1937 “This Mechanized Age, Second Series” (P50-130-2)
By: John A. Shupek (Skytamer Images)

• Series Title: This Mechanized Age, Second Series
• World Tobacco Issues Index №: P50-130-2
• Manufactured by: Godfrey Phillips Ltd.
• Card Type: Cigarette Insert Cards
• Number of Cards: 50 (with adhesive Backs)
• Numbering: 1 to 50
• Card Dimensions: 67 × 36 mm
• Circa: 1937
• Checklist: Download

“This Mechanized Age, Second Series” Overview

This is the third in a series of three “This Mechanized Age” 50-card sets issued by Godfrey Phillips Ltd., London, during 1936 and 1937. The initial 1936 “This Mechanized Age - First Series” set was issued with the following two minor variations in the card Backs: (A) Inscribed “This surface is adhesive” and (B) Without the inscription (non-adhesive version). Other than that, the two sets were identical. All three sets focus on the advancements in technology during the 1930s. The the card fronts feature the “machine” in the Backs of the cards provide a brief description of the machine's capabilities. This “Second Series” cover a plethora of subjects including planetariums, aircraft, milk bottling, train ferries, bridges, seaplanes, air beacons, snow ploughs, and even margarine packaging. In short, the series highlights the exciting new technologies being introduced during the mid-1930s timeframe.

“This Mechanized Age, Second Series” Image Guide

Behind each of the “thumbnail” images below is a 600-dpi computer enhanced image of the individual card fronts and Backs. Directly below the image guide, in a tabular format, are the links to the original 600-dpi scans that were used to generate the computer enhanced images.

Series Album

The fact that both the 1936 in the 1937 “This Mechanized Age” card sets had adhesive Backs indicates that there was most likely albums associated with the sets. However, as of 3/18/2014 we have yet to see a “This Mechanized Age” album. If you know of the album, would appreciate your inputs.

Series Checklist

We have included two versions of checklist: (1) the web version shown below, and (2) an Adobe^® Acrobat^® PDF 8½ × 11 inch format checklist. click on the “PDF” icon to download the checklist.

Contributors

John Shupek — John is retired Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineer that lives in Southern California. John's 36 year aerospace career/adventure started in the mid-1960s when he worked for Pratt & Whitney at their “FRDC” … Florida Research and Development Center, West Palm Beach, Florida. John was part of the P&W jet engine design team for the CIA/USAF's Lockheed A-12/SR-71A “Oxcart/Blackbird” engines (J58/JT11D-20). He also worked on the RL-10 rocket engine and the JTF-17A which was P&W's entry into the United States' SST competition between Boeing and Lockheed. Several years later, John moved Back to California and worked at the AiResearch Mfg. Company at LAX and Torrance. He originally worked on the thermal design of the HRE (Hypersonic Ramjet Engine) which was a supersonic combustion Mach 7 ramjet engine that was to be tested on the North American X-15. John did about three more years of jet engine design work before he disappeared for 13 years into the classified DOE “GCEP” (Gas Centrifuge Enrichment Plant) Atomic Energy program for the enrichment of U₂₃₅. After the GCEP program was cancelled by the DOE in 1985, John was hired by Northrop Aircraft to do the thermal design for Northrop's entry into the ATF (Advanced Tactical Fighter) competition, the Northrop YF-23A “Black Widow II” stealth supercruise fighter. He also worked on the Northrop Grumman B-2A “Spirit” stealth bomber. After several years on a classified stealth missile program, John worked the remainder of his Aerospace career as one of Northrop Grumman's Program Directors on the United States Navy's F/A-18E/F “Super Hornet” jet fighter program.

During John's career at Northrop Grumman he served for five years as Northrop's “Vintage Aircraft Club” Commissioner and the Curator and Webmaster for the Western Museum of Flight in Hawthorne, California. Several years later, John was the volunteer webmaster (for about 3 years) for the Yanks Air Museum, Chino, California. He also served as President and webmaster for two different NPO's after his retirement. The Whittier Historical Society & Museum and Whittier Meals on Wheels.

John's love of aviation history and aviation photography lead to the establishment of this Skytamer.com website in 1998. The Skytamer.com site has continued to expand and will always grow and will never be completed. It's sort of analogous to a snowball rolling down a hill without any trees to stop it. In approximately 2002, John remembered that he had collected Topps “Wings” (ACC# R707-4) airplane trading cards while in High School. Somehow the cards had disappeared over the years. So at this point, he started to re-collect airplane trading cards via eBay and become an airplane card “Image Collector” rather than a “Card Collector” per se. After John scans an airplane card for the website, he has no further use for it and he puts it Back into circulation via eBay. John's mission statement for the Skytamer.com is basically to restore and preserve high-quality card images/artwork associated with the various airplane card sets from the early 1900s to the present. These cards are wonderful historical “snapshots” into aviation history showing which aviation events and aircraft were important at that point in time. For the Skytamer.com website, basically if it is a trading card collection that features things that fly, but doesn't have feathers, it eligible for the consideration on the Skytamer.com website. John always welcome inputs and high resolution scans (600-dpi) that can be used on this website. John can be reached via the “Contact Us” navigation button on the left.

References

1. The Cartophilic Society of Great Britain. “This Mechanized Age, Second Series (P50-130-2), Godfrey Phillips Ltd..” The World Tobacco Issues Index (Part I) No. 23. Risca Newport, Gwent, Great Britain: The Stirling Press, Ltd., 1956, pp 308. Print.
2. Shupek, John A. “This Mechanized Age, Second Series (P50-130-2) Godfrey Phillips Ltd..” The Skytamer Archive (600-dpi Image Scans). Skytamer Images, Whittier, CA, 2014. Digital Image Database.