TO ORDER:>contact Les Winn at E-mail:
rrdepot5@msn.com double click or call(770)458-6194. I mail up to (3) postcards
in a cardboard mailer for $1.25. I will notify you of total price and put a "hold"
on the card(s) you want.
AFTER YOU HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF TOTAL COST, SEND CHECK TO: Les Winn,
PO Box 80641, Chamblee, GA 30366-0641. There is no holding of personal checks.
We ship immediately. Thank you for visiting my page. This is the only
postcard site in America with a southern accent. I am basically a collector.
I have a 15,000 postcard collection of old depots from every state in the U.S.
I will sell any postcard in my collection. If you searching for a particular depot,
send me an email. If I have it, it won't be cheap but, hopefully, reasonable priced
based on rarity. Of course, I will trade for any small-town Georgia depot that I need. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to "Secrets of the Master." There,
I reveal some of the things that I have discovered to improve the appearance of any
postcard in your collection. Also visit MYSTERY POSTCARDS at the end of the
sale cards for prizes.
HERE ARE SOME RECENT ADDITIONS:
I have the SF depot in Lomax, ILL and the area is nothing like the above.
Because of the heavy industrialization, I think we can eliminate AL, KAN, NEB, & TX.
One other possibility is LOMAN, MN. This was on the MILW line.
Lastly, another possibility is "LAMAR." There were (8) states with a LAMAR. Those states
were: IN, OK, MS, MO, NV, PA,
SC, & WA. Eliminate MO because I have both depots in that town & they are nothing like
this mystery. Is it the ERIE depot in Lomax, Indiana, the MILWAUKEE in Loman, Minnesota
or a Lamar, IN, Lamar, PA or Lamar, WA???
1. To remove the irritating little price stickers from plastic sleeves that the smart
dealers use, dip your finger into a small can of clear Mineral Spirits and rub your
finger on the sticker. Allow the fluid to work at softening the adhesive for a
few minutes. Then easily lift the sticker with your finger nail. You don't have to
remove the card from the sleeve to do this. There is no danger of the mineral spirits
hurting the card. In fact, mineral spirits is the only thing I know of to soften and
remove the paper from where a card was glued into an album. When you first apply the
mineral spirits to the card, a large brown stain appears. Don't worry as soon as
the fluid dries, the stain is gone and so is any gunk that was on the card. Sometimes,
you need to use your finger-nail to remove a foreign substance. Clear mineral spirits
will not cause any harm to REAL PHOTO cards. My friend and postcard dealer, Charlie McCoy
uses price stickers designed by perverted German scientists. Charlie uses these
stickers to seal the ends of the sleeve.
Until I dicovered the mineral spirits, I had to dynamite the sleeve to get the
card out. Of course, the sleeve was ruined. Because Charlie
is not cheap, he uses the high quality, stiff, stamp-type sleeves that I like to keep my
cards in. Smart dealers place stickers on the sleeve. Dumbo dealers use sharp pencils to
write the price on their cards. Unless written very lightly, the pencil scores the surface
of the card and leaves damage much like a removed tatoo on an innocent, virgin. Retarded
dealers use ball-point pens to write the prices on their postcards. There are formulas
used by "bad check" artists to remove ball-point writing, but I don't know it. Fortunately,
most of those retarded dealers have died or learned how destructive that method of pricing
was and discontinued it.
2. I suggest that when you acquire a postcard that has pencil & certain non-obsorbing ink
writing on the front, an attempt should be made to remove it. Unless the writing has some
historical significance, they rarely do, removing the writing greatly enhances the
attractiveness and value of card. A pencil eraser will work, but for a superb job,
I recommend investing $5 in an artist or architects cleaning pad. These are cotton socks
filled with an eraser powder. By rubbing over an affected area, this pad removes all
pencil, some ink, dirt, and smoothes the paper like sandpaper does on wood. It is amazing
how well it works on sensitive REAL PHOTO cards. These pads can be found at any art supply
shop.
3. Creases on postcards are a horror. I never met a crease that I liked. Thus, creases should
be dealt with before the piece breaks off. The easiest to fix are the tiny ones where only a
layer or two of the cardboard has seperated and been bent over. This could be on the front
or back corner of a postcard. To remedy this, whip out your trusty little plastic bottle
of Elmer's or any clear glue intended for porous objects. Dap a small amount on the
corner. With your finger-nail carefully bringing the folded paper back to its
original position and press. For seriously creased corners where the creased corner
looks like it will fall off the card at any moment, I suggest a very thin seam
of glue directly on the crease at the address-side of the card. When this seam dries,
it will provide support for the crease and it will not break off from the card.
If a crease has caused a corner to break off the card, I suggest a piece of matching color
paper be glued on the address-side of the card. Lazy people use scotch tape. In time, the
tape get hard & brittle. It looks terrible.
