It is time, once again, to turn things over to my awesome readers for another batch of fun and insightful comments...
A plumbing repair that cost just $2.20 ... in 1906: Jim Fahringer writes: "These old billheads are really neat. Recently I sold some on eBay from the York area. They are actually quite collectable. You translated the billhead for any reader who could not read the fancy cursive handwriting. One of the things that I really like about these old billheads is the beautiful cursive writing. What is really sad is that in about 20 more years, most people will not be able to read any cursive writing since it is no longer being taught in most schools!"
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Top of an old box of Tiddledy Winks: Leslie Ann, who blogs at
Lost Family Treasures, writes: "I love the game Tiddly Winks! Just a few months ago I found a game of Tiddly Winks (packaged in a tin) in Gander Mountain. I haven't seen this game since I was a kid, so naturally I had to buy it."
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Saturday's postcard: Wanamaker's and the 1911 World Series: Wendyvee of
Wendyvee's RoadsideWonders.net writes: "I've been to Philly scads of times but I've never made it to Macy's (Wanamaker's). ... Maybe I'll give it a whirl around Christmas. It's such an iconic building! Nice research on the 1911 Series."
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Vintage photo of a 1936 Ford: Anonymous writes: "Oh, wait! For a minute there I thought this was an unpublished photo of
Bonnie and Clyde!"
Note from me: Hmmm. Maybe there's a
little resemblance. (See photos at right.) Of course, Bonnie & Clyde never lived to see a 1936 Ford. They were gunned down on May 23, 1934.
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Turning my negative thoughts about ephemera into positives: Wendyvee writes: "I can't even begin to imagine how many negatives end up in landfills every single day. Kudos to you for giving some a bit of an afterlife. Love the woman in the kitchen. What a classic slice of life!"
And Justin Mann of
Justin's Brew Review writes: "I absolutely love the title of this post. Admittedly, you had me fooled for a minute. I couldn't figure out how you could possibly be having negative thoughts about ephemera! This is a really interesting look at negatives, which I had just about forgotten. They've gone the way of flash bulb sticks. Like roadsidewonders, I love the negative of the woman in the kitchen. As always, nice work!"
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Neat stuff from an 1880 volume of Edgar Allan Poe's works: Dianne writes: "Loved Leary's bookstore [in Philadelphia]! My Dad would take us there for an annual road trip. We were each allowed to choose books from Leary's children's section for our personal libraries. Fabulous place!"
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Vintage poster stamps from Highland Linen Writing Paper: Wendyvee writes: "One of my fondest memories of my Grandmother's house involves 'Cinderella Stamps'. She saved Christmas Seals — and various other stickers that used to be common with junk mail marketing campaigns — in a shoe box in her dining room closet. When we visited three or four times per year, she would give me the box and a stack of notebook paper and I was in sticker heaven."
And crimsoncat05, who writes the blog
"life in the AZ desert," writes: "These are really neat; thank you for the explanation of Cinderella stamps, and for showcasing these tiny pieces of art! My Grandma saved postage stamps, Easter seals, and Christmas seals (now I know what they're called — cool!) in small ring-bound leather notebooks. I have fond memories of when I got to help out by gluing her newest cache of stamps into the notebook. She passed away a number of years ago; I now possess those notebooks full of stamps, and I cherish them."
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Birthday gift from the Class of 1943-44: Wendyvee writes: "What a sweet card. Good work on your part chasing down some leads on these sixth graders from yesteryear. So jarring to think that some of the young sixth graders would grow up to serve in yet another war just a few years later. I bet the teacher/recipient would have been proud to know that he/she had a future microbiologist in the mix."
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Creepy and dilapidated structures of the eastern United States, Part 1: Regarding a photo of the Golden Rule department store in Belington, West Virginia, "Anonymous" fesses up and writes: "I spray painted 'Free Manson' on there. It's hilarious to see it on the Internet."
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A time-honored school tradition: The excuse note: Regarding a small item that had been tucked away inside an old book, Anonymous writes: "
Fishburne Military School perhaps? The colors seem right."
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Old mail and lists tucked away inside "The Valley of Decision": Regarding a grocery list that is featured in this post, Justin Mann writes: "That's a LOT of cheese for just two mouse traps. Either they were really big mice or there were a bunch of them."
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Selections from the 1967 Top Value Stamps catalog: Anonymous writes: "I bought a
1966 Chevy Impala. I opened up the glovebox. There was a Top Value book. Most of the pages are complete, but what is this worth? It is near-mint condition? Maybe I'll save it and put it in the car shows with my owner's manual."
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Saturday's postcards: Two neat vintage scenes from Norway: Wendyvee writes: "That is, indeed, the most kick-ass stroller ever!"
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Celebrating Papergreat's 600th post with chickens, past and present: Wendyvee writes: "I'll be the first to sign up for the 'Papergreat Napkin-Ring-Of-The-Month Club'. I'll collect the entire set and impress my friends and neighbors."