The Austin Company
There’s a really good overview of the tobacco industry in Greeneville here.
Look around Greeneville at the smokestacks. See that “A” on the stack? That’s Austin.
This roughly 2.25 x 4″ luggage tag is probably from the mid-60s. The tag is still flexible, but the strap has turned brittle and has broken.
The tag is by Econ-O-Line. On the reverse is a plastic pocket for a provided ID card.
Pretty spiffy. Telex number and all. Also note the 615 telephone prefix. The 615 – 423 split didn’t happen until 1995.
The Queen Mary
I found these cards at a place in Asheville. 25 cents each! It’s been a while since I’ve seen a postcard in any decent shape for 25 cents.
The Queen Mary sailed the briny deeps of the Atlantic from 1936 to 1967, crossing the ocean 1,000 times. It’s now decommissioned and firmly attached to a beach in San Diego.
This is a 3 7/8 x 5 3/4″ card, printed England:
Here’s the back of it:
This is a standard size card. The message on the back is great.
Owl wonders – “How does the poor little thing eat?”USS Shenandoah
This is a modern real-photo postcard with no attribution. The picture, however, apparently depicts the USS Shenandoah (ZR-1), which was launched in 1923 and felled by a storm in Ohio in 1925.
Brassavola nodosa
Called the Lady of the Night, this orchid, originally from Mexico, emits a “white floral” scent after dark. It is pollinated by moths. It belongs to Mark Allison, who thoughtfully texted me when this came into full bloom.
The Cunard R.M.S. Queen Elizabeth
Nice mid-50s Cunard postcard with an artist’s rendering of the original Queen Elizabeth, launched in 1938, but only carried troops until 1946, when it entered regular commercial service. The artist is C. F. Hopkinson, who actually worked for Cunard as an accountant, according to this posting.
Uncle Bob's Pix 