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All You Can Eat: 1894
... whose bank accounts are more flourishing than their family trees, literally seem to stagger under the weight of their jewels. … ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/02/2015 - 6:02pm -

Palm Beach, 1894. "Dining room, Hotel Royal Poinciana." At the time, Henry Flagler's giant hotel was the largest building in Florida. 8x10 inch glass negative by William Henry Jackson, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. Very nice.Imagine going there for a great meal, then smoking a Havana cigar after the repast. What a beautiful sightThose rooms must have been in the evening with those gas chandeliers glowing! 2,000 guests Could be accommodated at this hotel. It was the largest wooden structure in the world before being razed during the Depression. Jewel Encrusted Dining Harper’s Weekly, January 24, 1903. A Show Resort in the South … The Royal Poinciana at night is the centre of the show. Evening dress is de rigueur for dinner. There is immense wealth (if not always refinement) shown in the costumes and jewels of the women at dinner, and when it is borne in mind that over a thousand people easily can be seated in the Poinciana dining-room, the brilliancy of the scene can be imagined. Palm Beach is a show-place in more senses than one. After dinner the display continues in the parlors and on the broad verandas. Some women, whose bank accounts are more flourishing than their family trees, literally seem to stagger under the weight of their jewels. … (The Gallery, DPC, Eateries & Bars, Florida, W.H. Jackson)
Oaks Aplenty: 1904
... photo has more vines coiling around it than I have seen on trees in river bottom lands. Assumptions I remember being in houses very ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/06/2013 - 10:05pm -

Circa 1904. "Daytona, Florida -- Magnolia Avenue." Where oaks and palms abound. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. Stuffy Victorian in FlaFunny how the Northerners imported their same housing styles to the deep south without realizing how impractical they were in so far as dealing with the natural local climates. The oppressive heat and humidity in summer must have made those upper floors a veritable steam bath. I also imagine the ornate woodwork and paint alone on the exterior of these homes would have suffered in no time. Not to mention a termite's dreamland. [Northerners wouldn't have been using their Florida homes in the summer. -tterrace] A few old oaksSurvive along Magnolia Avenue but there seems to be no trace of any of these grand houses today. A perusal of Google Street View shows many of the flat ranch house style of the 1960s and one might wonder whether the severe visit of Hurricane Donna in 1960 eliminated or damaged those lovely structures. Au contraire!To catch any hint of a breeze double hung windows opened on top on the second and third floors (you can clearly see this on the white house in the middle), open dormer windows, and likely transoms over interior doors, with at least one large open stairway for stack effect, make this design as practical as any for the climate (short of an open treehouse-type). People now don't seem to realize that windows are for ventilation, not just venues for "window treatments", and that high ceilings (and multiple stories) really help in hot climates. Having owned a foursquare in a climate with summers and winters, I'd say they are more practical for hot climates than cold, if you don't depend on the typical American oversized HVAC. Tree wrapThat tree in the middle of the photo has more vines coiling around it than I have seen on trees in river bottom lands. AssumptionsI remember being in houses very much like this when I was small. In hot weather they were great, the huge roof structures kept the hot roofs away from the ceiling, and the tall ceilings and windows let hot air rise and escape. The biggest issue by far? No screens, and therefore flies and bats. Flies love horse dung! Partially screenedScreens are obvious on the near house, over the guy in the rocker, and the screened washing porch in the next house. They do seem to be missing on some of the open windows in that house, though. (The Gallery, DPC, Florida)
Chicken Inn: 1937
... feeling a late summer breeze of fresh air wafting off the trees. Mattresses Now. So you can sleep off all that southern fried ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/22/2017 - 2:58pm -

September 1937. "Hyde Park Inn in Hyde Park, Vermont." Photo by Arthur Rothstein for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Pennsylvania, not HarlemI suspect they are serving the Pennsylvania Dutch version of chicken and waffles, where pulled chicken is served on a waffle, then covered in gravy. That's in contrast to today's version, which seems to have originated at Wells' Supper Club in Harlem, about a year after this photo. Dang, now I'm hungry. Imagine thatSo many people think that "chicken and waffles" are a new, innovative and southern invention and yet, 80 yrs. ago in Vermont which is in the northeast, it was featured on their marquee. There really is nothing new under the sun, as the saying goes. I must admit that this scenic, serene, comfortable and welcoming inn would have definitely lured me in, had I been traveling through New England at that time. When looking at these long-ago scenes on Shorpy, don't you sometimes wish you could go back for just a day or a week and look around and live in some of these tranquil settings, talk to the people, use the old cars, dress in the old fashions and enjoy a taste of life in that low-tech era? Picture yourself on a rocking chair on this porch on a warm September day, smelling the frying chicken through the screened windows and doors and yet feeling a late summer breeze of fresh air wafting off the trees. Mattresses Now.So you can sleep off all that southern fried chicken and waffles you ate in earlier times. Modern Open PlumbingFrom the 1917 Blue Book Automotive guide: "Hyde Park Inn, in the beautiful Lemoille Valley. On the Northern scenic route from Burlington to the White Mountains. Modern open plumbing. Rooms en suite with bath. Electric lights day and night. Fresh vegetables from our own gardens. Garage." Sounds nice. Car ID1930 Viking (companion car to Oldsmobile) Learned something newI'm not sure why "open plumbing" should be a selling point, but evidently it was! Definition: Open Plumbing Plumbing that is exposed to view beneath its fixtures, with ventilated drains and traps readily accessible for inspection and repairs. (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Eateries & Bars)
Greenhills: 1938
... also pasted on. You can see something of an edge over the trees and the firetruck's front. [You're right. The original is below. - ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/05/2009 - 2:11am -

