Guess The Year: Details Edition

Can you guess which year this photo was taken, or what's going on in it? This was shot right here in New York City, and we'll update this post later with the year, and more details.

UPDATE: This image is from a stunning collection of color photographs from the 1930s and 40s (see them all at the Library of Congress's Flickr page). This one was taken in March of 1943, and the caption reads: "Camouflage class in New York University, where men and women are preparing for jobs in the Army or in industry, New York, N.Y. They make models from aerial photographs, re-photograph them, then work out a camouflage scheme and make a final photograph."

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By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on October 8, 2010 4:44 PM

Guess The Year

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Militant Conformist

My guess 1942 to 1944. Looks like they are creating a replica of the landscape in Europe to be used as a reference for WW2 bomber pilots and navigators.

Kelles

It does look like it could be Flushing lake...sorta-ish. Its prob in early 60s because it's a color picture & they are working off of maybe satellite(?) photos. Also, it's obvious they are not artists because 1)they are all righties and 2) one of them is smoking his freaking pipe over the model so they could be those transients they hired to work on the Panorama.

(the preceding msg is purely for entertainment purposes only and should not be taken seriously.)

Guest

1956. Making a tiny Long Island diorama for model trains.

meknow

1944 mapping normandy

pfrishauf

I say 1965 and that this was the construction of the NYC "Panorama" for the 1966 World's Fair now at the awesome Queens Museum of Art (QMA).That pipe smoker is one cool dude, eh, but where are the mandatory cigarette puffers of the era?

augustojr

2003 googleplex chelsea. satellite view division.

or 1943

lucyvanpelt

The scale looks way too small to be the Panorama, and her hairstyle is closer to 1940s than 1960s. No idea beyond that.

JGNY

You are right about the hair styles, they seem late 40's early 50's. The model is pretty detailed, and I don't think the panorama has trees in it.

lucyvanpelt

I think you're right on both counts, although maybe the woman's hairstyle could be mid-40s, too. Now my guesses are a) museum, b) military, or c) film industry. I can't think of any other situation where that much detail would be required.

JGNY

1964-Flushing Meadows Queens. Bob is breathing down their necks to hurry up and finish.

Rockuboff

1960. Yeah I'm going to say this has something to do with the 1964 World's Fair.

Amy

I think it's early 1960s, 1962? and they are mapping out Flushing Meadow park for the 1964 World's Fair.

krinkle cut fires

1939, Flushing Park

pazzia

it kind of makes me think of mad men so early 1960s. not sure what they are making... seems like too many crossroads to be central park.

S.D.

Probably not but That looks like Dr. Shapiro's team making the model of Pine Plains for the Museum of Natural History.

Not sure what year...

Gina Gemini

Judging by the woman's hairstyle and clothing, it's sometime in the 1940s. I'm guessing anytime between 1942 and 1945. I'm not sure what they're doing, but it may have to do with wartime or with the expansion of NYC's highway system under Robert Moses.

chuzzlewit

1941, they are artists hired by the military to create camouflage patterns colors and tints.

jambi

Worlds Fair idea above sounds like a good guess. Other thing might be model for planning out BQE so I would put year at 1938.

theboneranger

reminds me of the wizard of oz... 1938 ?

F1Mikal

Looks like they are making the NYC and boroughs diarama(sp?) for the Worlds'Fair in the 30's (which is still on display on a museum in NY today!)