Portal Morelos, Puebla, México

Posted on April 7, 2022 by Annieoakley

Real Photo Postcard, unused. Circa 1931. EKKP stamp box. Publisher: La Compañía México Fotográfico (MF).

Price: $15.00

This is a great photo with lots to look at. The publisher could have “edited out” the dog in the picture and thankfully, chose not to. There’s our guy, (dog, not publisher!) with a happy expression, making his way down, what is almost the center of the road, traveling the opposite way, on what seems to be a one-way street. He looks a little on the skinny side, so we hope he had good life from here on, with lots of good meals.

The estimate for our postcard’s age comes from looking at the license plate on the car to our far right. This appears to be year 1931, but we’ll research the years and models of the cars to help with this question.

Destinos México has some info and a modern-day photo of one of the Portals (not sure which one) in Puebla. And I think the use of the word portal (entrance way) comes from the architecture – the archways all along the storefronts.

And, if you’re like me, you see faces seemingly everywhere. Here’s a fun one:

How about that “dish” type of thing on top of one of the far buildings? My best guess is that this was for some type of radio reception, unless it was showing advertising of some sort:

Lastly, of note, is the publisher logo, MF: You may have seen this on many Mexican postcards. It stands for La Compañía México Fotográfico, and was founded in 1925 by Demetrio Sánchez Ortega. From the Revistas Inah website, see Mayra N. Uribe Eguiluz’s beautiful article “La Compañía México Fotográfico en la política de turismo nacional de los años veint.” (The Mexico Photographic Company in the national tourism policy from the twenties.) The essay is in Spanish (I’m not bilingual so I Google translated some of it, but it shows a photo of the building the company was housed in, with the company’s very recognizable, stylized logo on the facade, as well as a couple of other interesting photos.) The “21” showing here was likely just a production or series number, as per the norm for postcards.

Sources: Portal (architecture). n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal_(architecture) (accessed April 4, 2022).

“The Portals of Puebla.”Destinos México. (programadestinosmexico-com.). Accessed April 4, 2022.

Uribe Eguiluz, Mayra N. “La Compañía México Fotográfico en la política de turismo nacional de los años veint.” https://revistas.inah.gob.mx/ (accessed April 4, 2022).

San Antonio, Texas, Circa 1929

Posted on June 12, 2021 by Annieoakley

Old photo. San Antonio, Texas, Circa 1929 or early 1930s. Printer: The Fox Company. Copyright by Carl D. Newton.

Price: $10.00 Size: 3 and 7/16 x 2 and 7/16″

There’s a good story in this moment, for sure. The phrase, “a pointed look” comes to mind – that which the young girl is directing toward her…..would you say, older sister? If siblings, that might explain the hostility 😉 (Paraphrasing the judge from My Cousin Vinny.) Or, do you imagine, that the one girl is just very engrossed in what the older one is saying (is she talking?) Personally, I love these old photos from the ’20s and ’30s, with the front yards (if this is one, sort of) that were not expected to be showpieces and often with old hand-built wooden fences that are leaning. (Actually, that’s a very nice gate, but the fence is falling in, and the gate off-kilter.) Or, maybe if not a front “yard” this is a commercial or semi-commercial street view. I’m now imagining some sort of auto servicing business. When you enlarge the image you’ll see that there is a second car in this photo and then also a third person, who’s standing behind it. We’ll check with the experts on the Antique Automobile Club of America forum, for the make, model and year of the car in the foreground.

Update: The response from the super sleuths at AACA, is that the car in the foreground is actually a 1929 Nash, and the one in the background a Model A Ford Coupe. Which means that the printer’s stamp on the back of the photo was not an updated one, since it’s showing 1927. Interesting!

Double Exposed Car

Posted on February 7, 2021 by Annieoakley

Old photo, white border. Circa 1910s – early ’20s.

Price: $10.00

Young man posing in front of….perhaps a Model T (just a guess). Looks like maybe he’s going camping, with the gear strapped in somehow on the running board. Though, at first glance, this looks like an x-ray of the car with….surprise, much different innards than expected. 😉 I’m struck just now by the synchronicity of the man and vehicle both sporting a soft “cap” (Yeah, we’re all a little crazy lately, eh? 🙂 )

Gas Pump – Verdun, France

Posted on February 7, 2021 by Annieoakley

Photo, white border, deckled edge. Circa mid-1930s, France.

Price: $10.00

Verdun, France, a man refuels his vehicle, a 1934 or 1935 Peugeot 401.

Two members of the Antique Automobile Club of America came to the rescue (lightning quick responses, as usual) to identify the make, model and year of the car in the photo, and for clarification on the Castrol sign appearing to the left of the large Essences – Huiles.