October 1938. Fire station at Greenhills, Ohio, a planned community built by the federal government (Suburban Division of the Resettlement Administration) during the Depression. The image, scanned from a print, is a composite, with the utility pole and fire alarm superimposed; the asphalt was retouched with an airbrush. View full size. The fire station photo is by John Vachon. Why manipulation?I think I would have liked the original photo better. The depth of field is unnatural, the pole seems to be a hazard to vehicles coming out of the fire station and who needs a remote fire alarm right in front of a fire station? Who did the (digital?) doctoring and why? [This would have been done for something like a WPA poster or fire safety exhibit (it was cropped to be two feet tall -- see below). The print is over 60 years old, so it's not digitally doctored. - Dave] Fake sky too?It appears that the sky was also pasted on. You can see something of an edge over the trees and the firetruck's front. [You're right. The original is below. - Dave] Gotta love those Gamewell boxesSome towns still use the old style Gamewell alarm boxes. When our department did away with them they were sold as scrap to some guy who bid on them. He turned around and sold them on eBay for a small fortune. For folks who still use a landline they can be wired up with a phone line and installed in the back yard with a phone inside. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Great Depression)
Souvenirs & Curios: 1905
... siding is made of tree bark shingles, probably from poplar trees, as its bark is among the easiest to work with. Mexican Souvenirs? ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/28/2014 - 11:12am -

Circa 1905. "Street view, Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania." Where the archi­tectural aesthetic seems to be Rustic Twig. 8x10 glass negative. View full size. A Part of Jazz History"The Central" has been the Deer Head Inn for many years now. In addition to still operating as a hotel, it is also one of the oldest continuously operating jazz venues in the country. By any other name ...Perhaps we ought to have been calling that style "Appalachian" rather than "Adirondack" all along? I found the place this was takenRoute 611, just before you enter the village heading north. The grass shack appears long gone, but the distinctive railings on "The Central" are still there. This kind of gives me the warm fuzzies - its not too far from my stomping grounds where I grew up. View Larger Map How poplar was this place?The siding is made of tree bark shingles, probably from poplar trees, as its bark is among the easiest to work with. Mexican Souvenirs?I always go to PA when I want Mexican items. (The Gallery, DPC, Stores & Markets, Travel & Vacation)
FAPEX: 1961
... those small ads in magazines to order seed for "miniature trees." Gullible me ordered the things. Hey, what did I know about bonsai? ... 
 
Posted by tterrace - 06/24/2009 - 5:18pm -

February 1961. FAPEX, the First Annual Philatelic Exhibition, set up in my bedroom. Obviously taken before opening, as otherwise the exhibit would be obscured by the throngs attending. Or maybe this is one of those time exposures where all the people were moving. Anyway, my stamp collection, enhanced by my 15-year old delusions of grandeur. I still have the stamps, but I wish I had the goose-neck floor lamp and Rocketeer-style illuminated globe. I am still using that bedstead, however, every night. 127 Ektachrome slide. Oh; there was no Second Annual Philatelic Exhibition. Bedside BonsaiThat looks like a bonsai tree on the nightstand. Pretty cool thing for a 15 year old to have. When I was 15, they had those small ads in magazines to order seed for "miniature trees." Gullible me ordered the things. Hey, what did I know about bonsai? So...my mother helped me to make one, using a twisty tree branch, moss and lichens to create our own version of a "Ming tree." The throngsFAPEX! That's great. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, tterrapix)
Bedcast: 1922
... tornado aftermath, but was informed the bedsprings in the trees were TV antennas. The look in his eyes says "I can't wait for ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/10/2013 - 1:04pm -

March 31, 1922. "H.G. Corcoran of Washington, D.C., needs an aerial for his radio outfit. His receiving wire is connected to the wire springs of his bed, which take the place of an aerial." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. Good Thing H.G. Didn't Connect the Transmitterto the bed springs - could have given a whole new meaning to the phrase "hot-bunking!"* *For all you non-Navy folks, practiced on smaller vessels such as submarines where there was little space and sailors would alternate use of the same bunk. DX ReceivingYoung H.G.'s bed springs was an expedient choice, probably replaced soon after by a windom antenna. This photo brought back youthful memories of using a wood cabinet short wave radio and a bed spring antenna to listen to HCJB in Quito Ecuador in the early 1960s. I can still remember the smell of baked dust as the tubes of the old radio heated up. Just another bed bed spring aerial,but they worked better if you could get them up in a tree. It seemed to be a regional thing, I remember seeing a lot of them in remote areas of Nevada, even into the 60's. The first time I saw them I suspected tornado aftermath, but was informed the bedsprings in the trees were TV antennas. The look in his eyes says "I can't wait for Wi-Fi" Early RadioMy house was used to broadcast radio in the 1930s and the next door neighbor told me (in the 1970s) that her bed springs picked up the signal and she could 'listen' to the station GroundedUsed that very same antenna. I bet the ground for the radio is wrapped around the finger stop on his telephone. (Technology, The Gallery, Harris + Ewing)
The Ford Store: 1926
... head rotary mower, and trimmers to square up the orange trees for harvest time. Very distinct sound, so I can always tell when he is ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/26/2014 - 12:33pm -

