Quiz Archive

Where is it ? # 46 (UPDATE: Golden Gate Ferry + Alcatraz)

Jon Baker of Australia writes: "The postcard actually shows a section of US Highway 101 which runs from Oregon to Mexico. The ferry service, just to complicate matters, is being run by the Southern Pacific Railroad. So. we have a highway, on a boat, run by a rail company! The picture is of the Hyde Street Ferry Terminal in San Francisco, adjacent to the famous "Fishermans Wharf". The ferries on the left of picture are travelling to Sausalito, on the right to Berkeley. The Sausalito feries are of a design introduced in 1927 and, suprisingly, employ diesel electric propulsion. The ones on the right, with the longer chimneys, are steam powered side paddle ferries of earlier design. From the ferries, we know that the picture was taken later than 1927, and seeing the service effectively discontinued on 28th May, 1937 when cars were first allowed across the Golden Gate Bridge (the bridge actually opened the previous day, but only to foot traffic), we now need to look at the vehicles more closely. As the postcard is hand tinted, there's no clues there. By the look of the car bodies, there are few tourers and plenty of sedans suggesting the thirties. Further, there are only one or two examples of the more rounded body styles of the mid thirties - so I would suggest the postcard was taken around 1933 to 1934. Without having access to the original so I could cheat, that's the best I can do from here! I forgot to include in my previous e-mail - that is ,of course, Alcatraz Island in the middle of the picture. At about this time it was in the process of being changed from a US Military Prison to a facility with a more "public" profile - at least civilians now had a chance of ending up there!" Very, very well answered! The year we are not sure about, could be late twenties in our view as well. The postcard says: 'Golden Gate Ferry'. Congratulations Jon ! (postcard collection Hans Horwitz) EARLIER TEXT: A traffic jam near the water. More precise: cars leaving the ferry and lots waiting for the next one. Now don't you worry, we are not going to spoil your weekend by asking to tell us about all those cars. We just want to widen the scope of our weekend competition a bit. In this way it's not only experts that can compete to win the infamous PreWarCar T-shirt. Just tell us where exactly this photo was taken. And when. We don't have to explain that for both questions the cars depicted will help... Send your answer to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , add # 46 in the subjectline and do so before before 00.00 hours of 6 January.

Friday, 03 January 2003