Sublunar Photography

Here's a Soviet T34/85 Medium Tank. It was built sometime between 1943-45 and this example, which is an early variant of the T34 first produced in 1940, features a larger turret and improved interior layout of its predecessor. This tank employs an 85mm main gun and dual DT 1929 7.62×54R machine guns. The diesel powered V12 motor could propel this tank up to 26 MPH at a range of roughly 200 miles before refueling.

The T34 was Russia's primary tank and it played a major role in the outcome of World War II, after having achieved great successes early on. In 1941, it was described as the "finest tank in the world" by German general Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist. After having built over 80,000 T34's, it was the most produced tank of WWII and is currently the second most produced tank of all time, behind only its successor the T54. As of today, more than 130 T34's are still in service throughout the world, nearly 80 years after they were first introduced.

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First post of 2020 CORONAVIRUS MEGA BONUS: Rhymes with Tank

Back in January, 2020 was still a fresh new year full of the promises we make to ourselves out of weary wintertime desperation. There was no zombie apocalypse threatening our very way of life. Spring was coming in a few months and we just had to make it through the last of the cold wintry bullshit. We had been out seeking adventure one such winter's day and decided to finally try our luck at the Bank, a target of my interest for a long time. There were two separate fences to climb, then a courtyard where hopefully some windows would invite us inside for dirty shenanigans. No such luck. The only real possibility for access was a sketchy fire escape with a ladder extending down about 10 feet off the ground. Knowing there was no other option, I sourced some nearby debris and was just able to wrap the tips of my fingers around the bottom rung. The previous fences had already used up most of my immediate energy but the threat of not getting into the bank was taunting me. I made it up and motioned to my comrades that we're in luck. But I probably should have waited because none of the windows along the fire escape would open. Once my comrades joined me on the unstable and widely spaced metal bars that provided unobstructed view of the hard concrete ground far below us, I let them know it seemed like it might be a dead end. The only other route from here was the little ladder at the top, situated at the edge of the platform without guards of any kind to keep you from falling, which made the fire escape itself seem pretty solid by comparison. Luck was on our side and once we got on the roof we found a conveniently placed hatch.

Following some briefly terrifying pigeon shenanigans upon descending the ladder within the hatch, we were finally inside. This relief ran out, however, after realizing we were in a disjointed office building. There was no physical connection to the bank. We went up and down every flight of stairs at least twice in search of a hidden door. I thought I found one such door and, once again, after considerable time and effort, used found debris to convince the door to open unto us by sliding it behind the latch and wiggling with a determination greater than anything I've wiggled before. It was a closet. It didn't even have anything cool inside. Awesome.

Finally, we find ourselves in the basement again. We were on the verge of calling it when we consider the one final option none of us wanted to suggest up to this point. There's this door down there that points in the direction of the bank and seems like it could have been a loading bay. But it was one of those exceedingly heavy metal roll-up doors with electronic locks. The kind you can't lift up no matter how hard you try. Luckily, again, random objects presented themselves for our use which would alter the outcome of this valiant effort on our part to penetrate the dark recesses of this mysterious numismatic institution. The three of us accepted these objects and took it upon ourselves to realize the singular purpose for which they came into existence; to help us open the door to the bank. After several unsuccessful tries, we finally got the door open. Another round of exhausting attempts and we got it propped solidly open just far enough to squeeze through. We start slithering inside only to realize there's a camera aimed right at us. I figured we were already fucked if any of the cameras are active (there were about a dozen in the courtyard alone) so I walk up to it and confirm it's dead.

By the time we got far enough inside to confirm we were in the bank, we were all exhausted and starving. Nevertheless, we then had to explore all ~20 stories of it and enjoy the fruits of our labours. Normally I'd put effort into getting decent shots and maybe even some video. But sometimes, I just don't care enough. The whole point of this hobby is to explore and explore we did. Pictures and videos only get whatever energy I have left and on that day, I already used it all up. But I took a few quick shots here and there and I figured I ought to post something for all that effort.. so aside from the fond memories which I shall naturally forever hold close to my heart, here's the sole reward for a fucking long and grueling day for which three dumb idiots took countless risks and endured hunger and exhaustion to make possible.

We recently found ourselves an abandoned bank-turned-nightclub in Saint Louis.

Boatmen's Bank was founded in Saint Louis in 1847 and claimed to be the oldest bank west of the Mississippi. George Knight Budd started Boatmen's Savings Institution to serve the working class and named the company for those "Boatmen" who worked on riverboats on the Mississippi.

