Convair 240

Convair was formed by a merger between Consolidated Aircraft Corporation and Vultee Aircraft. In 1946, they designed the Convair 240, the first twin-engine, pressurized airplane. It had a range of 830 miles, a built-in stairway, and was considered a luxury liner.  American Airlines, PanAm, Western Airlines,  KLM, and other airlines bought these. Initially, the price was $316,000. Although the plane could hold 44 passengers, the seating was normally arranged for 32. This is not the approach that airlines take today, in case you haven't noticed.

Many old airplanes are sent to desert boneyards. Some planes actually fly again and some end up in museums, while others are used for spare parts.  But a lot of them just sit out there and decay. There has been a trend in the last decade to convert shipping containers into housing; an airplane like this seems much more elegant and full of possibilities. I just can't decide if the cockpit should be the living room or the dining room.

SS Transylvania

In July 1931, Janet sailed off on the SS Transylvania.  If you look closely, you can see where she has designated her cabin on the front of the card.  In 1931, she could have bought passage in first, second, or third class. Here's her message to Mrs. James Bennett:

Thurs a.m.

Everything has been so exciting! I have a very nice cabin and the three other girls are nice too although I have met a New Haven girl I like very much - Have not met the conductor or hostess as yet but will after breakfast. Gifts and letters were being  left for me all afternoon and evening -  but yours were the only flowers. They gave me a real thrill and were packed so beautifully. I even found a large box of assorted nuts when I got in last night and today I see my folks! The sea is rolling a little but I like it so far. Keep well - and thanks for all you did to give me a fine send off -lovingly -Janet

I hope Janet's folks don't mind being mentioned in the same sentence as the box of assorted nuts.

The Transylvania was built in 1925 for the Anchor Line of Glasgow. In 1939, the ship was requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted to an armed merchant cruiser for use in WWII. The HMS Transylvania was torpedoed and sunk in 1940 by a German submarine. The wreck remains upright and nearly intact on the seabed. You can see underwater pictures of it here.

Oddly enough, there was an earlier SS Transylvania passenger liner, built in 1914 by the Anchor Line. Guess what happened to her? Well, she was requisitioned by the Admiralty and used as a troop ship for WWI. She was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine in 1917. There may be a lesson here; it is either: 1. Don't name your ship the SS Transylvania, or 2. Don't let the military know that you have a passenger liner.  Well, maybe that's not it...what do you think?

Met Life Insurance Calendar

 

Let's see, I must have 5 cents in stamps around here somewhere. It doesn't say anything about a deadline and I would love to have one of those calendars.

This card was printed in 1907, when the Met Life building was a mere 11 stories tall. Two years later, a new Met Life world headquarters was built on the same spot. The new tower was designed by Napoleon LeBrun and Sons and was the world's tallest building for four years until the Woolworth building was built. It served as Met Life's world headquarters until 2005! The building is designated a national historic landmark.