Capital Transit, Washington, D.C.

You could probably get these postcards at the information booth at Union Station back in the old days. Capital Transit was formed  in 1933 with the merger of the three existing transit providers (Washington Railway, Capital Traction, and Washington Raid Transit.) Although Capital Transit closed several streetcar lines and replaced them with buses, they also updated the streetcar fleet with streamlined modern PCC streetcars. In 1945, they had the third largest streetcar fleet in the United States.
They ran into financial trouble in 1955, due in part to the owners paying themselves huge dividends during a time of declining transit ridership. They tried to make up for the falling revenue and squandered reserves by requesting a fare increase, which was denied.  As a result, they were unable to offer any raises for employees and the employees went on strike. During the seven-week strike, passengers had to find other ways to travel.

Capital Transit met its demise in an interesting and unusual way. One of the owners, Louis Wolfson, dared the Senate to revoke his franchise, claiming no one else would be willing to take it over.  Congress did indeed revoke his franchise, and the new system, under the leadership of Ray Chalk, was known as DC Transit.

Dreaming of Corned Beef

This girl could be dreaming of a white Christmas, but instead, she's dreaming of corned beef.  The trade card was produced sometime in the 1870s. There was a famous company by the name of Libby, McNeill & Libby, which specialized in canned meat. They are now known as just Libby, and they still produce canned meats (think Vienna sausages.)

The back of the card is also interesting.  It provides a space for a receipt for goods bought at George Mason, dealer in teas, coffees, & fine groceries in Paterson New Jersey. Here's the back of the card:

 

Business in Binghamton #3

This is a trade card and a puzzle card from about 1890. It's not very pretty, but that seems appropriate, considering it's advertising evaporated pie preparations.

According to the instructions, you are supposed to find a number of things hidden in the picture. While the card is not very pretty, the list of things you are supposed to look for is just bizarre:

Find - Phrenologist at the seaside - Brigand on the mountain - Punch and Judy show - Tramp splitting wood - Cat playing fiddle - Citizen stepping on electric wire - Washington shot at by an Indian - Clown riding on elephant's trunk - Indian club swinger - Jersey mosquito chasing stranger - Nigger riding mule - McCarthy and his mare and Lady jumping through ring of fire.