Alan Mays' photos

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of telephones . This is a real photo postcard used as an advertisement by the Keely Stove Company of Columbia, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The card dates to 1920, and it shows a woman with a candlestick telephone . She's getting married and wants a Keely Columbian Stove just like her mother has, so she's telephoning Herr & Co. in Lancaster, Pa., to order one. In other versions of the ad that I spotted online, the same woman is phoning J. A. Best & Co. in Allentown, Pa., and Bennett & Billington in Canajoharie, N.Y. I have another copy of this postcard that was addressed to Miss Fannie Groff, Kirkwood, Lanc. Co., Pa., R.R.#1, and mailed in New Providence, Pa., on Nov. 3, 1920. The handwritten message on that copy doesn't refer to the advertisement itself but the writer does mention "phoning" and "call[ing] . . . on the phone": "Tue. eve. [Nov. 2]. Dear Fannie, I received your letter this morning. I guess you think I am a great one for not phoning to you, but I was so busy today. And Jacob came up to vote [Warren G. Harding won the U.S. presidential election held that day], and because it rained he is staying up so I was not at Margie's to stay all night. Fannie, I won't be down this week, but I will come next Fri. eve. as far as I know now, if it suits you. We are invited to a kitchen shower on Sat. eve. Write to let me know if it will suit. And I will write later or call you up on the phone. R.E.M." History of this Genuine Photo The mother of this young lady has a Columbian Stove manufactured by The Keely Stove Co., Columbia, Pa. She is about to get married and telephones to Herr & Co., 7 E. King St., Lancaster, Pa., for she wants one just like Mother's. 515. Schaefer Ross Co., Inc., Rochester, N.Y.

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of proud papa -- man holding an infant or small child . The man at lower right is holding a string that he pulled to release the shutter on a camera to take this photo. This "string selfie" captured a portrait of himself and thirteen other members of his family, including a man and a woman at the front who are holding a small kid on their laps. This is a real photo postcard with a divided back and a type of Azo stamp box (with four corner triangles pointing up) on the other side that suggests a possible date that may be as early as 1907 to 1918. There's no address, postmark, or message on the verso.

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of winter weather wear -- coats, hats, gloves, scarves, and other cold weather clothing . A handwritten message on the other side of this real photo postcard says, "This is called Umbrella Rock and on a clear day one can see 7 states from it. Tenn., Ga., Ala., N.C., S.C., Va., and I forget the other." A boy and a man (possibly the boy's father or grandfather) are standing awkwardly as they pose for a souvenir photo on Umbrella Rock, which is located on Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga, Tennessee. Both of them are wearing coats, and the man is wearing gloves. Cool weather may have caused the fog or haze that's obscuring the view of the valley behind them. This real photo postcard has a divided back and a type of NOKO stamp box on the other side that suggests a possible date between 1907 and 1929. There's no address, stamp, or postmark on the verso. See also a cropped version of this photo postcard for a close-up of the boy and man. For additional examples of souvenir photos from Umbrella Rock, see People Perched Atop Umbrella Rock on Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga Tennessee .

For more information, see the full version of the photo.

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of holiday happenings -- any kind of end-of-year holiday gathering, celebration, or decoration . Gold is the color of the day in this holiday scene that includes a gold Christmas tree, a gold sculpture on the wall, and gold wrapping paper and bows on the some of the presents. Even the carpet has a yellowish-almost-golden hue. There's no date on the photo. What do you think -- 1960s?

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of a sailor . Printed on the other side: "Electric Studio, 406 Main St. & 159 Church St., Norfolk, Va. 612 E. Baltimore St., & 911 Penna. Ave., Baltimore, Md." Six sailors in uniform pose in an automobile for a souvenir photo. This is a real photo postcard with a divided back and a type of Azo stamp box (with four corner triangles pointing up) on the other side that suggests a possible date that may be as early as 1907 to 1918. The card is unused, and there's no address, postmark, or message on the verso.

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of signs and billboards (any type of sign—traffic, store, warning, printed, handwritten, big, small, etc.—or any kind of billboard advertisement or announcement) . A woman poses next to a sign welcoming visitors to Pennsylvania in this undated snapshot. "Kodak Velox Paper” is printed on the other side of the photo, which may indicate that it dates to sometime between 1950 and the mid-1960s. Welcome to Pennsylvania For Safety - Respect the 50 Mile Speed Limit Take Time Enjoy Our Scenery

