very unique and finely crafted unsigned vintage american folk art milwaukee streetcar with original hand-applied polychrome enameled finish. unidentified artist. possibly dates to the 1950's. the exceptionally well designed street car is comprised largely of wood with minor metal components and strands of rope representing window guard rails. the brightly colored finish remains largely intact. great overall condition, considering age. the milwaukee electric railway & light co. was the largest electric railway and electric utility system in wisconsin. it combined several of the earlier horse car, steam dummy and streetcar lines into one system. shortly after the milwaukee street car lines were electrified in 1895, they came under the control of the north american company, a large holding company influenced by h. h. willard who had completed the northern pacific railway. the milwaukee streetcar lines soon ran on most major streets and served most areas of the city. the milwaukee electric railway was formed in 1896 and at its peak, its 198 miles of interurban lines reached throughout southeastern wisconsin. they also operated the streetcar lines in appleton, kenosha and racine as well as doing their own switching operations at the port washington and lakeside power plants.