Chicago circa 1900: Marshall Field's Department Store

[Scribbler]

Some of you may remember me asking about pieces that would make an ideal Great Clock that hangs on the corner of the Marshall Field's building in Chicago. Unfortunately, they didn't have half of the parts I needed, and thus, I had to go with Plan B - a custom clock using cardboard, beads, and lots of hot glue. It's temporary - once I get the parts needed, I will swap out Clock B for Clock A.

But for now, the pictures are up! The pictures are at my blog: http://thecreativepensieve.blogspot.com/2015/12/christmas-at-marshall-fields-playmobil.html

Notes:
The back of the building is scaffolding. All 1x2s and every spare wall piece I had (including breakaway walls). Still need lots more Steck!!!

Since the back is scaffolding, the restaurant on the fourth floor is a series of photos taken from models set up and attached together to create a panorama picture that is visible through the windows. Those pictures were then taped up behind the windows.

Thankfully the Victorian lamp posts came out exactly 1 day after I started building - a welcome surprise!

No, I did not write on the walls - I took some Contact (sticky clear paper) paper and wrote on it, peeled it off, stuck the signs between the paper and the walls, stuck it on. (The street signs are written in gold paint on the Contact paper).

Not crazy about the cardboard inserts on the 2nd and 3rd floors. Next time I will go with green or brown.

The two revolving doors were a pain in the neck to construct (cardboard and gold paint pen and lots of double-sided tape and glue sticks) but they do look nice enough.

Ran out of steck windows - hence the two doorways instead of windows on the left side of the fourth floor. Again, NEED MORE STECK!!!

Overall, I think I did a okay job on it. 

[Tiermann]

That's a great looking diorama! The colors are really nice, feels very much the era. Great construction on the building, all the work shows. There is never enough Steck, if you get more you just come up with even more grandiose plans.

[leefert]

It turned out fantastic!!! And I liked last year's very much as well!

[playmofire]

A great piece of work with a good eye for detail which nicely captures the feel of a building of this type and era.

[Salamander]

That turned out really well! Great that the lamp posts arrived in time, they definitely add to the overall look of it.

I was thinking of your plans for your store (based on your clock post) recently, when I was watching the British tv show "Mr. Selfridge", and wondering if the Marshall Field's store would look similar to Selfridge's, both being of a similar era. I kind of think they do! And the similarities with the store window displays and posh restaurant.

[tahra]

Very nice

Love the street signs..

And yes, it is true - there is NEVER enough steck!

[Raven]

I especially love the green blinds over the windows, and all the green shop bags.

And the snow.  And the cyclist.  And the clock is very clever.  And so is the idea of the photos in the windows to show the interior of the restaurant.  I'd love to try that, but I'm sure that it is very difficult to adjust them to correct size.

The pianist looks enthusiastic.  I think that he is my favourite person in the scene.

[Scribbler]

Thank you all for your comments!

Yes, Selfridges is descended from Marshall Fields. Mr. S worked at Fields when it first opened and learned how to run a store from Field himself and then moved to England to set up Selfridges. Both stores claim to have coined the phrase "Give the lady what she wants". Now, Fields fans are lobbying for Selfridges to buy the store from Macy's (who butchered and killed the store  in the takeover) and bring back Fields.

[Jay]

Fantastic. As someone who knows the original Fields, pre-Macy's,  you've done an outstanding job and certainly represented the building perfectly.  My father bought a news-stand outside when he was 12,  my grandmother worked there, I worked there in the 60s,  and we have been going to the store every year for about 60 years.  We were in there a few weeks ago.
As far as Selfridge's,  yes, he worked there and portions of the original downtown Chicago building were designed by Burnham, who also designed the Oxford Street store.   You can see lots of similarities inside and outside of the building.   Additionally, a little know fact was that Selfridge's first store was just down the street from Field's.  He owned the building designed by Louis Sullivan for one year before it was purchased from him by Carson and co.  That building is still there also, but now a Target.  He moved to London after that to open his store. 

[Salamander]

I didn't know the Selfridges/Fields connection! No wonder one made me think of the other.