Mystery Photo

[UnclePete]

I picked this up recently because it was a photo that intrigued me. When I asked the shop owner about it he had no clue as to the contents/context of it.

There are plenty of people scratching their heads trying to figure this one out.

Apparently it is from Pompton Lakes as shown on the train. The train/engine isn't actually a real one as it is curbside near a pharmacy and there are no tracks. So that leans towards a parade/presentation device. Naturally the main focus is the four men wearing the white coveralls with skulls and crossbones on them. The "legion" type caps they are wearing suggest an organized group. Also, the visible letters behind the dark suited man (2nd from the left) give us "HOCK" to the left and "PS" to the right.

I thought, others suggested as well, that possible they spell out "Shock Troops" or "Shock Corps". Those terms don't return any results relevant to Pompton Lakes or the uniformed men.

Can we figure this one out? I plan to make an appointment with the Pompton Lakes Historical Society one of these days to pay them a visit.

IMG_5248_1000.jpg (320.03 KiB) Viewed 3617 times

[GSC]

I'll have to find the link. Many towns and organizations had these "locomotives" built on truck chassis for parades and other uses. At one time, there were a lot of these things. Not sure if any exist. I would think somewhere in the back of the municipal yard one would be hiding.

[CarterB]

Perhaps part of the 1930's German American Bund? Camp Bergwald of the pro Nazi bund was located on the Pompton lakes border with Bloomingdale on Federal Hill.

[snavely]

I think it's a pic of American Legion members (thus the caps) who belonged to the Society of Forty Men and Eight Horses, which explains the "locomotive" and was probably taken at a parade some time in the 20's or 30's. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forty_and ... ganization" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[CarterB]

American Legion with the street "loco" makes sense, but the skull and crossbones???
The Pompton Lakes Legion did have a 40&8 loco as noted by the American Legion Magazine

National
convention

ATLANTIC CITY
SEPTEMBER 14-19. 1957
Convention-goers got closeup of the miniature locomotive of Pompton
Lakes, N. J., 40 &: 8 as it puffed along Atlantic City's famous Boardwalk.

So looks more like it may be them, but what's with the skull and bones outfits?

[snavely]

Probably something like the nickname of the local chapter being the Pirates.

[GSC]

These street locos were in fact used in 40 & 8 and American Legion parades.

Check this out for lots of pics of them:

https://www.pinterest.com/bohannon2317/ ... s/?lp=true" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[UnclePete]

These street locos were in fact used in 40 & 8 and American Legion parades.

Check this out for lots of pics of them:

https://www.pinterest.com/bohannon2317/ ... s/?lp=true" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I took a look at the pics in the link and feel that we are on the right track (no pun intended).

The street locomotives and men wearing white are a good tie-in.

There's still the puzzle about the wording on the train and the skulls & crossbones.

I'm going to keep searching!

[GSC]

Involved with the American Legion as I am, I have feelers out to see what we can find about this. I know a few past State Commanders and other officers who seem to know everyone in the state, so maybe we can get some answers.