A gorgeous noir-like cutaway of an atomic pile by Alexander Leydenfrost. But why does the drawing look so vague and devoid of details? Partially, that was the Leydenfrost style. His Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel cutaway drawing shows that he emphasized moody shadows and light over the cool and the technical. But mainly, at the time of this… Continue reading Atomic Pile Cutaway Drawing, 1950
Tag: 1950s
Jim Creek Naval Radio Station Illustration 1950
Artist unknown, as this was a tossed-off illustration in the middle of a Popular Science, but what interested me: This is one helluva massive radio station. It’s still around. It’s called the Jim Creek Naval Radio Station, and the Center for Land Use Interpretation tells us: One of the world’s most powerful transmitters, this million… Continue reading Jim Creek Naval Radio Station Illustration 1950
Railroad Boxcar Sweeper Arm Cutaway, 1950
This unusual device, made by Stephens-Adamson Co. of Los Angeles, CA, reached deep into boxcars that had loose contents and swept the contents out of the open door. As it turns out, Stephens-Adamson Co. is still around today. Click to Enlarge to 1350 x 517 px: Source: Popular Science March 1950
Photo-Realistic Transparent Movie Set Backdrop, 1950
For most of movie history, set backdrops had been opaque (non-transparent) sheets of fabric stitched together to form larger, set-sized sheets. In 1950, photographer M.B. Paul was profiled creating transparent set backdrops from actual photographs. Because they were transparent, they could be lit from the back as well as the front. Click to Enlarge to… Continue reading Photo-Realistic Transparent Movie Set Backdrop, 1950
Arctic Wanigan Cutaway, 1950
The “wanigan” was an 8 x 24 foot mobile caboose that was attached to the back of Arctic explorers’ tracked wagon trains. The wanigan had four bunks, refrigerator, coal stove, table, sink, and latrine. Click to Enlarge to 594 x 478 px: Source: Popular Mechanics May 1950