Edwin J. Cummings Family and Steam Coal House

"CUMMINGS COAL"


Take a look inside this structure here on Hidden City Philadelphia.

This photo, taken a block south and dated 1901, shows "CUMMINGS COAL" emblazoned on the railroad viaduct overpass. Unfortunately it is too far away to see the structures.


Here is the location in a photo dated 8/15/1894. The buildings are different (all of them gone at this point), suggesting this remaining structure was built later.

PhillyHistory.org. Philadelphia Department of Records. 8 April 2008. <http://www.phillyhistory.org>.

400 block of 13th Street, near Callowhill [map]

Piedmont

"Piedmont" in angled script. You can also faintly make out the outline of a pack of cigarettes just next to and slightly above the "5¢" at the right. There appears to be have been another sign either over or under this sign. There are other words below the main sign, but they have mostly weathered away.

Piedmont was one of the most popular cigarette brands around 1910, no doubt bolstered by the practice of inserting baseball cards in the packs. This helps date the sign to that era.

Very difficult to distinguish, but the script, colors,“5¢”, and general overall layout are consistent with this wall ad in Hartford:




Older photo, via Flickr, taken 18 August 1995 by xnedski .

Poplar at St John Neumann Way [map]

K&F CHINA

"K&F CHINA ...ERS"
There is more painted signage on the tile behind the white wooden planks.

230 Arch Street [map]

John Evans' Sons Inc.

"John Evans' Sons, Inc."
Springmaker. This was home to the business from 1870 to 1967.
History on the company available on their website.


Detail of (mostly) unaltered lettering from the late 1800s.


Interesting logotype.


As seen in 1960.


506 N. 13th Street [map]

Philadelphia Belting Company

"Philadelphia Belting Company
MANUFACTURERS LEATHER BELTING"

6th and Spring Garden [map]

Union Transfer Co.

"Union Transfer Co.
Baggage Express"


Space has served many purposes - a Spaghetti Warehouse, now a music venue by the original name.

1026 Spring Garden [map]

Esslinger's Brewery - Plant No. 1

Older, larger sign with "Esslinger" script, covered by newer, yellow-background sign.


Another sign appears far beneath, the only remaining legible section reading "... & SON."

This could be a remnant of G. Dallett & Son Co., a candle and soap works that occupied the corner space until moving further up Ridge Avenue in 1880. Archival illustration depicts both George Esslinger’s Brewery & Lager Beer Garden and Dallett’s Soap & Candle Manufactury as neighbors on this corner in 1884.

To get a sense of the Esslinger script and color pallette, look at these items: <a href=" target="_blank" www.usbeerstuff.com="" />beer label, beer can, Quizzie case, serving tray, menu sheet, and model delivery truck. For some history on Esslinger's, see here.


Ornate corner signage in stone.


More signage in stone.

10th Street and Ridge Avenue [map]

The Bicycle with the National Reputation

On 10th Street side of building, possibly newer signage?
"The Bicycle with the National Reputation".
Vertical signage along rightmost column (not visible here) reads "BLACK BEAU(TY)" partially obscured.
Smaller diagonal signage between windows - "NORFOLK" "NEWARK" "BRA... ...ES"


According to the periodical Iron Age (Jan-June 1919), Haverford Bicycle Company owner Max Sladkin purchased the property at 10th & Buttonwood to manufacture bicycles and bicycle parts. 


According to this catalogs (1, 2, 3), The Black Beauty was a line of bicycle models HBC sold.


Another shot from alankin's photostream.



"(LEA?)THER GOODS."
Hamilton Street, front of building.


"HAVERFORD CYCLE CO."





Other views, opposite side of building, facing lot.




Other sides of building.
Most overlapping signage now illegible.


More modern signage from newer occupants.



10th and Buttonwood Sts. [map]

YATES & CO. CLOTHING

"YATES & CO. CLOTHING"
Other signage appears beneath, painted over.

Apologies for the image quality - these are screen grabs from Google Maps Street View. This sign still stands, but new construction has taken place on the lot in front of the sign prior to my being able to shoot it, blocking it from view.

Located in the Ledger Building at 626 Chestnut Street, and selling clothes for children and boys, the store was at one time considered to be the “largest clothing house in America.”

View a scanned picture book/catalog via the Internet Archive.

An alternate view can be seen below, part of chrisinphilly's North Philadelphia Flickr set:



Broad and Indiana [map]

Block Go-Carts

Partially identified as "Block Go-Carts" (see here) in 1924.
Older signage appears beneath.

1134-1148 N American Street [map]