On April 5, 1854, a robbery occurred in which "the bank's secretary Joseph Thornton was implicated because the vault had been opened at night with a bank key. Testifying against him was Joseph Charless, president of the Bank of Missouri, who had received for deposit water and mud-soaked notes from Thornton. Thornton was acquitted but was to shoot and kill Charless on the street afterwards. Thornton was nearly lynched, and later hanged following a trial." -Wikipedia

Boatmen's would become the largest bank in Missouri in the 1980's. By the time of its acquisition by Nations Bank in 1996, it was one of the 30 largest Bank Holding Companies in the United States. I'm not sure of the exact date of closure on this branch but I would guess that it didn't last very long, if at all, after the company's acquisition.

The State Bank and Trust of Wellston was constructed in 1955 and saw use as late as 2006 when it last functioned as a Regions Bank. It's hard to imagine it was being used that recently, however, considering that the decor appears potentially original and the basement is completely flooded. The overall condition suggests it had been vacant for much longer. Inside it is very dark and moldy. The floors are buckling from the humidity of a basement full of murky water and the giant steel safe doors are beginning the long slow process of returning to dust.

The most unusual thing about this bank is that it was evidently constructed during an imaginative time in the 1950s wherein personal air travel (via helicopter, for example) was expected by some to become as commonplace as the automobile.

During the demolition of the State Bank of Wellston in 2014, much fuss had been made in local news about the interesting/unique sign which stood atop a tall tower on the roof. The tower was rescued by preservationists and everyone rejoiced, but none of the articles paid any attention to what was actually the main design aspect around which this bank was constructed and which was prominently advertised at the time of its Grand Opening. This feature had remained an unexplained mystery (to myself, at least) ever since we first happened to discover it: teller windows... on the roof. We could have just as easily skipped the roof on this occasion and missed out on the opportunity to uncover this forgotten piece of weird Saint Louis history.

According to an article in "Commercial West" published in October 1954: "Fly-in banking by helicopter may soon be a reality.. The increased use of helicopters within the next decade is inevitable. When the whirlybird supplements the family car, America's bankers will find a way to offer fly-in service and they will operate it as efficiently as their other modern banking services.. State Bank and Trust Co of Wellston, St Louis, is considering the possibility of using a helicopter to dramatize the opening of its unique sky-top banking installation in November. The bank already has a ramp which allows motorists to drive up from the street onto the roof". This prediction was made by Edwin H Molser Jr, whose company designed and installed the teller windows here. The same magazine later added the following details "A major innovation of drive-in rooftop banking is the use of two bullet-proof Snorkel tellers, designed by Mosler Safe Co., New York. Customers drive onto the roof of the bank from a rear-street parking area which slopes upward, and pull up to the Snorkel teller. Actually, the teller in each Snorkel is stationed on the first floor of the bank. But teller and customer are in constant view of each other and communicate through a system of two-way speakers and periscope mirrors. A small tray-like elevator conveys deposit and withdrawal transactions from motorist down to the teller and up again in just 18 seconds."

According to an article published in "Mid-Continent Banker" in 1955: The idea behind rooftop banking was created by Sam Goldenberg, head of the bank’s advertising agency. Grand Opening "festivities began with an invitational preview for bankers, the press and special guests on March 23 (1955). Nearly 1,000 persons took the tour through the building from rooftop, where they tried out the snorkel tellers, down the elevator to the main banking floor with its many innovations in bank design."

The sign/tower, a most excellent '1950's futuristic' work of art, was only a secondary feature being advertised at the time of this bank opening to the public. The whole "Banking in the sky" gimmick has since been forgotten, its novelty having been completely eclipsed by the sign. The article above describes the sign thusly "A giant revolving WeatherCaster, 18 feet in circumference, towering 100 feet above the rooftop, records barometrically forthcoming weather changes. The tower includes a revolving advertising display identifying the bank and its services."

Finally, the same article gives the following general description of the bank at the time of its grand opening: "The reinforced concrete building, de signed by Bernard Bloom, is faced in front with granite constructed with one-piece corner slabs. Front of building is series of set-backs, with landscaped areas and projected display windows for merchandising bank’s services. Interior is done in modern themes with brown and beige colors predominating. Tellers cages and check desks are designed with Micarta Truwood walnut finish with marble base and deal plates. Fixtures blend with walnut paneling on walls which can’t be marred by traffic. Walls that “take punishment ” are covered with a special vinyl plastic fabric, not easily marred, and can be washed instead of painted. Tellers cages arranged in curving pattern to assure additional privacy. Sit-down checking desks in lobby. Safe deposit box area literally “built into the hill.” A massive 70,000 pound vault door becomes the center of interest in the bank lobby design. Attractive lighting fixtures display the vault door to best advantage and attract attention to it. Rooms housing air conditioning equipment and other utilities are located on mezzanine floor and are accessible from drive-on roof. Entire basement area available for cafeteria, storage vaults, assembly room, locker space and rest rooms."

State Bank and Trust of Wellston was demolished in the spring of 2014

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