When you could buy used cars and tires on Broadway, Manhattan, New York City


We're at Broadway and 56th Street in Manhattan, thanks to a photo that I stumbled across on the Duke University site ROAD (Resource of Outdoor Advertising). This photo was taken because of the advertising, and it's in Duke's collection because of it, by my eye is caught by the used cars and auto parts.


It's 1918, and in this imaginary journey, we're too young to be overseas, so we're on Broadway, looking at the cars, and the car parts. There on the left is Jandorf Auto Company, which sells tires wholesale, and also used cars. I'll zoom into the window so we can get a closer look inside:


Just look at those beautiful tires! I wonder who Frank McAllister was? Do you suppose those people are looking at the tires, or reading what what's on the sign there? I wish I could read it, but this is as zoomed-in as I can go. Hang on, let's keep looking.


I can see a car in a showroom window there. Do you recognize the make and model? I really have no idea, but I'm sure that it went "A-OOooGAH! Let's look on the other side of the street.


There's a lot going on, of course, because it's Broadway! I see Nash, and __ppeth. Any ideas? There's a sign there on the right that I want to take a closer look at. I'll zoom in:


Here's what I see: Enlisted Men's Club, Showers, Baths, Billiards, Games, Reading, Musical Entertainment, Moving Pictures, Luncheon and Dinner, Soldiers and Sailors Welcome.


Thank you for visiting Manhattan in 1918 with me! Clang, clang, clang, A-OOooGah!

Images from the Duke University Library Digital Collections.
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