1945 Boeing Stratocruiser Galley Photo, Acme Wire Pre-Pan Am Order 8.5x9.5\" For Sale

1945 Boeing Stratocruiser Galley Photo
Acme Wire Pre-Pan Am Order 8.5x9.5\"
\"Dinner in the Sky\"
Boeing\'s In-Flight Kitchen Before a Single Airline Had Ordered the PlaneDESCRIPTIONThis is an original 1945 Acme Newspictures wire photo titled \"Dinner in the Sky,\" distributed by Acme\'s New York Bureau for release on Sunday, September 23, 1945.The photo shows a white-coated steward plating meals at the galley of the new Boeing Stratocruiser, working among labeled cupboards for dinner plates, cups and saucers, soiled linens, and dirty dishes, with a bank of insulated food and beverage thermos containers mounted above marked \"Boeing Stratocruiser.\"The original Acme caption, still taped to the reverse, describes the compact but complete kitchen equipped for the preparation of complete meals, with cupboard space, work tables, and containers for hot and cold liquids, each meal arranged on an individual tray.What makes this photo unusual is its timing. The release date of September 23, 1945 falls more than two months before Pan American World Airways signed the launch order for the Stratocruiser on November 29, 1945, and nearly two years before the actual aircraft first flew on July 8, 1947.Boeing president William Allen committed the company to building fifty Stratocruisers on speculation, with no airline order yet in hand.This photo documents that gamble in progress: a full scale galley mockup built and photographed for the press before any airline had agreed to buy the airplane, part of the campaign that ultimately sold Pan Am, Northwest, United, American Overseas, and BOAC on what would become the \"luxury liner of the skies,\" known for its double deck cabin, spiral staircase, and lower deck cocktail lounge.The reverse also carries a Boeing Aircraft Company \"Please Credit\" rubber stamp listing the company\'s wartime and postwar lineup, the B-29 Superfortress, B-17 Flying Fortress, Stratoliner Clipper, PT-17 Kaydet, and Stratocruiser, along with the Acme Newspictures usage stamp and a handwritten Acme reference number, 772269.Image was scanned at 600dpi so you can review every detail before you buy.Every effort is made for fact checking and provenance including background research through news and historical archives. If any listing is incorrect in any way and you\'re unsatisfied with the item, please connect with me and I\'ll make it right.Orders placed before Noon CDT will ship same day Ground Advantage with tracking so you know exactly when it will arrive. Returns accepted on all items exceeding $25 in cost. Rigid, professional packaging on all shipments sealed and protected in acid free protectors. Shipping is free and already built into the price, so the BIN price is exactly what you pay, no surprise shipping costs at checkout.CONDITIONOriginal period gelatin silver wire photo print, approximately 8.5 x 9.5 in overall (mount), with the printed image occupying most of the sheet. Please verify exact measurements against the photos before listing, as vintage mounts were hand trimmed and vary slightly.The typed Acme caption slip is taped to the reverse and remains legible, with the Boeing Aircraft Company and Acme Newspictures credit stamps present and clear. There is mild edge wear and light surface handling marks consistent with age and wire service circulation, along with a small closed tear at the caption slip corner. No tears, creases, or losses affect the printed image itself. A handwritten \"772269\" appears in the lower margin of the photo.