Bike Shop, Dec 1919
10-10-09, 06:03 PM
#1
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Bike Shop, Dec 1919
From the Shorpy photo archives:
(click through for original post with a much higher-resolution version)
(click through for original post with a much higher-resolution version)
10-10-09, 06:51 PM
#2
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https://www.shorpy.com/node/6963?size=_original
Seems like there used to be a lot more people with jug ears back then.
10-10-09, 07:52 PM
#4
Dolce far niente
Man -those mechanics look like tough mugs. And I wouldn't screw with the women-folk, either. They all look ready to throw down.
Dig the pin-up calendar, though.
Dig the pin-up calendar, though.
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Last edited by bigbossman; 10-10-09 at 07:56 PM.
10-10-09, 08:02 PM
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Actually reminds me of the shop I used to work in...seriously! 
10-10-09, 09:47 PM
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I think that is the wiring for the eletric lights. that looks like maybe an adjustible light above the guy on the right. I gues the customer wasn't always right then either *giggle*
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10-10-09, 10:14 PM
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This is only a very small system, but as a boy I remember a store that had a central cashier on a tall area in the middle of the room that had wires to every service desk running to it. Period would be right for this type of system.
10-11-09, 06:38 AM
#11
Very cool photo, thanks rcschafer.It looks like the light fixtures are made out of bike wheels!
10-11-09, 10:00 AM
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Those wires look like they attach to the pipe coming down from the ceiling. I would guess the pipe is either gas or air and the wires are stays to help stabilize it.
10-11-09, 10:20 AM
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Fascinating bit of history. Thanks for posting this. Looks like they had a pretty good inventory. The blood stain on the floor; all repairs and sundries strictly cash; the demeanors of the suits and ladies; I'm guessing no cash flow problems with this outfit.
10-11-09, 10:33 AM
#15
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I think that is a 'flying-fox' type of message system (ever seen a pneumatic pipe system? same idea). The paperwork, cash, receipt etc was put in a little capsule and screwed on to a carriage that was then launched (with the pull of a cord) up or down the wire.
This is only a very small system, but as a boy I remember a store that had a central cashier on a tall area in the middle of the room that had wires to every service desk running to it. Period would be right for this type of system.
This is only a very small system, but as a boy I remember a store that had a central cashier on a tall area in the middle of the room that had wires to every service desk running to it. Period would be right for this type of system.
The cashiers on the 1st floor at the front of the building used it to send paperwork to the office on the 2nd floor at the back.
Years later, I worked in the mechanical operations dept of a hospital, and one of our duties was to maintain the pneumatic tube system. Believe me, you don't want to have your finger in there when a carrier comes zipping through.
That hurts like h*ll!
10-11-09, 10:34 AM
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10-11-09, 10:44 AM
#17
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10-11-09, 01:22 PM
#18
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I think that is a 'flying-fox' type of message system (ever seen a pneumatic pipe system? same idea). The paperwork, cash, receipt etc was put in a little capsule and screwed on to a carriage that was then launched (with the pull of a cord) up or down the wire.
This is only a very small system, but as a boy I remember a store that had a central cashier on a tall area in the middle of the room that had wires to every service desk running to it. Period would be right for this type of system.
This is only a very small system, but as a boy I remember a store that had a central cashier on a tall area in the middle of the room that had wires to every service desk running to it. Period would be right for this type of system.
The thing that bothers me about this picture is that the mechanics are only working on things with motors. And that is probably an oil stain on the floor from the car.
10-11-09, 01:28 PM
#19
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I think that is a 'flying-fox' type of message system (ever seen a pneumatic pipe system? same idea). The paperwork, cash, receipt etc was put in a little capsule and screwed on to a carriage that was then launched (with the pull of a cord) up or down the wire.
This is only a very small system, but as a boy I remember a store that had a central cashier on a tall area in the middle of the room that had wires to every service desk running to it. Period would be right for this type of system.
This is only a very small system, but as a boy I remember a store that had a central cashier on a tall area in the middle of the room that had wires to every service desk running to it. Period would be right for this type of system.
Don't ask me how I know.
10-11-09, 03:23 PM
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"Only when we can see the prevailing social construction of the street from the perspective of its own time can we also see the car as the intruder. Until we do, not only will we fail to understand the violent revolution in street use circa 1915-1930, we will not even see it." Fighting Traffic, Peter Norton, 2008
tcs
10-11-09, 03:29 PM
#22
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