Thursday, May 12, 2011

A Century of Progress in Transportation


The Century of Progress Exposition was an international exposition held in Chicago, Illinois in 1933 and 1934. The exposition was a world's fair that celebrated Chicago's centennial and a "century of progress" in science and industry.

One of the main buildings at the exposition was the Travel and Transport Building. This building was also the most unique. A dome was constructed on the principle of a suspension bridge for the first time in architectural history. The dome of the Travel and Transport building was suspended 125 feet above the ground by cables attached to twelve steel towers. The use of this suspension principle allowed for a large and unobstructed space for exhibits.

A century of progress in transportation was dramatically represented by exhibiting the latest current mode of transportation next to that of a century earlier. The old John Bull railroad engine, which first ran in 1831, was contrasted with one of the new Boeing monoplanes that was then in service on United Air Lines' routes.



The United Air Lines' plane was selected for exhibition in the Dome of the Travel and Transport Building because it represented the latest features of airplane design and construction. These features were described on the back of the postcards:
Powered with two 550 h. p. supercharged Wasp engines, these Boeing Monoplanes can cruise 171 m. p. h. They land at the low speed of 59 miles an hour and take off after a run of only 770 feet. They can climb 1320 feet a minute at sea level and to 10,000 feet in eleven minutes. Carrying a full load of ten passengers, two pilots, stewardess, luggage, mail and express, these planes can climb with only one of their two engines if necessary.



The plane shown on the postcard above could travel coast to coast in 20 hours. It was the same type that was on exhibit, and was one of fifty in service on United Air Lines' routes. That type was described as the "fastest multi-motored passenger mail-express plane" then in service in the world.

The postcard below shows a cutaway view of the plane. Ten passengers occupied comfortable reclining seats in the cabin, which was in charge of the stewardess. The pilot and mate controlled the plane from the cockpit. Mail, express, and baggage were carried in the compartments at the front and rear.



The last three postcards were furnished for writing and mailing from the Dome of the Travel and Transport Building at A Century of Progress. The stampbox contained these words: "Please address, stamp and drop card in slot provided. Mail collected several times daily."

One of the big events at the 1933 exposition was the arrival of General Italo Balbo and a fleet of 24 Italian seaplanes from Italy on July 15. This video shows "Unprecedented scenes at 'A Century of Progress Exposition,' where a million people, jamming the shore front of Lake Michigan, hail the Italian Air Minister and the intrepid crews of his twenty-four seaplanes upon the completion of their epochal mass flight from Orbetello, Italy."



Visit Sepia Saturday for More Vintage Photos




23 comments:

  1. 20 hours!!! Wonder how many people made that trip and thought it was speedy.

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  2. Wonderful postcards. I love the cutaway one especially; like something from an encyclopaedia.

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  3. This is a World's Fair I really would have liked to experience. I have seen brightly colored of the Expo, but no black and white ones like these. The cutaway of the airplane is fantastic.

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  4. I see the comment I posted yesterday has been eaten by Blogger.I seem to remember that I commented on the cutaway pic as being my favourite.

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  5. My mom worked at that World's Fair, when she was 19 years old. It was the highlight of her life, I think. Thanks for this post.

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  6. Love the cutaway card. The plane of the future with every seat a window seat.

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  7. Fascinating story. Such interesting detail and a classic piece of film footage.

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  8. I'm always amazed at how early we had trains...

    this is very cool, and like the others, I especially love the picture of the cutaway.

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  9. Yep, the cut away gets my vote too!

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  10. It would be comforting to know that you could still climb on one engine! :-) Jo

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  11. I love the cutaway. If only planes had comfortable, reclining seats for all of their passengers today! :)

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  12. This is the type of sepia post I love; it contains so much interesting information as well as some great pictures.

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  13. Really informative post -- you hear about World's Fairs and expos like this, but unless you visit one, you don't know what was innovative or exciting about them.

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  14. Great postcards and video. Those Italian seaplanes were amazing!

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  15. Great post. The video shows some pretty good shots of the center itself. This piece of footage is amazing.
    QMM

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  16. It's strange how the depression seemed to produce these optomistic world fairs. Now I want a flying boat too! Nice post.

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  17. I have a glass that my grandma got at a World Fair with her name on it! This is a very informative piece for SS and the building in Chicago is very interesting, and insightful! Thanks nicely done for the world of airplanes!

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  18. Wonderful stuff : and isn't it fascinating to notice how much progress had been made in aircraft design and construction in the 20 years between the Sepia prompt shot and yours.

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  19. great post!!
    i love the concept of the building. and am i glad to live in modern times, or what?!? 20 hours to cross a single continent?? i would have gone crazy!!!!
    :D~
    HUGZ

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  20. Great pictures. The Italian sea planes are very bizarre looking.

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  21. This post made me wonder how fast planes go now and what the speed on landing is, etc. I haven't yet looked it up, but I might. I was curious if we could see the clothing of 1933 in the cutaway postcard. We can, a little. Interesting post. Thanks.

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  22. Cool posting. My son works downtown Chicago. I guess I didn't know that this worlds fair took place back then.

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  23. Great cards. You are the king of C.O.P. postcards. Thanks for sharing!

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