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

Men Behaving Badly — Celluloid Photographic Medallion

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 02:17:02 +0000

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of bad habits.

The man at upper left is smoking a cigar as he opens a bottle of wine. The man at upper right also has a cigar in his mouth and is holding a bottle in one hand as he reaches down with the other to give the man at lower left a drink.

There's no date, location, or manufacturer indicated on this celluloid photographic medallion, which consists of a metal backing and a photograph covered by celluloid, an early type of plastic.

For additional examples, see my album of Celluloid Photographic Medallions and the George Eastman House's collection of Celluloid Medallions & Buttons on Flickr.

See also Gerald Perlman and David Trachtenberg's book, Collecting Celluloid Photo Medallions, published by Victoria Victoriana Antiques in 2014.

Dandy with His Easter Candy (Cropped)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 20 Apr 2025 05:38:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A table and console radio covered in all sorts of Easter candy. See also the original photo.

Dandy with His Easter Candy

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 20 Apr 2025 05:38:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of lollypop, lollypop -- featuring a lollypop, candy cane, or other confection.

This is a 1959 snapshot of a dandy young fellow who is dressed in a suit and holding an Easter bunny toy. The table next to him is covered with Easter baskets and a variety of candy confections. There's even more candy on top of the console radio that's on the other side of the table. See also a close-up of the candy.

Goofy Guys Backwards and Frontwards (Fronts)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 03:53:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Three funny fellows pose facing the camera in this photograph. See also another photo with the same fellows with their backs to the camera. For more information, see the original real photo postcard, which incudes both pictures.

Goofy Guys Backwards and Frontwards (Backs)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 03:53:06 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Three funny fellows pose with their backs to the camera in this photograph. See also another photo with the same fellows facing the camera. For more information, see the original real photo postcard, which incudes both pictures.

Goofy Guys Backwards and Frontwards

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 03:53:08 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of Rückenfigur or "back to camera" - any photo in which one or more of the subjects have their backs fully or partially facing the camera.

On this real photo postcard, which combines two separate photographs, three funny fellows pose twice, first with their backs to the camera and then a second time as they face the camera. The three are sitting on a board or plank that extends between two chairs. In the first photo, all of them have bowler hats on their heads, and the guy in the middle has what looks like a picture frame hanging over his shoulder and down over his back. A stool and a wooden box with a handle are visible on the floor in front of them. The wall behind the men is partially covered by a painted backdrop, so presumably they're having their picture taken in a photo studio, though no studio name appears on the front or back of the card.

In the second photo, the guys seem even goofier as they face forward with funny expressions. The man on the left has a mischievous look on his face, and he's holding a small kettle with the handle of a spoon or some other utensil sticking out of the top. The guy in the middle has opened his mouth as if he's laughing or yelling. The bowler on his head is jauntily tilted to the side, and his right hand is blurred -- was he pumping his fist or gesturing toward the basket that he's holding in his lap? And what's in the basket? The third man is grinning, probably because instead of a hat he's wearing something on his head that looks like a lampshade with ruffles. He has his arms wrapped around himself as if he's cold, and he's holding a pitcher under one arm.

The undivided back (for an address only) on the other side of this real photo postcard indicates that it dates before 1907 (when both an address and a message were allowed on the verso), and the Cyko stamp box design (in use as early as 1904) printed on the back also fits this time frame.

One-Minute Churn, L. H. Chambers, Cumberland, Maryland

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 04:30:02 +0000

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A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of pick your own (post a photo depicting your favorite theme from the past year).

As my favorite of the year, I'm choosing the theme of pick a particular format (daguerreotype, cabinet card, CDV, real photo postcard, cyanotype, slide, Polaroid, or what have you?). And among those formats, I'm selecting real photo postcard, as I did previously in March (see Foursome Flying over Long Beach, California, 1914).

I took a quick look at my postings to the Vintage Photos Theme Park during 2023, and I discovered to my surprise that the majority of my weekly contributions -- more than thirty! -- were real photo postcards.

