1925 Photo

[dcpritch]

This morning a photo popped up on the Shorpy website, showing a 1925 office scene from the Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co. I can see at least three pens on desks and wonder if any FPNers with eagle eyes can identify them. For starters, it appears the fellow in the right forefront has a Waterman 52 on his desk. I know its just a guess, based on pen shape and era, but hey, its pretty cool to take a look at an office scene from almost 90 years ago.

 

http://www.shorpy.com/files/images/SHORPY_33572u.jpg

[RMN]

Sorry, but the pic does not come through on the forum... link works

 

 

D.ick

[OldGriz]

You're kidding right..... at best all you see it a black stick looking item.... to even venture a guess, must less guess a Waterman 52, from that image is at best a good imagination.

Do you have any idea of how many pens in that time period looked the same..... it was the basic shape and form of virtually all pens in that day...

I have at least 6 or more pens from that period that are relegated to the parts bin that could be called a Waterman 52 if photographed in the same way....

 

I agree the picture from that time period is very interesting and rather informative as to how office structure was set up....

[dcpritch]

You're kidding right..... Do you have any idea of how many pens in that time period looked the same..... it was the basic shape and form of virtually all pens in that day...

I have at least 6 or more pens from that period that are relegated to the parts bin that could be called a Waterman 52 if photographed in the same way....

 

Good point Tom, I really was just making a wild guess based on the year, the shape of pen, and the Waterman's success in the marketplace at the time. Mostly I liked the photo and thought it would be interesting to share.

 

*****

 

By the way, the photo shows up on my screen when I click on this thread, but not for others? Is there a way I can insert the photo so it shows up directly on screen for everyone?

[jar]

Remember that all the way through to the early sixties the pencil was the more common writing tool.

 

But what about the numbered squares on the posts? Any other old farts remember what those were?

[RMN]

Ok, photo did not show first time I looked. Now it does come up.

 

D.ick

[dcpritch]

You're kidding right.....

 

As far as that goes, I'm pretty certain the fellow in the center back, in the window and to the left of the "1" sign, is writing with a 52 1/2V silver overlay that he got from his wife for their anniversary, though I can't quite make out what ink he's using.

 

Remember that all the way through to the early sixties the pencil was the more common writing tool.

 

But what about the numbered squares on the posts? Any other old farts remember what those were?

 

Can't help you there, any hints?

[jar]

You're kidding right.....

 

As far as that goes, I'm pretty certain the fellow in the center back, in the window and to the left of the "1" sign, is writing with a 52 1/2V silver overlay that he got from his wife for their anniversary, though I can't quite make out what ink he's using.

 

Remember that all the way through to the early sixties the pencil was the more common writing tool.

 

But what about the numbered squares on the posts? Any other old farts remember what those were?

 

Can't help you there, any hints?

 

Glen Miller would know.

[Uncle Red]

Cool picture, thanks for posting the link. It's nice to see how the pens were used even if we can't tell what they are. The lady towards the center is using her's posted, the guy on the right has his pen posted but it's sitting on his desk. Everyone's desk is so neat.

[Penguin.]

Is that a wooden file cabinet? That's so cool!

*looking it up now for my future home office*

 

Or apparently those are pretty common. Huh, I had no idea. Haha!

Edited December 28, 2012 by Penguin.