*Thanks* for Map. Exploring within, came across, "Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System". never knew _hmm_ re: 'Arrow Pathway', No need for Generators, this like Solar Path light, just Huge. _now, for batteries, & 1920's_ Mirror glare, No day fly over, but night light should shine, *IF* still working. Bring Sea to Desert: Bowl filled with Bioluminescent organisms, 'just shake'. better Gauges & population put this idea out. {{sigh}}
YT has been suggesting this for about a week so I thought I would finally watch it even though I have seen this topic many times before. Really impressed good research especially with the images nice delivery nice editing really enjoyed it I am subbing.
Montana still had airway beacons active in the 70s when I was still flying. They were used to 'light' the way through the mountain passes. Airway beacons had beams of red and white. They were white if you were on the airway and red if off course. Every three beacons was a green and white beacon at an airport. and those beacons still exist today. Thanks for the video.
We used to live near a really big radio tower with different lights. I always wondered what the colors meant. Occasionally they would be different than usual.
There are still two or three beacons around the Helena, MT valley. One on the Winston gap, one on Macdonald pass and possibly one still in the north hills. There has been an effort to preserve them here and they are still lit up at night.
Just last week, speaking of beacons, I got all bedded down in a pilot shack while on a XC, only to find the damn rotating beacon on the airport grounds was shining right in the shack! My bad, not the first time it's happened.
"Airway" beacons? And I don't quite understand how the red and white applied? Were ones specifically lit red so that if you flew over them you would know you were off course?
I really got a kick out of running across this video, as my grandfather was one of the early aviators flying mail and other. He went on to constructing many of the beacons throughout the West, including Cheyenne Wyoming that I have his home photos he took of the build. Through coincidence my father became a machinist that worked out of a mobile machine shop that drove around the West routinely rebuilding the diesel generators that powered many of the beacons. He later became an employees of the FAA (then called the CAA) to maintain the beacons and later yet became a technician that maintained VOR and radar systems. Keep up the great work!
That is such a cool history lesson. I love these little snippets of History about our country within the personal history of your family. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Mason: I'm a sixty eight year old former helicopter pilot. I just found this channel, and I think it's great. You have a follower for life. (Which in my case is about six months).
Well some nobody from Towson MD hopes you are still around and in no pain in twelve months. 'Good Lord willin' and the creek don't rise' and all... Have a great day! 🙂
As a pilot for some 40 years now, I found this video very informative even though I was aware of the arrows and beacons. Thank you for expanding my knowledge about this topic.
The USPS, for most people, is seldom ever thought about. As an institution, it is easily ignored, and often the brunt of many jokes. But the USPS, which is actually older than the United States, and to this day has been a part of every American citizens' life. This video is a great example of the many innovations that came out of the ever evolving needs of the postal service. Try to imagine life without the post office.
They haven't actually worked for me since I became an adult except for tax season.So that's pretty easy for me. They have been a faithful assistant for my Identity thieves though.
And contrary to much of public opinion, the USPS is NOT funded by tax dollars but since the late start sixties has been funded solely through postage stamps. The USPS cannot raise the price of stamps; that takes action by Congress.
Except, of course, the USPS didn't exist until 1971. You're thinking of the United States Post Office (1775) with Ben Franklin as the Postmaster General, a precursor to the Post Office Department which started in 1792 and was a Cabinet level department until 1971.
Several times you showed pictures of the arrow that’s right above our house in Reno Nevada. We’ve hiked up there many times such a great story thank you for telling it.
"Trash script & piss poor planning" - now I like that introduction to your channel. It's so refreshing to hear someone not afraid to be critical of themselves in their goal to be better. 👍
I remember in the olden days when you could buy a first class stamp, but for a few cents more you could get an airmail stamp. The airmail stamps had pictures of airplanes.
I remember our teacher in history class explaining the usage of air mail stamps. He told us if you wanted to send a letter to the next town over (approx. 15 miles down the road) it would be useless to use an airmail stamp for the 15 mile run because there wasn't an airport at either end. He said even though the post office would be thankful you spent the extra money for the stamp it would not be delivered by air. So just put one of those .05c George Washington stamps on the envelope and that would do the trick. Funny are the things you learn in school!
I remember those pictures of airplanes on stamps. I heard some of them were actually upside down. My neighbor was a philatelist. Nowadays folks think that sounds like something you have to register for or live 50mi from a playground.
This is the best explanation of the concrete arrows and beacons I've ever seen. Thank you. I live near Salt Lake City, so I really enjoyed your pictures of the arrow between SLC and Toole, near the Great Salt Lake.
As an aviation enthusiast, the older ways of flying are slowly disappearing, including the radio beacons that I tuned in to see how radio propagation was. Sadly, GPS and other technology are replacing the antiquated ways to fly, and are not as exciting as radio beacons to try and find.
@@PRH123 Actually, the GA fatality has decreased significantly over the past several decades. But I would not cite this as evidence either way -- there are too many other factors involved.
I'm a retired Postal Worker. This is an awesome piece of Postal History. Thank you for producing it. I will share this on some Postal worker pages. You got a subscriber from me. Hope you get a lot more. Be Blessed!
Loved the oven mitts joke. As of right now you’ve got over half a million views I’m so happy for you, man. This was insanely great content and far over delivered on my expectations when clicking the thumbnail. I subscribed halfway through the video and I’m looking forward to enjoying more of your stuff.
Thanks for a great video about something I knew absolutely nothing about. As a child I remember the adults talking about the radio beacon station on the mountains in the area I lived in. One was on the South Mountain in Allentown Pa. The other was on the Blue Mountain near Lehighton Pa. There was an old sign at the station at South Mountain. Near Big Rock park on the mountain, that was operated by the US Navy. Last time I visited Big Rock, about ten years ago. The shed and small radio tower was still there. Thanks for educating me about it. I've seen the cement foundation for the other tower at the Bakeoven knob on the Blue mountain. Not far from where I live now. Interesting stuff I'll be tuning in to see your other videos. I love history and historical sites. Sincerely a retired CWO US Army veteran
Definitely super underrated. How can this channel have just 26000 subscribers? The quality is insane. I'd love to see the subscriber (and Patreon supporter) numbers grow. If you're reading this and you're not subscribed please do!!
