Photos, videos and docs of Alan Mays, with the keywords: "circles"

Order of Railroad Telegraphers Membership Card, 1900

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 07:33:02 +0000

A membership card for the Order of Railroad Telegraphers (ORT). As Wikipedia explains, "telegraphers would be stationed in individual depots along the railroad line in order to receive train orders from a centrally located dispatcher and report back on train movements; telegraphed train orders would be written out on paper and 'handed up' to the crews of passing trains."

See also a 1915 version of the ORT membership card.

The Order of Railroad Telegraphers

Issued to L. W. Ricker.

Good until June 30th 1900 unless revoked.

W. V. Powell, president. H. B. Perham, secretary and treasurer.

The Order of Railroad Telegraphers, Grand Division.

Off to Europe in 1911—Are You Coming with Us?

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 04:07:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

An advertising postcard addressed on the other side to Mr. Wm. P. Breen, Fort Wayne, Ind., and postmarked New Haven, Conn., June 8, 1911.

Off to Europe

Visiting Ireland, England, Scotland, Belgium, France, Germany Switzerland.

Are you coming with us? We must know soon.

Party sails from New York, July 8. 'Phone, wire, or write for reservations. A few choice berths left.

Columbus Travel Society, New York office, 2075 Metropolitan Building. Gramercy 3438.

Prof. J. C. Monaghan, pres. Mrs. B. Ellen Burke, sec'y. D. P. Toomey, treas.

The Instrumental Aires at the Sapphire Room, Hotel Floridan, Tampa, Florida

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sat, 03 Jun 2017 18:16:03 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"The Instrumental Aires, featured at the Sapphire Room, Hotel Floridan, Tampa, Florida."

A real photo postcard showing the three suave fellows who performed as the Instrumental Aires at the Hotel Floridan (now the Floridan Palace Hotel). An ad from 1955 identified the musicians as "Bill Horn, direct from 2 years in Las Vegas, Bill Byers, Tampa's favorite vocalist, [and] Rickey Powell, wizard of the strings" (I'm not sure who's who in the photo, however).

Philadelphia Electric Company Wheel Chart, ca. 1930s (Side 2)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 16:17:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

The reverse of an advertising wheel chart promoting the use of electricity. For more information, see the front side.

The average cost of operating an electric refrigerator of about 7 cu. ft. capacity is $1.40 per month.

The cost to heat water on the off peak heat storage rate for an average family using a 50 gallon electric heater is about $3.50 per month.

The cost of using an electric range for an average family is less than $3.00 per month.

Note: The hours of use shown on the other side are based on the cost of current in each step of the Residence Tariff.

Whitehead-Hoag, Newark, N.J.

Philadelphia Electric Company Wheel Chart, ca. 1930s

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 16:17:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

In January 1934, the Philadelphia Electric Company (now PECO) was the first utility to license the Reddy Kilowatt character to promote electricity usage, according to Wikipedia. The early date may explain why Reddy's first name is misspelled as "Ready" on this advertising wheel chart, which demonstrates how far 5 cents worth of electricity goes in operating appliances like clocks, coffee percolators, and radios.

See also the other side of this wheel chart.

Philadelphia Electric Company

For 5c spent for electricity you can operate your electric appliances fort the number of hours indicated in opening, says Ready Kilowatt (Your Electrical Servant).

Hours--If your monthly electric bill is from 75c to $2.75; $2.75 to $5.00; over $5.00.

100 watt lamp. Hand iron. Vacuum cleaner. Washer. Radio. Toaster. Percolator. Fan. Clock. 60 watt lamp.

Mr. E. H. White, Calling Card with Photograph

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 05:37:06 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Victorian-era calling card for "Mr. E. H. White" along with his photograph, which looks like it may have been copied from a CDV. Anyone recognize the typeface?

For similar cards, see my album of Calling Cards with Photographs.

Snowman Christmas Greetings

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 15 Dec 2017 02:25:25 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A snowman carries a small Christmas tree in this wintry night-time scene from an early twentieth-century postcard.