Washington, D.C., in 1926. "Robey Motor Co. -- 1429 L Street." As long as we're downtown, let's pick up a tractor. National Photo glass negative. View full size. Tin Lizzie's Waning Days1926 was the last full year of the Model T's production run. May 26, 1927 was the last day of production. Its successor the Model A wasn't produced until October 20, 1927 (and not sold until December 2), leaving a bit of interregnum. What's a "Fordson"?It's listed on the roof sign along with Ford and Lincoln, but it's totally unknown to me. Auto experts: can you help? [An inscrutable mystery is what it is. What a puzzler! - Dave] Fordson TractorsThat thing sitting in front of the building is a Fordson. My neighbor uses a Fordsonin his citrus grove - I think it is a 3-cylinder diesel version. He uses several different implements running off the power take off (PTO), such as a disc harrow, towed twin head rotary mower, and trimmers to square up the orange trees for harvest time. Very distinct sound, so I can always tell when he is at work in the grove. Fatal FordsonMy first attempt at siphoning gas was from the late '40s blue-colored Fordson on our family farm. I accidentally swallowed a bit of the gas and my brother, my cousins, and I were all convinced I would die later in the afternoon. I was burping up gas fumes the rest of the day but that was the only bad effect. That was in 1964 and I still get the shivers when I hear or read the word "Fordson." (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo)
Place d'Armes: 1916
... to accomplish my mission; even if all of Montreal’s trees should transform into as many Iroquois." Great Old Stuff The ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/22/2018 - 9:37am -

Circa 1916. "Place d'Armes and Notre Dame Cathedral, Montreal, Quebec." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Place d'ArmesThe statue, lower center, erected in 1895, is of the founder of Montreal, Paul de Chomedey, Sieur de Maisonneuve. On the nearby Bank of Montreal is a plaque which reads: "Near this square afterwards named La Place d’Armes the founders of Ville-Marie first encountered the Iroquois whom they defeated, Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve killing the chief with his own hands. March 1644.” At the base of the monument itself is another plaque with a more shocking message by de Maisonneuve: "Il est de mon honneur d'accomplir ma mission. Tous les arbres de l'île de Montréal devraient-ils se changer en autant d'Iroquois." Which translates: "Upon my honour I am bound to accomplish my mission; even if all of Montreal’s trees should transform into as many Iroquois." Great Old StuffThe building slightly visible on the extreme left -- you can just make out part of the clock tower -- was built by the New York Life Insurance Company in 1887 and at 8 floors was the tallest building in Montreal when it opened. The building next to Notre Dame is the Saint-Sulpice Seminary, part of which dates back to 1684. And in the middle of the square we find the statue of Paul Chomedy de Maisonneuve erected in 1895. All of these, and much more, are still there. BasilicaAt the time it was built there weren't very many stone-carvers in Montréal, so the decoration is a bit plain. These days the cathedral is Mary, Queen of the World, which is a short distance away. Radio or Lightning?Given the year, I am assuming the towers on top of the spires are lightning rods, not radio towers. Eh? [Wireless telegraphy masts started being placed atop tall urban buildings before the turn of the century. -tterrace] A striking differenceExcept for the addition of a small Art Deco highrise to the left and a massive 1960s block on the right, Place d'Armes has been preserved pretty well. But there's been one striking addition: the the concrete pavement of this photo has long since been replaced by cobblestones, in order to bolster the square's quaintness. Nowadays it's a cliche to rave at how "European" Place d'Armes looks. It's a bit sad to contrast this view with some of the other photoscapes you see on Shorpy, especially of cities such as Cleveland and Buffalo. A hundred years ago the cityscapes weren't that different. I would argue that a lot of the American cities were even more fantastic than Place d'Armes. The trajectories of these cities echoed each other - although Montreal hasn't had the same economic trouble as the Midwest, this area of the city also fell into hard times and was pretty decrepit during the mid-century. But the revitalizers in the Midwest and Montreal had different ideas, and that's made the difference. In Montreal, they installed cobblestones; in Buffalo they built parking lots, and their former downtown is almost abandoned. (The Gallery, DPC, Streetcars)
New York Avenue: 1905
... York Avenue." Looking a little like New England with palm trees. 8x10 inch glass negative. View full size. Florida Foliage ... state tree. -Dave] Palmless I see no palms trees. Who can identify the fronded vegetation? (The Gallery, DPC, Florida) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/12/2014 - 12:02pm -

DeLand, Florida, circa 1905. "New York Avenue." Looking a little like New England with palm trees. 8x10 inch glass negative. View full size. Florida FoliageThose appear to be Palmettos. [The bigger ones (and maybe the others) are young sabal palms -- Florida's state tree. -Dave] PalmlessI see no palms trees. Who can identify the fronded vegetation? (The Gallery, DPC, Florida)
Piles to New Castle: 1906
... me guess That lovely wood frame house seen through the trees was really a small hotel which burned to the ground a few years after ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/12/2021 - 1:11pm -