There used to be one of "the Light Line" beacons along the Susquehanna Trail, between York, PA, and Harrisburg, PA. During my Summer visits, I would look out my grandmother's window at night and watch it flash on the horizon. This was in the early 1950's. So they operated at least that long.
Hey this reminds me of a few things back in the day when I was usually traveling with my folks the usual road trip sort of thing between different family members places different states of course as well. One of the biggest things at night was for me the neon clock I don't know at what point which company had this did some research on Wikipedia but I don't know when what time period it was I was seeing this it was many years ago I know that now it's either gone or in danger and some people put it and it's unsure of its future at that and currently don't know the status. I believe at one time it was the Colgate company and there were a few others apparently. It was a real Landmark at the time no pun intended. The other was this big Native American statue how to look like when those tobacco shop Indians back in the day. There were a few of the smaller ones around as well by the way. Also does anyone know which hotel or motel chain had the kind of a spiky ball sort of things on the pole I saw one the other day but could not make out what the sign to had originally said sign with severely damaged and also one of the spikes on the ball was missing rough shape but still working recognizable. Used to know most of which hotels and motels those were butt too long ago to remember. Also I have been in many lighthouses and one of them was really spectacular trip due to what was arranged that we were not even fully aware of it it was set up for us by someone that news someone that was when the caretakers and I believe was still The Keeper at that time as well caretaker is a minimum. Literally a throat tour even where normally people wouldn't even go weren't even be permitted because of condition not somewhere where they would usually go unless of course absolutely needed is that far into the bowels of the place and well there were dangerous! Gun lock furthermore than most people would even during the housing was probably pretty cool because of some of the artifacts and stuff interpersonal collection which was being short off to me and my family as well. I don't remember where I was but probably when they told her Towers have been in and even some photos from just inside the rail on the platform around the Beacon itself pretty cool. At that time the light had not been automated I don't know if this was one that has long since come to disuse or not lost track in can't remember the name or location eather Intercourse got to operate the fog signal system of course they said it's erotic passage for someone going on this type of tour normally this place is not open to the public either very special❤ By the way I did have one of the old blown out bulbs as a souvenir which has a place in my heart for sure. At first when they were talking about the beacons also in this video I thought they were fixed Beacon not a rotary in moldy pointing away as in a visual navigation Aid in a certain direction. Somewhere I have an old flasher from a old buoy that somebody got me it does work if the 3 volts is applied I have two but the original tube on the other was blown apparently these things the booties wind up in collecting in some areas where swirling water is basically everything winds up there it's in certain areas don't remember where but it was Electronics Enthusiast that got me these. Thought you got a cool to have as long as they need to find something to do with some circuitry I saw something interesting at our old school I'm not going to go into the whole thing because it was just too weird too much to explain. In one of the areas of the school high up there was what looked like some sort of optical signaling multiple colors of large lenses. What sort of be some sort of focus light but not sure what things were meant for ignore how things worked really apparently it could be your separately or together but unsure due to complexity of things. Keep in mind nowhere near any maritime and this was an indoors but could be somehow seen from the outside possibly at one point or another. The removable louvers to provide an opening. There was obviously some civil defense stuff going on including some enclosures marked the civil defense icon we believe that this may have been some sort of weird Optical signaling device but it's unknown all sorts of weird stuff in the area even underneath not readily accessible almost like it's meant to be this way. As for some things going on probably could be mostly rumor or just because of weird stuff that's present that no one knows what it was for. But there were some comings and goings I had heard from some of the old timers that there were people that were obviously not school staff roaming halls and going between different doors this is true but that was back in the Cold War but some of them had actually heard about this or known for others and there was a huge power system below including a few large Mercury Arc rectifiers at one time they thought it was for a trolley system but all this was still working even though trolley is long gone and also lights for trick all the time when all this stuff would start up so obviously active for something they called these areas the catacombs the chorus lonely strictly off-limits but I thought I might be able to figure some things out what was really going on only reason I had access but really pretty digital photography
Wow you answered the exact question I had while watching the vid, was wondering if regular folks would know what these were and if they used them at all as an old school gps.
There's one of these arrows in what is now downtown Crystal Falls, Michigan in Iron County. It was at the old airport....and that's now a cemetery attached to a county park. But, If you walk around the cemetery you'll still see the old Arrow.
What a great history lesson. I had been aware of the arrows, but never knew they were once accompanied by beacons. What a huge undertaking for a 2 cent piece of mail.
As a pilot, I’ve read of this early navigation with the airmail, but this is by far the best video I’ve seen showing and explaining the history behind it, and with a bit of humor. Well done!!
I really like the video! I am a pilot currently flying USPS between HNL, SEA, and LAX. Although I was aware of these markers, your video brought them to life in a well-documented and entertaining way. In addition, I am enjoying many of your other videos, all of which are fascinating and interesting niches of history I wasn't aware of before. Thank You!
Few years ago, a pilot did a complaint for a defective celltower beacon at my job. He said he was a pilot and was following those along the highways and notice one defective. We went to repair it the following day.
I never knew that Doolittle was a "blind flying" pioneer. Thank you for a really fun history video! The Hill AFB in Utah has a museum. They have a very nice model of the Doolittle raid and an exhibit on this amazing pioneer!
Hey Mason, this was GREAT! I've always had a fascination with beacons of any sort: lighthouses, storm/war sirens, airport beacons, sound and/or lighting signal systems at industrial scale, etc. What a great legacy these beacon stations have left us. Thoroughly enjoyed the video. Sub added!
Love to see you back on the feed, with yet Another weird fact that you cover beautifully! Learning about odd history from the states like this is very cool as a Canadian
Great video. This showed up as a recommended video and I'm glad it did. I had heard about these arrows and actually found some on Google Maps, but your video provided more detailed information. I've since watched several of your videos and I must say they are very interesting. What a great UA-cam channel. This was the first of your videos that I watched but I have since watched several more. I'll be binge watching for the next couple days and I am now a subscriber.
