RootsChat.Com
Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: buckeye on Tuesday 30 December 08 23:38 GMT (UK)
-
Could anyone help to date the women's clothing in this photo? It was found in an old family album, but there are no names or dates on any of the photos. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
-
Hi Buckeye
Welcome to Roots
If you google Frederick Downer, Watford
seems to be a photographer in and around 1880 /1889
Frederick Downer had studios at High Street and Loates Lane, Watford, in 1881
regards
ricky
-
Hi buckeye,
Here's a link that may help
http://www.cartes.freeuk.com/time/time.htm
Lexi
-
Thank you for your responses. I was hoping the photo may have been from the early 1850's because my g-g-grandfather came to the US in 1852. I was hoping that he had brought it with him, but it doesn't appear that it was taken that early. Thanks again.
-
Can't help with date but here's a light clean.
Terry
-
Stop! Wait! Not even close...Ricky, you may have found a son of the photographer...
This is a very early photo, in fact the clothing style suggests 1850s, but the type of photo, and card the photo is mounted on, did not become available until 1860. There's a bit of a mystery here, because the kind of photo process available in 1852 was a one-off with no negatives, and no chance of making a copy.
I would like to see the entire photo including the corners of the mount, if possible, and scanning it at 300 dpi at least would be helpful to the restorers.....you will have to change the filename slightly...just adding a letter or number to the filename would be fine.
It's not often such an early one comes along...I look forward to seeing a higher-resolution scan.
Oh, and welcome to Rootschat, buckeye :D
Cheers,
China
-
Definitely 1860s, and most likely quite early in the 60s too. Fantastic picture!
-
Stop! Wait! Not even close...Ricky, you may have found a son of the photographer...
This is a very early photo, in fact the clothing style suggests 1850s, but the type of photo, and card the photo is mounted on, did not become available until 1860. There's a bit of a mystery here, because the kind of photo process available in 1852 was a one-off with no negatives, and no chance of making a copy.
I would like to see the entire photo including the corners of the mount, if possible, and scanning it at 300 dpi at least would be helpful to the restorers.....you will have to change the filename slightly...just adding a letter or number to the filename would be fine.
It's not often such an early one comes along...I look forward to seeing a higher-resolution scan.
Oh, and welcome to Rootschat, buckeye :D
Cheers,
China
Hi China
How do you know its the son of Frederick Downer :)
ricky
-
There is something odd about this photo. From the censuses:
1871
Watford - RG10/1381 F 56 P 2
Frederick Downer, 30, Photographer, b. Watford
(not found in 1861 as yet)
1851
Watford - HO107/1714 F 167 P 6
David Downer, 38, Hair dresser and stationer, b. Watford
... others................
Frederick Downer, son, 10, b. Watford
gnu
-
so young Fred could " have been learning his trade by 1861 he would have been abt 20.... used his Dads stationary too ;D ;D ;D
I go along with Pru, early 1860s from the type of clothes, hair over the ears, crimoline, peter pan collar and dropped shoulder line - oh and nearly forgot the bonnets ::)
Now why can't my family have old photos like this :'( You are very lucky to have such an early photo and in very good condition.
Jenny
-
1861
Paddington - RG9/3 F 112 P 42
Frederick Downer, nephew, 20, artist, b. Watford
So after 1861 and before 1871 :-\ :-\
gnu
-
Hi Buckeye
Welcome to Rootschat and Happy New Year.
Had a tinker with your photo but it really needs to be scanned at 300 ppi to do it justice.
Caroline
-
What a lovely photographic study. I would agree with the date line given. The woman on the left of the photograph has her bonnet placed to the back of her head (same as the other woman has) which is tied under the chin by broad stringing (ribbons) this was a fashion trend in the late 1850's and throughout the 1860's. Her sleeving may be a style known as a Bishop sleeve but I can not see its full length but as she has a large epaulette at the shoulder seam it would have been taken before 1870 as this was the date period that this form of style started to disappear from fashion. The woman on the right has Gabrielle sleeving which was/is a style formed by the bunching up of the sleeve material in to seperate "puffs" running down the arm. Again this style can be found in the 1860's. The man is seen wearing a three piece Sac suit with the material appearing to be of the same type for all three pieces. Both Jacket (which would have only been fastened by the very top button) and waist coat are edged off and the waist coat is buttoned high and would show above the lapels of the Sac coat.
As for the photographer I can find nothing about him on line save for a reference to a Frederick Downer, a Frederick Downer & Son, and a Frederick Downer junior, all of which relate to being photographers. Wether this is the same man or not I do not know but looking at the 1881 census Frederick Downer, artist and photographer, had a son also called Frederick so the latter may have been the " & son" and "junior" mentioned above.
OR
-
Wow! You folks are very knowledgable. I do so appreciate you taking your time with this photo. The scan that I am including has the photo placed on a background paper which is not part of the photo (my scanner tends to square the scans off). There are 3 more photos that appear to my untrained eye to have been taken about the same time with same photographer. Myg-g-grandfather, James Pinniger, came to Ohio in 1852 so perhaps these were sent to him later.
Thank you again and Happy New Year......buckeye
-
The younger woman reading the letter would be the most fashion conscious
and the Bishop's sleeve wasn't seen 1870 also her hairstyle is early - mid 1860's so have to agree with the others.
jim
-
To mention the lady with the letter again does indicate a "thinking of you" sentiment.Letter from son/brother,photo in return.
Put the others up we'd love to see them.
jim
-
It is great to have been loaned these photos from another family member, but it is very frustrating to have no idea who the people are. I have no documented information about them before they came to the US. Perhaps I'll have more luck in '09. Thank you for your interest.....Patricia
-
My last Downer photo
-
These 3 seem to have been taken around the same time as the 1st. as the card stock is the same,also the dress style of the last photo is early - mid 1860's.
The photo of the children is a little gem,we don't often see children from this period and here we have half a dozen.
Looks like big sis is having a problem keeping the baby still to the amusement of the brothers.Love it.
jim
-
What fabulous photos...thanks for rescanning. What I really wanted to see was the corners, which believe it or not are a dating tool.
These photos are all from the early 1860s.
Each one should have its own thread, though...if you post any more could you give each one its own? It gets too confusing otherwise. Also, some restorers are still on dialup and don't revisit old threads.
I'll be keeping a close watch on these :D
Ricky...Frederick had a son Frederick. His father was a hairdresser and stationer but Fred decided to change from that and go into photography. I just thought he'd be kind of old by 1881 and would have passed the business on by then...
To go to photography school he arose at 4:00 AM and took the train into London for his class 6:00-8:00, then got back to Watford in time to conduct a full day's business for his father. I bet he was glad to see the end of that!
Cheers,
China
-
Yes agree these are great photos.Noticed the carpet's the same in 1 & 3 but different in 2.
Also who's kids are they,the middle couple look too young (and I'm not sure they are a married couple anyway
as she's not showing a wedding ring) & the last couple look too old to have a baby this age.
jim
-
Hi Buckeye...........Heres a colour version from me.
Carolyn :)
-
Hi Buckeye.........Heres another of your fabulous photo's coloured.
Carolyn :)
-
Wow.....amazing pictures....imagine having them from such an early date. A family heirloom for sure and I hope whoever owns them takes steps to preserve them :)
mab
-
The second picture to me...not a couple...I really didn't get that vibe......brother and sister I think..... :-\
mab
-
Wow! Those really are beautiful in color.
-
Hi again........Heres another colour one from me.
Carolyn :)