PostalPast
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Cable car turntable, Powell at Market, San Francisco, circa 1940

Subjects
AutomobilesStreetcars & TrolleysStreet Scenes
Card type
Linen
Date
c. 1940 (Linen)
Front of Cable car turntable, Powell at Market, San Francisco, circa 1940, c. 1940 linen postcard
Front
Back of Cable car turntable, Powell at Market, San Francisco, circa 1940, c. 1940 linen postcard
Back

About this postcard

The view looks down Powell Street at Market Street, with the Bank of America building on the left and a cable car turntable set into the intersection. Streetcars, automobiles, and pedestrians fill the surrounding streets. At this corner, the crew turned the cable car by hand on the turntable before it started back up the hill, a routine that made the Powell and Market terminus a familiar San Francisco sight.

Postcard Details

Message

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PublisherSmith News Co.
Powell at Market Streets showing Turn Table San Francisco, California --- POWELL AT MARKET STREETS SHOWING TURNTABLE At the foot of Powell at Market Streets is the famous corner where the cable car is turned around bodily by the crew before starting the journey up the hill again.
Addressed to

No address detected

Postcard record

PublisherSmith News Co.
SeriesSF 16 18764
ConditionVery good
Place depictedSan Francisco, CA
Place mentionedSan Francisco, CA
PublisherSan Francisco, CA
NotesLinen texture; no white border; series numbers SF 16 and 18764 printed. No postmark. Divided-back linen card; printed caption and 'Colourpicture' imprint (publisher's SN Co monogram logo in oval) point to a 1940s-50s issue. Handwritten dealer marks '#59' and '1-' in the lower right corner; no message or address written.

Cite this card

Cable car turntable, Powell at Market, San Francisco, circa 1940, postcard, c. 1940. PostalPast Collection. https://postalpast.com/postcard/cable-car-turntable-powell-at-market-san-francisco-circa-194. Accessed November 2, 2026.