Monday, February 17, 2014

Five cool things from 1935's "Elements of Business Training"

The "New Edition" of Elements of Business Training by John M. Brewer, Floyd Hurlbut and Juvenilia Caseman was published in 1935 by Ginn and Company. Its chapter titles include "Telephone and Telegraph," "Saving and Investing your Money," "First Positions in Business," and "Handling the Mail."

Here are five cool things from the book.

1. The cover
The cover, both serious and classy, has a bit of an Art Deco flair.


2. The bookplate
The previous owner's full name was Carl E. Walker, per a stamp found elsewhere in the book.


3. A Typical Information Bureau
The photo caption states: "When you ask for 'Information,' you are connected with one of these operators. Notice the number of reference books in front of each operator."

This was, of course, before Google.


4. The Use of Codes
Here's something I didn't know: "Many business houses make use of code in telegrams and cablegrams. Code reduces the cost and insures greater secrecy."

Here are some examples of telegram code:
  • ABYSS — Will they accept?
  • CUSAC — The cost will be
  • CUCHO — What will be the cost of
  • FEAXY — What is the freight
  • DUMBO — Freight prepaid
  • DIXIE — Freight collect
  • MITEN — One dozen
  • KRETA — Barrel(s)
  • QUIST — Please quote lowest possible price
  • SAKER — Ship at once

5. Intercity Motor Coach
Check out this snazzy bus! The caption states: "This provides seats and sleeping-accommodations for twenty-six passengers. The man at the center window of the lower deck is eating a meal prepared by a the chef who may be seen in the white uniform."

Sleeping accommodations? A chef? I'd love to know more about this particular bus. Who made and operated it? How many were manufactured? How much did a ticket cost? Did it make money, or was it a big bust? Also, are any of these buses still around? If anyone has any leads, let me know in the comments section.

1 comment:

  1. Hi Chris, Google Pickwick Nitecoach for starters and if you can manage to find a copy the periodical, Motor Coach Age, October 1972, published by the Motor bus Society, there's a whole issue devoted to 'Sleeper Buses and the Pickwick Stages System' There were only four built of the type shown. which was of a slightly different design to the earlier three. Named 'Morpheus it was the fourth, but by no means the last of a series of highly innovative designs patented by Dwight E Austin, which culminating in the first bus with a transverse rear engine. Eight were built and Austin was hired by GM subsidiary Yellow Coach, in 1934 for his unique 'angle drive' engine transmission patent. The rest as they say was history. Hope this helps.

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