If you’ve been digging through digital newspaper archives from the early 1900s, you might have stumbled upon the "Overland.rar." While it looks like a modern file download, it’s actually a classic case of .
The "rar" in these instances is not a compressed file format, but rather a byproduct of technology failing to distinguish the letter 'c' from the letter 'r' in old typeface. Sample "Restored" Post
Check out the original snippets on Trove or NewspaperArchive . Anaconda Standard Newspaper Archives, Dec 14, 1913, p. 118 Overland.rar
In the 1920s, the was a popular vehicle. When these old newspapers were scanned and digitized, the ink on the letter 'c' was often faded or smudged, leading the software to read it as an 'r'.
The result? A fleet of "Overland rars" crashing into trolley posts and being sold in classified ads decades before the .rar format even existed! If you’ve been digging through digital newspaper archives
If you were looking to share this as a piece of digital history or a "lost media" curiosity, a post might look like this: 🚗📦
(1919)
(1924)