Southern Pacific 4449

In 1983, train enthusiasts voted the SP 4449 the most popular locomotive in the nation. Southern Pacific 4449 is the only surviving example of the SP GS-4 class of steam locomotive. The GS stands for Golden State since operated in regular service in California. It was built by Lima Locomotive Works (Lima, Ohio) in May of 1941 and received the red and orange "Daylight" paint scheme for the passenger trains of the same name which it hauled until it was retired from service in 1956 and put into storage.

SP 4449 was restored in Portland Oregon and returned to operation April 21, 1975 wearing a special paint scheme of red, white and blue to celebrate the American Bicentennial (card below). As part of the American Freedom Train, it pulled a display train around the United States. After nearly 2 years on the road, 4449 was returned to Portland. The "Daylight" colors have been restored and the train has made several appearances throughout the country since then.

Sing Fat Company, Los Angeles

The main store for Sing Fat Co. was in San Francisco's Chinatown. 

This branch was located in downtown Los Angeles. 

The logo above is from the back of the card.

Chinese Gardeners in California

These 2 guys don't look to happy about having their picture taken. Strange looking postcard with a very interesting design on the back. I couldn't find any info on Mr. Reeves, the Mission Artist.

Santa Barbara, California - 1920's

These views of Santa Barbara are published by W.W. Osborne of Santa Barbara. The cards were manufactured by the Albertype Co. of Brooklyn, New York. When the divided back postcard were authorized, the Albertype company created a line down the back of their cards with the words "Post Cards of Quality"...and I couldn't agree more! These cards also label "Hand-Colored" on them. The coloring on these cards (and the other cards of theirs that I have) is done with subtlety. Unlike many colored cards that tend to be bold and garish.

Santa Barbara 's first and only eight-story building was designed by A.B. Rosenthal and constructed by Charles Urton and opened April 9, 1924. Urton had never attempted a steel high-rise before, so he sent away for a series of "how-to" books to assist him in completing the project. After the earthquake of 1925 did almost no damage to the new structure, Urton proudly hung a banner from the top floor of the building proclaiming: "Built by Charles M. Urton, Builder." The Granada has been completely restored and is home to the Santa Barbara Center for the Performing Arts.

New York Zoological Park

A few more cards (by popular demand) from my NYZP collection. Not particularly valuable cards but I've always liked the way they looked.

The caption says "Handling Python"...Whose handling who?

Why wouldn't they create a mountain habitat for mountain goats as opposed to having them climb on a log cabin?...maybe they're actually Cabin Goats?

Weighing a Baby Orang - New York Zoological Park

This organization is more commonly referred to as the Bronx Zoo which opened in 1899. They published a great many postcards of zoo animals through a variety of printers. The Rotogravure Company printed a fine collotype card set for them in black & white and with color tints though their name does not appear on these cards. The Detroit Publishing Company also produced sets for them. 

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!