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

Spinning a Tale of Dogs in Glasses (Cropped)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 19:04:25 +0000

For more information, see the original photo:

Spinning a Tale of Dogs in Glasses

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 19:04:27 +0000

Mister Peabody, the cartoon dog in the Rocky and Bullwinkle TV show, wore eyeglasses, and Addison MacHenry, the fictional dog in Ransom Riggs's Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children book series, had goggles and a pipe, but I'm not sure why the dogs in this real photo postcard are wearing glasses and a top hat, smoking pipes, and pulling a cart (mouse over the image above for a closer look).

And then there's the girl with the spinning wheel. What are these kids up to?

Candies, Ice Cream, and Soda

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 01:28:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A signs photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

Sign: "Candies, Ice Cream, and [Soda?]."

Five guys pose for a picture in this unused real photo postcard (the Azo stamp box--with four corner triangles pointing up--on the other side of the card suggests a date that may be as early as 1904 to 1918).

Woman with Fancy Stove

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 04:30:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Sheltering in place with a fancy stove in a sunlit room during the early twentieth century.

This is an unmailed real photo postcard with an Azo stamp box (four corner triangles pointing up) on the other side, which suggests a date as early as 1904 to 1918.

A Merry Halloween—Corncob Jack-o'-Lantern Scarecrow

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 04:25:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

An early twentieth-century postcard with a Corncob Jack-o'-Lantern Scarecrow smoking a corncob pipe.

For another corny creature, see I'm All Ears.

The Way We Catch Them

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sat, 04 Aug 2018 04:19:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"The Way We Catch Them. Souvenir Post Card Co., N.Y." Postmarked Ocean City, N.J., Sept. 6, 1919.

Girl with Ductwork

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 19:05:20 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Handwritten date on the back of this photo: Aug. 1941. Stamped on back: Peerless Photo Shop, Lacrosse, Wis.

Easter Greetings, A. Steiert and Son

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 03:51:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Easter Greetings. A. Steiert & Son."

Postcard addressed on the other side to Hauck Bros., Mechanicsburg, Pa., and postmarked Philadelphia, Pa., April 16, 1924.

A. Steiert & Son was a manufacturer of brooms and brushes.

Harvest Home Display with Canning Jars

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 15:08:14 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A church Harvest Home display with jars containing recently harvested and canned fruits and vegetables.

For similar photos, see my Harvest Home album.

Erin Go Bragh, St. Patrick's Day, March 17th

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 17:40:44 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"St. Patrick's Day, March 17th. Erin Go Bragh."

Printed on the back of this postcard: "St. Patrick Series No. 4."

For some more Saint Patrick's Day postcards, see below:

Pete the Our Gang Dog, Steel Pier, Atlantic City, N.J.

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 17:38:40 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Central Studios. 369P. With 'Pete,' Our Gang Dog, Steel Pier, Atlantic City."

Our Gang was "a series of American comedy short films about a group of poor neighborhood children and their adventures" that first appeared in movie theaters as early as the 1920s. The films were later released on television beginning in the 1950s under the original Our Gang name or as The Little Rascals.

Pete the Pup, also known as Pete the Dog With the Ring Around His Eye, was a fixture in the comedies, and he (or his successor, whose ring was painted on) posed with children for souvenir photos like this one at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in the 1930s.

The boy in this photo, who doesn't seem to be enjoying his time with Pete, is the same kid who's playing with his toys in Sonny, Bunny, and Dummy and A Pedal Car for Christmas.

Girls' Night Out

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 18:58:44 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

An in disguise / in costume photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

This may appear to be a Halloween-time scene at first glance, but this real photo postcard of women dressed in men's clothing was actually taken during the month of June, judging by the calendar on the wall behind them.

Although the calendar is partially hidden behind the women, I believe it's a bank calendar ("The ----- National Bank"), and it's possible that the location printed on it is Liberal, Kansas. Since June 4 falls on a Friday as shown on the calendar, I'm guessing that the year is 1915 (other possibilities are 1909, 1920, and 1926). The square for Saturday, June 12, seems to be specially marked, so perhaps they're getting ready for a party or some other frivolity on that date.

For an interesting comparison, take a look at the trick or treat photo--Boys' Night Out--that I posted to the Vintage Photos Theme Park about this same time last year:

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."

The Hydraulic Ram Is a Perfectly Simple, Effective, and Durable Machine

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 14 May 2015 22:10:48 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

For information about Darius L. Kauffman and hydraulic rams, see the front of this advertising trade card: The Hydraulic Ram, Darius L. Kauffman, Garfield, Pa., 1880s.

Spring and Creek Water.
How to raise it for all purposes!