This photo postcard, captioned "One Minute Churn, L. H. Chambers, Cumberland, Md.," shows Lorenzo Hazell Chambers (1877-1958) standing next to a mechanical butter churn. He has a wide grin on his face, and he's resting his left hand on top of the churn.

Perhaps Chambers intended to use this card as an advertisement for selling churns (the One-Minute Churn Company solicited sales agents -- see the company's ad below), even though the photo quality is poor and the image seems quite cloudy.

This real photo postcard is unused, without any address, message, stamp, or postmark. The Kruxo stamp box design on the other side suggests a possible date that may be as early as 1908 to 1910. Also printed on the verso: "The C. C. Bickert Post Card Co., Hagerstown, Md."

The following advertisement for the patented One-Minute Churn appeared in Hardware magazine, April 10, 1905, p. 11.

Butter in One Minute

The only perfect milk and cream aerator churn in the world, making the best granular butter from sour or sweet cream in a minute -- which we guarantee -- is the One Minute Churn. Protected by 57 patents.

Its construction is perfect in every detail. All parts interchangeable and carried in stock. Easy to run, holding 1 quart to 13 gallons.

For farm and family use.

Our Catalogue tells all. Mention Hardware.

Agents wanted. Cable address: "Minute" or "Murphite" New York.

I. M. Murphy, president.

The One Minute Churn Co., Inc., 9 Old Slip, New York, U.S.A.

I'll Eat Oranges for You in Los Angeles — You Throw Snowballs for Me

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 00:53:02 +0000

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A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of tree (in a studio photo).

Caption: "I'll Eat Oranges for You — You Throw Snow Balls for Me."

This is a real photo postcard sent sometime after Thanksgiving in 1922 from "Aunt Orpha" in California to "Master George Myers" in Burbank, Ohio.

Printed on the other side: "Orange Grove Souvenir. Novelty Studios, 520 S. Broadway & 414 W. 7th, Los Angeles, Cal."

Handwritten message: "My dear George. This man is a male nurse. He was in training when I was. We had a turkey dinner [on] Thanksgiving. What did you have? Aunt Ella was with us and your Uncle Tom's niece. By-by. Your Aunt Orpha."

The "eat oranges" / "throw snowballs" caption appeared on souvenir photo postcards like this one that tourists in sunny California could send to relatives enduring winter weather back home. For another example, see I'll Eat Oranges for You—You Throw Snowballs for Me.

Birthday Outing to the Triberg Waterfalls, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, September 12, 1936

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 01:54:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of waterfalls.

Handwritten note on the other side of this real photo postcard: "Von meinem Geburtstagsausflug an die Triberger Wasserfälle, 12. Sept. 1936." (Translation: "From my birthday outing to the Triberg Waterfalls, 12 Sept. 1936.")

The names of "Mr. & Mrs. Vogal, Pforzheim, Germany" are written in a different hand where an address would go. There's no stamp or postmark, however, so I wonder if the Vogals are the couple in the photo.

As Wikipedia explains, the Triberg Waterfalls "are waterfalls near Triberg in the Black Forest in Baden-Württemberg (Germany). With a descent of 163 m, it is one of the highest waterfalls in Germany and a landmark in the Black Forest region."

Search for Triberger Wasserfälle to see other Ipernity photos of the falls.

For another souvenir photo from a different waterfall, see Frances and Ned at Leura Falls, New South Wales, Australia, March 15, 1914.

Spinning a Tale of Dogs in Glasses (Cropped)

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

Alan Mays has posted:

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

Alan Mays has posted:

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?

Wishing You All a Happy New Year, 1908

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 17:20:02 +0000

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Twenty-four adults and one child posed for this real photo postcard, which was used as a New Year greeting.

Handwritten message (at right): "Wishing you all a Happy New Year. Lovingly, Emma."

Addressed on the other side to Mrs. John Kreisel, 17 Cherokee St., S. Bethlehem, Pa., and postmarked in Allentown, Pa., on Jan. 3, 1908.

Compare this photo with New Year Gathering, Chicago, Illinois, 1912.

Police Car

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 04:55:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of law and order.

A real photo postcard dating to the early twentieth century. The partially visible sign in the background indicates "18 Miles to Balto" (an abbreviation for Baltimore -- I identified the sign based on another photo posted online).

