number 2 Broadway. Before the subwayIs that a steam locomotive at the elevated station at the lower left? Under ConstructionLooks like the Customs House is about to be built by the construction site in the foreground. Now the home of the National Museum of the American Indian, and Federal Bankruptcy Court. (And most recently added the National Archives.) Beautiful Cass Gilbert building. Almost torn down in 1970's NYC. The Produce Exchange is on the extreme right - the building that replaced it would be Jack Lemmon's office in the movie The Apartment. Standard Oil is on the right as well - you can see the pennant on the roof, and the White Star Line is on the left - The fence around the park was put into storage when the subway was built, and lost for many years. The fence had the Royal emblem on the main posts and were snapped off when independence was declared. There was also a lead statue of King George III that was smashed and turned into musket balls. Old George was on a horse, and the tail of that horse is in the collection of the N-Y Historical Society. If you look at the fence today, you can see where the emblem was ripped from the posts. There is a story that bowling got its 10th pin in this park when the Dutch outlawed the playing of 9 pins on Sunday. Rent for the park? One pepper corn per year. I've tried in vain to find out the last time that was paid. The statue is Abraham De Peyster - he gets moved a lot. He was once where you see him, then at the north end of the park, recently he was a few blocks away in Hanover Sq., and now he is in Foley Sq. The much moved former mayor of NYC. A Lot of BullAbout the only thing AleHouseMug omitted is that the famous Wall Street Bull now stands just north of the park. It is where Broadway divides, approximately straight through the tops of the trees in this view. QueryWhat's the turreted building on the left? (The Gallery, DPC, NYC, Streetcars)
Cement Ponds: 1940
... on the Potomac River. A recent picture shows that the interior has been stripped to the steel girders. Decor I like how the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/25/2016 - 2:31pm -

September 1940. "Settling tanks in waterworks. Washington, D.C." Medium format negative by Edwin Rosskam. View full size. Still thereThis is the Dalecarlia Water Treatment Plant on MacArthur Blvd. in Washington, DC at the Maryland border. Completed in 1928, it's still in use today. The plant treats water from the Washington Aqueduct originating at Great Falls on the Potomac River. A recent picture shows that the interior has been stripped to the steel girders. DecorI like how the sewage plant has a couple of potted palms. Pretty spiffyNice architecture for something that handles sewage. My mistakeThose aren't jacuzzis? Other EndI'm gonna bet we are looking here at the water SUPPLY side of the system, not the sewage settling basins. Don't believe I have ever seen a sewage treatment plant with a hall of Doric columns, or one with a roof for that matter. Would trap the gases and be pretty awful, I would think. This looks like a very cool and pleasant place to be, especially given the current outside temp here in Maryland. Look out belowThis appears to be the now-abandoned sand filtration unit at the McMillan Reservoir. You can find out more here. I was able to find a photo of the underside of one of the two the underground sand filtration beds. In the photo they have removed the old dirty sand and are replacing it with new clean material. (Note piles of clean sand dumped in from above.) (Technology, The Gallery, D.C., Edwin Rosskam)
War Work: 1943
... she came to Washington from North Dakota, worked at the Interior Department for the Grazing Service (now the BLM), and lived in a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/04/2016 - 1:27pm -

May 1943. Arlington, Va. "Idaho Hall, Arlington Farms, a residence for women working in government for the duration of the war." Medium format nitrate negative by Esther Bubley for the Office of War Information. View full size. perfect picture for Mothers Day!That could have been my mom, too….except she came to Washington from North Dakota, worked at the Interior Department for the Grazing Service (now the BLM), and lived in a boarding house on R Street NW. She made Washington sound like the hub of the universe at that time, full of bright young people who came from all over the country to help out (and get decent jobs) with all the new agencies set up to end the Depression, and later, to step in when the men got sent off to war. My mom got sent out west to do payroll for the Grazing Service in Pocatello and Salt Lake City, making sure forest-fire fighters got paid; she ran into a lot of what she used to call 'guff' from the Western roughnecks because only men had ever had that job before. She said Salt Lake City was so dirty, she had to have 2 work dresses to alternate because she could only wear a dress once in the filthy air before it needed washing. During the war, office workers in Washington regularly worked overtime during the week, and worked on Saturdays for free, because there was a war on. There were plenty of small night clubs and dance joints, though…my mom remembers lots of dances and card parties at the boarding house too. Then she met my dad (who was 4-F) and that's how I came to be typing up this comment! Reminds Me of my MotherMy mother was from Ohio but moved to Washington, D.C. during the war to work at the Civil Aeronautics Administration, the forerunner of the FAA. In fact she met my father, who was at Walter Reed Hospital recovering from war injuries, in 1943. This lady is not my mother but she does resemble her with the glasses. Don't know where my mother lived in D.C. during this time period. Dumbo and his magic featherNice photo! My eye was immediately drawn to the cute sketch of Dumbo on the wall- because I love elephants! Disney's film Dumbo came out in 1941 and I believe it was quite popular. My children loved watching it over and over- I can probably still sing all the songs! In the movie, Timothy Mouse gave Dumbo a feather when he was up in the tree, saying it was "magic" so Dumbo wouldn't be afraid to fly-and he found he could fly! Later in the circus act, he loses the feather, but finds out he can fly without it! The RingI am curious about that ring on her finger and the "Book" she is reading. The ring looks like a class ring, and the book looks like a hard back Bible. [Only if Bibles have SHAKESPEARE on the back cover. - Dave] Thanks Dave. Eyesight not what it used to be, even up close :>) [BAXADO] Ok, thanks for the update on the ring. Re: ring It's hard to be sure, but it looks like a Phi Gamma Delta fraternity ring, presumably from a fiancé. (The Gallery, D.C., Esther Bubley, WW2)
Up in Nebraska: 1934
... 1970s and took a guided tour of this building. Impressive interior. The story the tour guide told was that those common sense farmers ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/16/2014 - 5:00pm -

