Alan Mays' photos

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who has the flashiest Easter basket of all? Mom and the kids pose with Easter baskets as the light from dad's flash bounces off the mirror in the background. Location and date unknown.

"Economize by using Putnam Dyes and Putnam Dry-Cleaner." Printed on the back of this die-cut advertising card: "Easter Greetings from Frank P. Allen, Shanks, W. Va." A royal rabbit wearing a crown sits on colorful Easter eggs to promote Putnam Dyes—used for clothes but not eggs, as far as I know—and Putnam Dry-Cleaner, a solvent for home dry cleaning . For another multicolored advertising piece from this company, see Putnam Fadeless Dyes and Tints Advertising Fan .

The business card for James D. Brinser, who was the superintendent of the Crescent Electric Company in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The card was printed by D. B, Landis, Pluck Print, Lancaster, Pa. I relied on listings and ads in various publications for the approximate date of 1895. The Annual Report of the Factory Inspector for Pennsylvania in the year 1894, for instance, gives the location of the Crescent Electric Company as 117 East Chestnut in Lancaster, as printed on the card. In 1896, however, Brinser assigned an Electric-Motor Fan patent to the Marietta Manufacturing Company in Marietta, Pa., which suggests that fans were no longer manufactured in Lancaster by that time. By 1898, the ads for Crescent Electric Fans indicated that the Marietta Manufacturing Company made them. The Crescent Electric Co. Manufacturers of Electric Motors and Fans 111 to 117 East Chestnut Street, Lancaster, Pa. Electrical and general machine repairing. Armature and magnet winding a specialty. New and second-hand motors in stock. Prompt attention. Obliging service. Reasonable prices. James Brinser, superintendent. Telephone.

"J. W. Benneman, manufacturer of Our Principal 5 cent cigars, Millersville, Pa." A business card printed by D. B, Landis, Pluck Print, Lancaster, Pa.

"The Reading Depot, Landisville, Pa. Photo D.B.L., 1909." Printed on the back of this postcard: "D. B. Landis, publisher, Pluck Art Printery, Lancaster, Pa." David Bachman Landis, who was the owner and operator of Pluck Art Printery, photographed the train station in Landisville, Pennsylvania, in 1909, and published this postcard based on his photo.

An early twentieth-century Easter postcard.

Do you have ideas for future topics for the Vintage Photos Theme Park ? If so, please add them to the Suggestion Box ! A photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park monthly topic of cats (submit a photo on this topic each week in addition to—or instead of—a photo for the weekly topic) . "Looking through the news you may see something which might interest you. I will send the papers to you. J.R." A real photo postcard with a cat that's literally looking through a newspaper in 1906. For another postcard with a similar punning message, see Breaking the News, Lititz Express, July 4, 1907 .

A photo of children or adults posing with ponies, horses, or other equines for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Outfitted in a cowboy hat, bandana, and chaps, a young boy sits atop a horse as he poses for a photo.

"Nobody can April-Fool me. I am a fool. Bernhardt Wall. Copyright 1909 The Ullman Mfg. Co. N.Y." Printed on the other side of this postcard: "American Post Card. 'April Fool' Series No. 156. Subject No. 2490." This foolish fellow didn't fall victim to the Brick in a Hat trick, but he is wearing a "I am a fool" sign. For a similar April Fools' Day postcard, see They Can't April-Fool Us, Eh?

For similar April Fools' Day postcards, see Dear Sir, We Have This Day Doubled Your Salary, The Boss and Dear Sir, I Have Sent You Several Boxes of Cigars . April 1st Dear Sir, Pardon this intrusion, but as you seemed to scared to speak, or write, I took the liberty. Before proceeding farther I must tell you that I have a peculiar affliction. After drinking a few quarts of champagne, I sing, dance, and spout poetry. As my temperament is to love and be loved, I cannot resist the impulse, and don't! Understand, I am a perfect lady always, one who loves her home, but " Oh you kid ." So just press the button, and I will do the rest. Yours bubbling over with love. Mazie D.

"1er Avril. Le baiser le plus doux est celui qui vient de loin!" Google translation: April 1st. The sweetest kiss is the one that comes from far away! A French hand-tinted real photo postcard for the first day in April.

A photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park topic of awkward family photos (vintage photos of odd, embarrassing, or amusing scenes from your own family's history or someone else's) . After the cavorting couple overturned the bench they were sitting on, everyone in camp stopped what they were doing to watch as the two of them continued their awkward antics on the ground. "Black Diamond Camp" is painted on the side of the bench, but I haven't been able to determine where it might have been located. See also the full version of this real photo postcard. Another photo— Footrace Photo Finish? —that I purchased along with this one may show some of the same individuals.

For a better view of the cavorting couple on the ground, see the cropped version of this real photo postcard.

A fishing photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park topic of knitting, fishing, and kissing (photos of people who are knitting, fishing, or kissing; post examples of all three if you have them.) . "Better Than Haying" is the caption of this real photo postcard by Vermont photographer Edwin T. Houston, who published it in 1906 (take a look at the full version to see Houston's inscription at the bottom of the photo). Just about any activity would be better than "haying," or making hay by hand, which is a laborious chore that usually has to be done on a hot summer day. The farmer in the photo, with his dog by his side, is taking a break from haying by casting his fishing line into the water. The farmer has literally turned his back on his haymaking tools, which are visible on the left-hand side of the photo. We can see the teeth of a rake , the blade of a scythe , and the handle of a third tool, which must be a hay fork with its tines stuck in the ground. So the humorous moral of the story told by this carefully constructed scene is, of course: Fishing is better than haying!

What is it that's "Better Than Haying," as the caption says? For an explanation, see the cropped version of this real photo postcard.

A kissing photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park topic of knitting, fishing, and kissing (photos of people who are knitting, fishing, or kissing; post examples of all three if you have them.) . A real photo postcard of a guy and a gal hugging and kissing at an awkward angle out in the yard (is that a kid's toy wagon they're sitting on?). And judging by the tilt of the picture, the photographer evidently had a slanted view of the couple's relationship.

A real photo postcard with "Elmer, age 6, Clair, age 7."