PC-000-536

Picture postcard advertising Pickwick Observation-Buffet Coach, part of the Pickwick Stages System

 

ca 1925

 

Pickwick Stages System, San Diego, California

The image portion of this black-and-white picture postcard shows a "Pickwick Observation-Buffet Coach," a possibly enhanced photograph. These "coaches" were designed by Dwight E. Austin (1897-1960), who was hired in 1923 by Pickwick Stages as designer and superintendent of its body works. They were built on the chassis of a bespoke Pierce-Arrow Model Z bus. It can be seen in the photograph that there is an upper deck as well as a place for a tour guide to stand up. The initial Pickwick Stage operated between San Diego, California, and Escondido, Mexico, expanding to include other California coastal cities and eventually Phoenix, El Paso, St. Louis, Chicago, Salt Lake City, and Denver. These 20-passenger coaches carried not only the lavatory and radio mentioned on the card, but a steward, ice water, and a segregated smoking section for 8 men. The colors of the coach were blue and gray, and it was designed to emulate the Pullman coach train service for passengers. The Pickwick Corporation built its first hotel in 1926 in San Francisco, featured in Dashiell Hammett's "The Maltese Falcon."

Motor coaches; Pickwick Corporation; Pickwick Observation-Buffet Coaches; Dwight E. Austin; Pierce-Arrows; Pickwick Stages System

150 West Broadway

California - San Diego

 

 

MS-0008

English

 

Postcard

3.5 inches x 5.5 inches

No

 

[printed in box at top of apparent photograph]
Pickwick Observation-Buffet Coach
Steward prepares and serves hot meals aboard this amazing Observation-Buffet Car, bjilt and opeated for the Pickwick Stages System. Each Coash has lavatory, radio, upper deck and pilot house. Serves big California coast cities twice daily.

[sign on car between main seating and observation deck]
El Paso-San Diego-Los Angeles
Pickwick tages System
San Francisco-Portland-Seattle

 

Image

TIFF

20.70 MB