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

Ruth and Sara on Board the L-21 Submarine, August 25, 1917

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 17:44:02 +0000

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of fancy studio backdrops.

A novelty photo with two young women in sailor costumes. The elaborate painted backdrop depicts an ocean of heavy waves with two ships billowing smoke on the horizon. A biplane is barely visible in the sky above them. The painted foreground features a submarine labeled "L 21 U.S." The submarine's hatch is open, its periscope is up, and it's flying an American flag.

Submarine hull: "L 21 U.S."

Handwritten caption: "R. Dodd. Sara Miller. 8-25-1917." Writing on the back also identifies the young women as "Ruth Dodd" on the left and "Sara Miller" on the right with the date given a second time as "8/25/1917."

For a similar real photo postcard, see Daddy on the Deck of the F-6 Submarine.

A Happy New Year in the Sky and on the Sea

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 03:33:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A nineteenth-century New Year calling card with a fanciful illustration.

In the sky, a man is holding the reins connected to a pair of large birds who are pulling the airship that he and a female passenger are riding in. The initials "A.H.N.Y." on the airship's balloon stand for "A Happy New Year."

Down below, a sailor on a ship is waving his hat as he hangs on to a mast next to a large banner that also displays a greeting for "A Happy New Year."

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.

Buchu-Paiba—Rescued from Kidney and Bladder Affections

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 19 Aug 2019 04:37:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

An elaborate nineteenth-century advertising trade card for Buchu-Paiba, a patent medicine that supposedly cured kidney, bladder, and urinary diseases.

Buchu-Paiba

"'Buchu-Paiba,' quick, complete cure [for] all annoying kidney diseases, $1."

Words in the water: "Rescued from kidney and bladder affections."

Flags: "Rough on Rats" and "Wells' Health Renewer."

"Mayer, Merkel & Ottmann, Lith., N.Y."

Excerpts from the ads printed on the back of the card:

"Mother Swan's Worm Syrup. For fever, restlessness, worms, constipation. Tasteless. Perfectly harmless, but the most effective worm destroyer extant."

"Rough on Rats. 15c boxes. Clears out rats, mice, roaches, flies, mosquitos, bed bugs, insects, skunk, weasel gophers, chipmunks, moles, musk rats, etc."

"Wells' Rough on Corns. Complete cure."

"'Bucha-Paiba.' Quick, complete cure, all annoying kidney and urinary diseases. $1.00 at druggists."

"E. S. Wells, manufacturer and proprietor, Jersey City, N.J. U.S.A."

Books for Returning World War I Troops on Board the USS Mercury, ca. 1918-1919

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 03:50:57 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A photo of libraries or books for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

"Transport Mercury. Red Cross. From American Library Association for all men on board. Not to be opened until return voyage."

This real photo postcard shows a photograph taken on board the USS Mercury, a United States Navy ship, as it transported troops home following the end of World War I. The sign on the left indicates that the American Library Association provided books for the troops.

I located another photograph of this same scene that was taken from a different angle. This second photo was cataloged as NH 45345 by the Navy's Naval History and Heritage Command, and its description also applies to my real photo postcard:

"Scene in troop spaces in a hold below the waterline, showing a card game in progress [why aren't they reading their books?], with banjo accompaniment [the banjo player's hands are partially visible at far right in my photo], circa 1918-1919. Note books at left, placed on board by the Red Cross and the American Library Association. Sign with the books indicates that the photo was taken as Mercury was transporting troops back to the U.S. from Europe after the World War I Armistice [November 11, 1918]."

Submarine Chaser

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 21:30:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"U.S. of America Submarine Chaser."

A "submarine chaser" is "a small and fast naval vessel that is specifically intended for anti-submarine warfare," according to Wikipedia.

I'm not sure where this sub chaser was docked or when these two couples reported for duty aboard the ship, but perhaps they were chasing an F-6 submarine.

Lovey-Dovey Couple in Boat

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 03:55:58 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A photo of people exchanging "a look" that the photographer has captured perfectly for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

Never mind that it's a fake look in a fake boat—the photographer who created this real photo postcard has captured a studio scene of a man and women looking into each other's eyes and pretending to be in love. I just hope that the swan got out of the way before it got caught in the wake of the speeding boat!

Steamboat Mary, Wrightsville and Columbia, Pennsylvania, ca. 1907

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sat, 11 Aug 2018 16:18:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Steamboat Mary, Wrightsville and Columbia, Pa. B. D. Beittel, Columbia, Pa."

An early postcard of Steamboat Mary, which evidently ran on the Susquehanna River between Wrightsville, York County, and Columbia, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The card dates to the first decade of the twentieth century (circa 1907, based on the postmark of another copy I spotted elsewhere on the web).

In the background is the Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge, a steel truss bridge that was built in 1896. It carried railroad and automobile traffic over the river until it was dismantled in 1963.