Well Mason, great video! Did you know that there's a flightsimming community out there that has actually made a mod portraying these mythical routes from times past? The game is Flightsimulator 2020 by MS/Asobo and the mod's name is "Arrows Across America: Fly the US Air Mail routes 1926" ... they've recreated 3 routes so far: Contract Air Mail routes #5, #8 and #32 from 1926 and they are currently working on more. It's a blessing to get into the footsteps of the early aviators, be it from the comfort of my home on the other side of the pond. Again, thanks for the video!
Incredibly educational. This, combined with gut-splitting dry humor (two references to the claw oven mitts, including the closing seconds of the video 😂) and a fantastically written & delivered narrative, make this video wildly entertaining. I have a pathetically short attention span, and rarely reach the end of any video without clicking out. It wasn’t until this video ended that I realized I hadn’t once checked how much longer it would take. You held my attention so fully that it left me wanting to see more. So I watched it again, catching even more hilarious moments along with solid content. I’m on board for the next video.
The beacon tower at the Willows-Glenn County Airport in Northern California is the original one built by the Department of Commerce in 1928. It is still used for the airport’s rotating beacon.
Its good to hear about how things were done and have a record of it for future interests, but as in everything methods improve, we likely will never go back. Thank you for making a record and making it interesting.
As a pilot, I was satisfied to see this video. Papers had to be sent, contracts had to be executed. Also as a pilot, we used lots of things to navigate visually. Even at night, without those beacons, I use Pilot-Controlled Lighting (PCL) at small airports to identify where I'm located. How? You know where the airports are supposed to be based on your flight plan. Each one is activated by using a different frequency. As you are supposed to be flying by, activate the lighting. As long as you see the light where it's supposed to be you're on course. If not, you adjust your course. Have fun flying!
I just love interesting obscure history! Thank you for this well-done video. You have a great way with words and humor and your content is fascinating for those of us who love lesser-known historical facts.
2:26 Is James Coburn the pilot? 8:06 "Here in Medicine _what_ "? Pretty sure it's not 'bow', as in "bow wow" or "take a bow". It is 'bow' as in "archery bow" or "bow tie".
Informative and well-presented, thank you! Subscribed. I remember being told to look out for one of these arrows by my stepfather as he flew us over the desert near Barstow, CA (I think). It was also fun seeing all the Ford mail carriers, distinctive with their shortened lower wing, steep lower cowling bevel up to the bottom of the radiator, and the bow-shaped wingtip skids under the bottom wing. I built a balsa / tissue / dope model of one of these when I was 11 - it hung from the ceiling in my bedroom for years. Those were the days!
3:58 Fun fact, it's much more expensive to call to the nearest town in that era, than it is to send a letter via mail. It was until VoIP was offered that you can call from the US to Canada with no extra charges.
Thanks for the fantastic research! I never knew about this. You even mapped out the locations. This is awesome 🎉! What I also enjoyed is you not only focused on the pilots but you discussed the crews that made and maintained these beacons, it could almost be 3 more videos: the planning, the construction 🏗️ and maintenance of these towers, ok, 1 more the decommissioning 😊, with the question of today’s communications. Good luck 🍀 !
Very interesting! This is the sort of topic "The History Guy" might cover, but Mason's video is just as good: short and clear, with no repetition or unnecessary information.
I’m a current mailman (well.. mail lady) and I had no idea all of this went on back then lol. Sounds very on brand for USPS to want so badly to get the mail across the continent that they were willing to make people do this wild stuff. I don’t fly mail though I just drive it around after it flies. Last stop: me
I blocked GoT out so hard I had to google "the night is dark and full of terror" as I recognized it, but couldn't, for the life of me.....Very nice video.
Very interesting! Kinda hits home for me too. My grandma worked at Cleveland airport as a secretary in the late 30s and told me about how revolutionary the air mail was, for the time it was a pretty amazing system. Too bad these did not become ATT long lines sites and live on?
Thats a great question. Only one arrow, no matter what direction you were headed. Most arrows I found pointed East oddly enough, but if you were westbound, you just used the tail direction I'd assume.
If all point the same direction, you avoid confusion. Also, the arrows didn't matter as much at night. All you were seeing was lights leading off into the distance.
I am thrilled to find this video. This was extremely educational and interesting! A job well done. I "subscribed and liked" and now I have to go back and find all of your previous videos to be educated further. Thank you, so much! This is AWESOME content!
4:14 Varney Air Lines. Varney started two airlines. The first was one of the lines merged into United Air Transport. The second became Continental. Both are now happily United.
One of those other airlines merged into United was started by none other than William Boeing. Yup, that Boeing. For the longest time United only used Boeing aircraft.
my only regret is not having a pair of lobster claw oven mitts! Thanks Mason, You're the best person in the world to get lost with! Love Your content !:-) 🙏💜⚡
I love stories like these. When I go hiking, and I see little bits of concrete peeking out from the grass, I often wonder what person built it, what their life was like, and what brought them to this point where they thought this was the spot to set up and build, whatever it is that they were building. This at least is the answer to a few of those chunks of history. Cool video.
Amazingly awesome video! As someone who is both a history buff as well as an aviation enthusiast, I honestly never even knew of these arrows! Now, I have a new search to do on some old Maps and historic areal pictures to find them all. :)
People who want people to comment about it and drive engagement, increasing the chances of the youtube algorithm pushing the video to more people. Thanks for your help.
Sorry you're feeling desperate... Have been subscribed, here's my like though.. Very interesting. Thanks man. Hey, here's a share, just for good measure. Peace. Now,,, get lost!!
LOL...lead paint tasty... As a kid I thought so... I remember before I was even in school peeling lead paint off of the window because it was so tasty I couldn't have been but maybe 5 years old.... Well I'm over 60 and I live through it.... Hilarious
I remember when kids chewed on pencils---before they were replaced by graphite. Thankfully, I only liked biting my nails. We dealt with our anxiety issues in different ways.
Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 change the original Postal service that began July 26th 1775 changed then in 1872. Maybe look a bit further into things and not just skim Google top hits. So as not to put your foot in your open mouth.
@@TheCanadianGuy08 It's not so much as being fun at parties as the guy who made the video should have done his homework. A common problem theses days is that so many people know a little about a subject and think their almost experts. And they get their information from people who do shabby research. And the USPS started in 1971, lol!
Thanks for the trip down memory lane! I could have used some arrows and beacons back in 1979. I was getting my Grumman Cheetah preflight underway for my private pilot mandatory three leg cross country solo flight. I had spent the previous night with my sectional chart and plotter trying to precisely figure out the legs from Boulder airport to Cheyenne airport then over to Scottsbluff Nebraska and back to Boulder. I had waypoints meticulously figured out along the course on my trusty map folded just right to fit on my brand new clipboard and off I went. I was rocketing upward at my max climb rate of 500 fpm (it was really hot that bumpy day) and turned to my initial heading of 030 degrees. Within 10 or 15 minutes I was noticing that what I saw out the window was definitely not looking like my waypoint on the chart. I had no fancy DME and I wasn’t quite high enough to get a VOR signal. I kept looking at the heading I had plotted on the chart which was 003 degrees and then at my bouncing whiskey compass and it said 030 degrees. Why wasn’t anything looking “right” ?. Anyway, there was no one in the plane but me when I figured out my little mistake and to this day I would swear it never happened. Thanks again for your video and the memories it stirred up 😂
We had one of these arrows on our property until the early 2000’s. My dad then destroyed it with his front end loader because he was tired of mowing around it. I was so mad. I told him he just destroyed a historical marker. He’s and old farmer and didn’t care. It was in his way.
***check out THE map of every video***
www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/edit?mid=1kYG8ZsjoxVjvZesPs3kp62eHMZCvsR4&usp=sharing
Without seeing the map, I will guess at the location at timestamp 9:39. Is that above Echo, Utah (I-80/hwy 84 split)?
39.51001, -119.9224, Just West of Reno NV, where US 80 splits
*Thanks* for Map. Exploring within, came across, "Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System". never knew _hmm_ re: 'Arrow Pathway', No need for Generators, this like Solar Path light, just Huge. _now, for batteries, & 1920's_
Mirror glare, No day fly over, but night light should shine, *IF* still working.
Bring Sea to Desert: Bowl filled with Bioluminescent organisms, 'just shake'.
better Gauges & population put this idea out. {{sigh}}
YT has been suggesting this for about a week so I thought I would finally watch it even though I have seen this topic many times before.
Really impressed good research especially with the images nice delivery nice editing really enjoyed it I am subbing.
@@XPFTP what a miserable life you must live
Montana still had airway beacons active in the 70s when I was still flying. They were used to 'light' the way through the mountain passes. Airway beacons had beams of red and white. They were white if you were on the airway and red if off course. Every three beacons was a green and white beacon at an airport. and those beacons still exist today. Thanks for the video.
We used to live near a really big radio tower with different lights. I always wondered what the colors meant. Occasionally they would be different than usual.
There are still two or three beacons around the Helena, MT valley. One on the Winston gap, one on Macdonald pass and possibly one still in the north hills. There has been an effort to preserve them here and they are still lit up at night.
They still do on one route I as I recall. I think it’s now has some kind of historic preservation status.
Just last week, speaking of beacons, I got all bedded down in a pilot shack while on a XC, only to find the damn rotating beacon on the airport grounds was shining right in the shack! My bad, not the first time it's happened.
"Airway" beacons? And I don't quite understand how the red and white applied? Were ones specifically lit red so that if you flew over them you would know you were off course?
I really got a kick out of running across this video, as my grandfather was one of the early aviators flying mail and other. He went on to constructing many of the beacons throughout the West, including Cheyenne Wyoming that I have his home photos he took of the build. Through coincidence my father became a machinist that worked out of a mobile machine shop that drove around the West routinely rebuilding the diesel generators that powered many of the beacons. He later became an employees of the FAA (then called the CAA) to maintain the beacons and later yet became a technician that maintained VOR and radar systems. Keep up the great work!
Thank you for the interesting reply, great to hear of your family contributions to the remarkable history of aviation in the USA.
That is such a cool history lesson. I love these little snippets of History about our country within the personal history of your family. Thanks for sharing.
As a retired postal worker and former pilot, I was aware of this system but thoroughly enjoyed this video. Well done.
THANKS FROM THE PUBLIC FOR " NOT GOING POSTAL!"
Hi Mason: I'm a sixty eight year old former helicopter pilot. I just found this channel, and I think it's great. You have a follower for life. (Which in my case is about six months).
Hopefully its for a lot longer than that! Thank you!
This 74 year old former helicopter pilot thinks (hopes) you have a bit longer than that. BTW, I like your call sign.
Is there a chance your timeline will be longer?
I’m sorry to hear that you aren’t doing well, I’ll be praying for you. I hope you have a nice day. Romans 10:9-10
Well some nobody from Towson MD hopes you are still around and in no pain in twelve months.
'Good Lord willin' and the creek don't rise' and all... Have a great day! 🙂
As a pilot for some 40 years now, I found this video very informative even though I was aware of the arrows and beacons. Thank you for expanding my knowledge about this topic.
Burro
The USPS, for most people, is seldom ever thought about. As an institution, it is easily ignored, and often the brunt of many jokes.
But the USPS, which is actually older than the United States, and to this day has been a part of every American citizens' life.
This video is a great example of the many innovations that came out of the ever evolving needs of the postal service.
Try to imagine life without the post office.
They haven't actually worked for me since I became an adult except for tax season.So that's pretty easy for me. They have been a faithful assistant for my Identity thieves though.
And contrary to much of public opinion, the USPS is NOT funded by tax dollars but since the late start sixties has been funded solely through postage stamps. The USPS cannot raise the price of stamps; that takes action by Congress.