Of course, it’s one of the first things to do (and so fun) when enlarging old photos – try to decipher any blurry or murky-looking wording, and that word under Castrol had me stumped (was guessing Brewster, haha) but it turned out to be something simple, in french, brevetée, patented. (See link in Sources.) And that’s a Gargoyle Mobiloil sign, to the right of Essences – Huiles. Gargoyle was a brand name under the Vacuum Oil Company. Also, noteworthy in the photo, is the small piece of machinery on the concrete, to the left of the man. Per my mechanic hubby, this is maybe an air compressor or pressure washer. Last but not least, we love the intricate wrought ironwork over the doorway of the Bureau de something, not quite readable – another of those, if you already knew what it said, it would be perfectly clear. 😉

Sources: Photo and video forums. What is it? Antique Automobile Club of America. Response to query of February 7, 2020. https://forums.aaca.org/forum/66-what-is-it/.

Vacuum Oil Company. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_Oil_Company (accessed February 7, 2021).

“French Castrol Oil Double-Sided Porcelain Flange”. Mecum Auctions Road Art. mecum.com. (accessed February 13, 2021).

Thanksgiving Day From Anna Budd

Posted on November 28, 2019 by Annieoakley

Divided back, embossed postcard. Postmarked November 25, 1907 from Pensacola, Florida. Publisher: Raphael Tuck & Sons. “Thanksgiving Day Post Cards” Series Number 123.

Price: $12.00

Happy Thanksgiving! Here’s a charmer from publisher Raphael Tuck & Sons, a turkey couple out for a drive in 1907.

Mailed to: “Miss Grace Snyder. Stevensville, Sull. Co., N. Y.” That’s Sullivan County. Stevensville later became Swan Lake.

The sender wrote: “We are all well and hope this finds you all the same. I wish you and your mamma a happy Thanksgiving – With love from Anna Budd. will write soon.”

Grace Snyder, born about 1892, was the daughter of Nelson H. Snyder and Evelyn Racine. On December 4, 1911 Grace married William Hathaway, born about 1887, son of Eli Hathaway and Lettie Van Orden. Bride and groom were both living in Stevensville, NY at the time of marriage.

Anna is Anna H. Budd, born January 1893, daughter of Morris D. and Carrie E. Blackmon. The 1900 census shows Anna, her parents, her old brother John (all born in New York) and her younger sister Florida, who was born in……..Florida (awww!)

Sources: Marriage Records. New York Marriages. Various New York County Clerk offices. (Ancestry.com).

Year: 1900; Census Place: Kupfrians Park, Escambia, Florida; Page: 4; Enumeration District: 0013; FHL microfilm: 1240168. (Ancestry.com).

“Mrs. Carrie E. Budd” obituary. The Herald-News. (Passaic, NJ). December 1, 1941. Monday, p. 8. (Newspapers.com).

Swan Lake, New York. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_Lake,_New_York. (accessed November 28, 2019).

Snow-covered Oldsmobile

Posted on January 27, 2019 by Annieoakley

Old photograph, 1949 – 1950s.

Price: $3.00 Size: 3 and 3/16 x 3 and 1/16″

This is definitely an Oldsmobile, maybe a 1949 or ’50 Series 76 or a 1951 Oldsmobile 88. The styles were very similar for those three years, but it’s not the ’52 due to the front bumper re-design at that time.

This image brings back lots of memories! Michigan, a wet cold, pushing off mountains of snow from the car, getting snow under your sleeves, scraping at the ice on the windshield while waiting for the car to heat up….the scraper was either the short one with the pale yellow handle (but the scraper part was the color of an icicle) or the long one with the brush along one end (the brush didn’t do well with heavy inches, thus you resorted to using your arm.) The fun sometimes, riding with Dad while he let the car slide a little on the ice, on purpose. The not-so-fun part of getting stuck – it was especially tricky going around the “islands” but an old rug under that spinning tire worked good (if you’d remembered to put one in the back seat). And there was the camaraderie of neighbors helping each other, the Good Samaritan coming along and pushing while you finessed the gas pedal…..and then what stands out for me (some pride here) as the ultimate winter driving experience – the city didn’t have the money to plow our residential streets, so we were forced to learn (knowledge is power) how to share that one and only set of tire tracks (that had been carved out previously by prior vehicles) when meeting an oncoming car. A beautiful thing – you and the other driver – the recognition, the skill (when there was a lot of snow) and the feeling of unity/harmony/good will/accomplishment, relief if the snow was really deep (you’d gotten by each other unstuck and unscathed) and that little bit of pride – who needs snowplows?

Truck Drivin’ Men

Posted on June 18, 2018 by Annieoakley

Old photo, white border. Circa 1918 – early 1920s.

Price: $5.00 Size: About 3 and 5/16 x 2 and 3/8″

We’re continuing our day-late Father’s Day theme with a nice old photo, which we’re guessing is from the ’20s, but we’ll find out – according to whatever make, model and year the truck turns out to be. (See the UPDATE below.) The two gents here are maybe a dad with his young son of about three, standing next to their vehicle, on the dirt shoulder of a tree-lined road.

The next thing in binoculars….

