My grandfather writes:
"PWD, Saturday Aug 9th. [this would have been in 1924]
My dear Mildred, I don't want to disappoint you and another mail leaves this morning. Was ever so glad to get your letter of July 7th which was somewhat delayed, and now I've just got another one since I started writing this p.c. postmarked July 15th".
The rest is just replying to his wife's news. Most of his postcards are blank on the back and were just enclosed with the letters, which we sadly no longer have.
Date picture taken
1920s
Gallery
Shows place(s)
Comments
The wooden-roof tram was…
The wooden-roof tram was introduced in 1923. The writing of the postcard dates it to 9th August 1924. Maybe the photographer wanted to capture both the older model single-deck tram with the 'modern' and newer wooden-roof tram in a single photo. The photo is probably dated 1923.
Re: Postcard Photo
The building at No. 4 Des Voeux Road Central (2nd Generation) immediately west of the HSBC was completed in 1922. Due to the angle, I am struggling to view the building next to the HSBC. The wooden-roofed trams normally had a darker top rather than a lighter-coloured one.
Here's a similar view dated…
Here's a similar view dated 1925:
It shows a wooden-top tram could be a light colour, but the photo also shows the Bank of Canton [1924-c.1966] in the distance on the left.
There's no sign of it in the upper postcard, dating the upper postcard to 1923 or earlier. The double-deck tram in that scene may have a canvas roof.
Re: Main Photo
Thanks David.
Comparing the main photo postcard with the 1925 wooden-top tram photo recently posted, the second-generation building at 4 Des Voeux Road Central is also not viewable in the upper postcard, which dates the postcard to 1919/1920 or earlier.
Incidentally, Hong Kong Tramways have used the same postcard in their history of Hong Kong trams. The Company dates the postcard to the 1920s. At the back of the postcard, the write-up of the scene reads "1st and 3rd generation trams appeared at the same time. The 3rd generation tram, with double deck and canvas cover, formed the basic outlook of today's tram."