Perfect for collectors looking to add a piece of industrial history to their collection.
This is a vintage topographical picture postcard from 1911 depicting the sprawling General Electric Company industrial plant in Erie, Pennsylvania.
The Imagery on the CardThe postcard features a colorful lithograph illustration of GE's "Erie Works" factory complex.
The specific elements mentioned in the description are classic hallmarks of early 20th-century industrial art:
The Plant & Smokestacks: It shows the massive manufacturing facilities, complete with tall brick smokestacks billowing thick "black smoke".
In 1911, heavy smoke was visually celebrated as a proud symbol of American economic progress, manufacturing power, and a thriving workforce.
The Railroad: The illustration highlights train tracks, locomotives, and rail cars weaving directly through the factory grounds.
This represents the critical transportation infrastructure GE used to ship heavy electrical equipment and early locomotives across the country
The Background: Most variations of this aerial or bird's-eye view card feature the blue waters of nearby Lake Erie in the background.
Historical Context & Postcard EraThe Era:
Because it is from 1911, this item belongs to the Divided Back Era of postcards (roughly 1907–1915).
This was the first era where the U.S. Post Office allowed people to write a message on the left side of the back and the address on the right.
The Publishers: These specific industrial views of the Erie plant were printed as lithographs and commonly distributed by local publishers like S.W. Hauck & Sons or Harry H. Hamm.
The Location: The Erie Works facility opened around this exact time (breaking ground in 1910) to expand GE's manufacturing of electric locomotives, motors, and railway equipment
Postcard is about 3 1/2 x 5 1/2
ITEM in vintage Good as seen Condition.
PLEASE CHECK OUT PICS FOR CONDITION.
Multiple FLAT PURCHASES can combine for ONE MAILING FEE.