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Budd Co. Promotional Card Information Request
https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=36423		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Scranton Yard [ Mon Mar 31, 2014 12:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Budd Co. Promotional Card Information Request
A few years back, while cleaning out my in-laws' home, we came across a stainless steel promotional card the size of a credit card. It has information on the Edw. G. Budd Mfg. Co. and a thin piece of stainless with picture of the Zephyr "shot welded" to the card.

This belonged to my late father-in-law. Besides his time in the Navy during WWII, he was not out of the New York City metropolitan area until the late 1960s.

The card refers to the trainset as the "Burlington Zephyr", which was the original name given to it in 1934. As far as I know, it was renamed "Pioneer Zephyr" in 1936 and so my best guess is that he picked this up in the NY area sometime between 1934 and 1936.

The lighting in the pictures of the front and back make it look yellowed but it is the silver/grey color of stainless. The photo of the card resting on the front of the power car is a more accurate representation of the color of the card.

I know this was some sort of promotional handout but do not know much more about it, such as when it was made, when/where it was distributed, and about how many were made. If anyone knows more about this card as far as when or how these were distributed, about how many they gave out, and particularly how he might have obtained it in the NY area prior to his marriage in the mid-fifties, I’d appreciate if you could pass along any information you may have.

Attachments:
Budd Card Front.jpg
Budd Card Front.jpg [ 85.07 KiB | Viewed 4027 times ]
Budd Card Back.jpg
Budd Card Back.jpg [ 48.66 KiB | Viewed 4027 times ]
Budd Card Power Car.jpg
Budd Card Power Car.jpg [ 92.05 KiB | Viewed 4027 times ]
Author:  HudsonL [ Mon Mar 31, 2014 2:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Budd Co. Promotional Card Information Request
From Wikipedia:

Quote:
After its display on the Wings of a Century stage, the train was taken on a 31-state, 222-city publicity tour. More than 2 million people saw the train before it entered revenue service


It may be possible the Zephyr was on the East Coast as part of the tour.

-Hudson
Author:  Scranton Yard [ Mon Mar 31, 2014 6:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Budd Co. Promotional Card Information Request
HudsonL - Thank you for your reply.

In an attempt to keep my original post as brief as possible, I neglected to mention that, as HudsonL points out, the original trainset was taken on a large nationwide tour. References to this are in resources such as Wikipedia and other write ups I've found using my limited Google search skills.

I have also made inquiries at the RR Museum of PA, the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, and the CO RR Museum, but have been unable to come up with anything more specific.

Given that the New York City area was an even more important population center in the first half of the twentieth century than it is now, I have inferred that the tour brought the Zephyr to NY at some point. The only possible reason it may not have visited NY would have been if there was some sort of disagreement with another RR that prevent it from entering the territory, but I have not found any record of this.

What I have not been able to ascertain are the dates/locations of the stops on this tour and if this item was given out to the general public during this tour. Some promotions are trade promotions that are only given to members of the media, public relations/marketing entities, and others in the industry. My father-in-law went into the ad business after his WW II service and so he could have gotten it later on through his connections in advertising.

So, if there are any Budd Co. experts out there, or if you have any references, documentation, or photos that contain specific details on these cards or the tour, I’d appreciate if you could pass along any information you may have.
Author:  wilkinsd [ Mon Mar 31, 2014 8:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Budd Co. Promotional Card Information Request
According to this scanned invitation, the Pioneer Zephyr was on display at both Penn Station and GCT:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/Pioneer_Zephyr_exhibition_invitation_at_New_York_1934.jpg
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