VTT - Fruit Faces and Reefers

The postcard of the peach and pear is from around 1910 and is signed with the initials of the artist Cavally.

The Reefer DeLuxe booklet was published by the Nickel Plate Road in 1946. Before I found this booklet, I thought reefers were just things that you could smoke or wear. Now I know that they are also refrigerated cars used to transport perishable foods. According to the introduction to the booklet, the Nickel Plate Road was endeavoring to review findings of food laboratories, the varied uses of some perishable foods, and suggest some new recipes "for the enjoyment of fruits and vegetables."

The booklet covers twenty-five fruits and vegetables: Tommy Tomato, Grace Grapefruit, Letty Lettuce, Rosy Apple, Alma Asparagus, Reggie and Olga Orange, Sally Spinach, Lum Lemon, Peppy Peach, Cobby Corn, Carla Carrot, Mac Melon, Cabby Cabbage, Patty and Peter Pear, Ann Avocado, Stringy Bean, Bud Banana, Betty Beet, Celia Celery, Plushy Plum, Oscar Onion, Pearl Pea, Greta Grape, Arty Artichoke, and Sam Spud. These pages about the peach and pear are typical. (Click the images to enlarge them to readable size.)

The Nickel Plate Road, as the New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad was known, was constructed in 1881. It continued operating until 1964, when it was merged with other railroads into the Norfolk and Western Railway. The map below is from the Reefer DeLuxe booklet and shows the routes operating in 1946.

I'm participating in Vintage Thingie Thursday