Photographs
ANACONDA, Mont. (?) Yegen Bros."A burgular broke into the store of Yegen Bros. last night. The thief or thieves committed several dastardly acts of vandalism in addition to robbing the store, one of which was to cut the wires of the improved cash carrier, which had recently been installed in all of the firm's retail stores and bank. The system is operated by means of an electric motor and is one of the best in the state. The damage wrought was considerable, as it will require an expert to repair it." Anaconda Standard, 24 Sep. 1903, p.1
ASTORIA, Or. C.H. Cooper. "Owing to the continued rush at this establishment we are compelled to engage extra help, along with the improved Lamson's Cash Railway system." Daily Morning Astorian, 21 Dec. 1887, p. 3
BOISE, Id. Pioneer Company (formerly Pioneer Tent and Awning Company). The new establishemt in May 1910 had a cash carrier, which was still in use in 1975. A tug on the rope was needed to send the carriage to the cashier and it returned by gravity. This England, Summer 1975
BOZEMAN, Mont. A. Lamme & Co. "At the same time, a similar system [to that of Raleigh, Lamme & Co.] will be put to work in the store of A. Lamme & Co." Bozeman Weekly Chronicle, 2 Jun. 1886, p. 3
BOZEMAN, Mont. "Raleigh, Lamme & Co. will put in the cash railway system." Bozeman Weekly Chronicle, 12 May 1886,, p. 3
• "The system is different from that used extensively in the east... In the first case it is more rapid, the cash being conveyed by a small car over a wire, and shot to and fro by means of a spring." Bozeman Weekly Chronicle, 2 Jun. 1886, p. 3
BOZEMAN, Mont. Wilson & Co. "One of the clerks shot a hollow wooden ball containing money and a slip of paper into the air, and before we could think the cashier at the other end of the room had opened the ball, refigured the amount and placed the exchange in the ball, hoisted it into the air, where it rolled back to the clerk, was pulled down to the counter and the amazed customer was handed his money... We were informed that this devise is called 'Lamson's cash railway system' and is the finest ever put up in Montana... This firm has been under a great expense to obtain the right to use this railway, beside the necessity of an expert to put it up." Bozeman Weekly Chronicle, 4 Feb. 1885, p. 3
CALDWELL, Id. Montie B. Gwinn has put a system of cash railways in his store, which saves the boys many weary steps and also serves to astonish the natives. He has four wire tracks starting from as many points of his immense store room, and all centering at the cashier's desk. On each track is a little tin box, which flies from one end to the other with lightning rapidity by simply manipulating a lever at either end... This is the first thing of the kind in the territory." Caldwell Tribune, 5 Oct. 1889, p. 3
COEUR D'ALENE, Id. Sears. "They had these at Sears in Coeur d'Alene when I was a kid." Earline Osborn in Historic Photographs on Facebook
EUGENE, Or. J.W. Quackenbush & Son. Opened in 1903 and operated at least until Mrs Quackenbush died in 1972. Now divided into Ambrosia Restaurant, second-hand bookshop and other businesses. Air-Line system (?). Photographs
• "Kwakenbushes in Eugenen, OR had this [pneumatic tube] system." Nancy Randall Fuhrman in posting to Historic Photographs on Facebook
EVANSTON, Wy. Blyth & Fargo. Wire system. See Reminiscences
HAMILTON, Mont. Valley Mercantile Co. "The Lamson Store Service company of Seattle is installing a trolley cash system in the Valley Mercantile company store that will make the place more metropolitan than ever." Daily Missoulian, 1 Dec. 1912, p. 3
HAVRE, Mont. H.A.Buttrey, dept. store. "How proud they were of their Mother who sat in an open office, a floor above the customers! They loved to watch the little baskets full of money whiz up to her and watch her place the correct change in the baskets and return them." Irene Kelliher. Jennie McKenzie and family.
HELENA, Mont. J.C.Penney. 304-306 North Main Street. Opened in 1929 - formerly Golden Rule store. Air-Line cash carrier. Photographs of exterior, interior and a propulsion at Helena History website
HELENA, Mont. "Raleigh & Clarke have one of the elder pattern [of cash railway], which is about to be supplanted by the improved patent." Bozeman Weekly Chronicle, 4 Feb. 1885, p. 3
HILLSBORO, Or. J.C.Penny's. "Remember these [pneumatic tubes], especially JCPenny’s Hillsboro!!" Marilyn Robinson in Historic Photographs on Facebook
HOOD RIVER, Or. Paris Fair (dept. store), 315
Oak Street. "The Flyer has given us entire satisfaction and we do not hesitate
in recommending it to anyone who wants the best." Testimonial in Baldwin
advertisement, 1925
• "All the business transactions took place in the cashiers' office located on the
Mezzanine level; no money was handled on the floor. The money was put in cash carriers which
were then propelled by a spring loaded propulsion device along a wire to the Mezzanine level.
The transaction was then completed in the office and then propelled back to the salesperson's
station. The propulsion system was called Baldwin Flyer Carriers that brought 'Greater Profits,
Reduced Expenses, Efficiency in Business Operation.' The carriers were first patented in
Chicago in 1900. This system was later replaced by vacuum tubes into which the carriers were
placed and drawn to the Mezzanine level by a vacuum tube system. There were two stations in the
basement, two on the first floor and four on the second floor. These also doubled as baby sitters
as children sat for long periods of time watching the propelled carriers fly through the air to the
office in the Mezzanine level. The pipes and hardware are still extant in the building." National Register of Historic Places
HOOD RIVER, Or. Up-to-Date store."Mr Cram has introduced another metropolitan feature in his store fixtures by the addition of a cash carrier system, which an expert from San Francisco installed the first of the week. Mr Cram proposes in this way to secure the services of a competent man to take his place at the desk." The store was "one of the largest clothing and dry goods stores in the county." Hood River Glacier 30 Mar. 1905, p.3
KEMMERER, Wy. J.C.Penney. "The mother
store... It was small and still had the mezzanine and vestiges of the vacuum
tube system," St
Petersburg Times, 24 Apr. 2001
• "The photo is of an antique 'Cash Carrier System' manufactured by the Lamson Company. This particular system is in the original JC Penney store in Kemmerer, Wyoming along with a lot of other interesting historical items." Gary Coles blog, 4/1/10. The photograph shows an Air-Line propulsion and car.
