Oakland Underfoot

5210 International Boulevard

I think that’s the name. Probably a passer-by.

1607 52nd Avenue

J. H. Colgrove took Deco to the limit, using a decorative font in which the “7” character was close to what other fonts would use for a “1.” But I have examples with a “1” in them, and that numeral is a straight unadorned stroke.

5247 Wentworth Avenue

Riechel & Bredhoff marks have two configurations. This is what I call the tight arch, in which the maker’s name curves right up against the racetrack outline. In the easy arch, the maker’s name makes a straighter arc. The tight arch appears throughout the range of dates I have, from 1921 to 1951. The easy arch appears in 1924, 1929 through 1933, and 1940 so far. I need to pay closer attention to these. This particular mark appears next door to an easy-arch mark from the same year, both of them from October.

1502 52nd Avenue

1850 51st Avenue

I have another example from this year, but it’s stacked instead of all on one line, like this.

3416 Victor Avenue

4146 Norton Avenue

Right across the street from the mark I put up yesterday is this most atypical example of Buel’s work. Maybe an assistant did it, not attempting Buel’s style and even misspelling his name.