Great period photo, fiind the Studebaker(s).

[Studebaker Wheel]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280705306153

No prizes offered.

[BobPalma]

If Chris Dresbach misses the prominent Studebaker, he'll need to be granted a Leave of Absence from Studebaker International to attend SSS (Studebaker Summer School). <GGG> BP

[jclary]

Thanks for the heads up on this photo Richard. I just turned on the computer and checked the forum this morning and found your thread. Great way to start the day. Although I was an infant when this photo was taken, I still remember when people were not so isolated. Notice that there are no air conditioned cars with their windows rolled up. People are actually interacting or at least exposed enough where it is possible. Stores have "store fronts" and are not surrounded by a monster parking lot. No one is wearing sun screen, talking on a cell or distracted by an ipod.

At this time, most people will go home and listen to a radio. A few will have a television or know someone who has one. Many will have electric refrigerators but still refer to them as the "ice box." Boys will still look like boys and have hair cuts that look like they got their moneys worth in getting it. Little girls will have paper "cut-out" dolls and look like little girls. Most boys would have a pocket full of marbles. Many will have holes in their pants at the knees from wallowing on the ground while playing with them.

I could go on...but a few moments reflecting is a good way to start the day. Oh...and I think I see at least one "Skyway" looking Studebaker!

[barnlark]

There were only about 7000 television sets in the entire country when that picture was taken! No stations even transmitting in St. Petes. They look like they all got out of the house to enjoy the moment of a war finally ending. What a great moment in time photo. Thanks RQ.

[HAWK64]

I am guessing it is the secong car on the left, a '40 sedan.

[41 Frank]

The second one along the curb is a 1941 Champion Cruising sedan and the 5th one along the curb could be a 41 Commander. The one that appears to have some sort of a luggage rack or something attached to the roof.

[studegary]

I was in Highland Hospital, Beacon, NY having my appendix removed when this picture was taken. Our car then was a 1940 Plymouth that was very similar to the 1941 Plymouth behind the 1941 Studebaker at the curb.

[sals54]

What strikes me about the photo is the nature of car design. I suppose some complain about todays cars all looking the same... but to the untrained eye, don't all these cars look the "same"? The 50s really shook things up, though.

[Chris_Dresbach]

If Chris Dresbach misses the prominent Studebaker, he'll need to be granted a Leave of Absence from Studebaker International to attend SSS (Studebaker Summer School). <GGG> BP

Well I definately see a '41. Not sure if I see a '40 though.

[55 prez]

I count four Studebakers. Two along the curb headed to the right and two twins in traffice headed to the left. They all look like 41's, maybe 40's sedans.

[Studebaker Wheel]

"What strikes me about the photo is the nature of car design. I suppose some complain about todays cars all looking the same... but to the untrained eye, don't all these cars look the 'same'?"

Actually I could not disagree more. I can name most all of the cars in this photo but put me in similar traffic today and I probably could not recognize one in ten."

As for Studebakers I can only find two (for sure) and those are cars number two and five along the curb (as mentioned by 41 Frank and others), both ‘41s. I do not believe any of the cars facing away from the camera are Studebakers.

[BobPalma]

"What strikes me about the photo is the nature of car design. I suppose some complain about todays cars all looking the same... but to the untrained eye, don't all these cars look the 'same'?"

Actually I could not disagree more. I can name most all of the cars in this photo but put me in similar traffic today and I probably could not recognize one in ten."

Easy, Dick; you're only going to get modest variations when your design computer sprays a gentle shower of water over a bar of soap in a wind tunnel for a few hours. <GGG> BP

[8E45E]

They look like they all got out of the house to enjoy the moment of a war finally ending.

They'll all be out of the house today if it were today, too! Only everyone wil be in the BAR pounding back a few cool ones watching it live on the Bigscreen!!

Craig

[Bob Andrews]

What strikes me about the photo is the nature of car design. I suppose some complain about todays cars all looking the same... but to the untrained eye, don't all these cars look the "same"? The 50s really shook things up, though.

Completely agree. To my eye, most all the Teens look the same; then the Twenties look the same; then the early Thirties look the same, then the late Thirties' Art Deco styling look the same; then the 40s all the same, then the early 50s. Starting in 55-56 they became really individual through the mid-late 80s, then faded into sameness until the retro Mustang redesign started bringing back a little individuality. Today the Retros (Mustang, Challenger, Camaro) stand out, which hopefully will become a long-term trend.

Of course, there are exceptions, but by and large that's how I've seen them. Maybe it's to do with your personal era.

Personally, I will drive a compact car if they can make one that favors a '60 Lark

[Studebaker Wheel]

Completely agree. To my eye, most all the Teens look the same; then the Twenties look the same; then the early Thirties look the same, then the late Thirties' Art Deco styling look the same; then the 40s all the same, then the early 50s. Starting in 55-56 they became really individual through the mid-late 80s, then faded into sameness until the retro Mustang redesign started bringing back a little individuality. Today the Retros (Mustang, Challenger, Camaro) stand out, which hopefully will become a long-term trend.

Of course, there are exceptions, but by and large that's how I've seen them. Maybe it's to do with your personal era.

Personally, I will drive a compact car if they can make one that favors a '60 Lark

I might concur that cars thru the late 20s were quite similar. However I could not agree that most cars of the 1930s looked the same. For illustration see the images below, all 1939 Coupes. If you can say with conviction that these cars all looked the same you need your glasses changed! Maybe its just that you are not familiar with that era?