J.C. Higgins

Bike, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

For almost sixty years, Sears sold sporting goods under the J.C. Higgins name. Originally named after longtime Sears employee John Higgins, an Irish immigrant who began working for the company in 1898, eventually becoming a vice president of the company before retiring in 1930.

The Higgins name continued to be used by Sears until 1968, and the company sold a wide range of sporting goods under the brand, from rifles to golf clubs. This included bicycles, including this farm-fresh fifties cruiser.

Dreams Of A Shinier Yesterday

Dreams Of A Shinier Yesterday, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

It's that Cadillac again.

Hydra-Matic

Hydra-Matic, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Dreamy, rusty, stately, vintage-y, Olds Hydra-Matic.

Return To Sioux City

Return To Sioux City, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Before intermodal railcars became the norm, box cars were the standard way to ship many, if not most, goods. While the railroads owned many box cars, it was also very common for larger companies to own their own fleets of cars. And there's a lot of writing on these old box cars, with instructions for hooking up the brakes, securing the doors, maintenance, and in this case, where to send the empty box car after you've unloaded it.

This one happens to be a Swift and Co. box car, with instructions to send it back to Sioux City.

South Shore

South Shore, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

The Chicago, South Shore, and South Bend Railroad is one of the last interurban railroads in the United States. It still runs today, under the aegis of the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District. They still use electric trains, and there's even some street running through Michigan City. It's one of the icons of Chicago area railroading.

This is a 1920's era South Shore car, currently on display at the Fox River Trolley Museum in Elgin, Illinois.

Hidden

Faded, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

One thing that never ceases to surprise me when I'm out driving around is what's hiding behind the trees. For instance, I was driving through a small town in Illinois, and stopped to look at an eclectic collection of tractors parked in front of an old garage. The neighbors said it was okay if I looked around, and as I went around the side of this building, I saw a couple of old trucks. And two more. Then about four more. Plus some more tractors. And an old Oldsmobile. And a few sixties Cub Cadets. And other stuff I can't even remember. Anyway, other than those initial implements, this whole thing was hidden from the road by a line of trees.

I've visited this site a few times now, and it always throws up something new, hidden in that shady grove.

Rusty Gold

Rusty Gold, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

We've visited this well-seasoned '53 Chevy sedan delivery once before. I first saw it two years ago, parked in front of a repair shop in rural Illinois. It's still there, getting a little more rusty and listing a bit further to the right as the tires deflate.

Transit

Transit, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Faded Waukegan & North Chicago Transit logo, on the side of a derelict ACF bus, which is parked out back behind one of the buildings at the Illinois Railway Museum.

Also, it looks like Rebecca was here.

The North Western

The North Western, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

A former Chicago and North Western EMD GP-7R, originally delivered to the Rock Island, and dating from 1952. The GP-series of locomotives was originally designed to be a jack-of-all-trades sort of engine, capable of pulling freight or passengers, or doing some yard work as needed. General Purpose, as the designation goes, similar to a certain long-running off road vehicle. One wonders why nobody calls these "Jeeps" too!

I'm told that this particular example, which resides at the Illinois Railway Museum, was originally purchased for parts for the Museum's other GP-7 (the first one delivered, in fact!), but was discovered to be in good running shape. So the decision was to put it to use, and I've seen it pulling passenger coaches as well as moving stuff around the yards. I;m told that there is a plan afoot to restore it to it's original Rock Island livery.

Farm Fresh '53.

Chevy, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

I saw this Chevy coupe at the nostalgia drag races, competing in one of the stock classes. As I was shooting it the driver said "So, do you have a filter that makes it look better?". I told him that I called cars like this "farm fresh", and he told me it was exactly that. His father (also racing that weekend) found it in a barn the week before, and they'd been pulling all nighters to get it the old girl up and running again.

Still packing the original straight six, the old Chevy ran faultlessly-if a bit slowly-all weekend.

Cheer Up

Cheer Up, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Made by the Orange Smile Syrup Company of St. Louis, Cheer Up was one of the innumerable locally bottled soft drinks that were around in the 1930's. I would wager that this sign is from about then, maybe immediately post war. I found it on the wall of an old building on the west side of Aurora, Illinois that I believe was a corner grocery at one time.

As always, it pays to get out of the car and wander around.

Simplex

Bike, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

A rare Simplex Compact Sportsman motorcycle, in what I like to call "Farm Fresh" shape. Strapped down in the back of a cool custom fifties pickup truck.

Parkwood

Parkwood, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Another one from the "Great Chrome Badges Of The World" collection. This old Chevy Parkwood was well seasoned, but had great chrome, pinstripes, a set of Astros, and a big block under the hood.

Fading Glory

Fading Glory, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

TtV Tuesday!

Six Taillights

Six Taillights, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Originally introduced in 1958, the Impala was Chevrolet's new top-of-the line model, positioned above the now famous Bel Air. Six small taillights were a styling hallmark of the model, carried through to the model's end in the 70's.

This one's a '60.

Fading Glory

Fading Glory, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

I forget which Duaflex I used on this-the 4 maybe? Both of them have great viewfinders-very bright.

Biscayne

Biscayne, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Introduced in 1958, the Biscayne was an entry level version of Chevrolet's full-sized line of cars, coming in under the more upscale Bel-Air. As such, the Biscayne had fewer chrome gewgaws outside, and fewer optional convenience items and vinyl trim on the inside.

This didn't mean that it was a less desirable car, though. The Biscayne's simpler trim changed the look of the car, and better yet you could get it with any engine option-from a straight six grocery getter to the 348 V-8 mill with a four-speed, creating a nice drag car in the process.

This Biscayne is a '58, and had been hot rodded a bit at some point.

Cad Nebula

Cad Nebula, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

I seem to have found several old Cadillacs through the years, or they have found me. This is a '62-ish sedan.

I thought the rust spot around the logo looked like a bit nebula-esque. The title was a tossup between this and "The Pillars of Cadillac", which wouldn't make sense if you didn't know about the "Pillars of Creation".

Mossy Glory

Mossy Glory, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

I don't think I've ever seen that much moss and crud caked on a vehicle that wasn't in a jungle somewhere. This one's covered-I don't think there's a panel that is completely free of it.

This truck's pretty much toast-but it pleases me to note that the shiny badges and headlights seem good as new.

F Stop

F Stop, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Vintage 40's Ford semi.