1920 Gear

For a visual reference and aid in picturing the times:

Jimmy's Car is a Studebaker Touring 'Big-Six' (because it can hold up to six full grown men, albeit tightly)
Ad for the Big Six
Jimmy's Green Machine

A 1920 C battery flashlight (Thomas Edison invented the alkaline in 1901)
A brass gas blowtorch

Small Correction

I mistakenly said Hoover would replace Wilson. It is actually Harding who will replace Wilson. Herbert Hoover will take office in 1929. Another Hoover (J. Edgar) will become director of the FBI in 1924.

Investigation in the 1920's

Excerpt from a CoC supplement:

In the 20's there are no intercontinental airlines. It is headline news when an aircraft staggers across the North Atlantic. Even local phone calls must go through an operator. A connection for a long-distance phone call may take an hour or more to be established; the operator will call you back when the line has been opened. There are no intercontinental phone lines. The pace of postal delivery is often excellent across town, but leisurely at long distances. Use telegrams for quick communication. Land travel of any distance depends on railroads. Only parts of western Europe and eastern North America have road nets adequate to lengthy automobile trips.

Travel can't be paid for by personal checks or credit card. Only local currency pays the bills, though bank letters can be used to replenish funds.

Our campaign will begin on February 3rd, 1920. To put this in perspective - Woodrow Wilson is President and will soon be replaced by Herbert Hoover - in the first election to allow women the vote. Prohibition has just gone into effect at the end of January. The treaty ending WWI was signed June 28th 1919 and a mass demobilization of the armed forces is sending the 'Lost Generation' home. Increasing xenophobia is sweeping the country as well as the Red Scare - Communists are suspected behind every plot and new immigration is severely reduced. (It is even suggested that Prohibition was a form of anti-immigration against Italians, Irish, and other Catholics) Harlem and New Orleans begin their Jazz Renaissance, yet the Ku Klux Klan sees increased activity in the South. Radio is all the rage yet in its infancy and silent movies are in full swing.