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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: Grunge on Monday 16 March 15 23:22 GMT (UK)
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From our collection of old Grundy family photos we have these two that may be of relatives in the US but could just as easily be from Grundy's or Brown's in Lancashire? I'm not sure of date either post 1900 I'd guess?
Could be Sword Fencing or athletics, maybe wrestling? In any case they seem to have had some success & I would love to know more.
Not sure if this is the right forum ... any help would be much appreciated, thanks
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I would be inclined to post these photos on the photo restoration and dating board to see what the daters can come up with.
The men are wearing different types of shoe - the lower one could be some kind of athletics, but my gut feeling for the top photo says late Victorian amateur boxer. Beware - this is only a gut feeling, not a definite identification!
Hope this helps
Philip
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Yes, Phillip ... maybe a boxer ... I thought fencing due the the shamrock logo over the heart indicating a target perhaps?
And the low-cut pumps could be athletics but if so, that's some trophy for an event don't you think?
Will the mods move this thread automatically, if not how do I change the forum?
Thanks,
G
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Due to the wearing of tights (and so, unlikely to be boxing?) I would suggest maybe Cumberland Wrestling?
There is also Lancashire Catch-as-Catch-can Wresting, but I can't find any old photos?
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I would agree with Cumberland wrestling. They are like the outfits some of the people were wearing in Tales from Northumberland with Robson Green (ITV, Mondays) either last week or the week before. Although the "official outfit" was more all in ones and baggy knickers rather than the more tailored look in the photos
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The nearest thing that I am coming up with is "Traditional English sword dancing". I can get nothing off either trophies. Both men seem to have pronounced undamaged noses, which may eliminate boxing, I looked at weight lifting, based on the physique of the second man, but could find nothing. If it/they were sword related, you would think that they would have their swords present. So, it's only a guess.
Regards
Malky
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Hi Grunge,
There is a long time user on here ( Garethboxing) who would probably know if it is boxing or not. He's very knowledgeable about old time boxing. He's usually on the Welsh boards. Maybe send him a pm and ask him if he thinks they could be boxers.
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=28869
Kind regards
Ps for the record my gut feeling is boxing too, so could be very wrong- it's just a gut feeling and no knowledge. The pictures I've seen of old wresting wear a vest ( my g g grandfather was a wrestler) . The tights on these fellows do remind me of boxers.
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If you are going down the boxing route, then :-
http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=044693&cat=boxer
http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=49045&cat=boxer
http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=606142&cat=boxer
http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=427942&cat=boxer
Regards
Malky
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If you look at old photos of boxing, none seem to be wearing clothes like that ie with the tights. Could the sash be significant?
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On the second guy could the sash be the colour of Oxford or Cambridge with matching colour around the neck, sleeves and socks?
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I sent the upper photo to the US fencing museum and it was suggested the medals look like they may be for athletics but consensus was that the guy is not a fencer.
Grunge
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Is the badge on the top guy's vest a Maltese Cross? Not sure where that gets us though if it is!
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I can't get enough resolution to see the medals clearly ... could be a Maltese cross but it's hard to say. I'm hoping when I see the original I can get an even closer look and maybe a better scan although I must say it's a fairly his res scan that was sent to me :-(
I have scoured the net for Victorian & Edwardian images and as yet cannot find any "outfits" quite like the one's in these two photo's ... odd? I must say the closest was an Oxford athlete so maybe it's university garb? That said nobody in my family from that era seem to have gone to any post secondary education other than apprenticeships.
G