Northern Pacific's North Coast Limited

This was the way to travel. The North Coast Limited was one of the first named trains in the United States, and it had a reputation for elegance and impeccable service. It started service in 1900 and operated between Chicago and Seattle until the day before Amtrak started service in 1971. The trip took approximately 45 hours.

The train even provided postcards such as this one, which you could mail from the on-board post office on your way to the on-board barber shop. You can find out much more about the history of the North Coast Limited at American-Rails.com.

Here's the back of the card.

The Fabulous Postcard Projector

It's not even Christmas yet, but here I am the recipient of a marvelous gift. It is so fabulous. Earlier this year, Tracy over at Tracy's Toys bought something she had never seen before--an early 1900s tin postcard projector.  You insert a postcard, and you can project the image on a wall.  I remember seeing it and marveling at it, but I never thought I'd have one of my own. Then, out of the blue, Tracy decided to send it to me. Wow!

Here is the back, where you insert the card. The chimney serves to dissipate the heat from the light bulb.

Here are some side and front views, showing the lens.

And, yes it works, although it takes awhile to switch cards, so your audience may lose patience. I don't see any reflector in the box though, so I'm not sure exactly how it works. Here's a diagram from a 1909 Popular Mechanics article that shows a postcard projector with two lights.

If you love gadgets and toys, be sure to take a look at all of the other good stuff over at Tracy's Toys. Eventually Tracy is going to run out of space to display her collection and she'll have to open a museum. I'm looking forward to that day.

Business in Binghamton #2

If you were a hatter, what would you put on the front of your trade card? Maybe a stylish hat?  Calkin the Hatter decided, for whatever reason, that a horse belonged on the front of his card. The back was blank. The card is from prior to 1886, because in that year Calkin took on a partner and the name of the business was changed to Calkin & Delevan, hatters, furriers, and dealers in men's furnishing goods. It doesn't have the same ring as Calkin the Hatter.