If you have found some good ways to improve the condition of your cards, pass them on and
I will list them here and give you the appropriate credit, Les Winn at E-mail:
rrdepot5@msn.com
Madison, AL,Southern depot, unsent ca.1910,
glue spots on bk. $18
Selma, AL,L&N depot, 1906, exc. $11
Tuscaloosa, AL,M&O depot, unsent ca.1910, minor
crease upper right. $18
Eldorado, AR,RockIsland depot, pm1909, exc. $15
Haines City, FL,ACL depot, pm1926, exc. $24
Jacksonville, FL,Unusual Union sta. view w/Coca-Cola
sign ca.1910 mint. $12
Sebring, FL,ACL depot, unsent ca.1915, mint. $24
Americus, GA,Central of GA depot, unmailed ca.1910, $35
Bremen, GA,Southern Ry depot, pm1911, C.U. Williams
pub.,exc. cond. $35
Brunswick, GA,UNION station, unmailed ca.1910, bumped
corners. $15
Columbus, GA,Broad St. passenger station, unmailed,
ca.1909 mint. $35
Greenville, GA,Central of GA depot, pm 1909 exc.
cond. $45
Hawkinsville, GA,UNION depot, unmailed but
message on back, ca.1915 exc. $45
Thomasville, GA,ACL depot, unmailed ca.1910
pristine mint. $45
Waycross, GA,Union sta. w/superb view of Confederate
monument, pm 1911, exc. $14
Warm Springs, Ga., SOUTHERN depot, ca. 1920 mint. $12
Herington, KA, MOPAC depot, 1909, exc. $15
Marion, SC,ACL depot, pm 1915 exc. $29
Gatesville, TX,Cotton Belt depot, unsent ca. 1916 mint
$28
Thermopolis, WY, BR depot ca. 1914 exc. $12
NYNH&H/B&M name train, "The Eastwind" pub. unk ca. 1950 near mint. $14
PENNSY LINES, logo on back, ca. 1905 mint. $45
I am interested in buying or trading for cards in this series.
SOUTHERN RY front logo adv. I
logo on address-side, unsent ca. 1916 mint except bumped corner. $12
Can you identify any of these cards? I will give a $10 purchase credit for any card
you can provide location. Or, I will place your mystery cards here for identification.
Part of the fun of collecting depots for me is the exchange of information w/serious collectors
& researchers.
Even though there are 13 states with an ALMA depot, this ca. 1910, 1 sty brick depot on a NOKA
real photo back should be identified quickly. Of the 13 states. (Thanx to Mark Camp for identify
ing this as the BR depot in NEB.)
Here is another common name, real photo depot, on an AZO back. There are (11) states with a
ca. 1910, Akron depot in it. The only clue is the unusual latice work on the side of the depot
w/station sign just above it. Of the (11) states, I have been able to eliminate CO, IA &
IN. The remaining candidates are: AL-SOU, IL-C&NW, KA-SF, MI-PM, NY-WS, PA-P&R, TX-Frisco,
WA-NP. There are also two Akron Junctions, NY & OH. My gut feeling is midwest or southern.
This extremely simple, ca. 1910, 1 sty frame, AZO real photo should be nailed quickly. There are only (6)
states with a Cutler depot. They are: CA-SF, IL-WC&W, IN-VRR, OH-MC&C, WA-NP or UP, and WI-C&NW.
The biggest clues for this card is the large, class I train at the depot. Another clue is
the very level stand of small, soft-wood trees in background. Lastly, near the depot is a
large telegraph pole w/two rows of (8) insulators each. This indicates a large city close by.
I think CA can be eliminated because the structure is not similar to anything Santa Fe.
Because of the size of the train, I think IL and OH can be eliminated. Solely, because of
topography, I think Indiana.
This ca. 1908, tiny, frame depot on a real photo back w/no publisher looks very much like a
PRR,T&OC style structure. The card is uncancelled but has a person's name and Crumstown, IN written in pencil.
The only other clue is the many letters on the station sign just above the unusual little roof above the
center of the depot. Eventhough CRUMSTOWN is a Grand Trunk depot, it is a possiblity. Definitely an IND or OHIO
depot. (Mark Camp identifies this as the GT depot in CRUMSTOWN, IN.)
The biggest clue on this ca. 1908, 2 sty frame, Victorian, obviously, New England depot is the letters G.R.C.
in the upper left corner. This may only be a part of the RR name. This AZO real photo looks very much
like a VT or NH structure. Something distictive is the straight across RAILWAY CROSSING sign which is
easily seen to the right of depot.
Surprisingly, the best clue to this ca. 1908, 1 sty frame, L-shaped, real photo depot, is the horse & buggy that is
blocking it. The side of the wagon has a sign that states, "Olney Music Co." On the wagon are two very well-
dressed gentlemen in suits, ties and bowler hats. The name suggests that this could be the name of the town.
Whether it is the name of the town or not, it suggests a community large enough to support a music business.
There were (7)states w/a depot named Olney. (Mark Camp ids this as an unusual view of the B&O depot in Olney,IL.
Mark is the impresario of vintage depot views. He has an eagle eye & keeps me straight in spite of my senior moments.
Thanx Mark.)
This single-track mystery depot is a real shot in the dark. There are no clues for this ca. 1909, 2 sty frame,
AZO real photo. Only the hilly terrain w/heavy pine tree forestation gives a slight hint that it might be in
the Northeast or Northwest.