The Granite State circa 1906. "Pile bridge at New Castle, New Hampshire." You'll come for the bridge but stay for the bushes. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative. View full size. Maine vs. New HampshireAcross the Piscataqua River from Castle Island lies Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The shipyard is located in Maine, but New Hampshire files periodic lawsuits, claiming that the shipyard actually lies on its side of the border. Rock BottomThe grass curb and rock-lined gutter lends a certain charm to this bygone byway. I couldn't get over itThat reminds me of when my late mother would come from her home less than two hours away, for a meal or party at mine, and walk in with a carafe of coffee under her arm. Mom, I'd say, why do you insist on bringing coals to Newcastle? Because if there's anything you can always get at my house, it's a good cup of coffee. But she was afraid I wouldn't be serving decaf, so she brought her own to bridge the gap. Let me guess That lovely wood frame house seen through the trees was really a small hotel which burned to the ground a few years after this photo was taken. But I certainly hope not. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, Landscapes)
March on Washington: 1963
... the formerly treeless block is now lined with sidewalk trees, a simple change that greatly softens 1963's stark appearance. No. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/24/2013 - 1:25pm -

August 1963. "New York. Sidewalk sign outside the March on Washington headquarters building, 170 W. 130th Street." Photo by Werner Wolff for U.S. News & World Report. View full size. How Can?How can marching around and making speeches create jobs? [By leading to passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, specifically Title VII. - Dave] Memorable dateOn that date, the 18-year-old girl (who was to become my wife 15 years later) headed from NYC to Washington with her grandfather, and had the incredible experience of hearing Martin Luther King, Jr., give his "I Have a Dream" speech. In her memory (she died in 1984), I will be at the Lincoln Memorial this Wednesday. Calendar sync!90 years anniversary, and Wednesday is again 8/28! [Um... next Wednesday will be the 50th anniversary of the march. -tterrace] Uh - typo?!? Or short on coffee... Why Arbor Day is a terrific ideaBleak and uninviting in 1963, this block of West 130th looks immeasurably nicer today even though most of the buildings are largely unchanged on the outside. The big difference is that the formerly treeless block is now lined with sidewalk trees, a simple change that greatly softens 1963's stark appearance. No. 170 is still there, as are the buildings just past it with the interesting brownstone stoops. Several of the buildings across the street were torn down and there's now a paved parking area on their site. View Larger Map Bill Landau: thanks for your posting.Curious how a scant 5 lines can indicate a whole slice of other people's lives. Sorry for the loss of your wife: too soon, she was only 3 years older than me and it's now almost 30 years since she passed. I will be thinking of this posting on Wednesday. (NYC)
Picnic in the Park: 1905
... Restricted view You can't see the benches for the trees. (The Gallery, DPC, Syracuse) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/21/2012 - 12:01pm -

Onondaga County, New York, circa 1905. "Picnic grounds, Long Branch Park, Syracuse." Sign on the white shed: "Get your tickets for merry-go-round." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Historical Newspapers From New York StateI found a treasure trove of New York newspapers from the mid 1800s on (including the Syracuse Evening Telegram). Unfortunately it is not well indexed. That notwithstanding, it is fascinating reading. I don't feel so goodThat's the biggest merry-go-round I've ever seen! Kind of like today's "Roundup." Restricted viewYou can't see the benches for the trees. (The Gallery, DPC, Syracuse)
Pensa-Cola: 1910
... it is from street view (with the harbor obscured by the trees): View Larger Map And in bird's-eye view (bottom ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/18/2012 - 7:02pm -

Pensacola, Florida, circa 1910. "Plaza Ferdinand and harbor." Brought to you by Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Uneeda Biscuit. 8x10 glass negative. View full size. Lunch BargainTen cents bought a box of Uneeda Biscuits and a 12-ounce Pepsi. Just turn aroundIf you were standing next to the American National Bank building in the previous post, you could just turn around and see this plaza. Here it is from street view (with the harbor obscured by the trees): View Larger Map And in bird's-eye view (bottom center), harbor included: http://binged.it/Mc55B4 War!The cola wars were in full effect in 1910 Pensacola as seen with the massive Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola advertising. Pepsi seems to have the better location for their ad. (The Gallery, DPC, Florida, Pensacola)
The Emissary: 1935
... the Kellams The Kellams, obviously, are a family of trees... Mr. Kellam to the right, plus Missus and all the little saplings. He's ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/26/2015 - 8:38pm -

