CTA Surface System History presented by the Illinois Railway Museum
The original numbering system used here for the Chicago transfers was devised by the late Don Liberko, who worked extensively on cataloging the different styles. Upon further study and input from transit historians Andre Kristopans and Bruce Moffat, it has been decided to reindex the transfer styles based on changes to the main front plate. These will be reflected in different main numbers. Different overprint plates (mainly changes in date/serial number colors) will be noted by a sub-version letter. Intercompany transfers are broken out since they are technically not standard transfers.
The total number of transfers in our collection might be broken into two numbers. The first is how many we physically have in our collection. The second number (after the +) represents the total number of images we have received from others.
Intercompany Transfers by Type
Intercompany transfers were only issued to full fare paying riders. They were used to transfer from one company to another (CSL to CRT, CSL to CMC, etc.)
Style I1a - 09/02/1935
First "combination" transfer for use on Chicago Rapid Transit lines, variation of white (regular issue) transfer #5 but 1/2 inch longer to accomodate "stamp here" space at top and stamping statement at bottom. Printed on blue stock. CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (20 + 36) Style I1a transfers in the Museum's collection
Style I1b - 05/1938
Same as I1a with black date and serial numbers. CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (8 + 12) Style I1b transfers in the Museum's collection
Style I1c - c1939
Same as I1a and I1b with red date and serial numbers. CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (1) Style I1c transfers in the Museum's collection
Style I2 - 03/19/1939
Revised clock, equivalent to white (regular issue) #7. Note no equivalent of white (regular issue) #6 existed. There were four different backs with this style featuring four different signatures. CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (22 + 42) Style I2 transfers in the Museum's collection
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Style I3a - Date Unknown
Equivilant to white (regular issue) #8, red date and serial numbers. CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (35 + 6) Style I3a transfers in the Museum's collection
Style I3b - Date Unknown
Same as I3a with blue date and serial numbers. CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (54) Style I3b transfers in the Museum's collection
Style I4 - c1946-1947
Ansell-Simplex printed version of I3, apparently due to press capacity issues late 1946-mid 1947. CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (53 + 2) Style I4 transfers in the Museum's collection
Style I5 - 05/24/1946
Same as I3, reverted to in-house printing after whatever issues resulted in #4 resolved by mid 1947, 4th paragraph on back states "established joint fare" replacing "10c fare", paragraph also longer (7 lines). CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (48) Style I5 transfers in the Museum's collection
Style I6a - 05/24/1946-12/1947
Pink paper, used to transfer from CSL to CMC. This style was used by both CSL and CTA. The overprints were very different with each and were phased in when CTA took over CSL on 10/01/1947. Although the front base plate is the same, we have broken them out into four different sub-styles. CTA used this style for their first few months of existance and may have changed the backs sooner than the front overprints. Printed by Ansell-Simplex.CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (64 + 2) Style I6a transfers in the Museum's collection
Style I6b - 12/1947
Pink paper - CTA to CMC transfer. Initial CTA to CMC form, identical to last CSL to CMC form (I6a) with revamped route combinations. CTA replaced CSL on back. Printed by Ansell-Simplex.CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (42 + 6) Style I6b transfers in the Museum's collection
Style I6c - Date Unknown
Pink paper (CTA to CMC transfer) red writing, thinner date, "No." before serial number. Change to serial and date typeface was possibly due to change of printer or press used. Printed by Ansell-Simplex.CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (15) Style I6c transfers in the Museum's collection
Style I6d - c1949
Pink paper (CTA to CMC transfer) with blue writing, "No." in front of serial number. Color change possibly to increase readability. Printed by Ansell-Simplex.CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (30 + 16) Style I6d transfers in the Museum's collection
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