Littlefield & Hosmer Dealers in foreign and domestic fruits, butter, eggs, beans, &c. Oranges, lemons, bananas, and apples a specialty. Country produce sold on commission. No. 9 North Market Street, Boston. W. E. Littlefield, Chas. B. Hosmer. A book about the Leading Manufacturers and Merchants of the City of Boston (1885), p. 203, provides a history of this business, which operated under the name of Littlefield & Hosmer beginning in 1881: Littlefield & Hosmer , Dealers in Foreign and Domestic Fruits, No. 9 North Market Street. — The business conducted by this firm was established in 1866, and during the nineteen years of its career it has enjoyed a large measure of success. It was founded under the firm style of Littlefield & Enslin, and it was conducted under this title for fifteen years. On the retirement of Mr. Enslin, however, in 1881, he was succeeded by Mr. Charles R. Hosmer, and the style of the house was then changed to its present one of Littlefield & Hosmer. The firm occupy the basement floor, which is 20x40 feet in dimensions, and this is stocked with very choice selections of foreign and domestic fruits of every description. The firm makes a specialty of oranges, lemons, bananas, and apples, the former of which are shipped to them from the most celebrated producing districts of Jamaica, Central America, Florida, etc., and in these classes of fruits they conduct a good trade. They sell on commission all kinds of fruit, and prompt sales and liberal advances are made if required. All foreign fruits and vegetables are procured direct from the ship at their ultimate points of destination. The house enjoys a large city and suburban trade. The individual members of the firm are Mr. W. E. Littlefield and Mr. Charles B. Hosmer, both of whom were born in Maine, the former in 1837 and the latter in 1840.

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of aww, isn't that cute! A little boy has a surprised look on his face as he poses in front of the Christmas tree with the new tiger, monkey, and Humpty Dumpty toys he received as gifts in 1956. See also a cropped version of the snapshot.

A kid and his new toys, Christmas 1956. See also the full version of the photo.

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of birds of a feather (whether proverbially sticking together or not) . Handwritten note on the other side: "Joe's Prize Rooster." This is a real photo postcard with a divided back and a type of Azo stamp box (with four corner triangles pointing up) on the other side that suggests a possible date that may be as early as 1907 to 1918. There's no address, postmark, or other information on the verso that would provide any additional clues to the date or location of the photo. See also the full version of the photo.

A real photo postcard featuring "Joe's Prize Rooster." See also a cropped version of the prize.

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of appliances -- refrigerators, stoves, washing machines, dishwashers, etc. Refrigerators and other appliances are stacked outside of a store for a special "Frigidaire Week" sale lasting "6 Days and 6 Nites" or "78 H[ours]," depending on which sign you happen to be looking at. A handwritten sign on the fridge at front center indicates a price of $10.00 while another behind it costs $79.95. The sign in front of the store identifies the business as Thomas & Gibney, Inc., and one online source says it was located in Lemoyne, Pennsylvania, but I haven't been able to confirm this. Signs visible in the photo: Frigidaire Appliances Thomas & Gibney, Inc. Maytag Sales Service 6 Days and 6 Nites Buy Now and Save! Lowest Prices Ever! 78 Hr. Sale Frigidaire Week

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of double or triple exposure . A well-dressed fellow poses -- twice! -- at a bench in the back yard for this double-exposure photo. This is a real photo postcard with a divided back and a type of Azo stamp box (with four corner triangles pointing up) on the other side that suggests a possible date that may be as early as 1907 to 1918.

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of Watch the skies! -- UFOs, airplanes, birds, clouds, or anything else that might be up there . The hard-to-read handwritten note on the other side of this divided-back, real photo postcard says, "Rose sitting, [Lill?] Jennings standing, ... and myself at Yarmouth." The Yarmouth location and the roundels on the wings of the airplane suggest that this is a souvenir photo from England. But what's the meaning of "O.K" and "R.U." on the fuselage? And was there actually a three-seater biplane that looked something like this?

S. W. Solenberger, the name printed on this nineteenth-century business card, is listed as Solomon Wingert Sollenberger (1838-1906) on Find a Grave (note the extra "l" in the last name). Solenberger's farm was located in Guilford Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and he used the township's name for his herd of Shorthorn cattle. S. W. Solenberger Proprietor of Guilford Herd of Short-Horns. Breeder of Thorough-bred Red Short-Horn Cattle. Chambersburg, Franklin County, Penna. "Red Rose." [HBT?] L.L.S.Journal Chicago

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of funny costume or outfit (for Halloween or any other occasion) . Handwritten note on the other side of this photo: "Mary K. Anderson. Helen Troxell. (B. B. Kids). Halloween Party." As the note suggests, Mary and Helen evidently dressed in black and white stripes in imitation of prison garb to wear as Halloween costumes Judging by the painted backdrop and window frame, they posed for the photo in a studio setting. This is a divided-back real photo postcard. There's no address, postmark, stamp box, or any other information on the verso that would provide any clues to the location or date of the photo.

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of blanket on the grass . This is an early twentieth-century photo of a baby on a blanket in the grass. The kid is propped up on a pillow in front of some shrubbery at the edge of a yard. Printed on the other side of this divided-back real photo postcard: "Turner's Real Photograph, Marion, Ia." The Kruxo stamp box design printed on the other side of this divided-back real photo postcard suggests that it may date to 1908-1910. "Turner's Real Photograph, Marion, Ia.," also appears on the verso.