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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: Westfrem on Thursday 21 February 13 10:04 GMT (UK)

Title: Young lad 1860s?
Post by: Westfrem on Thursday 21 February 13 10:04 GMT (UK)
Hi all

Another one of those photos. Looks like the posing frame again!
Any ideas on date, age of subject, possible ocassion?

Thanks
Title: Re: Young lad 1860s?
Post by: PrueM on Thursday 21 February 13 10:10 GMT (UK)
We're into the 1870s with this one, I think - 3/4 pose, big chair, thick card with rounded corners, design on the back...could the occasion be to do with whatever he is holding? It might be a medal, but unfortunately it's faded out too much to be certain  :-\
Title: Re: Young lad 1860s?
Post by: Westfrem on Thursday 21 February 13 10:22 GMT (UK)
Thanks

Have had a closer look at photo but as you say it is very faded now. I think the object may be a watch but you may be correct with medal. What is with that hat?

Title: Re: Young lad 1860s?
Post by: PrueM on Thursday 21 February 13 10:30 GMT (UK)
I did wonder if it was a watch  :-\   The hat looks like it might be a uniform cap, whether it really is or it just looks like one to modern eyes is the question.  He might have just got his first job, or got an award from his place of work...all pure speculation!
Title: Re: Young lad 1860s?
Post by: jim1 on Thursday 21 February 13 11:08 GMT (UK)
Agree with Prue,mid-late 1870's.
Although posing stands were fazed out around 1870 as lenses improved they were on occasions used for children or sometimes older chaps who had a problem keeping still.
His cap is typical boyswear for the time.They wore similar into the 1920's.
Looks like a watch,if it was a medal wouldn't he be wearing it?
Maybe a birthday photo.

jim
Title: Re: Young lad 1860s?
Post by: Westfrem on Thursday 21 February 13 11:17 GMT (UK)
Good point!

Another no match!!
Title: Re: Young lad 1860s?
Post by: Seoras on Thursday 21 February 13 11:40 GMT (UK)
May I propose an answer to what he is holding  ;D ;D ;D

Joking apart, I've seen the exact back dated 1879 so 1870's looks good.

Title: Re: Young lad 1860s?
Post by: Westfrem on Thursday 21 February 13 11:44 GMT (UK)
Yay an entrepeneur in the family!!

More like what I will be holding in 2 minutes!!

Thanks Seoras :) :) :)
Title: Re: Young lad 1860s?
Post by: Whipby on Thursday 21 February 13 13:46 GMT (UK)
Just to add my two pennorth, for what it's worth ... whatever he's holding must be on a chain or a ribbon or something else which is bunched up in his hand, because it would be difficult to hold that object, using just the tip of his thumb and his knuckle as he is, without dropping it - unless it's on the end of something clutched in his hand.

My guess is a watch on the end of a fob chain, and to me he looks about 12.

One of my ancestors was awarded an education medal for good attendance and punctuality at school, although it was on a clip rather than a chain, but maybe, given his young appearance, it could be something like that?

But it looks more like a watch to me, it looks too thickly bevelled to be a medal in my opinion.
Title: Re: Young lad 1860s?
Post by: Westfrem on Thursday 21 February 13 14:36 GMT (UK)
Hi Whipby

Two pennoth always welcome round here. Good observation, can only be on a chain of sorts or we are back to that teabag again!!
Can't imagine my lot being that good in school!
Aged about 12 would make him born around 1865? Will check that out.

Thanks again
Title: Re: Young lad 1860s?
Post by: Treetotal on Thursday 21 February 13 14:46 GMT (UK)
I like that George....good (PG) tip  ;D
Carol
Title: Re: Young lad 1860s?
Post by: Westfrem on Thursday 21 February 13 14:55 GMT (UK)
Ouch!!!
Title: Re: Young lad 1860s?
Post by: PrueM on Thursday 21 February 13 20:30 GMT (UK)
Can you scan just the thing in his hand, at high resolution?  Might be able to pick up some detail.  I've had a closer look at there is a straight bit along the left edge (as we look at it) that could be a hinge, indicating a watch-case.
Title: Re: Young lad 1860s?
Post by: Westfrem on Friday 22 February 13 17:53 GMT (UK)
Not very sharp but gave it a go!
Title: Re: Young lad 1860s?
Post by: chinakay on Saturday 23 February 13 18:18 GMT (UK)
If it were a watch wouldn't you see the winding knob? They were pretty huge. I think it's a medal.

Or possibly Earl Grey ;D
Title: Re: Young lad 1860s?
Post by: Seoras on Saturday 23 February 13 18:20 GMT (UK)
Hi China, I just think it looks too thin to be a watch.
Title: Re: Young lad 1860s?
Post by: Treetotal on Saturday 23 February 13 18:30 GMT (UK)
I tried to enhanced it but only got a slight bevel along the bottom...I wondered if it could be a photo?
Carol
Title: Re: Young lad 1860s?
Post by: Frankyfarrell on Saturday 23 February 13 20:40 GMT (UK)
Looks like 1870s to me but wouldn't be suprised if he was in big brothers hand me downs, dress style more akin to 1860s  :)
Title: Re: Young lad 1860s?
Post by: PrueM on Saturday 23 February 13 20:56 GMT (UK)
OK, I concede it's probably not a watch  ::) ;D   It looks a bit thin for that.  I'm leaning towards teabag  ;)
Title: Re: Young lad 1860s?
Post by: john dowling on Saturday 23 February 13 21:13 GMT (UK)
my thought was in the railways [big brothers uniform] if a watch could be holding the winder
Title: Re: Young lad 1860s?
Post by: Westfrem on Saturday 23 February 13 21:53 GMT (UK)
The more I see it, the more I think it looks like that teabag!

Thanks all for your time and ideas.

When was the teabag invented?!  ;D
Title: Re: Young lad 1860s?
Post by: Seoras on Saturday 23 February 13 22:11 GMT (UK)
Later than this Westfrem (approx 1908), unless of course you have a very rare photo of the world's earliest known teabag.  ;D
Title: Re: Young lad 1860s?
Post by: Westfrem on Saturday 23 February 13 22:19 GMT (UK)
Only joking, but you never know!! If it was he certainly didn't benefit from his invention!
Title: Re: Young lad 1860s?
Post by: PrueM on Saturday 23 February 13 23:24 GMT (UK)
According to the "History of Tea Bags" (yes, someone's actually written one  :o ) the circular bag wasn't invented until 1992, by Tetley (http://www.h-tea-o.com/h-tea-o/www/scripts/main/downloads/hundred.pdf). Perhaps he's one of Doctor Who's companions, and picked one up on a visit to the future?

I'm taking us a bit off topic - sorry about that  ;)   
I would love to know what that thing is though...