Having a postal service is one of the main stays of civilization. There has been one everywhere since before the Persians brought it to the west!
@0TransAtlantic0 "SELDUMBS EVER THOUGHTS?? DE JOYS OF THAT STRUMPETS MANGOED PERPETUAL BLAST!
Except, of course, the USPS didn't exist until 1971. You're thinking of the United States Post Office (1775) with Ben Franklin as the Postmaster General, a precursor to the Post Office Department which started in 1792 and was a Cabinet level department until 1971.
Several times you showed pictures of the arrow that’s right above our house in Reno Nevada. We’ve hiked up there many times such a great story thank you for telling it.
We are neighbors.
lol, crazy how small the world really is
Verdi?
"Trash script & piss poor planning" - now I like that introduction to your channel. It's so refreshing to hear someone not afraid to be critical of themselves in their goal to be better. 👍
Alliteration aside... 😂
The 'I'm desperate ' comment is the closest thing to truth in advertising I've been starving for. Liked and subscribed. Thank you.
Too right!
ditto
I chuckled -- and then immediately liked and subscribed
I remember in the olden days when you could buy a first class stamp, but for a few cents more you could get an airmail stamp. The airmail stamps had pictures of airplanes.
In the 70s/80s mail might arrive with an extra long blue stamp "par avion" on the envelope
I remember our teacher in history class explaining the usage of air mail stamps. He told us if you wanted to send a letter to the next town over (approx. 15 miles down the road) it would be useless to use an airmail stamp for the 15 mile run because there wasn't an airport at either end. He said even though the post office would be thankful you spent the extra money for the stamp it would not be delivered by air. So just put one of those .05c George Washington stamps on the envelope and that would do the trick.
Funny are the things you learn in school!
I remember those pictures of airplanes on stamps. I heard some of them were actually upside down. My neighbor was a philatelist. Nowadays folks think that sounds like something you have to register for or live 50mi from a playground.
@@randymerritt1021 According to Wikipedia, those stamps sell for more than a million dollars. Search "Inverted Jenny".
You can still get it for international mail. The envelope has the classic red and white border.
This was the coolest video about something I really didn't need to know about that I've watched in a long, long time. Thanks for posting!
Agree. I didn't even know the arrows existed.
This is the best explanation of the concrete arrows and beacons I've ever seen. Thank you. I live near Salt Lake City, so I really enjoyed your pictures of the arrow between SLC and Toole, near the Great Salt Lake.
Good eye. There are a few on that stretch that are in good condition
The second-best explanation is that the arrows guide the little green men to nuclear re-charge depots.
Nice job. Not everyone puts in the extra effort to do a proper description, chapters, etc. Putting in the work earned a new subscriber.
Much appreciated!
x2
Even worse especially with podcasts, they'll mention something and say it's in the description, and you can count on it not being in the description.
As an aviation enthusiast, the older ways of flying are slowly disappearing, including the radio beacons that I tuned in to see how radio propagation was. Sadly, GPS and other technology are replacing the antiquated ways to fly, and are not as exciting as radio beacons to try and find.
Exciting I suppose, but GPS is so much better and safer for navigation.
@@marcinna8553although GPS usage has not improved the GA accident rate
@@marcinna8553 shaaadaap.
@@PRH123 Actually, the GA fatality has decreased significantly over the past several decades. But I would not cite this as evidence either way -- there are too many other factors involved.
GPS is also much easier to spoof with false data.
@9:54 "brightly colored and apparently delicious lead paint". 😂
I'm a retired Postal Worker. This is an awesome piece of Postal History. Thank you for producing it. I will share this on some Postal worker pages. You got a subscriber from me. Hope you get a lot more. Be Blessed!
I think you surpassed your 437 view estimate! Congrats! Great video, and taught me something I didn’t already know! Thanks!
Loved the oven mitts joke. As of right now you’ve got over half a million views I’m so happy for you, man. This was insanely great content and far over delivered on my expectations when clicking the thumbnail. I subscribed halfway through the video and I’m looking forward to enjoying more of your stuff.
Ron Swanson talking about planes and the 1920s USPS. *subscribed*
Thanks for a great video about something I knew absolutely nothing about. As a child I remember the adults talking about the radio beacon station on the mountains in the area I lived in. One was on the South Mountain in Allentown Pa. The other was on the Blue Mountain near Lehighton Pa. There was an old sign at the station at South Mountain. Near Big Rock park on the mountain, that was operated by the US Navy. Last time I visited Big Rock, about ten years ago. The shed and small radio tower was still there. Thanks for educating me about it.
I've seen the cement foundation for the other tower at the Bakeoven knob on the Blue mountain. Not far from where I live now. Interesting stuff I'll be tuning in to see your other videos. I love history and historical sites.
Sincerely a retired CWO US Army veteran
There is a fully restored station in Grants NM right off the freeway at the airport. It has a museum as well. Worth the stop!
There is a airway beacon on the east tower of the George Washington bridge NY that still is lighted every night.
Very informative! I learned something new that I never would have thought even existed!
Hell yeah, mason’s back! Love your videos, they’re always fascinating. One of the most underrated channels on UA-cam imo
@@HandsWithLegs agreed
Agreed !:-)
Definitely super underrated. How can this channel have just 26000 subscribers? The quality is insane. I'd love to see the subscriber (and Patreon supporter) numbers grow.
If you're reading this and you're not subscribed please do!!
What a great video. Thanks for taking the time to research this subject and make the video!
Rick H.
There used to be one of "the Light Line" beacons along the Susquehanna Trail, between York, PA, and Harrisburg, PA. During my Summer visits, I would look out my grandmother's window at night and watch it flash on the horizon. This was in the early 1950's. So they operated at least that long.
Hey this reminds me of a few things back in the day when I was usually traveling with my folks the usual road trip sort of thing between different family members places different states of course as well.
One of the biggest things at night was for me the neon clock I don't know at what point which company had this did some research on Wikipedia but I don't know when what time period it was I was seeing this it was many years ago I know that now it's either gone or in danger and some people put it and it's unsure of its future at that and currently don't know the status.
