Bikes on Rails

Posted by admin | Posted in Still photographs | Posted on 09-01-2011

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Bikes on rails, how cool is that?  But uhhh… the baby?  Not exactly up to the safety standards of today.  From the “America on the Move” collection at the National Museum of American History (click the picture to go there)

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Link: 1920′s Footage, Cell Phone Lady?!

Posted by admin | Posted in Links | Posted on 28-10-2010

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There’s probably a totally rational explanation.  I sure wouldn’t know what it is.  At about 0:49 into the video, she is clearly talking.  Weird!

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1863 - A Muss at Headquarters, Colorized Wiggle

Posted by admin | Posted in Wiggle Animations | Posted on 28-09-2010

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1863 - Falmouth, Virginia. A muss at headquarters, Army of the Potomac. Colorized Stereo Card Wiggle Animation.

1863 - Falmouth, Virginia. A muss at headquarters, Army of the Potomac.

I absolutely fell in love with this image when I found it.  It’s so rare to see such a candid and funny shot from this era.  When I got to working on it, I realized this image had something that no other image I have yet to find has, motion.  At first I thought it was warping, and it was a bit warped, but the movement you see is actually the movement of the soldiers.  The first image was taken, then the angled image was taken a split second later, with artistic and skilled timing.  In each side, the men move ever so slightly, blurring some areas and creating motion in the image.  I do hope to find more of these, it’s a wonderful effect and impressively creative stereoscopic photography.

What I never figured out is why in the world that guy on the right is digging a hole.

View the original image here.

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Link: De Lackner HZ-1 Aerocycle

Posted by admin | Posted in Links | Posted on 24-09-2010

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A personal helicopter. I want one.

HZ-1 Aerocycle

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Some really weird history photos

Posted by admin | Posted in Links | Posted on 30-04-2010

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Pretty cool page, check it out here.

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Interesting Old Photographs

Posted by admin | Posted in Still photographs | Posted on 29-09-2009

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Here are some of my favorite old photographs, chosen because they are strange and unique.

No date given - Bathing Machines, Scheveningen

The bathing machine was a device, popular in the 19th century, to allow people to wade in the ocean at beaches without violating Victorian notions of modesty. Bathing machines were roofed and walled wooden carts rolled into the sea. Some had solid wooden walls; others had canvas walls over a wooden frame.

The bathing machine was part of sea-bathing etiquette more rigorously enforced upon women than men but to be observed by both sexes among those who wished to be “proper”.

Especially in Britain, men and women were usually segregated, so nobody of the opposite sex might catch sight of them in their bathing suits, which (although modest by modern standards) were not considered proper clothing to be seen in.

WIKI Source

between ca. 1910 and ca. 1915 - Lanander, Chi. - Sweden

I don’t think I’ve added any from this series.  Auto polo went on from about 1904 to about 1915, if I’m remembering my research correctly.  There were several matches, one in St. Louis, one in Madison Square Gardens.  There’s not much online about this, but there’s a great NY Times article here.  I strongly agree with the writer in that they would have a difficult time recruiting people for this sport….  Not to be outmatched, we come to:

Taken sometime in the 1910′s, this is an ice auto from Deluth.  Wonder what happens when they lean back?

“1910-1915 - Licking blocks of ice on a hot day.”  Refreshing, and sanitary!

Apparently used to listen for incoming planes.  And to make new recruits look silly.

1907 (?) - Tatoos or body ink

1911 - German stowaway.  This photo came from a Ellis Island collection.

The above image was taken in 1889 after the Johnstown Flood, and demonstrates that sarcasm is not a new thing.

Early waterboarding…. “1861-1872 - Man lies on cot under bed cover, his bandaged head rests in wooden apparatus with straps designed to elevate and cool head while allowing moisture from bandages to drip in basin below head”.

I daresay it would have worked on me.  “Oh, How I Love The Old Flag. Rebecca, A Slave Girl from New Orleans.  [Propaganda portrait of Rebecca, A Slave Girl from New Orlean...] (1864)”

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I think all of these came from the Prints & Photographs Online Catalog from the Library of Congress.  Great stuff in there.  Mostly public domain.

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Aviette, The Bicycle Airplane

Posted by admin | Posted in Still photographs | Posted on 02-09-2009

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1910 - 1915 - Aviette Contest - France (Aviette means small aeroplane in French)

1910 - 1915 - Aviette Contest - France (Aviette means small aeroplane in French)

I think I would have to pass…

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Auto Polo

Posted by admin | Posted in Still photographs | Posted on 06-08-2009

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Believe it, or don’t, but it really was a sport.  From what I’ve researched on the subject, it didn’t last long.  The NY Times has a couple of articles here and here, dated 1912 and 1913 respectively.   One wonders if this wasn’t used one of the leading reasons to support prohibition.  Here’s a couple pics:

Ouch...

A wonder it didn't last.

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