June 1934. "Nebraska State Capitol, Lincoln. General view from southeast. Mayers, Murray & Phillip, successor architects to Bertram Goodhue." We had a bowling trophy that looked a lot like this. Gottscho-Schleisner photo. View full size. FactoidsThe Nebraska State Capitol has a nickname that is not quite suitable for this site, but does capture the tower's, ahem, essential appearance quite accurately. It also houses the country's only unicameral (single-house) legislature. Nebraska's by all accounts a well-governed state, among other things its unemployment rate is consistently among the lowest of all states, so the unique arrangement seems to work well. Ostentatious I was always a little surprised that the common sense farmers of Nebraska were OK with this impractical monstrosity. New Car SmellSpanking new 1934 Studebaker. A real trophyNo bowling trophy was ever decorated like this building. The floors are all mosaic; the ceilings are all tiled or painted (except in the supreme court chambers, where they are coffered wood); there are murals and sculpture everywhere. It was built at the high water mark of American civil architecture and is worth a considerable detour to see. One More FactoidThe flag of the City of Lincoln, Nebraska features this building, among other things. One More FactoidWhen the capitol was designed, Nebraska still had a bicameral legislature, so Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue designed the building with two legislative chambers. Only one is actually used for that purpose now. But as the tour guide said to us on my last visit to the building, they wouldn't know how to get by without that extra big space being available at all times. Even the streetlights are still thereView Larger Map Common CentsI lived in Lincoln for a couple of years in the 1970s and took a guided tour of this building. Impressive interior. The story the tour guide told was that those common sense farmers that Banderboy refers to (however ostentatious their tastes) had the capitol building paid off in full before construction was completed - reportedly the only state capitol building (at that time anyway)of which that was true. (The Gallery, Gottscho-Schleisner)
Brownley Confectionery: 1924
Washington, D.C., circa 1924. "Brownley interior." Our second peek inside the Brownley Confectionery on G Street. On ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/11/2011 - 9:23pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1924. "Brownley interior." Our second peek inside the Brownley Confectionery on G Street. On the table: more "Sport Fudge." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. TilesThat's an interesting pattern. A bit time consuming, but very nice. [These tiles came in sheets. - Dave] I'd walk a mile... for some of their recipes! [I'd walk a mile for a Caramel. - Dave] Melts in your mouth, not in --Imagine the delicious aromas that would be in this shop. I wish this website offered "Smell-O-Vision." How did they keep the chocolates from melting during the summer months? The screen doors don't look like they could keep out a determined fly. And is that a bird cage in the upper left corner - with a canary inside? A bit unsanitary for an upscale food vendor. This is what heaven looks likeI love everything about this shop: the mosaic tile floor, the curved glass cases, the pressed tin ceiling and, hmmm, what else -- oh yeah, the CHOCOLATE! PlantsMan they were really into palms and ferns in those days! (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Stores & Markets)
Use a Vapor Stove: 1901
... east bank of the James Creek Canal. According to a 1977 Interior Department report, "citizens fell into the unfenced waterway at an ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/02/2021 - 2:30pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1901. "An elevated view from the Randall School's roof looking east to southeast -- Half & South Capitol Streets, and I & K Streets." Our title can be found on the left side of this 8x10 glass plate negative from the D.C. Street Survey Collection. View full size. GlimpsesAt center left, we can see the stone-reinforced east bank of the James Creek Canal. According to a 1977 Interior Department report, "citizens fell into the unfenced waterway at an astounding rate, sometimes resulting in as many as one drowning per month." Eventually, the foul-smelling canal was converted into an underground sewer. In the far distance to the left of the flagpole, we see the gasometer at 12th & M SE, which put in a cameo appearance on Shorpy some years back. Ghosts Do you suppose the exposure was long enough that the person sitting down, and his ghostly friends, are the same people at the end of the street? SmokestacksTil I looked at the Full Size version I assumed the plant (in front of the Stove Store) was running and the stack had an exhaust plume. Then I realized the smoke is a remnant on the negative. [It is not a "remnant" (and the proper term would be "artifact"). - Dave] No, thank you.I'll pass on the vapor stove. I have a hard enough time filling the lawn mower tank. (The Gallery, D.C., D.C. Street Survey, Kids)
Larkspur Eldorado: 1955
... in '54. It was white with a white top, black and white interior and had an aftermarket air-conditioner installed to make the trip ... 
 
