The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Here's a picture I found on the Internet of a circa 1920 Brunswick Ultona upright phonograph. So I can date the phonograph pretty well, but in what decade would you put this picture?

I looked at the style of the dress on the calendar, after trying to read the date, and would guess 1930's or even into the 40's. The young lady had clearly outgrown her clothes. That Brunswick was obsolete by 1930 but could have been a source of entertainment for a poor family that could not afford a radio. I'd guess the photo dates from 1937.

Jerry Blais

Jerry, I think your guess is good. The model on the calendar has a hair-do that was popular in the 40s, like Rita Hayworth. I made out the name "Velvet" on the box to the right. I thought it just might be a box of cigarettes, so I looked it up. It's not a box of cigarettes, but a tin of tobacco for pipes or rolling you own. The Velvet brand of tobacco was made for decades by the Liggett & Myers Tobacco Co. that made Chesterfield, L&M, etc. brands. So my rough guess of the year is about 1941.

Farm Security Administration photo by John Vachon. Spring of 1940 in Southern Ill.

The FSA hired some great photographers time document rural and small town life in the Depression and early War years.

I'm almost certain that we've discussed this Photograph in another thread.
May 1940

I'm almost certain that we've discussed this Photograph in another thread.
May 1940

Yes, I've seen it before. I remember thinking it was a modest home that someone took pride in its appearance.

Jerry B.

Interesting. Take a look at the calendar. The pic of the calendar also shows a woman sitting on a cushioned chair that dates back to the 1970s. Take into condideration the lady's dress attire in the calendar which is also from the 1970s. Could it be one of those staged retro pictures that were popular during the 1970s?

I'm just waiting for someone in the group to tell the girl that playing 1940s records with a steel needle will damage them and isn't recommended!

By the way, I've seen this photo and others like it before. It's part of a magazine story on poor people in Kentucky from the early 1940s.

Not Kentucky.

Crawford County, I'll.

May, 1940

I was going to say 1930's