I believe at one time it was the Colgate company and there were a few others apparently.
It was a real Landmark at the time no pun intended.
The other was this big Native American statue how to look like when those tobacco shop Indians back in the day.
There were a few of the smaller ones around as well by the way.
Also does anyone know which hotel or motel chain had the kind of a spiky ball sort of things on the pole I saw one the other day but could not make out what the sign to had originally said sign with severely damaged and also one of the spikes on the ball was missing rough shape but still working recognizable.
Used to know most of which hotels and motels those were butt too long ago to remember.
Also I have been in many lighthouses and one of them was really spectacular trip due to what was arranged that we were not even fully aware of it it was set up for us by someone that news someone that was when the caretakers and I believe was still The Keeper at that time as well caretaker is a minimum.
Literally a throat tour even where normally people wouldn't even go weren't even be permitted because of condition not somewhere where they would usually go unless of course absolutely needed is that far into the bowels of the place and well there were dangerous!
Gun lock furthermore than most people would even during the housing was probably pretty cool because of some of the artifacts and stuff interpersonal collection which was being short off to me and my family as well.
I don't remember where I was but probably when they told her Towers have been in and even some photos from just inside the rail on the platform around the Beacon itself pretty cool.
At that time the light had not been automated I don't know if this was one that has long since come to disuse or not lost track in can't remember the name or location eather
Intercourse got to operate the fog signal system of course they said it's erotic passage for someone going on this type of tour normally this place is not open to the public either very special❤
By the way I did have one of the old blown out bulbs as a souvenir which has a place in my heart for sure.
At first when they were talking about the beacons also in this video I thought they were fixed Beacon not a rotary in moldy pointing away as in a visual navigation Aid in a certain direction.
Somewhere I have an old flasher from a old buoy that somebody got me it does work if the 3 volts is applied I have two but the original tube on the other was blown apparently these things the booties wind up in collecting in some areas where swirling water is basically everything winds up there it's in certain areas don't remember where but it was Electronics Enthusiast that got me these.
Thought you got a cool to have as long as they need to find something to do with some circuitry
I saw something interesting at our old school I'm not going to go into the whole thing because it was just too weird too much to explain.
In one of the areas of the school high up there was what looked like some sort of optical signaling multiple colors of large lenses.
What sort of be some sort of focus light but not sure what things were meant for ignore how things worked really apparently it could be your separately or together but unsure due to complexity of things.
Keep in mind nowhere near any maritime and this was an indoors but could be somehow seen from the outside possibly at one point or another.
The removable louvers to provide an opening.
There was obviously some civil defense stuff going on including some enclosures marked the civil defense icon we believe that this may have been some sort of weird Optical signaling device but it's unknown all sorts of weird stuff in the area even underneath not readily accessible almost like it's meant to be this way.
As for some things going on probably could be mostly rumor or just because of weird stuff that's present that no one knows what it was for.
But there were some comings and goings I had heard from some of the old timers that there were people that were obviously not school staff roaming halls and going between different doors this is true but that was back in the Cold War but some of them had actually heard about this or known for others and there was a huge power system below including a few large Mercury Arc rectifiers at one time they thought it was for a trolley system but all this was still working even though trolley is long gone and also lights for trick all the time when all this stuff would start up so obviously active for something they called these areas the catacombs the chorus lonely strictly off-limits but I thought I might be able to figure some things out what was really going on only reason I had access but really pretty digital photography
Wow you answered the exact question I had while watching the vid, was wondering if regular folks would know what these were and if they used them at all as an old school gps.
@@aaronbrandenburg2441Did you generate this using AI?
Stumbled across but very informative and well narrated.
There's one of these arrows in what is now downtown Crystal Falls, Michigan in Iron County. It was at the old airport....and that's now a cemetery attached to a county park. But, If you walk around the cemetery you'll still see the old Arrow.
Is that in the UP?
@@Turd_Furgeson Yes, Iron County.
@@oldgiapetto home of the nimrods!!!
I'm curious if any exist along US2,especially West of Escanaba?
"the old airport....and that's now a cemetery"
They didn't plan it that way... Just a lot of crash-landings...
surprisingly good recommendation from you tube. Well done. 👍🏼 Indeed, I will watch more of Mason's productions.
Fascinating!!! (Your clever & witty storytelling style has earned a sub. 🙂)
Awesome, thank you!
What a great history lesson. I had been aware of the arrows, but never knew they were once accompanied by beacons. What a huge undertaking for a 2 cent piece of mail.
Two cents in 1920 bought the same as one dollar does now. The result of built in inflation.
As a pilot, I’ve read of this early navigation with the airmail, but this is by far the best video I’ve seen showing and explaining the history behind it, and with a bit of humor. Well done!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Apart from the usual channels I watch, this was the most interesting and informative video I've seen in quite a while. Thanks.
I really like the video! I am a pilot currently flying USPS between HNL, SEA, and LAX. Although I was aware of these markers, your video brought them to life in a well-documented and entertaining way. In addition, I am enjoying many of your other videos, all of which are fascinating and interesting niches of history I wasn't aware of before. Thank You!
Great video. Always cool to see the story behind the lost infrastructure that predated what we have today.
Farmers used to light bonfires as bread crumbs for the pilots to follow to their destination
I have followed aviation, space and all history since 1963. I have never heard of this. Well done and thank you. Fascinating.
Few years ago, a pilot did a complaint for a defective celltower beacon at my job.
He said he was a pilot and was following those along the highways and notice one defective.
We went to repair it the following day.
I never knew that Doolittle was a "blind flying" pioneer. Thank you for a really fun history video!
The Hill AFB in Utah has a museum. They have a very nice model of the Doolittle raid and an exhibit on this amazing pioneer!
Hey Mason, this was GREAT!
I've always had a fascination with beacons of any sort: lighthouses, storm/war sirens, airport beacons, sound and/or lighting signal systems at industrial scale, etc.
What a great legacy these beacon stations have left us.
