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Summer 1938. "Tourist signs in Central Ohio." From a series of photos taken along Route 40. View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by Ben Shahn for the FSA.
seems as all of the photos shown here give credite to 35mm Nitrate negatives. Prior to WW2 the film size of choice by cameras in the US was 120 and 220 with a few 616 thrown in. Most news and magazine photographers used 4x5 Speed graphica and in some cases a 2x3 Speed graphic. I would like to know what kind of 35mm cameras all these folks were using. I love the site and as an older photographer that cut my teeth on black and white of the late 1940's and 50's it is great to see the interest in old b&w pix
[They used the famous camera that did so much to pioneer the 35mm still format -- the Leica. - Dave]
What could they have possibly meant by "Credit Cards Honored" in 1938?
[It means you could use your oil company credit card to buy gas. Which is how credit cards got started back in the 1920s. - Dave]
Six people so far have commented that Gals "probably" or "no doubt" stands for gallons. The Shorpy braintrust never sleeps! (Next question: Gallons of what?)
[For all those people who have kindly submitted an answer: Yes, we know. Gasoline. That was a little joke there, the question. - Dave]
The sign to the left of the six gals for a dollar seems a little risque for the 1930s doesn't it? Or am I not seeing what it appears I'm seeing?
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