Funny, you guys are looking at tires, and this is what stood out to me ...
Nah, nothing could go wrong.
Question to the OP, were the pics taken from a local historic site or were they found online? Only reason why I ask is the only A F Carter company I could find was related to West Virginia coal (actually an interesting case on behalf of the company that went to the US supreme court, if the same company in the picture).
I only ask because of all the lumber pictures previously posted from the paciffic northwest and I assumed (perhaps incorrectly of course) that the pics posted were from the PNW (didn't think coal was used that much out on the west coast close to a century ago, but have no clue).
The other pic, Blue coal, what I found on that company, if indeed the same company, no clue on my end again...
Blue Coal's checkered past revealed in bankruptcy | News | citizensvoice.com
All one has to do is look at the coal industry back in the early 1900's to see an interesting checkered past with money, labor and politics.
Growing up, always heard stories as a kid about the Mollie Maquires that were hung at the county courhouse.
Both of my grandfathers died before they hit age 56 due to coal mining accidents. OSHA and the federal government weren't really involved back then, even in the 40's and 50's.