The sun., 1916-04-16

@oLLEcTING photographs of old
l locomotives may seem a bit
prosaic TO some people. Never.
theless there are "a lot OF people
In this country who follow this fad
with all the interest and enthusiasm Of
the most ardent numisinatist or phi
latellst. In fact. a comparison Of
stamps and coins with original photo
graphs Of the earliest American loco
motives leaves. in their opinion. the
advantage all on the side OF the ioco-
motive for points OF intcrsit They
treasure their collections ns much az
any boy does his stamp album.
In comparison with those who coli
lect coins or stamps the number of
collectors Of old locomotive pictures Is
country several thousands Of these
collections. II Is not q new collecting
fsd by any means. Some Of the col
lectors have been at II twenty-five
years or more.
Very few railroad men arc numbered
among the collectors. Among the
owners OF the largest collections Of
this kind are banker. an insurance
man. . lumberman. a botanist and a
clergyman. Most OF them worked UP
an enthusiasm for the locomotive back
In their boy hood days. This led them
to compile q pictured history OF its
development. They have kept track
Of almost every screw and bolt that
has been added since the days OF the
old De Witt Clinton. The size and
type Of cylinders, connecting rods,
smokestacks and tenders mean as
much to them as do the marks on
stamps and coins To those who collect
such things.
This collecting fad has its rules and
ite prices just like the others. Pic
lures are traded and hiEh prices are
paid for originals. The original photo.
graphs Of the early locomotives taken
Of course years after they had been
running. because photography was not
known In their early days--command
high prices. II is not unusual for Il
collector TO pay $2o for the privilege
Of copying one Of these originals
Those who have gone into the fad eN-
tensively keep in close touch with one
another and know at all times the
state Of the market and the proper
value to be placed on pictures which
they desire To add to their collections.
One Of the largest collections " this
kind belongs 10 John W. Merrill, an
insurance man in Boston. 1t com.
prises over 5000 pictures and has
taken him fifteen years TO SET
together. Mr.. Merrill, keeps the pic.
lures In a safe which he had made for
the purpose and has given instructions
TO the local fire department that Il
hL house ever burns the safe is Il
bt. saved even at the expense Of the
house
A collection OF locomotive pictures
even larger than that OF the Bostoi
man is the property VI Charles Il
Cheney. a surveyor. OF Brooklyn
There are over 1000 pictures IN Mr.
Cheney's collection and he has bi ell a
Il for over twenty-five years. The
collection Is mounted in four albums
The owner has gone all over the
country taking pictures Of locomotives
Of special types to add to il.
Arthur Curran Of New York. wh'
has written extensively about earl!
locomotives, has a collection compris
ing over 1000 photographs. Mr.. Cur
ran. however. has specialized more OF
carly New York Central and New
Haven locomotives. He has a picture
Of the De Witt Clinton taken thirty
Ave years ago by the rosds ofncia
photographer which is priced highl!
by collectors. Another picture is tina
Of the john Bull. the Pennsylvania
Oldest locomotive. which was importe'
from England in 1880. This picture wa
taken when II was resurrected in lss
and sent To the worlds fair at Chicas
under its own steam.
The head of large plumbine suppl
house 'in New England who is
years old boasts that his collector
in addition to containing many photo
graphs Of the early locomotives, ha
one Of the first and best pictures eve