Circa 1930s. "The Kellams -- Princess Anne County, Virginia." One of FBJ's more enigmatic exposures. Photo by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Itching alreadyMy first reaction was look at all that poison ivy! Scouting locations.An early test shot for "The Blair Witch Project." Forest arsonThe Boy Scouts would definitely not approve of this dicey setup. Unfortunately, they're several entries (and 20 years) back, occupied by their silver certificate deposits. Meet the KellamsThe Kellams, obviously, are a family of trees... Mr. Kellam to the right, plus Missus and all the little saplings. He's eyeing that fire with great trepidation, and I don't blame him. Commissioner of the RevenuePhillip Kellam who is our C.O.R. here in Va. Beach is of this Kellam family and has major local ties. His family is also named on our Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. They are still alive and thriving here. My wife even went to Kellam High School. Trust me, it's a small world here in VB, or formally known as Princess Anne County, or Kellamsville. (The latter can not be verified, it was a joke). Thanks for posting this. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston)
Cameron Hill: 1864
... southeast looking northwest. The hill is also thick with trees on the northeast and east sides but the top overlooks the Tennessee ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/18/2008 - 5:57pm -

1864. "Chattanooga, Tennessee. Adams Express office and the Crutchfield house with Cameron Hill in the distance." Photographer unknown. View full size. Now an insurance companyCameron Hill still dominates downtown Chattanooga, but because of today's buildings it's impossible to duplicate this view, which is generally from the southeast looking northwest. The hill is also thick with trees on the northeast and east sides but the top overlooks the Tennessee River. Until a few years ago the top was residential but now an insurance company is building its headquarters up there, dominating the downtown. READ HOUSE HOTELBRICK BUILING IN LEFT SIDE OF PICTURE IS THE READ HOUSE HOTEL. WHICH STILL IN BUSINESS IN THIS SAME LOCATION. IT'S IN A NEWER BUILDING OF COURSE. MOST OF THE TOP OF CAMERON HILL WAS USED AS FILL FOR A DOWNTOWN FREEWAY,IN THE 1960S. NOW THE HUGE INSURANCE CO. [MANY THANKS FOR TELEGRAM - STOP - MIGHT WANT TO CHECK THAT CAPS LOCK KEY - STOP - DAVE] (The Gallery, Civil War, Railroads)
Chop Suey Canyon (Colorized): 1916
... do). I tried this on the street, sidewalks, dirt, and the trees, and was fairly pleased with how they turned out. I also tried something ... 
 
Posted by scottr - 10/12/2011 - 11:20am -

This image has been severely cropped from the original on Shorpy in order to function as computer wallpaper. The license plates have been given historically accurate colors. I did a search for 1916 Michigan plates and found a couple of pictures, which I sampled directly to get the RGB values. The natural elements of the picture I've also probably gotten reasonably close. Purists who know those old cars, on the other hand, will probably find mistakes. Were the tires really that shade of tan? Maybe, maybe not. And so on with the rest of the image. If I thought a color looked believable, it was in. So, please don't judge me too harshly on historical details. I tried a couple of new techniques on this picture, involving colors blending into one another (which in the past has been quite hard to do). I tried this on the street, sidewalks, dirt, and the trees, and was fairly pleased with how they turned out. I also tried something similar on the buildings, but it didn't work, and I didn't end up using the techniques there. View full size. I honestly think that's amazing.I am a member since 2 minutes ago and I went through the registration process just to communicate this. I really enjoyed this picture, well done! Bravo! What program?You did an incredible job of colorizing this. I use a program called re-colored and I know it takes a lot of patience to do a good job. Can you tell me what program you used ? Just yesterday?This is amazing. I can see myself stepping into this photo and walking down the street; it looks THAT real. Just change the cars and it could be a contemporary shot. Incredible. Thanks!@Lennyd: Thanks! I also use Recolored. :-) It definitely is time consuming; this image took somewhere between 25 and 30 hours to complete. The secret to good colorizations with Recolored, I think, is to really pay attention to your saturation levels; lower is generally better (although too low will wash everything out). My saturation levels are rarely above 100 and generally more like 20 or so (and sometimes just 3 or 4 - even my greys actually have slight tints). @loribl: Thank you! The type of picture you describe is exactly what I'm shooting for. I dislike unrealistic/hallucinogenic colorizations; photo-realism is always my #1 goal with these pics (although there's always a few things I think I could have done better once they've been published). Each pic might not be perfect, but I'm getting closer every time. @ElStellino: And I totally appreciate it. Thank you very much. (Colorized Photos)
Willard Batteries: 1947
... today, as is the wooden one partly visible next door. Trees obscure the view today, so you'll have to drive by in the Google street ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/05/2015 - 8:58pm -

Nov. 6, 1947. "Brunton's Auto Service, north side of Bush between Polk & Larkin." Your Willard Battery headquarters, as long as you're buying wholesale. 8x10 acetate negative, originally from the Wyland Stanley collection. View full size. Actually on PinePolk's Crocker-Langley City Directory has Brunton's Auto Service one block north, at 1460 Pine St. and this is recognizably the same building there today, as is the wooden one partly visible next door. Trees obscure the view today, so you'll have to drive by in the Google street view to see what I mean. Packard?Looking at the taillight on the car parked on the street, I thought it might be some kind of immediate postwar Packard, but the trunk and bumper don't say so. Maybe someone else can identify it. KJBS Radio The building and tower at left is the studio and transmitter site of radio station KJBS, at 1470 Pine Street. The station was started in 1925 by the Brunton family as a 5 watt station run entirely on Willard storage batteries. It was located at the original Brunton shop at 1380 Bush Street (which may explain the confusion about the location of this image). The call sign KJBS stood for "Julius Brunton and Sons". When the Brunton auto store was moved to Pine Street in the 30s, the station moved into this adjoining building. For a time in the 30s and 40s, the Bruntons also owned station KQW (now KCBS), and both stations operated from this building. In 1960, the Brunton family sold KJBS and the call letters were changed to KFAX, as it is still known today. The power was increased to 50 kW and the transmitter was moved to Hayward, but the studios remained here until some time in the 1970s. The attached photo is taken from the FCC's old KJBS file at the National Archives. History of KJBSAn interesting history of KJBS is found here. Thanks to jschneid for the pointer. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, San Francisco, Stores & Markets, W. Stanley)
The Patio: c. 1957
... warped transparency. - Dave] All those LA palm trees that have not fallen over or been removed have gotten ridiculously high ... 
 