Astro Bow—Get in Orbit and Go Go Go!

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 10 May 2017 18:01:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Astro Bow. Get in orbit. Go-go-go. 39¢. Buser Century, Inc."

A black velvet hair bow shaped like a space capsule!

"Get in Orbit" and "Go Go Go" with "Astro Bow" is what the printed card is telling us. What Space Age gal could resist something like this?

'Rah, 'Rah, 'Rah, Thanksgiving!!!

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 22:18:08 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"'Rah, 'rah, 'rah, Thanks-giving!!! HBG."

Is it a tussle on the football field? Post-game hugs? Or something else?

I'm not sure what's going in this scene created by postcard artist H. B. Griggs and dated November 26, 1912, on the other side. There's no football visible, but the "rah, rah, rah" certainly sounds like a typical college football game cheer (see the chants in North American sports section of Wikipedia's Cheering article for examples).

Uncle Sam Automaton at the Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, 1893

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 21:06:30 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Although I haven't uncovered any specific information regarding Thomas Edison's Uncle Sam automaton at the Columbian Exposition in 1893, I suspect that it wasn't too far removed from the inventor's unsuccessful talking doll, which appeared in 1890. For info on this, see Gaby Wood, Edison's Eve: A Magical History of the Quest for Mechanical Life (Knopf, 2002); Edison’s First, Less Scary Talking Doll Recording, a posting on The History Blog; a page dealing with the Edison Talking Doll - 1890; and, finally, a short segment on Edison's Talking Doll (with a demo of the doll!) that aired on Discovery's Oddities show.

Uncle Sam

The wonderful Edison talking automaton at World's Fair, delivering 40,000 speeches during the Exhibition, about Highest Award, Gold Medal, Hub Gore.

Hub Gore Makers, Elastic for Shoes. Hub Gore A. Trade Mark.

Highest Gold Medal Awarded. Elastic for Shoes, Highest Award to Hub Gore Makers. Columbian Exposition.

Dear Miss, I Very Much Desire the Pleasure of Your Acquaintance

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 19 Aug 2016 14:45:22 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Dear Miss, I very much desire the pleasure of your acquaintance and your company home this evening. If agreeable please keep this card, if not kindly return it. Yours truly, ________."

See also Fair Lady, I Send You This Beautiful Chromo with My Compliments (below) and my Acquaintance Cards album for additional examples.

Fair Lady, I Send You This Beautiful Chromo with My Compliments

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 19 Aug 2016 14:45:20 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Fair Lady, I send you this beautiful chromo with my compliments. If I may be the happy youth on the promenade, please retain it. If I must suffer misery on the fence, be so good as to return it. Yours truly, ________."

See also Dear Miss, I Very Much Desire the Pleasure of Your Acquaintance (below) and my Acquaintance Cards album for additional examples.

Baltimore Steam Packet Company Pass, 1911

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 17:52:28 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Baltimore Steam Packet Co. Bay Line, 1911. Pass Mr. John F. Auch, Frt Traf. Mgr-–Philadelphia & Reading Rwy, until December 31st unless otherwise ordered. John R. Sherwood, president & general manager. No. 1726. Not valid unless countersigned by W. W. Erdman or myself. Florida."

According to Wikipedia, "The Baltimore Steam Packet Company, nicknamed the Old Bay Line, was an American steamship line from 1840 to 1962 that provided overnight steamboat service on the Chesapeake Bay, primarily between Baltimore, Maryland, and Norfolk, Virginia."

The steamer Florida, which is pictured on the pass, was a propeller-driven, steel-hulled vessel built by the Maryland Steel Company in 1907. For another illustration of the ship, see Steam Packets on the Chesapeake: A History of the Old Bay Line since 1840 (Centreville, Md.: Tidewater Publishers, 1961), by Alexander Crosby Brown, p. 82.

