Historic Hood River
Doing the Books, 1912
Notes
We have a wonderful collection of negatives from the Davidson family. You’ve seen a few before, but we’re now scanning them at higher resolution so I’ll be posting a few more.
When I look at a new collection I always look for key images which offer definitive clues about the date: a building under construction, a visiting dignitary, a movie marquee, or a license plate. This image has three separate confirmations of its date: a calendar open to November 1912, another open to December 1912, and a fair souvenir from September 1912.
Based on the stacks of ledger books I’m going to guess this woman is doing the bookkeeping. This seems to be a modern well-equipped office with a telephone and electric lighting. The apparatus on the far left side of the desk is a bit of a mystery. I thought it was a Rolodex, except they weren’t invented until 1954. I also learned that cellophane tape wasn’t around until 1930, and ball point pens didn’t appear until 1935. But at least they had paper clips (1899).
Charlott
That cord has to be the cord coming down from the ceiling to the light, which appears to be clamped on to that shelf. I am wonderfing if that picture thing way up high is a picture or a cover to where once a stove pipe inserted. Not that that apparatus on the far left is, but my guess is one an early check printer type thing. Waste basket is really that, a "basket". Couldn’t help but notice her dress with all the pleats in the sleeves and that braid coming over the shoulder. I would expect on the front was a lot of braiding and pleating. No, way would I wish to have to iron that and in the method of ironing used…
l.e.
If I had to sit on that stool in front of the computer, I probably would not spend much time googling!!
Charlott is right about the drop cord from the ceiling.
Is there any type of handle to the apparatus on the left? Could it be a pencil sharpener?
Connie
I believe the object on the left is a check imprinting machine. You entered in the amount and then pulled down on the handle and it imprinted the check with the amount. We have several in the museum collection and they were common in business type offices to eliminate check writing errors.
Charlott
Definitely an early check machine.
Bill Pattison
Arthur, Can you pull up a date on the calender or any other info?
B. Copper
I take it this picture is from the Mae Davidson collection. It would be nice if there was a way of determining if this was one of the Davidson Fruit Company offices. Mae Davidson was very involved in H.F. Davidson’s Hood River business operations for a number of years in the teens and early twenties.
Regarding the discussion of office equipment, I found this article regarding H.F Davidson’s office equipment of an earlier date.
The Hood River Glacier May 30, 1907 — Installs Graphophone — H. F. Davidson, of the Davidson Fruit Company, has installed in his office a graphophone manufactured by the Columbia Phonograph company. This machine has the general appearance of the ordinary cylinder phonograph. It is operated by attaching a wire to the current that supplies the office with incandescent lights. This same general current will set the machine in motion and which can be regulated to any speed. The process is simple. Place a blank record on the cylinder of the machine and dictate your message through a transmitting tube. When you have finished your dictation remove the cylinder and file it away for the typewriter, who in return, places it upon the machine and the dictation, is reproduced as it is being transcribed for record. The machine takes the place of a stenographer. It is absolutely impossible to make an error in the reception of the dictation. If any matter is In doubt you can retrace the conversation and the faithful little machine will repeat the message again. Mr. Davidson is highly pleased with the machine and regards it of great commercial value.