Thoroughly enjoyed the video. Sub added!
I appreciate it!
Fascinating! Thanks. This whole storyline would make a great movie.
Love to see you back on the feed, with yet Another weird fact that you cover beautifully! Learning about odd history from the states like this is very cool as a Canadian
Great video. This showed up as a recommended video and I'm glad it did. I had heard about these arrows and actually found some on Google Maps, but your video provided more detailed information. I've since watched several of your videos and I must say they are very interesting. What a great UA-cam channel. This was the first of your videos that I watched but I have since watched several more. I'll be binge watching for the next couple days and I am now a subscriber.
Great to hear. Glad you enjoy them!
Well Mason, great video! Did you know that there's a flightsimming community out there that has actually made a mod portraying these mythical routes from times past?
The game is Flightsimulator 2020 by MS/Asobo and the mod's name is "Arrows Across America: Fly the US Air Mail routes 1926" ... they've recreated 3 routes so far: Contract Air Mail routes #5, #8 and #32 from 1926 and they are currently working on more. It's a blessing to get into the footsteps of the early aviators, be it from the comfort of my home on the other side of the pond. Again, thanks for the video!
Very interesting! Thanks for sharing that
Incredibly educational. This, combined with gut-splitting dry humor (two references to the claw oven mitts, including the closing seconds of the video 😂) and a fantastically written & delivered narrative, make this video wildly entertaining. I have a pathetically short attention span, and rarely reach the end of any video without clicking out. It wasn’t until this video ended that I realized I hadn’t once checked how much longer it would take. You held my attention so fully that it left me wanting to see more.
So I watched it again, catching even more hilarious moments along with solid content. I’m on board for the next video.
“… the shed is the pompous rich cousin of the shack”. Dude, the one-liners you’ve embedded in the narrative are gems. Good grief! 😂
High praise, thank you. I've got 160 videos already if you want to see more before the next one.
@@MasonObscura yep, devoured 5 more. Gotta throttle back soon to leave some for later.
The beacon tower at the Willows-Glenn County Airport in Northern California is the original one built by the Department of Commerce in 1928. It is still used for the airport’s rotating beacon.
Interesting. Thanks for sharing!
I see it every time I fly in to have breakfast at "Nancys".
Amazing! You found and exposed an important moment in history that affects us all! Excellent report, good on ya mate!!!!
Excellent piece, young man!👍 Being a Canadian, never seen this, but, very interesting, none the less
Its good to hear about how things were done and have a record of it for future interests, but as in everything methods improve, we likely will never go back. Thank you for making a record and making it interesting.
As a pilot, I was satisfied to see this video.
Papers had to be sent, contracts had to be executed.
Also as a pilot, we used lots of things to navigate visually. Even at night, without those beacons, I use Pilot-Controlled Lighting (PCL) at small airports to identify where I'm located. How? You know where the airports are supposed to be based on your flight plan. Each one is activated by using a different frequency. As you are supposed to be flying by, activate the lighting. As long as you see the light where it's supposed to be you're on course. If not, you adjust your course.
Have fun flying!
That's one of the great things about small uncontrolled strips you can bump the lights up hello from Australia prop pilot here.
I just love interesting obscure history! Thank you for this well-done video. You have a great way with words and humor and your content is fascinating for those of us who love lesser-known historical facts.
2:26 Is James Coburn the pilot?
8:06 "Here in Medicine _what_ "? Pretty sure it's not 'bow', as in "bow wow" or "take a bow". It is 'bow' as in "archery bow" or "bow tie".
You are right on the Medicine Bow pronunciation. 🏹 I'm a stones🗿 throw away from there.
I'm trying to understand why they ignored the original aeroplane pilot called Clément Ader
Informative and well-presented, thank you! Subscribed. I remember being told to look out for one of these arrows by my stepfather as he flew us over the desert near Barstow, CA (I think). It was also fun seeing all the Ford mail carriers, distinctive with their shortened lower wing, steep lower cowling bevel up to the bottom of the radiator, and the bow-shaped wingtip skids under the bottom wing. I built a balsa / tissue / dope model of one of these when I was 11 - it hung from the ceiling in my bedroom for years. Those were the days!
3:58 Fun fact, it's much more expensive to call to the nearest town in that era, than it is to send a letter via mail. It was until VoIP was offered that you can call from the US to Canada with no extra charges.
Fascinating information! I had no idea any of this infrastructure existed. Thanks for sharing!
I was taught a new lesson on aviation. Thank you and am loving your other videos.
Thanks for the fantastic research! I never knew about this. You even mapped out the locations. This is awesome 🎉!
What I also enjoyed is you not only focused on the pilots but you discussed the crews that made and maintained these beacons, it could almost be 3 more videos: the planning, the construction 🏗️ and maintenance of these towers, ok, 1 more the decommissioning 😊, with the question of today’s communications.
Good luck 🍀 !
Very interesting! This is the sort of topic "The History Guy" might cover, but Mason's video is just as good: short and clear, with no repetition or unnecessary information.
Great video, very interesting! I always wondered why it was more common to see the "air mail" gag in older cartoons. Now it all makes more sense.
I’m a current mailman (well.. mail lady) and I had no idea all of this went on back then lol. Sounds very on brand for USPS to want so badly to get the mail across the continent that they were willing to make people do this wild stuff. I don’t fly mail though I just drive it around after it flies. Last stop: me
I expected the video to be a clickbait but man this is so well made and interesting you can really tell this guy has a giant passion in what he does
I hesitated to watch because it seemed clickbait-y, but I'm glad I went for it.
Very interesting Video. Thanks for sharing to us. Greetings from Germany.
This was very interesting, and very well presented. Makes me want to check out your channel as this is the first of your videos I've watched.
I blocked GoT out so hard I had to google "the night is dark and full of terror" as I recognized it, but couldn't, for the life of me.....Very nice video.
The best video on this topic that I have seen! Great job! Thank you for posting. Liked and subbed!