The Hydraulic Ram is a perfectly simple, effective, and durable machine, for forcing a portion of a spring or brook to many points, at any required distance to a mile or more, and elevations to 300 feet, at the rate of 10 to 1000 gallons per hour, depending on quantity of water, fall, elevation, distance, and size of ram, will furnish a constantly running stream of water to irrigate land, supply dwellings, creameries, livestock, factories, villages, R.R. stations, &c. Thousands in constant use, many over 30 years. Double hydraulic rams will raise fresh spring water with power of creeks without mixing. Have sole agency in Berks, Lehigh, Lancaster, York, Lebanon, and parts of Schuylkill and Dauphin counties for Morrow's Improved Rams, horizontal valve; using the least fall and water. All sizes and kinds of hydraulic rams, pipes, drain tiles, and requisites for furnishing water, forwarded at short notice on most reasonable terms.

We prefer to direct, and put them up personally to obtain the best results. Experience is very important. Our work warranted to give entire satisfaction. You need not pump, carry water, or drive stock to creeks.

To Raise Water without Fall.

☞The hot air pumping engine will lift and force water from deep wells into tanks, especially adapted for domestic use, quarries, mines, and whatever it is required to raise from 100 to 5000 gallons of water per hour, with very little fuel. Has no boiler! No steam! No valve! Is small, powerful, absolutely safe, and as simple as a stove. Over 7000 in use. Will be given on trial if desired. Anyone in need of any of the above, call on or address

Darius L. Kauffman, Garfield, Berks Co., Pa.

The Hydraulic Ram, Darius L. Kauffman, Garfield, Pa., 1880s

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 14 May 2015 22:10:50 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

In this advertising trade card from the 1880s, Darius L. Kauffman revealed his passion for the hydraulic ram, which is essentially a water-powered water pump. The front of the card (above) illustrates a ram in action. One pipe draws water from a pond or steam in the wooded area on the right, and then the ram mechanism uses pressure from the water flow to send water through another pipe so that it travels up the hill on the left to reach the livestock grazing there.

On the back of the card (see below), Kauffman described the hydraulic ram as "a perfectly simple, effective, and durable machine," which can be used "for forcing a portion of a spring or brook to many points, at any required distance to a mile or more, and elevations to 300 feet, at the rate of 10 to 1000 gallons per hour." In this way, it can "furnish a constantly running stream of water to irrigate land, supply dwellings, creameries, livestock, factories, villages, R.R. stations, &c."

In addition to hydraulic rams, Kauffman also offered to install "hot air pumping engines," which burned fuel--coal, wood, or gas--to provide the energy for pumping water, and to supply accessories like pipes and tiles for his customers.

Tragically, Kauffman died at the age of 33 as he was discussing the hydraulic ram. The Harrisburg Telegraph (Harrisburg, Pa), on Tuesday, April 16, 1889, p. 2, reported his death in this brief note:

"An Inventor's Sudden Death. Reading, Pa., April 16. Darius L. Kauffman, an inventor, of Garfield, this county [Berks County], died suddenly at Mossersville, Lehigh county. He was explaining the mechanism of a hydraulic ram in which he was interested, when he fell forward and in a few moments expired. Death was caused by paralysis of the heart."

The Hydraulic Ram.

☞New Hot☜
Air Pumping Engine.

Lead, Plain, and Galvanized Iron Pipes. Drain Tiles, &c.

Darius L. Kauffman, Garfield, Berks Co., Pa. (over)

Missouri Meerschaum, Cob Pipes, 1893

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 17:27:18 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Hirschl & Bendheim, 419 N. 4th St., St. Louis, Mo., sole agents, 'Missouri Meerschaum,' cob pipes. Manufactured only by H. Tibbe & Son., M'f'g Co. No. 3. No. 7. Patent. Will call about August 31st. Solomon Hirschl."

A postal card addressed on the other side to: "Messrs. H. Stern Jr. & Bro., Milwaukee, Wisc."

Postmarked: "St. Louis, Mo., Aug. 23, 1893."

Solomon Hirschl sent this to announce his sales call in advance of his trip from St. Louis to Milwaukee. This type of "advance card" was typical--see the Cigar History Museum's Salesmen’s Advance Cards for some other interesting examples.

A Wikipedia search reveals that the Missouri Meerschaum Company (formerly H. Tibbe & Son) is still in business today and is the "world's oldest and largest manufacturer of corncob pipes."

Let Us Smoke the Patrick Pipe of Peace on March 17!

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 16:14:53 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Let us smoke the 'Patrick Pipe' of peace! March 17. HBG." Printed on back: "L. & E. Serie 2269."

A St. Patrick's Day postcard illustrated by H. B. Griggs and published by Leubrie & Elkus, ca. 1910s.

Pipe-Smoking Fisherman

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 06 Feb 2015 20:16:22 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

An Ektachrome slide dated July 1964.

Old Timers Parade

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 22:43:00 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A beards photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

Handwritten note on the back of this real photo postcard: "Uncle Jim in the Old Timers Parade."

I don't know where or when this "Old Timers Parade" took place, and I'm not even sure which one is "Uncle Jim." I'm certain, though, that it must have taken quite some time for these fellows to ~~put on~~ grow those long beards and moustaches!

Motorcycle Mama and Papa

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 06 Oct 2019 16:44:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of things they won't let us do any more.

In this undated photo, dad is smoking a pipe as he and mom pose with little Sidecar Susie.