Posted by Mvsman - 01/13/2011 - 11:01am -

This is our backyard and patio in beautiful West Covina, CA about 1957. Mom and I are getting the BBQ set up for Dad. Those are agave and palm plants in the center of the patio, I think. The screen door leads to the living room. The window to the left of the screen door opens onto the dining room, where my family was having their Christmas dinner. View full size. Tilt lens effectThe very archetype of a Southern California 50's backyard! Interesting how the lens distortions at the top of the frame give this image the now wildly popular "tilt lens" or "shallow depth of field" effect that makes a full sized scene look miniature. The camera manufacturer didn't quite get that lens glued in straight. [Another possibility: warped transparency. - Dave] All those LA palm trees that have not fallen over or been removed have gotten ridiculously high in recent times. MvsmanThis was the house where I spent the best part of my childhood. Thanks for your comments! That's a new patio, too!Looks wonderful. Palms & PatioGreat window into 50s California suburbia. I'm going to say those are iris rather than agave with the little palm in the center; agaves form a circular rosette, and those leaves appear to be in a fan formation. I see a little racing car at the edge of the patio. If you were like me, you'd forgo the patio and build a system of roads in the dirt for it. I became quite adept at conditioning dirt, either by shaving or pulverizing it, to a consistency that emulated asphalt that I'd then use to "pave" my roads. Of course, much of it wound up caked on the knees of my jeans, resulting in my leaving a trail of little hardened mud cookies if I didn't clean up thoroughly before going inside. Lovely BlueWhat a wonderful picture. It's now my new desktop background. Thank youThis home and neighborhood was where my fondest childhood memories took place. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Throwing Shade: 1940
... of roadside woods, it's sad to think that such trees may become a thing of the past in the near future. US 61, Southwest ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/30/2019 - 1:04pm -

June 1940. "Highway near Clarksdale, Mississippi Delta." Medium format acetate negative by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Robert JohnsonDo you think the photographer was trying to find the "crossroad" thought to have been where the bluesman Robert Johnson allegedly made his deal with the devil? It looks very much like the various depictions in film and elsewhere made in subsequent years, and Clarksdale was supposed to be where it happened. And a Parade of PlymouthsBoth of the cars pictured appear to be 1939 Plymouths. The '39 P8 was most notable for its one-year-only square headlights. However, having a separate lens, bulb and reflector, the square headlamps suffered from moisture intrusion, which resulted in sockets rusting and the reflectors turning black. The 7-inch round sealed beam headlamp came along in 1940, with many cars converted to them. Tree's companyA majestic example of an old-growth tree. With the emerald ash borer, sudden oak death, and the slow disappearance of roadside woods, it's sad to think that such trees may become a thing of the past in the near future. US 61, Southwest of TownBased on the limited clues offered by the picture, you can't pinpoint an exact location. But, looking at a 1939 map of Mississippi, it is clear there are only three paved roads coming into Clarksdale -- US 61 from the north, US 61 from the Southwest, and US 49 from the Southeast. Both 61 North and 49 South run alongside railroad tracks. So, this is probably the legendary blues highway, as it comes into (or goes out of) Clarksdale from the southwest. I can't match this photo up with anything on Street View. US 61 seems to come into Clarksdale the same way it always did before it spins off into a bypass. It is now a four lane road. Best guess is this tree disappeared as a result of road improvements or attrition. Of course, since this is Shorpy, it could have burned down. Which Highway?Wolcott photographed US 49 the previous January, and it was much wider and better paved than this. US 61 was described in period travel brochures in glowing terms. Highway 1, which runs to the west of Clarksdale, is shown as gravel on the 1940 map, but the road shown may meet the criteria. An IC branch line ran along it on the west side at Hillhouse. But according to Robert Johnson's lyrics, the railroad also went through Friars Point, which is not actually on MS-1. I tend to guess MS-1 looking south, north of where the railroad comes close to the road. Most people won't remember this, but the constant pounding of steam engine drivers and side-rods made telephone poles near the tracks in that part of the Delta to lean in alternate directions. They used steam there at least though 1959. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, M.P. Wolcott, On the Road)
Verdict: Delicious!
... Army Buffet With the military men, the huge pine trees and pine needles for decoration, this looks like it was taken at Fort ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/19/2018 - 10:25am -

