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1942. "Hollywood, California. Tire service station." Mosher Tire, next door to the Dix Hotel. Photo by Russell Lee for the Office of War Information. View full size.
This is where my grandfather, Lewis Dean Mosher worked. Later in 1942 the business moved to 12117 Burbank Blvd in North Hollywood. My father and my uncle ended up working together with my grandfather for some time. Eventually my dad, Merrill D. Mosher operated it until he retired. The original structure on Burbank Blvd is no longer there, but the house next door, where my grandparents lived starting in 1927, is still there.
Here is an earlier image, probably taken in 1937.
Motorola was the big name - if not the only one - in auto radios at that time. The company had a large stock of auto radios at the war's beginning. Since auto manufacturing was suspended for the duration of the war, Motorola sold "chairside" radios, which were auto radios converted to 110-volt AC power and installed into end tables.
Something older is parked at the curb to the right of the frame and it appears to have a So Cal AAA license plate topper attached to it!
Nice 1938 ford Deluxe Tudor sedan parked in front of the bargain rack. I have a '38 Standard Tudor...but not that nice.
Mr. Mosher would be registering for World War I not World War II. His age was 57 in 1942.
[Age requirement for WWII draft registration was 18-64. -tterrace]
I stand corrected. Thanks tterrace as I dropped the ball you picked it up.
3rd floor room/special rate.
When a half a dozen sizes fit ALL cars. Today, it seems tire shops must have hundreds of sizes, let alone brands.
... according this post in a forum discussion. It says:
"The founder of Mosher Tire Service was Lewis Dean Mosher, born in Illinois on September 26, 1885. His obituary says he was a pioneer in North Hollywood beginning in 1927 and that he had founded his tire business in Los Angeles in 1905 . . . When he filled out a draft registration for WWII he . . . lists his business address as 1534 N. Cahuenga Bl, North Hollywood."
Too bad the tiny top floor room doesn't provide a view of all those luscious, war-rationed tires.
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