Vintage Style Reference in Vernacular Photographs

[Warbaby]

The gas station pic reminds me of the intersection off Vaness and Market St. in San Francisco. Could it be? [huh]

I'm not sure, but it's certainly possible. The photo is from an amazing photo album that was sold last month on eBay. The album chronicled a family's annual road trips that began in the early 1920s and continued until the 1940s. I wanted it badly, but had to drop out when the bidding passed $300 (though in retrospect, I think I should have kept on it and bought it at any price). At least I thought to grab a few examples.

The family covered just about all of the United States during that time and documented their journeys with about 350 photos. One of the cool things about their documentation of the trips was that they took photos of themselves and their car beside every route sign along their journeys. It was also fascinating to watch the children grow over the years. The photo I posted was one of the last ones in the album, taken when the two kids were in their late teens - early twenties.

Here are two more - the first photo is the first in the album with the family together. The second is when the daughter was in her early teens and the son was about 10. Note the route sign reflected in the car window.

 

[RBH]

Another Disfarmer.
I really like his photos.
Check out the jackets and the Open Road style fedora.

 

[Warbaby]

As we all know, there is a great deal of discussion in the Lounge regarding style details and the correct fit of men's suits. And a lot of the discussions focus on the great styles of the 20's and 30's, with wonderful photos of many of us in our impeccable outfits.

Here's an amusing shot of what golden era style prolly looked like on a lot of ordinary folks. It's another from the series of American oil company engineers in Venezuela in 1927. Note the trousers on the guy in the white suit - hanging way low on his hips and still too short at the bottom. The other guy's just lumpy and baggy.

Perhaps we should be dressing in rumpled, ill-fitting suits for the sake of vintage authenticity...

 

[Ghostsoldier]

Perhaps we should be dressing in rumpled, ill-fitting suits for the sake of vintage authenticity...

Hey...I can do that! lol

You're right, though, Warbaby....I think the blue collar/working class stiff was less interested in impeccability, and more in practicality...
Rob

 

[Warbaby]

Here's a white-suited guy who's pretty impeccable, but there's little doubt that he's a couple of classes above blue collar. Same goes for his uniformed friend.

 

[Warbaby]

Two more photos of those American oil engineers in Venezuela, 1927

This guy has the looks and style to be a star in adventure movies.

 

[Warbaby]

Group of passengers ready for a flight from Detroit to Cleveland on Aeromarine Airlines, 1920s.

This is the airplane they would have flown on.
I love its Steampunk aesthetic with the open cockpit in the nose, round port hole windows and cartoonish rudder...

 

[HadleyH]

You like this Warbaby?


"Family Group Outdoors" 1915

 

[Warbaby]

Gorgeous photo, Hadley! Quite the handsome family, as well. I'm pretty sure it's a Lumiere Autochrome and not a hand-colored B&W.

 

[Drew B]

I've been following this thread the whole way and just archiving everything. Thanks a bunch! They are a reference for what the folk of the day would wear. I mean looking at the popstars of today doesn't really give you an idea of what 'people' wear.

Cheers,
Drew.

 

[Warbaby]

Interesting jacket with 4 flap pockets, 1920s
Looks like the guy keeps a lot of stuff in those pockets.

Same guy, same jacket, more stuff in the pockets...

Different guy, different jacket, also with 4 flap pockets.
Note the way he's casually turned up his cuffs.

 

[Drew B]

Interesting jacket with 4 flap pockets, 1920s
Looks like the guy keeps a lot of stuff in those pockets.

pocket-man keeps his girl-friends' numbers in there!

Cheers,
Drew.​

 

[A.Blighty]

Taking it easy in the 20s

Love this photo, rather strikes a chord with me for some reason.

 

[Drew B]

I agree! I think there's something incrediblely youthful and carfree about the way she dangle's her legs over the side there. It is very pretty.

Cheers,
Drew.

 

[HadleyH]

Yes, A.Blighty and Drew B, I also love the photo of the girl in the car! It's so natural and carefree!



Delivering the mail in Los Angeles - probably early 1920s. I only wonder how long it took to deliver it, it's a nice picture anyway!

 

[Warbaby]

Even though she's wearing what may be the coolest shoes ever, the young lady on the right doesn't seem very happy...

 

[HadleyH]

Even though she's wearing what may be the coolest shoes ever, the young lady on the right doesn't seem very happy...

No she doesn't lol ..... unlike the humble girl with the horse, who's wearing very battered boots.....and she looks so happy! that goes to prove ....well that proves many things...I don't need to elaborate do I? hmmmm

 

[Warbaby]

And let that be a lesson to those who are addicted to shopping for shoes...

(OTOH, if I were a lady, I'd kill for a pair of shoes like that.)

 

[HadleyH]

(OTOH, if I were a lady, I'd kill for a pair of shoes like that.)

oh no... i do not like them at all, the shoes of the unhappy girl!

i prefer the batterd boots! but, hey, that's just me!

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

A farmer and his young son.

Found this unmailed postcard in a hymn book dated 1883 along with a
dated postcard,(1917) so I think it was most likely taken some time in the early 1920s.
Other items I found included a bill of sale for furniture dated 1927, so a 10 year time frame.
Somewhere in Onawonamac,(SP?) Wisconsin.

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