Posted by tterrace - 06/29/2013 - 7:19pm -

1955 Cadillac Eldorado, photographed in the fall of that year by the nine-year-old me, then at the height of my kidhood car fascination. You can tell the part of the car that fascinated me most by how I aimed the camera. I also talked my brother into taking a Kodachrome slide of it. We were on one of the walks we were wont to take around our home town of Larkspur, California. This shot also captures, at the left, a significant moment in Larkspur history: the building of the first homes in the first major post-war housing development, Hillview Gardens. The houses sold in the low 20Ks. The following year the first kids from there started showing up in my classes at Larkspur-Corte Madera School. View full size. Next yearIt's a 1956 Eldorado convertible. The 1955's had a completely different body style. A 1956 Eldorado convertible in very good condition might fetch over $100,000 today. [Wrong, erroneous, incorrect. This is a 1955 Eldorado. Go do your homework, and no TV. - Dave] Yup, '55Right you are Dave. The '56 had vertical strakes in the rear bumper ends and distinct teeth in the faux fender scoop. '55 here: http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/cadillac/1cad552.html and here: http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/cadillac/x551.html '56 here: http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/cadillac/cad56_1.html I was smitten by those beauties as well at 10 years old! BTW this is a great reference for IDing specific years: http://www.lov2xlr8.no/broch1.html [The easiest way to tell the difference between the two years is from the rear: 1955 Eldos had a round exhaust port; in 1956 it was oblong.] Not a poodleskirt in sightAccording to www.measuringwealth.com that $20k is now about $765k in economic power. Where's the girl in the poodle skirt draped over those sexy fins? [This being Larkspur, the homes in Hillview Gardens currently sell in the $1.1-$1.9 million range, the one in the photo for $1.29 million in 2011. -tterrace] And so was Iat 11! We didn't realize it at the time, but we were getting a three-year preview of what the rear of a '58 Cadillac would look like! Forty years ago this summer, a friend of mine and I drove a 1955 Eldorado convertible, freshly restored, from Waco, TX to the 20th Texas Tour in Kerville in the beautiful Hill Country where I had attended Camp Rio Vista in '54. It was white with a white top, black and white interior and had an aftermarket air-conditioner installed to make the trip comfortable. To show how recent those cars still appeared to everyone, when we drove it in the big parade through downtown Kerrville, people would shout "Hey, that's not an old car!" That's when cars from the early 1900's were still the main attraction at tours. Moving in?A small family could probably live in that trunk. 1956 CadillacMy first interest in Cadillac cars was in 1949 when my future father-in-law had a 1947 4 door sedan. For a few years he would get a two year old car from his brother every two years, I don't have a picture. Then in 1956 my cousin Jessie Carr of Carr Town (now known as Stafford Township, NJ) bought a two door. The following year I turned 17 and was able to drive it. Then in 1985 I bought my first two door front wheel drive Cadillac, it was new. During the next 28 years I bought various Cadillacs both front wheel and rear wheel drive, some were new. I had a 1978 rear wheel drive that was driven 400,000 miles and the engine was never opened and the transmission was OK too. But, I finally sent it to the scrap yard. We just purchased a 2001 DeVille that immediately required an engine replacement. It seems to be a good choice and this is the tenth Cadillac. I have driven 2 million miles in Cadillac cars, they are the best. The 1956 is pictured here. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, tterrapix)
Bureau of Mines: 1917
... I don't think, but under the purview of the Dept. of the Interior. The Three Stooges Man, those are some scary looking ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/27/2012 - 12:50pm -

Washington, D.C., 1917. "Mine rescue apparatus." The latest in livesaving for injured bureaucrats. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. National Park PicturesThe pictures on the wall are of St. Mary Lake, Glacier National Park, and Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park. Nothing to do with mining, I don't think, but under the purview of the Dept. of the Interior. The Three StoogesMan, those are some scary looking mannequins. Or are they really bureaucrats avoiding "Florence Nightingale" and her evil restraining streacher? Doctor FrankensteinOn this one, let's try lower voltage. Come with usThe look in the mannequins' eyes is scarier than going into a mine. Obviously all made by hand, and probably carved from wood, they are frightening. They got my attention during this demonstration and I'll do whatever they say. Just don't leave me alone with them. FarkedIt's been Farked. (The Gallery, Harris + Ewing, Mining)
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