1945 Boeing Stratocruiser Sleeper Berth Photo, Acme Wire Service 8x7.25" For Sale

1945 Boeing Stratocruiser Sleeper Berth Photo, Acme Wire Service 8x7.25"
"Thru the Air by Night" — 28 Upper and Lower Berths for the Postwar Sky TravelerDESCRIPTIONThis is an original 1945 Acme Newspictures wire photo titled "Thru the Air by Night," distributed by Acme's New York Bureau for release on Sunday, September 23, 1945.A young woman reclines in a converted berth reading a magazine, tucked in beneath a herringbone blanket with a curtained porthole window beside her, while a stewardess stands in the aisle nearby holding her handbag.Above the berth, a fabric tag stitched into the curtain reads "Boeing Stratocruiser." The original Acme caption taped to the reverse describes the scene as a night time view of the new Boeing Stratocruiser, noting that the large seats were easily converted into berths, with 28 uppers and lowers available in the main passenger compartment.Like the companion galley and lounge photos from this same release, this image was distributed more than two months before Pan American World Airways placed the Stratocruiser's launch order on November 29, 1945, and nearly two years before the aircraft's first flight on July 8, 1947.Boeing built this berth mockup and staged the photo to sell the concept of overnight sky travel to airlines and the public before a single production aircraft existed, part of the campaign that eventually landed orders from Pan Am, Northwest, United, American Overseas, and BOAC.The reverse carries the Acme Newspictures usage and credit stamps along with a handwritten Acme reference number, 772266, and grease pencil crop marks from a period picture editor.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 x 7.25 in overall (mount). Please verify exact measurements against the photos before listing, as vintage mounts were hand trimmed and vary slightly. Period red and black grease pencil crop marks are present on the front border, typical of period newsroom editing and not damage. The typed Acme caption slip is taped to the reverse and remains legible, with the Acme Newspictures credit stamp present and clear. There is mild edge wear and light surface handling marks consistent with age and wire service circulation. No tears, creases, or losses affect the printed image itself. A handwritten "772266" appears on the caption slip.