Photograph of mail van in the snow

    Date: c. 1953

    Object number: A.2010-6

    Medium: paper; photo-emulsion

    Dimensions (Unframed): 8" x 10"

    Description:
    A letter carrier drives one of the Department’s new right-hand drive vans on the snowy streets of an unidentified city. The Department ordered thousands of new postal vehicles in the early 1950s as part of its post-war modernization plan. A variety of vehicles were ordered, including right-hand drive step vans such as this. Many of the new vehicles performed adequately, but few of the dozens of different styles ordered were re-ordered in large quantities.

    Photographer: Unknown

    Place: United States of America

    Collection Description: Transportation/Motorized

    Credit line: National Postal Museum, Curatorial Photographic Collection

    Photographer: Unknown

    Repository: National Postal Museum, Curatorial Photographic Collection

    View more collections from the Smithsonian Institution.

    Comments and faves

    1. Craig Newsom, LaSeñoritaCora, Verda D, thehouyhnhnm, and 90 other people added this photo to their favorites.

    2. JD's Photography (29 months ago | reply)

      Lovely trip down memory lane.

    3. paladinsf (29 months ago | reply)

      New Year Wish

      My Happy New Year wish for you
      Is for your best year yet,
      A year where life is peaceful,
      And what you want, you get.
      A year in which you cherish
      The past year's memories,
      And live your life each new day
      Full of bright expectancies.
      I wish for you a holiday
      With happiness galore;
      And when it's done, I wish you
      Happy New Year, and many more.

    4. This photo was invited and added to the On Time and Loved Ones group.

    5. Smithsonian Institution (29 months ago | reply)

      Thank you for the New Year's well wishes, paladinsf!

      Sincerely,
      Susannah

    6. artland (29 months ago | reply)

      Congratulations!
      This is a wonderful shot!
      You are invited to post it to:


      artland

    7. Tahquitz 8828 (29 months ago | reply)

      this is a mid '50's FAGEOL Pony Express model van, sold under the Twin Coach name..

      Mike

    8. Smithsonian Institution (29 months ago | reply)

      Thank you for the additional information, Mike! I know Smithsonian's National Postal Museum welcomes your participation.

      Sincerely,

      Susannah
      Smithsonian Institution Archives

    9. Pete Tillman (26 months ago | reply)

      Added to
      en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_Coach

      Mike Tamangel, as you seem knowledgeable, could you have a look at that article? It's confusing re Highway Products and the postal vans.

      Could you also look at
      commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1953_internat ional_fageol...
      and help sort out that ID -- also confusing. Thanks in advance.

      Susannah, thanks for posting these!

    10. This photo was invited and added to the Classic Vehicles - Young and Old group.

    11. This photo was invited and added to the Mail / Post Delivery Cars Worldwide. group.

    12. Smithsonian Institution (26 months ago | reply)

      Hi, Pete. I certainly help out with our Smithsonian presence on The Commons, but I will forward your thanks onto our dear colleagues at the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum. They so graciously make these images available!
      We appreciate your continuing interest.

      Susannah
      Smithsonian Institution Archives

    13. budderflyman (4 months ago | reply)

      Why is the Republican Party hell bent on ending the U.S. Postal Service? It's even in Article 1 of the Constitution that we should have a federal postal service. I thought the Republicans backed the Constitution.

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