Steamboat Ticket, Excursion to Fort Madison, Iowa, June 29, 1907

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 22:48:53 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Excursion to Ft. Madison, given by Benevolent Union. Steamer W. W. Saturday, June 29, 1907. Adults, 50c."

Paddling Their Own Canoe at Olcott Beach

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 12 Feb 2018 16:47:08 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Printed on the other side of this real photo postcard: "Boeckmann, park photographer, Olcott Beach, N.Y." Handwritten on the other side: "Ornan Rebert."

Two fellows pretend to paddle their canoe in photographer John Boeckmann's studio in Luna Park at Olcott Beach, located along the shore of Lake Ontario in Olcott, New York.

Steamboat Ticket, Reading, Pa., to Klapperthal Pavilion, July 4, 1896

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 15 Dec 2017 02:17:10 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A child's ticket for a steamboat trip on the Schuylkill River between Reading, Pennsylvania, and the Klapperthal Pavilion, which was located outside of town and contained a dance floor, restaurant, and other amenities. The back of the ticket is stamped "Jul. 4, 1896."

Captain John A. Hiester (1842-1922) built boats and ran steamboats on the Schuylkill for many years.

See also Reading Steamboat Company Ticket, Reading, Pa., to High's Grove.

Steamboats Iona, Golden Eagle, and Atlantic
Reading to Klapperthal and return (down) (up).
Capt. John A. Hiester.
Children's ticket.

Reading Steamboat Company Ticket, Reading, Pa., to High's Grove

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 21:28:10 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Reading Steamboat Co., this ticket is good for one passage from Reading to High's Grove. Good for this day only. Reading Steamboat Co. Return ticket from High's Grove to Reading."

The Reading Steamboat Company operated steamboats on the Schuylkill River in the city of Reading, Pennsylvania, during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. A front-page article in the Reading Eagle newspaper for Monday, August 3, 1903, for instance, included this brief report about company operations:

"Steamboat Trips. The Reading Steamboat Co. made trips with its steamboat, 'The City of Reading,' on the Schuylkill [River] between Hain's and Kissinger's locks Sunday [August 2], and carried hundreds of passengers. The round trip was 1½ miles. The vessel will ply between the same points next Sunday."

Inman Steamship Company

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 16:38:55 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Inman Steamship Company. The Major & Knapp Lith. Co., N.Y." Rubberstamped on front: "Chas. W. Hamilton, Brimfield, Illinois. Brimfield Bank."

A Victorian-era trade card advertising the Inman Steamship Company, a British passenger shipping company.

Going Some with the Humdinger of Seattle!

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 16:49:07 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Going Some! The Hum-dinger of Seattle."

Written on the back of this real photo postcard: "May 6, 1913 in Seattle, Wash. To Bro. John"

A studio photo depicting what appears to be alcohol-fueled nautical maneuvering in the vicinity of Seattle, Washington.

Judging by a similar Hum-dinger photograph that's part of the Seattle Photograph Collection at the University of Washington Libraries, this photo came from the Joy Parlor Studio, which billed itself as "the home of the cowboy post cards" and was located at 207 2nd South in Seattle.

For an uncropped copy of the photo postcard, see Going Some with the Humdinger of Seattle! (Full Version).

Going Some with the Humdinger of Seattle! (Full Version)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 16:49:05 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

For more information, see the cropped version of this real photo postcard.

Columbia National Bank Check, Columbia, Pa., May 21, 1876 (Detail)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 16:00:22 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

For more information, see the full version of this check:

Columbia National Bank Check, Columbia, Pa., May 21, 1876

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 16:00:24 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"The Columbia National Bank. No. 4159. Columbia, Penna., May 21, 1876. Pay to the order of C. J. Nourse, Jr. One and 80/100 dollars. $1.80. To Importers & Traders National Bank of New York. S. W. Shoch, Cashier. United States Internal Revenue, Two Cents. 2. National Bank Note Company, New York."

Mouse over the image above to see an enlargement of the vignette of steamboats and sailing ships in the upper left-hand corner.

Hudson River Day Line Pass, 1899

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 15:53:32 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Hudson River Day Line Pass, 1899. E. D. Bennett, G.S.,
Bennington & Rutland Ry. E. E. Olcott, general manager. 412."

E. D. Bennett, the general superintendent of the Bennington & Rutland Railway Company, also received a pass from the Adirondack Steamboat Company in 1897. The boat pictured on this card is the side-wheel steamer New York

See below for some other steamboat passes and tickets from the Adirondack Steamboat Company/ (1897), Baltimore Steam Packet Company (1911), New Jersey Steamboat Company (1870), and Reading Steamboat Company.

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:

Long May Peace Attend Thee!

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 21:22:48 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Long may peace attend thee!"

A Victorian-era hidden-name calling card with shaking hands, a sailing ship, and the Statue of Liberty, all surrounded by a border of roses and forget-me-nots. The colorful illustration consists of a separate die-cut that lifts up on the right-hand side to reveal the name of "Edward M. Mercer" printed underneath.