7: ORIGINAL PAINTING & MOCK-UP OF WWII ERA B&O STREAMLINER

Paul Auberlin Meyer (Born 1910)
B&O Streamliner with P51 Mustang Planes (Circa 1942.)
The original mixed media tempera, watercolor and gouache painting depicts a Baltimore & Ohio Railroad General Motors EMD FT Diesel Locomotive rounding a bend, with cardstock silhouette cut-out of the United States capitol dome superimposed over the painted landscape. A formation of P-51 Mustang fighter bombers (in full production by 1942) are included in the painted composition, the small lead jet in the upper right quadrant is also a superimposed cardstock cut-out laid on the painting. All the other elements of the composition are the original painting. This work is signed by the artist lower right front. A large, tattered and creased offset litho print of this same image is included-- though the print version has one less P-51 in the sky.

Long before Diesels and streamliners, Baltimore & Ohio had a train called the Royal Blue, which was painted blue. In 1937, when it bought one of the first passenger Diesel locomotives, it elected to paint it in blue colors. This FT freight locomotive, which was purchased in 1942, is painted in the same color scheme. Despite the patriotic inclusion of P-51 fighters in the background, the federal government strictly limited General Motors' production of Diesel locomotives during the war, considerably slowing the conversion of steam to Diesel.
Sight size through the mat is 15.25 x 22, measures 20 x 26.5 inches overall.
Very good original untouched condition. There are no issues of major scratches, losses, repairs, in-painting or touch-up. There is an outline form the original mat on the image which is invisible when the mat is in place.
Provenance: The Fred Roniger Estate Collection.
$500 - $5,000