Buford’s on the left, Gerald “Jerry” is on the right. Both were veterans of WWII.
Buford retired from TVA and died at 92 in Knoxville.
Gerald, who was from Maryville, died in 2003, but I don’t know anything more about it…can’t find an obit.
S.S. Nassau
If you were venturing into the southern climes back around 1956 or so, you might have been on this ocean liner:
The S.S. Nassau. It began life in 1922 as the S.S. Mongolia, built in England. After a number of name changes, it became the Nassau from 1951 to 1961. It ended up on the West Coast as the S.S. Acapulco, flying the Mexican flag, the only ocean liner to have done so. But, after 40 years of service, it pretty much ground to a halt on the return trip from England, where she had gone for repairs to her prow. After a couple of years as a hotel ship, she was scrapped in 1964.
Here’s the back:
Note the Cuban Cure for Tuberculosis stamp, dated 1956. The actual date of the postmark isn’t visible, but it couldn’t have been before 1956. Tracy and Jim are having a fab time, apparently, and not looking forward to returning.
This post card is larger than the more-or-less standard (5-1/2 x 3-1/2″). It measures 5-5/8 x 4″. Continental post card size is 6 x 4…just 2/8″ shy.
Group of ?Bathers?
I bought this in an antique shop in Bristol. A a group of bathers photographed in a studio against an “ocean” background. This is a Real Photo Post Card. A one-off. The Private Mailing Card (PMC) stamp block on the back, along with no division between the “correspondence” and “address” sides puts this in the 1907- 1914 range. It is an undivided back card, but, for that short period, the U.S. Postal Service allowed a message on the left side of the back with an address on the right.
And the bathing costumes are right for the era.
Then, I got a look at Frank’s feet and legs. They have had a hard time, but he’s not in the least bit ashamed of it. Looks like a family group. I can’t work out the writing, except for the “Frank” below the seated man. The word above the standing man may be “Mabel” and refer to the woman. The long word or words along the right bottom corner…well, I don’t know what that spells.
Maybe we should just turn back…
This sign stack was spotted on Bloomingdale Pike (Kingsport TN).
Man With a Pistol
The actual picture is small – 2.25″ x 2.5″ and very faded. I believe the stern man is a police officer, since he’s holding a Colt Police Positive, popular in the 1940s.
Bonsai Trees
These bonsai trees were on sale at Smiley’s Flea Market in North Carolina.
Clouds
Clouds are heavy. They really are.
I mean, they’re water, that’s all –
8.34 pounds per gallon, that’s all.
According to scientists – thus spake Googlethustra –
Your standard cumulus cloud weighs in at 1.1 million pounds.
120,000 gallons of water, give or take a quart or two.
Looming overhead. If it all came crashing
(Hahaha! “Cloud crashing”…a concept)
Down, it’d do more than just mist your glasses.
And then some.
Keep a wary eye on that cloud…
Framed boxcar
These boxcars are parked on a little-used spur line in Ridgefields Industrial Park in Kingsport.
Pet Dairy Products Five Cent Token
Just found this one. It’s the five cent version of the Pet Products token from Johnson City. The ten cent token I posted a little while ago has a diameter of 16.5 mm, while this one is 20 mm.
Morristown TN in the Early 20th Century
This is a railroad post office franked postcard. The mark reads “BRISTOL & CHATTANOOGA TR 4 JUL 11 1917 R.P.O.”
It was printed by Curt Teich of Chicago and published by The Novelty Store in Morristown.
If this is looking west, then the old Kingmyer Hotel is up there somewhere on the right.
Oh, and I hope Miss Sarah Stonecypher of Limestone knew who “Guess Who?” was…
Pet Dairy Products Co. Token
I found a few of these tokens at a local flea market. Each token is 16.5 mm in diameter. They appear in a token catalog as originating in Johnson City TN, where Pet Dairy has had a milk processing facility since 1929. I think they’re pre-WWII. The token catalog notes that there was a 25 cent and a 5 cent version, too. The 5 cent token is posted here.
Crazy Cat
I have two cats. Believe me, I take signs like this seriously…
This is in Toecane NC.
Phlox
“Mom! The Good Fairy got drunk and threw up under the tree…again. (Weird, he did this last spring, too)”