KETCHIKAN, Al. Tongass Trading Co. "The tongass Trading Company are making a new innovation for Ketchikan this week. They are having an Air Line cash box system installed throughout the store. This means that all cash will be sent direct to the office for changing and will do away with the cash registers in the different departments." Ketchikan Miner, 19 Dec. 1913, p. 3
LARAMIE, Wy. W.H.Holliday, South Second Street. “Many modern devices are noticeable here, such as a .. cash carrier system." Laramie Republican, 1901
LAVINIA,
Mont. Slayton Mercantile. "Built in 1912, the store still retains its
.. tiny bucket money trolleys which ferried cash and coins in bygone days."
It was bought by the Ainslies in 1998 and renovated. Lavinia
website
LEWISTOWN, Mont. J.C.Penny. "When he started with JC Penney in Lewistown in 1962, "we were still putting items in the pneumatic tube to be taken upstairs and be rung up." Independent Record, 24 Jan. 2005
LEWISTOWN, Mont. Power Mercantile Co. "The new structure occupied by the Power Mercantile Company is one of which a city the size of Lewistown may well be proud... Two stories in height, with a front of 95 feet and a depth of 90 feet... On a landing at a turn in the stair are located the offices of the cashier and the general manager. A complete system of the new 'Air Line Cash Carrier' reaches the cashier's office from all parts of the store." Fergus County Argus, 2 Jul. 1902, p.5
MISSOULA, Mont. Crescent Store. "The Crescent is going to quit... Fixtures for sale... Cash carrier system." Missoulian, 6 Mar. 1913, p. 6
MISSOULA, Mont. Valley Mercantile Co. "The Lamson Store Service company of Seattle is installing a trolley cash system in the Valley Mercantile company store that will make the place more metropolitan than ever. Mr. Jack of Seattle is installing the system." Daily Missoulian, 1 Dec. 1912, p. 3
MOSCOW, Id. Davids (dept store), 3rd and Main Streets. "In my youth [1950s?], I was mesmerized by the pneumatic tubes that took your money, swooshed them up to the cashier's office on the mezzanine, and swooshed your change and receipt back to the cash register." Carl Westberg posting to Vision 2020 list, 11 Aug. 2003
NEWCASTLE, Wy. Weston County Supply Co. [Quoting 4 Jan. 1912] "The work at the Weston County Supply Co. has been greatly facilitated by the installation of a cash carrier system connecting the various departments with the cashier's desk, which has been shifted to the grocery department, and Miss Wickersham is acting as cashier." News Letter Journal (Newcastle, Wyoming), 5 Jan. 2012
PAYETTE, Id. Department store on Main Street. Wire system. Cashier sat in the balcony. Papa John website
PENDLETON, Or. Golden Rule. "An air line cash carrier system has just been installed, the improvement being necessary through the growth of the store's business." Daily East Oregonian, 3 Sep. 1912, p. 8
PORTLAND, Or. J.C. Penny's. "I used this system at J.C. PENNY'S. #499 In Portland. OR. 1952-54. on the sales floor. Wonderful experience." Dave Ellis in posting to Historic Photographs on Facebook
RATHDRUM, Id. Larsen Bros. "have installed an air-line cash carrier in their new store. This is the first improvement of this kind in the Rathdrum stores." Rathdrum Tribune, 12 Jan. 1906, p. 4
ROCK SPRINGS, Wy. J.P. McDermott Co., South Front Street. "The J.P. McDermott company has installed a new cash carrier system." Intermountain and Colorado Catholic, 2 May 1908, p.3
ROCK SPRINGS, Wy. J.C.Penney. "Early photographs show a Lamson system and cashier's booth in place in Mr. Penney's third store in Rock Springs, Wyoming in 1906." The Item (Sumter), 13 Jun. 2002, p. 1B
SALEM, Or. Barnes Cash Store. "All fixtures for sale. Glass cases, counters, Lamson endless cable cash carrier system with electric motor." Capital Journal (Salem), 15 Mar. 1920, p. 2
SALEM, Or. Chicago Store. "An agent for the Lamson cash carrier is in the city today installing the system in the grocery department of the Chicago store." Daily Capital Journal, 27 Aug. 1915, p. 8
SALMON CITY, Id. George H. Monk & Co. "During the past week the George H. Monk Co. have put in their store one of the latest improved Air Line cash carriers. This carrier will reach all the departments and simplify the work of the clerks." Idaho Recorder, 16 Jan. 1908, p. 8
SIDNEY, Mont. Yellowstone Mercantile Co. Air-Line carrier became operational in 1915. Company went out of business in 2000s. Building is being renovated and small part of system will be retained in public area. Remainder is going to Mondak Heritage Center. Benjamin Clark
TILLAMOOK, Or. "At the big store in Tillamook my mother flipped through racks of clothes, while I watched the humming cash-tube as it flew backward and forward." Starlite Cafe's Poets Corner