International Harvester Coca Cola Truck - 1939

This over-sized (7.5" x 4") advertising postcard touts the new International D-300 COE (cab-over-engine) delivery truck.

In 1939, International Trucks introduced its all steel Metro body styling, offering a very attractive design look and feel. The appearance was very smooth with no projecting fenders or corners. Some people commented that the appearance resembled a “loaf of bread”. The large flat sides and rear end design offered an abundance of advertising space which store merchants thoroughly enjoyed for their business. 

Ed Wynn: The Fire Chief Radio Show

Fire Chief ran from 1932 to 1935 and was a variety show that featured comedy and music that featured The Fire Chief Quartet, The Fire Chief Band and Ed Wynn. The roots of Texaco Star Theater were in a 1930s radio hit, Ed Wynn, the Fire Chief, featuring the manic "Perfect Fool" in a half hour of vaudevillian routines interspersed with music.

RPPCs with A Musical Theme

All 3 of the cards shown below were 

published in the 50's by the Los Angeles Photo Post Card Company.

Toenniges Instrument Repair was established in 1953 by instrument maker Paul Toenniges. The shop, now called Benning Violin, houses the talents of three recognized master violin makers: Toenniges' daughter, Nancy Benning, her husband Hans Benning and Eric Benning, a preeminent third-generation violinmaker and luthier who has become widely known for his antiqued reproductions of famous Italian-made master violins from the 16th century.

Founded in 1946 by Lowell C. Kiesel, as the L. C. Kiesel Company (now the Carvin Musical Instrument Co.).  He started by manufacturing aftermarket pickups for steel guitars, then began making a few models of basic lap steel guitars.  In 1949, the name was changed to Carvin (from his two eldest sons, Carson and Gavin; coincidentally, Carson Kiesel was born June 4, 1946 - the same year the Kiesel Company was founded).  Therefore, any instrument or amplifier with a Kiesel badge on it can be dated from 1946-1949; unfortunately, more specific dating is nearly impossible, although there are some clues based on the logos.

Here is a link to the Carvin Museum which houses some of Kiesel's works of art:

www.carvinmuseum.com/playersgallery/kiesel.html

The Pennino Music Co. was founded by Jeanette Pennino Banoczi and husband Jack Banoczi in Los Angeles some time after the end of WWII; It later moved to Westminster California. The were primarily a distributor but they did register their own brands and distribute them. On the back of this card is "special" on Circus Band Harmonicas...10 cents each! I'll take a dollars worth!

Kenneth Wright - Commercial Art

Another advertising RPPC from the 1950's. Although I am usually successful in googling people and places for additional information, I was not able to find this Kenneth Wright. I love how the drawing looks so much better than the real one!

The General Chef

Ran across another advertising RPPC. Costing around $259.00 in 1951 this little space-saver may be the strangest "major" kitchen appliance I've ever seen.  Found one online today for $250!

Hill's Barber Shop, Los Angeles

Looking more like "Sweeney Todd" than your average barber, owner Jeff T. Hill poses for his RPPC advertising his trade! I'm guessing late 40's, early 50's. The only RPPC I've run across with the photographer in the picture...do you see him in the mirror?

Merry Christmas!

A couple of different Christmas themed postcards. The "Hollywood Christmas Snow" is an advertising card from the 50's while the Macy's Santa card (40's photo?) is a Fotofolio postcard published the 80's. 

The Denver Zephyrs

The Denver Zephyrs of 1936 boasted a 12-car length and were pulled by a twin-unit shovel-nose power car. They featured mahogany paneling in the lounge, hall, and dining areas, and technical innovations included a blue "night light" setting for sleeping car reading lamps and 110 volt outlets for electric shavers in the dressing-rooms. I love these trains!

Rike's Department Store 1853-1953

A very 50's looking postcard for the 100 anniversary of Rike's in Dayton, Ohio. By the late 1980's sections of the store were rented to other businesses and some floors formerly used for retail sales were totally abandoned. The store was closed in 1992 and stood more or less empty until the entire half-city block complex was demolished by implosion in 1999. You can watch that implosion here !