Another pristine photo from the Duke University R.C. Maxwell Collection. Remember when we would see a car an immediately know it was a Buick, Dodge, etc.? Today's cars all look alike. My Subaru looks like a Toyota and many other cars that have the same very basic body design. Check out that great Buick Parked in front of the A & P. I "Photoshopped" this in the maximum number of dots per inch and when it is enlarged, you feel like you can walk into that A & P and have them grind you a pound of "Red Circle" or "Bokar" coffee! (Remember them?)
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS: tglover320@optimum.net
Wednesday, September 05, 2012
1951: PROSPECT STREET
Another pristine photo from the Duke University R.C. Maxwell Collection. Remember when we would see a car an immediately know it was a Buick, Dodge, etc.? Today's cars all look alike. My Subaru looks like a Toyota and many other cars that have the same very basic body design. Check out that great Buick Parked in front of the A & P. I "Photoshopped" this in the maximum number of dots per inch and when it is enlarged, you feel like you can walk into that A & P and have them grind you a pound of "Red Circle" or "Bokar" coffee! (Remember them?)
Hi Tom, You mention the difficulty in identifying the various cars today, but back in the day, there were distinct differences in the styling philosophy of each manufacturer. Here is a good example of the distinction between the big three, GM, Ford and Chrysler. The 1946-47 Buick, parked in front of the A&P has a well rounded streamlined appearance, with the front fenders extending in a downward line to meet the rear fender. The fender skirts, further accentuate the streamline effect, with the tail lights blended in nicely below the trunk lid. The rear license plate is also dropped down to the bumper, cleaning up the trunk lid. Th car appears lower than it's contemporaries. The 1947 Ford, passing by, although the same year as the Buick, looks old by comparison. Very upright, although well rounded, it's front fender ends ahead of the front door, with a distinct rear fender. It just doesn't look modern. This would change drastically, when the new envelope styled 1949 model was introduced, sometimes referred to as the shoebox design, in June of 1948. By comparison, the 1946-48 Dodge, turning right, ahead of the Ford, is a pleasant design, although still a pre-war body design, the front fenders extend and fade into the front doors, giving it a more modern look. The car has an accessory rear bumper guard, and a nice set of whitewalls, not that common during this time period. Another good comparison, shows how much design changed in just a short period of time. Look at the 1939 Buick parked in front of the 1947 Buick. Like night and day. Great photo, with the Trenton Reservoir in the background. rayfromvillapark
ReplyDeleteRAY, I HAD NO PROBLEM BACK IN THE DAY IN IDENTIFYING THE CARS. THEY WEREN'T LIKE TODAY'S "COOKIE CUTTER" DESIGNS. HOW I MISS THOSE CHROME STEEL BUMPERS, FINS, "CADDY" HUB CAPS, FENDER SKIRTS, AND ALL THE MANY OTHER FEATURES 6 AND 8 CYLINDER ENGINES.
ReplyDeleteTOM GLOVER
My mother bought Red Circle coffee in this very store. And she knew the butcher, the seafood manager and the produce manager by name. Right across the street was Prospect Bank, a nice old-fashioned bank with huge windows and lots of marble. The bank building was on the market a few years ago - I wonder what became of it? This block of Prospect is just south of Pennington Rd., close to the Reservoir.
ReplyDelete