John F. Auch was a freight traffic manager for the Philadelphia and Reading Railway, which later changed its name to the Reading Railroad and was immortalized as one of the railroads featured on the Monopoly game board.

Compare this pass with an Adirondack Steamboat Company Pass, 1897:

Peacetime Cigar Box Label

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 11 May 2016 19:27:34 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"5¢. PeaceTime. 5¢."

5A Horse Blankets Are Great for Wear

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 17:58:47 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Dear Sir: Farmers and horsemen know that 5A Horse Blankets are 'great for wear.' That is why they prefer them to all others. See other side for name of your dealer. Yours respectfully, Wm. Ayres & Sons, Mfrs., Philadelphia."

Printed on the back of this advertising postcard: "Dear Sir: When buying horse blankets, ask for 5A Blankets and Robes, which are known as the best and strongest; always look for the 5A trademark. They are sold by R. J. Brophy, Waterloo. Buy 5A Square Blankets for street use, 5A Bias Girth Blankets for stable use, 5A Lap Robes for your own comfort."

Addressed to Mr. Thomas Martin, Waterloo, N.Y., and postmarked Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 13, 1908.

Ocupado

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 18:32:28 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Lo sentimos mucho ocupado. National Airlines. NAL. La Línea de Las Estrellas. New York, Florida, Havana, Washington, New Orleans. Si desea usted conservar el mismo asiento durante su viaje, sirvase usted colocar esta tarjeta sobre su silla cada vez que baje del avion en alguna de las estaciones intermedias de escala."

A "seat occupied" sign used on National Airlines in the 1950s. An English-language version appeared on the other side:

Occupied

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 18:32:30 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Sorry, this seat Is occupied. National Airlines. NAL. Airline of the Stars. New York, Florida, Havana, Washington, New Orleans. If you wish to reserve the same seat through your trip, please leave this card on your chair every time you leave the plane at any of the intermediate stops."

A "seat occupied" sign used on National Airlines in the 1950s. A Spanish-language version appeared on the other side:

Jack Dempsey's Broadway Restaurant, New York, N.Y.

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 28 Sep 2015 23:00:48 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Jack Dempsey's Broadway Restaurant. The Meeting Place of the World."

Printed on the back of this linen postcard: "Come in and say Hello! Jack Dempsey's Broadway Restaurant on Broadway bet. 49th & 50th Sts., New York City."

Postmarked: Philadelphia, Pa., March 27, 1944.

Handwritten message on the back: "Having a swell time, am half drunk. Love, Francis."

Pretty Bubbles in the Air

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 16:34:58 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Some bubbly women on a postcard from the early twentieth century.

Postmark on the back: Reading, Pa., Aug. 27, 1911.

Addressed to: "Mr. Samuel Dittus, 29 Inf M.G.P., Fort Niagara, N.Y."

Message: "Dear Brother, I am having a nice time. Wish you were here in Reading with me. Did you get my other post card? Love to you from your sister Nettie, 446 S. Christian St. [Lancaster, Pa.]"

Sadly, Nettie's brother was killed in action during combat in France seven years later. As reported in the Harrisburg Telegraph newspaper on December, 17, 1918, p. 2, "Corporal Samuel H. Dittus, 31 years old, a member of the Fourth United States Infantry, was killed in battle on October 12, according to an official message received by his sister, Mrs. Nettie Cramer, of Lancaster. Dittus was twelve years in the service and had seen service in Cuba and the Philippines. About three months ago he was wounded and shell shocked and had been back with his command but a short time when killed."

How Quickly Can You Stop?

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 30 Apr 2015 21:06:41 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

For the other side of this wheel chart, see the Keystone Automobile Club Safe Driving Calculator (below).

"How Quickly Can You Stop? The average stopping distances in the Keystone Calculator are based on the average breaking distance plus the distance covered in ¾ of a second, which is the average 'reaction time,' the period which elapses between the instant danger is observed and the actual application of the brakes. . . . Keystone Automobile Club. The Motorist's Friend Since 1906."