The same automobile and painted backdrop also appear in a photo showing Three Gents in a Car.

Three Gents in a Car

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 04:55:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A real photo postcard. The same automobile and painted backdrop also appear in a Police Car photo.

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).

Season's Greetings from the Dé Lardis, 1938

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sat, 26 Dec 2020 02:15:04 +0000

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"The Dé Lardis. 1938 Season's Greetings."

Photographer Alfred A. Dé Lardi (1900-1993) created this small but unique greeting card that superimposed photos of himself, his wife Dorothy, and his daughters Janice and Yvonne onto individual playing cards (plus there's an extra card that doesn't have a photo). Since there's a total of three queens and two kings (three of a kind and a pair), I think he was suggesting that there was a "full house" at the Dé Lardi residence in 1938!

Alfred Dé Lardi was a well-known photographer who worked for the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper, Holiday magazine, and various companies, including the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Philadelphia Electric Company.

He taught photography courses at a number of schools and colleges in the Philadelphia area, and he also authored or edited a number of books on photography, such as Let's Make a Portrait (1937), Your Child's Portrait (1937), and Ships and Water (1938).

A collection of Dé Lardi's works was held by the Philadelphia History Museum, and a finding aid, Alfred A. Dé Lardi Negatives and Photographs, circa 1929-1964, was formerly available through the University of Pennsylvania Libraries (unfortunately, the Philadelphia History Museum closed in 2018, but there are plans underway to transfer its collections to Drexel University).

I'd like to acknowledge Gary Discavage, a dealer at Apple Hill Antiques in State College, Pa., who graciously gave me this photographic greeting card. Gary originally received the card from Alfred Dé Lardi, who was his friend and neighbor when he lived in Philadelphia. Thanks, Gary!

Standing on a Steamer

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 04:27:02 +0000

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A waiting photo (sort of) for the Vintage Photos Theme Park with three men posing and waiting for the photographer to snap the picture. It's also a men on machines photo for the VPTP monthly free-for-all topic (submit as many vintage photos on any topic as you'd like).

The photo shows a couple of guys posing on top of a steam engine while a fellow down below—with his sleeves rolled up and a shovel in his hands—does the dirty work.

It looks the steam engine is in working order—there's a belt around the flywheel on the other side—but the boiler obviously isn't hot enough to prevent the guys from positioning themselves above it.

For another photo of men on a machine, see Steamrolling over the Waves.

Grandma and Grandpa Take the Cake

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 01 Nov 2020 19:46:02 +0000

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A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of grandma and grandpa (grandparent(s) featured in a family photo).

A grandmother and grandfather hold a two-tiered cake as they pose for a photo with their grandson. All three of them are wearing flowers in their coat and jacket lapels.

The presence of the cake and flowers makes me wonder if the grandparents are celebrating a special wedding anniversary. Given how the cake is tilted, I just hope that it didn't slide off onto the grandson's head!

Running Races in Folkestone?

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 04:58:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of shape up! (people exercising).

This is an early twentieth-century real photo postcard with the name "Lambert Weston & Son, Folkestone" embossed in the lower right-hand corner (the embossing isn't really visible in this image, unfortunately).

The photo shows a number of men who are getting some exercise by running a footrace. The runners, strangely enough, are wearing neckties and white shirts more suitable for an office than an athletic field. A large crowd has gathered to watch the competition, and a large round building is visible in the background.

The building in the background appears to be one of the Martello towers--"small defensive forts that were built across the British Empire during the 19th century"--and might be one of the towers that are located in Folkestone, Kent, England.

Thomas Dewey and His Wife at the Republican National Convention, Philadelphia, June 1948 (Cropped)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 03:56:04 +0000

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This is Thomas Dewey, the 1948 Republican presidential nominee, and his wife in an image from the televised broadcast of the 1948 Republican National Convention. The image is a photograph of the screen of a television set that received the convention broadcast in 1948.

See also the full version of this photo and a snapshot of the actual Philco 48-1001 television set that was tuned in to the convention broadcast.