When you could buy used cars on Broadway - Manhattan in 1918


We're standing on 57th Avenue and Broadway in 1918, which at the time was a great place for buying cars, both new and used. In fact, cars continued to be sold there long after it became impractical to drive them in that area. Let's time-travel and look around.

For those of you who are familiar with this area, we're looking towards Columbus Circle. I've never been there, except in my imagination, but I've found several wonderful images of this area on the Duke University site. The photo was originally taken to document the advertising, and the scan was made as part of the scholarly study of historic advertising - yes, they do that. But I'm not interested in advertising, I'm interested in looking around at stuff. Let's take a peek at where the Nash cars are being sold.


I really can't read the name there, so I'm not sure. ?ppeth Used Cars. If you what it says, let me know and I'll update this post.


There I am, strolling down Broadway with my cane. Whenever I look at something like this I'm reminded of the song lyric "Trying hard to look like Cary Cooper!" Of course, back in 1918, Coop would have only been a teenager. If that's you dressed in white, I'm assuming that you're in the service. Navy would be my guess. I took a peek in the window but I really can't see the cars in there - wish I could!


Gotta love those old cars! A-Oooogah!


But check out the double-decker sight-seeing bus, especially the curved stairway to the top!


And look how kids dressed in those days - he looks like an old-fashioned golfer! If this were nowadays he'd probably be talking on his cell phone, not looking as he crossed Broadway, but he's probably just scratching his nose.


Here you can see a little bit of the steps to the Columbus Monument. Yes, the monument is still there, and when this photo was taken it had been there for about twenty years. Hang on, I'll go find a modern image of the monument. Here ya go:


Anyway, I think I'll go look at the Nash cars, maybe see if I can afford a used one. Thank you for visiting Manhattan in 1918 with me!
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