Very interesting! Kinda hits home for me too. My grandma worked at Cleveland airport as a secretary in the late 30s and told me about how revolutionary the air mail was, for the time it was a pretty amazing system. Too bad these did not become ATT long lines sites and live on?
You did a great job! A friendly tone and easy pace. Good information. Not too long! Thank you!
Thanks for making this, fascinating!
Why is there only an arrow in one direction? Were there separate routes for westbound and eastbound flights?
Thats a great question. Only one arrow, no matter what direction you were headed. Most arrows I found pointed East oddly enough, but if you were westbound, you just used the tail direction I'd assume.
If all point the same direction, you avoid confusion. Also, the arrows didn't matter as much at night. All you were seeing was lights leading off into the distance.
They pointed to the primary city for the route, such as the Chicago - San Francisco Airway.
I am thrilled to find this video. This was extremely educational and interesting! A job well done. I "subscribed and liked" and now I have to go back and find all of your previous videos to be educated further. Thank you, so much! This is AWESOME content!
Awesome video. Medicine Bow as in bow and arrow.
This is incredible. I would never have known about this.
4:14 Varney Air Lines. Varney started two airlines. The first was one of the lines merged into United Air Transport. The second became Continental. Both are now happily United.
11:00 United Boeing 247
One of those other airlines merged into United was started by none other than William Boeing. Yup, that Boeing. For the longest time United only used Boeing aircraft.
Amazing story First time ever heard of the whole scheme!!
my only regret is not having a pair of lobster claw oven mitts! Thanks Mason, You're the best person in the world to get lost with! Love Your content !:-) 🙏💜⚡
Theres lots of options to chose from! Thanks, as always
What a cool story! So glad the algorithm brought me your video so I could subscribe for more interesting things to fill my brain with
Lobster claw oven mitts 😂
Found a Very Nice UA-cam channel !!!!!! Great narrator and stories !!!~~~~~~
I didnt realize viewership was only a few k per vid. Still entertaining 👍
I love stories like these. When I go hiking, and I see little bits of concrete peeking out from the grass, I often wonder what person built it, what their life was like, and what brought them to this point where they thought this was the spot to set up and build, whatever it is that they were building. This at least is the answer to a few of those chunks of history. Cool video.
12:54 - How 'bout them 470 people, huh?
Yeah I guess a few more than anticipated showed up...
Amazingly awesome video! As someone who is both a history buff as well as an aviation enthusiast, I honestly never even knew of these arrows! Now, I have a new search to do on some old Maps and historic areal pictures to find them all. :)
So the birds know which way to go.
Great video, love the style, bits of humor, and historical story telling. New Subscriber!
Awesome, thank you!
Sweet stache !
I found this enjoyable :) I was aware of some of the information, but this gave me a great picture of a timeline of events with air navigation.
1:18 "Not one, not three, but two..." WTF talks like that?
People who want people to comment about it and drive engagement, increasing the chances of the youtube algorithm pushing the video to more people. Thanks for your help.
its also funny
love your storytelling and narration. thanks!
Sorry you're feeling desperate... Have been subscribed, here's my like though.. Very interesting. Thanks man. Hey, here's a share, just for good measure. Peace.
Now,,, get lost!!
It was a bit of dramatic effect, but I appreciate all of it. Thank you!
@@MasonObscura I figured, but I subscribed anyways because it is a very well done video.
I have done a little off road exploration in Southern California, but have not see one of these arrows. What a terrific story, and narration. Thanks.
Sweet baby Selleck ya got kickin' on yer upper flap there guy!
Ha! Thank you
This was really fascinating. Thank you. 🎉
For airmail navigation
LOL...lead paint tasty... As a kid I thought so... I remember before I was even in school peeling lead paint off of the window because it was so tasty I couldn't have been but maybe 5 years old.... Well I'm over 60 and I live through it.... Hilarious
I remember when kids chewed on pencils---before they were replaced by graphite. Thankfully, I only liked biting my nails. We dealt with our anxiety issues in different ways.
Excellent presentation. Thanks for the info and the blend of humour with it!
1:49: Postal Service? Nope. Post Office. Postal Service didn't come along until 1972.
Post office department
You must be fun at parties
Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 change the original Postal service that began July 26th 1775 changed then in 1872.
Maybe look a bit further into things and not just skim Google top hits. So as not to put your foot in your open mouth.
@@TheCanadianGuy08 It's not so much as being fun at parties as the guy who made the video should have done his homework. A common problem theses days is that so many people know a little about a subject and think their almost experts. And they get their information from people who do shabby research. And the USPS started in 1971, lol!
Sometimes you come across a story that you’re not looking for that is interesting. This was very interesting. Thanks for making this.
The best video I've seen on this topic! Incredibly well-researched and presented. Thank you!
Thanks for the trip down memory lane! I could have used some arrows and beacons back in 1979. I was getting my Grumman Cheetah preflight underway for my private pilot mandatory three leg cross country solo flight. I had spent the previous night with my sectional chart and plotter trying to precisely figure out the legs from Boulder airport to Cheyenne airport then over to Scottsbluff Nebraska and back to Boulder.
I had waypoints meticulously figured out along the course on my trusty map folded just right to fit on my brand new clipboard and off I went. I was rocketing upward at my max climb rate of 500 fpm (it was really hot that bumpy day) and turned to my initial heading of 030 degrees. Within 10 or 15 minutes I was noticing that what I saw out the window was definitely not looking like my waypoint on the chart. I had no fancy DME and I wasn’t quite high enough to get a VOR signal. I kept looking at the heading I had plotted on the chart which was 003 degrees and then at my bouncing whiskey compass and it said 030 degrees. Why wasn’t anything looking “right” ?.
Anyway, there was no one in the plane but me when I figured out my little mistake and to this day I would swear it never happened. Thanks again for your video and the memories it stirred up 😂
We had one of these arrows on our property until the early 2000’s. My dad then destroyed it with his front end loader because he was tired of mowing around it. I was so mad. I told him he just destroyed a historical marker. He’s and old farmer and didn’t care. It was in his way.
Outstanding history lesson. Thank you