Date this Jubilee Day photo

Upvote:2

It was taken about 1970, if you believe The Pram Museum, since the baby stroller in the right foreground is a Columbia Tuk-A-Way (USA manufacturer).

Although, here's an ad for the same stroller reportedly offered in 1954. From the auto in the photo, that seems likley.

Upvote:6

The many cues to observe:

Picture quality

Although it might be even higher resolution and a better scan: depth of field, focus, shadows etc point to an overall technology that's more late than sooner.

The vehicles

enter image description here RBarryYoung: Ok, I am now pretty sure that the bus is a Flxible Clipper and not a Visicoach from the Flxible owners site. The last year they were made was 1950 and since there’s no destination plate on the front I assume that it is either a show model or privately owned. Based on its location, I think it on the plaza/sidewalk, not in a parking lot so that would mean it’s on display, which should make it new. I think that should make this then no later than 1951.

Drawn carriages

a baby carriage

enter image description here

apparently a Columbia Tuk-A-Way
For comparison:

From an auction on ebay

Source: VTG 1950's Columbia TUK-A-WAY Baby Stroller Westfield Mfg MOTHER Children's Ad Earliest date of manufacture? (If newspaper ads confirm that its 1954?) Note that it has been patented. Date for the patent?
kimchilover: The Tuk-A-Way dates to 1955 or earlier: see this 1955 ad, for instance: aditorial in Life Magazine 20 Jun 1955
Describing the cart as an innovation from "in the last two years" (but there seem to have been sturdier versions of the cart in question and "last two years" is imprecise and might mean publication date minus 2,99 years")
An earlier dated Photo is 1954 PRESS PHOTO TUK-A-WAY, using the same source material for a collage as the VTG picture.

another baby carriage?

enter image description here

The boyscouts:

enter image description here
When were they founded?
What is this font, exactly?

T-shirt boy

enter image description here
When did it became acceptable, when mainstream to wear this in public?

(mid 50s?)

The street lamps

enter image description here
Distinctive style, introduced when, exchanged when?

The shop names

enter image description here
An ".._LCO" and "Biddle's" sign.
When were they active, in that location?

Fashionable sun glasses

enter image description here
A lady with what appears to be cat's eye glasses -> mid 50s

Fashionable socks and naked shoulders

enter image description here

A lady exposing her shoulders and a boy wearing quite sloppy socks and (sneakers)? -> late 50s

More naked shoulders

enter image description here

Madame couture

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The most fashionable lady yet.
Trousers, relatively tight, with slits, also in bobby socks, flat shoes, rolled up sleeves. Might be Capri pants:

Capri pants were introduced by fashion designer Sonja de Lennart in 1948. The name of the pants is derived from the Italian isle of Capri, where they rose to popularity in the late 1950s and early '60s
-> mid to late 50s

Miniskirt girl

Quite an outlier for the rest of the scene:
enter image description here
a girl in what has to be identified as a miniskirt? That complicates things substantially.

Hemlines were just above the knee in 1961, and gradually climbed upward over the next few years. By 1966, some designs had the hem at the upper thigh. Stockings with suspenders were not considered practical with miniskirts and were replaced with coloured tights. The popular acceptance of miniskirts peaked in the "Swinging London" of the 1960s, and has continued to be commonplace, particularly among younger women and teenage girls. Before that time, short skirts were only seen in sport and dance clothing, such as skirts worn by female tennis players, figure skaters, cheerleaders, and dancers.

Current situation

An approximation of the location with Google Earth: enter image description here

Compared to the above: the church has now a different top: enter image description here

On the old picture there is a spire missing. when was that done?

Edit: According to this site, the steeple was changed in 1978, so no help there:

In 1978, The First Church of God, 28 E. Main St., Mechanicsburg, was receiving its new 4-ton, 42-foot-long steeple, which came into town on a flatbed tractor-trailer.

Current conclusion:

The vehicles might be a bit outdated, the women's fashion seem to firmly rule out late 40s and early 50s.

Sources:
For fashion info:
Vintage Socks | 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s History
1940s Swing Pants & Sailor Trousers- Wide Leg, High Waist
1940s Style Skirts- Vintage High Waisted Skirts
1940s Style Hats
1950s Dresses, 50s Dresses | Swing, Wiggle, Pin Up Dresses
1950s 50s Costumes- Poodle Skirts, Grease, Monroe, Pin up, I Love Lucy
1950s Swing Skirt, Poodle Skirt, Pencil Skirts
1950s Housewife Dress | 50s Day Dresses

A concise illustrated history of Women’s Fashion and Style – 1940 to 1949 –
50s wardrobes
40s Women's Clothing
50s Women's Clothing

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