Columbus, Georgia, circa 1960. "Judge Paige." More specifically, Myles Anderson Paige (1898-1983), the Alabama-born lawyer whose multifaceted career included stints as WWI Army captain, Assistant New York State Attorney General, criminal courts jurist and National Guard colonel. Not to mention picnic food taster. 4x5 inch acetate negative from the Shorpy News Photo Archive. View full size. Kodak Duaflex"Kodet Lens." Man of Many HatsWell, that explains the shirt! Army BuffetWith the military men, the huge pine trees and pine needles for decoration, this looks like it was taken at Fort Benning, next door to Columbus. Paging Euell Gibbons"Ever eat a pine tree? Many parts are edible." Do my eyes deceive meOr is that an alligator with an apple in its mouth on the table? (The Gallery, Columbus, Ga., News Photo Archive)
Cozy Shack: 1939
... boxes in July! I'd bet the dogs are lounging under the trees we see in the background. The definition of poverty then compared to ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/22/2018 - 11:19am -

July 1939. "Family in front of shack home. May Avenue camp, Oklahoma City." Photo by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Not ShownThere's no dog. Four kids keeps you busy but a dog would be nice. Tough times!How old is Mom, 26? Dog's aren't stupidIt's to doggone hot in those metal boxes in July! I'd bet the dogs are lounging under the trees we see in the background. The definition of poverty then compared to now is startling. Big screen vs food. Three out of fourThree out of four kids in the photo wearing shoes - they must have dressed up for the photographer. Only the runt got away until it was too late. A dog would be nice... but a dog has to be fed. (The Gallery, Kids, OKC, Russell Lee)
San Francisco Briscoe: 1919
... beach. The curbing has changed a bit, and there are more trees than 1919-ish, but the view remains as spectacular as ever. Very ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/11/2016 - 11:06pm -

San Francisco circa 1919. "Briscoe auto at Lands End." Latest entry in the Shorpy Dossier of Dead-Ends. 5x7 glass negative by Christopher Helin. View full size. China BeachKozel got it right; that's the Mile Rocks Lighthouse visible through the windshield. The Briscoe couple were parked just above China Beach in San Francisco's ritzy Sea Cliff neighborhood. Courtesy of Google Earth, we see that the site is now a parking lot for a public bathing beach. The curbing has changed a bit, and there are more trees than 1919-ish, but the view remains as spectacular as ever. Very progressiveThe "little woman" is driving. Today - driving, tomorrow - the vote! That's a beautiful view and a beautiful picture. That cylindrical object seen thru the windshieldlooks like it may be Mile Rocks Light, which opened in 1906. Touring Frisco in a BriscoeShe was a buttoned up type of woman, but she had this car with matching hub cap/crank hole cover /radiator cap...... (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin, San Francisco)
East Battery: 1900
... unchanged, including the boardwalk pavers. Just the palm trees have grown. I bet the vibe you'd soak up on a walk on those original ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/29/2017 - 11:37pm -

South Carolina circa 1900. "East Battery Parade, Charleston." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Photographic Company. View full size. +110Below is the same view from July of 2010. The palms have grown a bitOtherwise not much has changed! Nearly 100 years later, I would exchange vows with my wife right around the corner in White Point Garden, after which the reception was held in the Edmondston-Alston House, seen in the center of the row of houses in this photo. She's going to love this! Survivors. History walkTalk about getting ideas for places to visit! Everything in the original and modern pics look unchanged, including the boardwalk pavers. Just the palm trees have grown. I bet the vibe you'd soak up on a walk on those original pavers would be unforgettable. (The Gallery, Charleston, DPC)
Three-Quarter Moon: 1920
... chains in Golden Gate Park." Was that ice under those palm trees? Latest entry in the Shorpy File of Ephemeral Phaetons. 5x7 inch glass ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/02/2015 - 11:27pm -

San Francisco, 1920. "Moon touring car and tire chains in Golden Gate Park." Was that ice under those palm trees? Latest entry in the Shorpy File of Ephemeral Phaetons. 5x7 inch glass negative by Christopher Helin. View full size. Starter solenoidThat's where an annoyed soul puts the crank to start the engine. Agree with Starter SolenoidMoon began using the Delco electric starter with the 1914 models. One source said that Moon continued the manual starter as a "convenience for the customer". Radiator drain plugIs that a radiator drain plug in front center? Draining radiators for more than 50 years and never had one that convenient. John McLaren's homeThe building behind the car is now McLaren Lodge, the SF Park & Recreation headquarters but at the time of this photo it was home to Park Superintendent John McLaren. Just out of frame on the right of the 1920 photo is a Monterey cypress that still stands today and is known as 'Uncle John's Tree.' At the time it would have been about 40 years old. Warm and dryMy rule: always conduct a trial fitting of new tire chains when it's warm, dry, and in good light. There is SO much that can go awry, and be conducive to pain and profanity, in actual road conditions. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin, San Francisco)
Butter Eggs Cheese: 1926
... The building you can see behind the truck, through the trees, is the old Kann's department store on Pennsylvania Avenue between ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/08/2014 - 12:49pm -

