I wish to thank all of you who have answered my queries/requests via PSRoots: 1. Cheryl Hawley, Treehistn@aol.com for her site information re swap and shop. If any of you out there want to look at an interesting site for this, be sure to give http://www.ebay.com a try, as you will discover a wonderland of swap & shop sites that is mind-boggling. Cheryl, that is truly a place of interest. Also, as webmaster of http://members.aol.com/webbergrp/snocem/hom.htm you have a fine site for that cause, also! 2. Kitty Martin of Kent WA, K9504m@aol.com Your ref to my query about Carman Manufacturing Co. at website http://www.springairnw/history.html was truly an informative site for genealogy. I had seen that business site with the Carman name on it over the many years, and wondered if it could be related to my wife's Line. Even she didn't know. It truly is, and the history contained in that site is truly remarkable and valuable. Then to find the direct ancestor, Patricia Tidmarsh back in NYC whose ancestor founded it is even more revealing.! I can see that the newly founded Carman-Roots website which is to join the valuable rootsweb.com system is going to, and already is, producing a lot of gen info for those who are kin to that surname. 3. Harriet in IL, Hrariden@aol.com Yes, it is truly a small, small world at times. Just since I have been doing genealogy, 1983, I have experienced so many "coincidences" that are uncanny, that it makes one wonder, what is it about genealogy that bring out these very unusual experiences. Now, I don't know your surname before and after you married, but you did mention NY, PA, IN, and later IL where you live at present. Please tell me more about your genealogy as to surnames, etc., because all of those places relate to places where I found considerable genealogy, so now I am curious to hear of your surnames. Perhaps there is NO tie, but again it pays to inquire I have found over and over. 4. MaryForsburg hpuck@nwrain.com I don't know where you are located, but I would be interested to know. Give my regards to your 87 yr. old Mother and I am glad she recognized the Carman Manufacturing Co. and to find out that it is still going strong putting out their product and that the product is still in the Family of the Founders, even if it produces its product under the name of Spring Air. When I went to the site that Kitty Martin suggested, I was amazed to find genealogy & history among the information provided by that site. There were pictures of the present Carman descendants with a picture in the background of the founder Carman. There was a history of the founders, how they got started in their business, at various locations such as N.J., IL, IA. The product began by selling it door to door by day, and manufacturing it by night. Then in 1890 the Carman procduct moved to WA, when it had just become a new State. Even Seattle had a branch for 2 years. By 1906 the operation was located in Spokane, WA and in Portland, OR. This website included pix, one of a 1920 Delivery Truck with the Carman Mfg. Co. logo on its sides, denoting the fact that not only did they make sanitary mattresses, but iron beds and couches, and other furniture. That 1910 had all hard rubber tires, and a chain drive (like a bike chain, but much larger!) and a Carman standing beside it. It states that today there is a whole fleet of trucks to ensure quick delivery of their product throughout the Pacific Northwest, a far cry from the door-to-door sales they started out with. Their clients have included Frederick & Nelson, Prottas & Levit, Otto Grunbaum, Rhodes Bros, A. Ambrose, Sydney Sykes, Porter, Schoenfeld, et al they point out. There is a early sketch of the manufacturing plant in this site history and the caption denotes that the building is essentially that same, except for few modifications and updating and is still in use today. This building as I understand it is across from the old Union Station RR Depot in Tacoma, where it was when I saw it many years ago, and little did I know that it was to have ties genealogically to my family as well as many others, including a newly found e-mail friend who lives in NYCity and has become interested in her ancestral background over the years. I have lots to share with her and I am sure that she will have a lot to share with our family, and we hope many out there in cyberland. Someday, I want to go to Tacoma and see if I can get a good look at the Factory that has survived all these years. Quite remarkable for these times! Hope you find that identification mark on the table, Mary! Again,I thank all of you who responded and for PSRoots to make is possible to share these things. This is one of my truly favorite sites, as the Friendliness is apparent and appreciated. Carroll of Snohomish. * * * 30 * * * _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]