Baggage Car As An Airplane Parts Carrier
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Baggage Car As An Airplane Parts Carrier This is a photo of a baggage car converted into an airplane parts carrier and rolling promotional billboard. It was employed in 1911 by Armour & Company to support an airplane entered in a coast-to-coast contest in which the plane and the baggage car promoted Vin Fiz, a grape-flavored drink. This was one of several drinks marketed by Armour. Newspaper publisher William Randolph Hurst made an offer of $50,000 to the first person who could fly a plane from New York to Los Angeles in under 30 consecutive days. Calbraith "Cal" Perry Rogers took up the challenge, sponsored by Armour. To keep the plane running, Armour outfitted the baggage car, emblazoned with Vin Fitz advertising and loaded with airplane parts. It took Rogers 56 days to cross the country. He crashed so often that there were very few original parts left on the plane when he finally made it to Los Angeles. Even so, he and the flying collection of plane parts were the first to cross the United States from coast to coast. And Vin Fiz? It never really took off. Apparently, people didn’t like the taste. The plane hangs in the Smithsonian. Bob Chaparro Moderator Railway Bull Shippers Group |
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Claus Schlund \(HGM\)
Hi Bob and List members, Thanks Bob for the great image. Certainly there are a number of questions raised here... (1) Is this a wood construction car? Steel baggage cars would
have been few and far between in 1911... (2) Whose car might it have been? I'm assuming this is a
repurposed car from a 'normal' railroad, as opposed to a
purpose-built car. I see no road name nor reporting marks. Hmmm,
now that I think about it, maybe this is simply a retouched photo
and the car did not look this way in real life? (3) Bob mentioned "an offer of $50,000 to the first person who could fly a plane from New York to Los Angeles in under 30 consecutive days". I'm guessing it might have been faster to take the train to Los Angeles! I submit the fact that the baggage car was able to keep up with the airplane as evidence of this
Enjoy!
Claus Schlund
On 13-Jun-22 02:19, Bob Chaparro via
groups.io wrote:
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Ian Cranstone
Looks like a wood baggage car to me, and I see the word ERIE under the left hand baggage door. I suspect the number is behind whatever is hanging over the side. Too bad this photo predates colour photography, as I suspect some powerful colours were used!
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James McDonald
Hello all,
I believe Ian is correct. From newspaper reports it appears that the Erie was materially involved in the cross-country flight and provided the car, at least for part of the journey. Attached is a clipping describing the car as painted white. Source is the Lake County Times, October 6, 1911 page 7 in the collection of the Library of Congress. Bob mentioned that Vin Fiz didn’t catch on. This may be in part because at least some places were serving it as a hot beverage rather than a cold one. Mmmm. Hot grape soda. Sign me up. Take care, James McDonald Greenbelt, Maryland  |
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Bruce Hendrick
Thanks, James, for this additional information. Perhaps the reason for the failure of Vin Wiz was the startup company’s large numbers of executives, as listed for the junket. Not a lean business machine. Were they all sleeping in the baggage car??
If I had to guess I’d say Purple lettering on the white car. Unusual, sure, but it was a marketing campaign for grape soda. I am curious as I’ve never seen the term “chauffeur” used in connection with railroading. What this a thing, or a misuse by the reporter? I assume this was akin to a Pullman porter. Thanks again for more information on an usual car. Bruce Hendrick Brea, California |
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Steven D Johnson
Bruce,
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This article shows some images that may narrow down the car's color scheme (at least a lot of the lettering) a bit: https://hearinghealthmatters.org/hearinginternational/2016/flight-vin-fiz-part-ii/ Google "Vin Fiz Grape Drink" and you'll find other color images of advertising, etc. Steve Johnson Nashville, TN -----Original Message-----
From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io [mailto:main@RealSTMFC.groups.io] On Behalf Of Bruce Hendrick Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2022 10:44 AM To: main@realstmfc.groups.io Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] Baggage Car As An Airplane Parts Carrier Thanks, James, for this additional information. Perhaps the reason for the failure of Vin Wiz was the startup company’s large numbers of executives, as listed for the junket. Not a lean business machine. Were they all sleeping in the baggage car?? If I had to guess I’d say Purple lettering on the white car. Unusual, sure, but it was a marketing campaign for grape soda. I am curious as I’ve never seen the term “chauffeur” used in connection with railroading. What this a thing, or a misuse by the reporter? I assume this was akin to a Pullman porter. Thanks again for more information on an usual car. Bruce Hendrick Brea, California |
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Doug Chapman
Two more photos of Erie #191, as the Vin Fiz car, are found on this website.
http://thepublici.blogspot.com/2008_11_06_archive.html Doug Chapman Manassas, VA   |
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Dean Payne
The depot in the first picture is on the Erie, in Kent, Ohio. Built in 1875, it is still there, being used as a restaurant, and the tracks below are still in regular use. I think the tracks next to the depot get less frequent use.
Whether the car was photographed on its home turf before the adventure started, or taken later mid-trip when the plane landed "....near Akron, Ohio" I do not know. |
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