Bank Deco

Old Banco de São Paulo building (Praça Antônio Prado, 9)
Inaugurated: 1938
Architect: Álvaro de Arruda Botelho

More info (Portuguese)

Photo: by J Felipe @ Flickr

Streamlined Diesel Railbus

AW No. D15
1933

A twin bogie diesel electric railcar, powered by an Armstrong-Saurer 6BLD 140 hp engine and Laurence Scott and Electromotors electrical equipment. The body was designed by Armstrong Whitworth but was fabricated by Park Royal Coachworks Ltd, London and delivered to Scotswood for fitting.

The caption from a period publicity brochure describes this as the Armstrong Whitworth Streamlined Light Weight Oil Engined Railbus. It is powered by either a 110 or 140hp Armstrong-Saurer engine and can hold 57 passengers and their luggage. If no luggage compartment was fitted then the seating capacity was for 71 passengers. The railbus is seen here at Kings Cross.

The railbus trialled on the LNER in the Tyneside area during the summer of 1933. The passenger compartment suffered from excessive engine noise, a wooden box structure and soundproofing material were added to address the problem, but the soundproofing material caught fire on a Newcastle - Carlisle working. On July 30th 1933 the railbus ran from Newcastle to Kings Cross, it spent several days working between London & Hertford before returning to Newcastle. In both directions 35 gallons of fuel were used, fuel consumption was 7.65mpg.

From September 25th 1933 the railbus worked in the Newcastle area on the western branches. It later included trips to Blackhill, Hexham and Morpeth. The LNER acquired the railbus on June 28th 1934 for GBP2,500 and renumbered to No.294. Other routes would include Scarborough and Hull - York - Selby - Pontefract service. The railbus was scrapped at Darlington during 1939.

This railcar was the basis for similar machines sent to the Kalka-Simla & Great Indian Peninsula Railways.

Source: derbysulzers.com

The Man with a Movie Camera

A poster by the Stenberg brothers for Dziga Vertov's film
1929

In Memory of a Friend

Vladimir Ozerny (1962-2012). Flying

Visit Vladimir Ozerny Gallery @ Dieselpunk Encyclopedia

Stream-O-Eight

Bohn Aluminium advertisement by Arthur Radebaugh
1944

Image via x-ray delta one @ Flickr

Read about Arthur Radebaugh @ Dieselpunks.org

Broadway, Shanghai

Broadway Mansions Hotel

Designed by B. Flazer of Palmer & Turner company, the Broadway Mansions were built in 1930-1934 for Sir Victor Sassoon, it was the tallest building in Shanghai (19 floors, 255.9 ft). Renamed "Shanghai Mansions" in 1951, and "Anti-Imperialism building" in 1969, it reverted to its original name in 1996.

Photo by archhale2008 @ Flickr

Squadriglia Aerosiluranti

279th Torpedo Bomber Squadron

Dubonnet Xenia

This one-off Hispano-Suiza was commissioned by Andre Dubonnet in 1937 to showcase his company's latest suspension development. Andre Dubonnet was an accomplished aviator and racing driver. The Dubonnet family had amassed a fortune from the aperitifs and cognacs that continue to bear the family name.
The streamlined, aircraft inspired styling was done by aerodynamics expert Jean Andreau and Jacques Saoutchik crafted the body on a modified Hispano-Suiza H6B chassis. The car is equipped with unusual parallel-opening doors.

Source: coachbuild.com

Wirgin Edinex

The Edinex viewfinder cameras for 35mm film were made by Gebr. Wirgin in Wiesbaden. The first model was certainly introduced in the mid-1930s. The same camera was also sold by Adox as the Adrette, released in the late 1930s.
Expensive models of the early Edinex and Adrette were offered with unit focusing and fast lenses, while cheaper models had slower front cell focusing lenses. In both cases, the lens and shutter unit is mounted on a telescopic tube.
Production of the camera was resumed after World War II.