Here is another shot in the dark. However, one big clue to this ca. 1909, small, 1 sty frame, Cyko real photo,
depot is the Southern Express Co. sign over the freight door. This means it is located in a deep-South
state. The vertical batten strips on all sides of the depot are unusual & should be the identifying feature.
This depot should be relatively easy to identify because it clearly
states on the order-board that it is C&O, East & Westbound with what appears to be only
one or two trains, at the most, operating in each direction. This indicates a "branch." There
were very few branches on the C&O that only had one or two trains operating in each
direction. The ice & snow on the roof doesn't help us much because every depot on the
C&O was capable of getting snow & ice in the winter.
I have no idea about this single track depot. It is definitely
American w/Velox in stamp-box.
One clue for this depot is that on the right side of
card there are a number of pyramid style stackings about 12' high of
lumber boards which are probably being dried. Rarely have I seen lumber
stacked this way. It may be distinctive of the area. This seems to eliminate
the Plains states. Another clue is that the bottom 3' of the depot has
a quarried-rock wainscoting. This would eliminate much of the southern
states. These features suggest an area rich w/lumber & quarried stone.
The older frame depot is in the background. Much further in the
background is a water-tank.
This is a ca. 1912 real photo of a tiny frame depot.
There were (5) Sugarloaf depots in the U.S. during that time period. Based on the dress
of the passenger, I believe
this is a northern depot, Md, or NY.
??? I feel certain that this is a Northeastern depot based on the size of
structure and formal dress of the four men in the scene. All have coats and ties.
Multiple track can be seen in background. Platform appears to be
poured concrete. I would guess PA or NY.
Note..L&N boxcars. This damaged depot is probably KY or TN. However, there
are no other clues as to name or state.
This a large frame depot that kind of reminds me of a MILW structure. It is a ca.1915
AZO. There are no clues of any kind as to name or state. There are double tracks.
I suspect this is an eastern or midwestern big city depot because of the extensive
use of concrete slab, platform & steel pipe guard rail mounted in concrete.
This ca. 1909 real photo pc shows a large 2 sty frame w/2 shelters on opposite sides
of the track. There are no clues of any kind to indicate state except the numerous
telegraph poles which indicate a heavily industrialized state such as Mass, NY, or PA.
This 1 sty frame is depicted on a ca.1909 AZO real photo pc. The heavy snow on the roof
& ground indicates a northern state. However, the depot style is reminicent of KY or WVA.
There are no other clues as to name or state.
This is a blue-tone real photo ca.1910 of a 1 sty brick depot. (Mark Camp ids this as the
MC depot in Caro, MI.)
This is an AZO ca. 1910 real photo of a large stucco & brick depot. The depot is
located in a northern state because of snow retainers on roof. The only clue to
the town is the fact that the wagon has "SCHEUER'S Top-N-Och Bread."
Here is another depot on double track. This is an AZO ca.1909 real photo pc showing
a small 1 sty frame. The terrain surrounding the depot is very hilly w/hardwood trees.
There are no other clues as to name or state.
This litho postcard is pub. by F.Bardeleben of New York ca.1906. It has an undivided
back. There are no clues for this large 3 sty frame depot that is largely blocked
from view by locomotive #407. The company is unreadable. I strongly suspect that
this is a NY or NJ station.
This long-shot real photo view ca.1906 of a 1 sty brick is a tough one. There are no
clues of any kind except for the #171 written at bottom of card. There is double
track alongside this brick depot. I suspect that it is in the Northeast.
Here is another tough one. This ca.1906 undivided back real photo has only a couple
of clues. One, is the WELLS FARGO EXPRESS sign. The other is that the employees
& passengers are very well dressed. To me, they appear to be from a large, prosperous
town in a western state.
This is a neat, ca.1910, AZO, photo card, 1 story frame, it has a lot of clues. First,
the depot has double track. Second, the station sign has (5)letters beginning with "L."
The 2nd letter looks like an "O" or an "A." The 3rd letter looks like an "M" or
possibly an "N." The 4th letter is definitely an "A." The last letter is a little
blurred and could be anything. Most likely it is an "X", "R" or an "S." For the time
period, there was only one LONAS, OHIO. This is a good possibiliy if that town
was heavily industrialized because the background shows a long trestle going to big
smoke stacks which is probably an electric generating plant. Thus, a major clue
for this mystery town is that it was heavily industrialized. Using this clue,
we switch to other possibilities like "LOMAX." For the time period, there were
(6) states with a "LOMAX"---- AL, ILL, IND, KAN, NEB, & TX.
I suspect that this large frame depot ca. 1910 real photo is
either MICHIGAN or WISCONSIN because of its sturdy construction & size. The primary clue on this
CYKO real photo card is the name "HANSEN" over the door. There are (7) states that had depots
at the time with this name: CA, GA, ID, MI, NE, UT, & WI.
There are no clues about this AZO frame depot except a ladder
mounted on the side exterior wall. This seems to be something commonly done to depots in North &
South Dakota.
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