Soldiers and Sailors

A real photo postcard.

"Oscar G. Frederick" is written on the back of this real photo postcard. For a similar postcard, see World War I Soldier with Flag .

For a similar real photo postcard, see World War I Soldier Oscar G. Frederick with Flag .

A real photo postcard from the Penn Park Studio, York, Pa.

A real photo postcard from Penn Park Studio, York, Pa.

A celluloid medallion. For additional examples, see the George Eastman House's extensive collection of Celluloid Medallions & Buttons on Flickr.

A real photo postcard with a couple of usually down-to-earth military types mugging for the camera and pretending to drive (look at that big steering wheel!) an aeroplane.

A real photo postcard.

A vintage photo with uniforms for the ABC Group (5/2/2017). A real photo postcard showing four U.S. Navy sailors posing in front of the Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Looks like it was a windy day--the wide "tar flap" collars on the uniforms of two of the men are pushed up around the backs of their necks.

Two sailors "Just leaving Milwaukee," one with a drink in hand and the other with a gun at the ready! Yikes!

A real photo postcard view of a parade, possibly part of an Independence Day celebration, somewhere in the United States. Uncle Sam is marching along with a group of musicians dressed in what look like World War I-era military uniforms, while men in civilian clothes, many carrying flags, follow behind.

Although it's difficult to make out, the soldier at front middle is holding up a piece of cloth that looks like a pillowcase. Printed or embroidered on the cloth is an American flag along with the words "American Beauties." Notice, too, the soldier--perhaps a sergeant or other officer--at top middle who's standing head and shoulders above the rest. Rather than facing the camera like the others, he seems to be peering off in the distance at something out of the frame of the photo. Mouse over the image to see close-up views of sarge looking sideways and the pillowcase hold-up.

For the original photo, see American Beauties .

For the original photo, see American Beauties .

This real photo postcard seems similar to one of Arthur Mole 's "living photographs"--World War I-era photos "in which tens of thousands of soldiers, reservists, and other members of the military were arranged to form massive compositions." Note the biplane flying overhead and the automobile at the left. The handwritten caption at bottom appears to end with "Steve Winters, 1918," but I haven't been able to make out the first two words.

On maneuvers and "in the army" with the Vintage Photos Theme Park group. A real photo postcard of a camp scene, probably dating to World War I. Soldiers are standing in line as they wait to get their chow at the ramshackle building at left. A young boy, who appears to be talking with some of the soldiers, is visible in the center of the photo. Situated along the fence to the right of the boy are some wooden baskets and a box from which the soldiers are evidently getting the plates and cups that many of them are holding. In the background are wall and pyramidal tents typical of those used in the First World War. Unfortunately, I don't have any information regarding the specific date and location of the photo.

A vintage science and/or cat's eye glasses photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Surgeons at a French field hospital during the First World War use an x-ray machine --"the latest and most complete scientific device for saving life," according to the description on the back of this stereographic card--to locate and remove a bullet from a wounded soldier. This image was first published by the Keystone View Company as part of a set of war stereogaphs issued in 1917-18. See below for the full Locating Bullet with X-ray Machine stereoview card. For additional information regarding the Keystone View Company's World War I stereographic sets, see the The World War through the Stereoscope , a digital collection from the Library of Congress. 18608 - French Field Hospital - Locating Bullet with X-Ray Machine Excerpt from the description on the back of the card: Before us surgeons are using the x-ray to locate the bullet in a wounded soldier. His life depends upon finding it promptly and with little probing. For this the x-ray is invaluable--it projects a shadow of the bullet in the wound. As a further aid in locating the bullet, a mechanism working on the plan of a telephone is used. One end of the circuit is attached to a bell and the other end is fastened to a sliver thread attached to the probe. When the probe touches the bullet the bell rings. Many lives have been saved by this invention, which enables the surgeon to locate the bullet quickly and to extract it through a small orifice. Notice the tube at the surgeon's ear, leading to the bell on the x-ray apparatus, so that he can hear instantly hear the first faint vibration. Observe the wire bringing the current from the ambulance. We have before us no crude emergency outfit, but the latest and most complete scientific device for saving life.