Washington, D.C., 1926. "Semmes Motor Co. National City Dairy truck." A dented Dodge. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Looking along 8th StreetWith the Old Patent Office (now the National Portrait Gallery) at Eighth & F Streets NW in the background. [It could also be the identical north facade at Eighth and G but I think you're right, as this photo seems to have been taken near the Center Market at Eighth and Pennsylvania. Kudos for correctly identifying the building as the Patent Office and not the Treasury. - Dave] Sleek, manApart from the damaged fender, this vehicle has a sleek look accentuated further by that spare tire. Fabulous material for a hot rod in later years. The ViewYes, Odie is right. I'm sitting a couple of blocks from there right now. The building you can see behind the truck, through the trees, is the old Kann's department store on Pennsylvania Avenue between Seventh and Eighth streets. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo)
Inn of the Four Turrets: 1900
... undernourished horses from eating the bark and killing the trees. Alas, all the trees are gone today. (The Gallery, DPC) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/15/2015 - 9:34am -

Circa 1900. "Edgeton Inn, Wildwood, New Jersey." Please do not molest the saplings. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Woodman, spare that tree!That is, if your horse is named "Woodman". The poles are probably there to prevent bored or undernourished horses from eating the bark and killing the trees. Alas, all the trees are gone today. (The Gallery, DPC)
Company B (Colorized): 1864
... This one looked like the job would be easy, but the trees were very hard to do because the trunks blend so well with the boughs. ... 
 
Posted by Fredric Falcon - 01/06/2010 - 2:48pm -

I've developed an interest in colorizing photos from the time before there was color photography. This one looked like the job would be easy, but the trees were very hard to do because the trunks blend so well with the boughs. I'm not satisfied with the flesh tones but they're the best I could do. One Civil War buff told me the coats should be a darker blue but I think those guys were outdoors for weeks and those coats probably faded. Overall, it's not a more interesting photo colorized but I thought I'd share it anyway. View full size. (Colorized Photos)
Mt. Tam: 1910
... view is pretty much out of the question due to so many trees now lining the streets. Here is about where I believe the photo was ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/13/2014 - 12:51pm -

Marin County, California, circa 1910. "Scenic view of Mount Tamalpais." From an Indian name meaning "west hill." 8x10 inch glass negative. View full size. I rememberI used to live in the Mill Valley area in the '70s. I've been over and around Mt Tam many times, both by car and motorcycle. The motorcycle was much more fun. I remember narrow roads and lots and lots of houses. Some days it near impossible to get over it. When did they put the small amphitheater on top? Does anybody remember doing a motorcycle ride from Mill Valley around Mt Tam to Inverness? I think it was nicknamed the "Sunday Morning Run." ColorizedA colorized version with lens flair. [Or, as the ancients called it, "lens flare." Beautiful! - Dave] Sidney B Cushing AmphitheaterThe story in a nutshell: Begun in 1933, it holds 4,000 people. I'm trying to place where this shot was taken -- seems to be from the ridge over Tam Valley, pretty much from the south, before Mill Valley got built up. I lived in MV from 1957 to 1998. MY mountain. Where I went directly after getting my driver's license. Where I had my first kiss. Where I went to be alone, or to be with friends. And yes, the damn motorcycles do their run over it every Sunday morning; they used to wake me up as they rode in packs up Highway One by my house. If only they had mufflers! This is about as close as I can estimate the location.I think getting any kind of street level view is pretty much out of the question due to so many trees now lining the streets. Here is about where I believe the photo was taken. (The Gallery, Landscapes, W. Stanley)
Florida Pines: 1905
... With their long skinny trunks and heavier tops, pine trees have a tendency to come crashing down during storms. Hurricane Donna's ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/06/2015 - 5:26pm -

Circa 1905. "In the pine woods, Florida." Who can direct us to I-95? 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. The Way It WasPeople think dirt roads have always been the way they are today: well-graded and with good drainage. After all, that's how they are depicted in "historical" movies and TV shows, so it must be accurate, right? Wrong. Before the New Deal (at least in the South) there was virtually no state maintenance of roads, and precious little by the counties. There were only a limited number of convicts available for chain gangs. Heavy equipment, to the extant it existed, was too expensive to buy, much less operate. Most of what passed for maintenance was done by landowners, who had a vital interest in keeping them as passable as possible. Southern railroads had to provide staffed agencies every five miles along their lines, because that was the maximum distance rural customers could travel, transact their business, and return within daylight hours. I always laugh when I see farmers in movies and on TV, breezing happily along in their two-horse buckboards at what looks like 20 or 30 mph. Most Southern farmers couldn't afford horses, they owned one mule. And mules don't trot, they walk. Besides, even if you did own horses that could pull a wagon that fast, they'd be exhausted after a quarter mile, although you wouldn't be there to know it, since you'd have been thrown off the wagon almost immediately. Pine Straw RoadYep Pine Straw. The roads in the Florida Panhandle are better today... But not by much. Hurricane MagnetsWith their long skinny trunks and heavier tops, pine trees have a tendency to come crashing down during storms. Hurricane Donna's direct strike in 1960 had this little kid helping Dad clean up the destruction for weeks. Our neighborhood? Pine Shores. (Sarasota, FL). Full circleThis report about an interesting guy and his ambitious plan to restore just this kind of nearly-vanished landscape aired on NPR a few weeks ago. (The Gallery, DPC, Florida)
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