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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: Cazza47 on Thursday 24 February 11 16:40 GMT (UK)
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I have a photograph of a soldier who I believe is called Charlie Elliott.
On the back of the photo, some words have been covered up with two pieces of paper, I would love to know what is underneath but I think if I pull them off I will lose the words.
Has anyone any advice on how I might approach this problem?
Many Thanks
Carol
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My advice for what it's worth is don't do it.
jim
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Have you tried holding the paper over a fluorescent light?
Perhaps the words might show through.
Not too close though! :o
Deborah
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It may just be a unit and a date or maybe regimental number. I can't make out much more than a "W" at the start and possibly an "EX" at the end of the first word (Wessex?)
Actually, having another play with it, I wonder if it may be a price?
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Thank you very much.
Carol
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I just have to ask, I wonder where Cazza48 to 58 are! ;D ;D
Sorry...just couldn't resist! ::) ::)
Caroline
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I have had some luck myself by holding a black light to the opposite side of the photo and attempting to read through the paper. A bright LED flashlight will also work depending on what the words underneath are written in. The advantage to a really bright LED light is that it doesn't the same heat as a regular lightbulb will.
The ones I really have a problem with are the ones that used to be stuck in those old black pages with glue and someone has pulled them out. Almost impossible to remove the black paper and glue when it's over the writing... :(
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I just have to ask, I wonder where Cazza48 to 58 are! ;D ;D
;D ;D ;D
There are quite a few Caz, Cazza, Kazza's etc on RC...maybe they're around somewhere ;D
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They're cloning them :o :o :o :o :o :o :o
Irene
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oooh, with the cloning tool? ;D
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I think that it might be a date.
6/01/01 or 09
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Thank you everyone so much.
I held a torch behind it and the top one reads With Love, the bottom one is 6/1/41.
The two lines above look as if they have been scratched thru, the top one is From Charlie, underneath I presume would read To Norma.
My Aunt was called Norma, she died in 1947 aged 23 in childbirth, the baby also died. She had been seeing a local lad called Charlie Elliott but he was not the father of the child, no one seems sure who the baby father was, but she tried to hide the fact she was pregnant for many months. There were family rumours that perhaps someone at the place she worked was the father or even her own father. My Dad remembers that Charlie thought the world of her and was heartbroken when he discovered she was pregnant.
A very sad story.
Carol
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I think that it might be a date.
6/01/01 or 09
I'm OK with a "0" in a year, but they were never used in days or months until the computer age when a 2 digit input was compulsory.
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The ones I really have a problem with are the ones that used to be stuck in those old black pages with glue and someone has pulled them out. Almost impossible to remove the black paper and glue when it's over the writing... :(
Use a soft paintbrush and water (not too much) - the glue is water soluble, and once softened you can ofter peel the black paper away. I have had some success with a postcard album - where the backs were of more interest to me than the fronts!
Kath