Early Edinex, Schneider Xenon 4.5cm f/2, Compur-Rapid shutter.
A Japanese Walz rangefinder is mounted on the accessory post.
Photo by herrschmidtke @ Flickr
Info: Camera-wiki.org

Deco Camouflage

Philips radio model 834A

This Art Deco radio was made in 1933 in the Netherlands. It's front is made of bakelite and it's sides (not shown) are made of a bakelite formica. The materials deliberately mimic wood grain, so the household newcomer could merge with the furniture.

Photo by galessa's plastics @ Flickr

Modern Wonders

Cigarette vending machine delivering a lit cigarette for a penny

1931

Gorky Park

Ivan Shadr, Girl with an Oar
Moscow, 1930s

A spiral structure in the background is the famous parachute tower designed by Pavel Grokhovsky - a one-man brain trust who developed all kinds of innovative concepts, from an armored hovercar to rocket artillery devices.

WAAC Posters

1943

Sources: Vintage European Posters, Jackson Library, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

More Than a Thousand Words

Photo by russelljsmith @ Flickr

Read about Napier, a town in New Zealand proudly calling itself "Art Deco Capital of the World"

Aeroplano

Mario Sironi, 1930

Rue Cassini, 12

Apartment building in Paris XIVe
1930-1931
Architect: Charles Abella
Sculptor: Xavier Haas

Photo by I pharmer @ Flickr

Karlzonn Coaxial Ventilator

Artist: 600v @ DeviantArt aka ixlrlxi @ LJ

Source

See "The Fantastic Art of 600v" (NEW!) @ Dieselpunk Encyclopedia

Bizarre, Weird or Just Unusual?

It's a Maybach. Yes, Maybach. No mistake.

Its full name is Maybach SW38 Stromllinien Cabriolet.

Body built in 1937 (or 1938) by Spohn, one of the finest German ateliers.

I don't know why the coachbuilders decided to imitate the Tatra 77 (three headlights, rounded nose, etc.)

But the result is quite bizarre. Or weird?..

Source: autoevolution

Women Firewatchers, London

Lee Miller for British Vogue
1940

via Foxtongue @ Flickr

In-flight Entertainment

Cine projector onboard the ANT-20 Maxim Gorki
The 'flying cinema' was intended for something more serious than passengers' entertainment. Being the propaganda squadron flagship, Maxim Gorky delivered the latest newsreels and (probably) feature films to the periphery.

Read more about the ANT-20 @ Dieselpunks.org

Chicago Noir

Benson & Rixon Co Department Store, Chicago
1937
Architect: Alfred S. Alschuler

Photo via Patricksmercy @ Flickr

Wartime Streamline

Fiat 500 Topolino requisitioned by the Bulgarian army
Sofia, ca. 1940

Source: Lost Bulgaria

Read about the Topolino @ Dieselpunks.org

Fountain & Tower

La plaza de la Laprida, Buenos Aires
Architect: Francisco Salamone
1930s

Photo by Ostrosky Photos @ Flickr

Read about Francisco Salamone @ Dieselpunks.org

Wear You to the Ball

Artist: Francis Bernard
1930s

Speedboat Design

© Scott Robertson

(Visit artist's website and blog)

Streamline Stuttgart

Built as Schocken department store in 1926-1928, this building was an icon of modern architecture and the trademark of its architect, Erich Mendelsohn.

Photographed in 1955, five years before demolition.

Via Harald HAEUSLER @ Flickr

All-Terrain

1928 Albion Military Model 32

More Albion trucks (and coaches) @ Dieselpunks.org

Gunner Position

Avia B 71 medium bomber (license-built Soviet SB)
Czechoslovak Air Force
ca. 1937

Pilot Radio

Model X201 made in USA by the Pilot Radio Corporation, circa 1936. The design is attributed to Jan Streng, halfway between Streamlining and Art Deco.

Photo by galessa's plastics @ Flickr