So, it looks like there’s writing on the inside of the truck, under the passenger side rear window, but we can’t quite read it. And further scrutiny yields another “arrggh” moment, in trying to make out the words on the sign posted on the tree trunk to our left. (Actually you probably noticed the tree sign first, but whatev 😉 ) If you stare at these kind of things long enough you sometimes get a flash of insight into what they say. Those ah-ha! moments are soooo great. Though, I like the process of imagining (the journey is it’s own reward, right?) having a pair of binoculars that works on old photos: Just look through, adjust the dial, et voila!

UPDATE: From the scholars on the forum at the Antique Automobile Club of America, I’ve learned that the vehicle in the photo is a Ford model TT, likely late teens. The cab would have been aftermarket, a more high-end one, possibly a Martin-Parry. And something I never picked up on initially, is the fact that the spare tire blocks the driver’s side entrance, but this was the norm back then; drivers got in on the passenger side. Below an example from Wikimedia:

1919 Model TT Truck.

Sources: “Help identifying old truck.” September 5, 2023. Antique Automobile Club of America. (https://forums.aaca.org/topic/403153-help-identifying-old-truck/#comment-2578337).

1919 Model TT Truck. n.d. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1919_Model_TT_Truck_2.jpg accessed September 8, 2023).

Arms Akimbo, Etc.

Posted on June 18, 2018 by Annieoakley

Divided back, Real Photo Postcard. Unknown manufacturer. Circa mid-to-late 1910s.

Price: $7.00

This is a late post for Father’s Day (surely there is a dad in this photo). Late since I was out of town for a week, and just getting back to LCG this morning. And what to name this one? I was struck by the variety of poses in this group of five men and one small boy, posing for the camera on their (or somebody’s) front lawn. I love the formidable stance and gruff expression on the gentleman in the rear – with the overalls, the mustache and the arms akimbo. As for the time frame, one of the best clues for dating this image should turn out to be the vehicle in the background (cropped and inserted below). Is it an electric car or a delivery wagon minus the horse? Hmmm, really not sure, but help should be forthcoming.

Going back to the top image: that particular style of hat for the young man on our left, too…a newsboy cap? Note his use of sleeve garters and the skinny tie. We can also see that the shade trees, at least on this side of the street, are maple. And last but not least, under one of these maples, stands a little girl wearing a big hair bow, looking on.

One final thought for now….I love the bird-like shadow that has graced this photo, highlighted below, with the big wing out-stretched and the tail feathers….like a hawk or a thunderbird…or even a dove….

DeSoto Firedome 8 Engine

Posted on July 3, 2016 by Annieoakley

Divided back, unused postcard. Circa 1952.

Price: $4.00

“New! Sensational! 160 Horsepower! DeSoto Firedome 8 Engine. America’s Most Powerful Engine Design.”

The reverse starts off, “More Power To You – Now!”

Huh, more power to ya! Wondering how old this expression is, so we did a quick search in online newspapers and found the idiom, “more power to you” in use at least as far back as 1835 (Dublin Penny Journal, Dublin, Ireland, Aug 22, 1835). And it sure works well for automotive….But the engine advertised in this postcard was a Hemi V8 for the DeSoto Firedome, a full-sized auto manufactured from 1952 to 1959. DeSoto was a division of Chrysler.

Sources: Dublin Penny Journal. (Dublin, Ireland) August 22, 1835, p. 2. (Newspapers.com)

DeSoto Firedome. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeSoto_Firedome (accessed July 3, 2016).

Dague Siblings With Model T

Posted on July 3, 2016 by Annieoakley

Old photo, some of the Dague siblings, circa 1925

Price: $10.00 Size: About 3 and 7/8 x 2 and 1/2″

It’s always heaven to find names on the backs of photos! The three girls from left to right are Isabelle, Lucille, and Virginia. (At least, that is definitely Lucille sitting higher up on the hood, and guessing the dark-haired girl is Isabelle who is about two years older than Virginia.) That is probably younger brother Robert on the left and whoops, he got left off by whoever wrote on the back. But he is kind of blending with the background in this photo. As for the car, it looks to be a Ford, Model T, four-door sedan, probably 1924 (help courtesy of AACA, and we have them listed under helpful websites now). You’ll notice the license plate has the year 1925, and the state appears to start with the letter “O”. Ohio fits perfectly, for one, the wording on the plate looks too short to be Oregon, and for another, the Dague Family that is matching up, lived in Ohio.

About five years prior to the photo being taken, the 1920 Federal Census for Harrisville Township, Medina County, Ohio shows: Harvey and Bessie Dague, with children Edna (Lucille Edna in family trees online), Vernon, Willard, Isabel, Lowell, Virginia and Robert, along with Harvey’s brothers-in-law William and James Parks[?]. The Dagues and Parks are all native Ohioans.

Source: Year: 1920; Census Place: Lodi, Medina, Ohio; Roll: T625_1417; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 68; Image: 128. (Ancestry.com).

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