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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: XPhile2868 on Sunday 21 August 16 19:11 BST (UK)

Title: Alleged picture of my great grandmother Elizabeth Moxham
Post by: XPhile2868 on Sunday 21 August 16 19:11 BST (UK)
I've received this picture which allegedly shows my maternal great grandmother Elizabeth Moxham (1897-1943, her maiden name was that of her mother as she was born out of wedlock and probably never knew her father), who would be the woman sitting down if it is her. They appear to either be at Blackpool or are having a picture taken with a backdrop made to look like Blackpool. The picture is on a postcard, and the back shows "cartolina postale/carte postale", which I know means post card but I don't know why it says that in Italian and French.

Would someone be able to date this photograph? My guess is that it was taken in the 1940s but I could be off by quite a bit.

Stephen :)
Title: Re: Alleged picture of my great grandmother
Post by: sandiep on Sunday 21 August 16 19:42 BST (UK)
I would have said more like 50,s
Title: Re: Alleged picture of my great grandmother
Post by: Treetotal on Sunday 21 August 16 19:53 BST (UK)
Looks more like 50s to me too.
Carol
Title: Re: Alleged picture of my great grandmother
Post by: XPhile2868 on Sunday 21 August 16 19:57 BST (UK)
If it is, then the woman sat down isn't my great grandmother, but the three women all look like relatives of my mother's side of the family so there's probably a familial link.

Stephen :)
Title: Re: Alleged picture of my great grandmother Elizabeth Moxham
Post by: XPhile2868 on Monday 22 August 16 17:52 BST (UK)
I've asked an elderly relative if she has any idea who the three are, but I'm not sure she would necessarily know.

Stephen :)
Title: Re: Alleged picture of my great grandmother Elizabeth Moxham
Post by: sandiep on Tuesday 23 August 16 20:10 BST (UK)
we could be wrong Elizabeth died young and I presume possibly of an illness if she is the one sitting down she doesn't look well, the girls with her could be her daughters there is a likeness,
do let us know If your rellie does know.
Title: Re: Alleged picture of my great grandmother Elizabeth Moxham
Post by: Handypandy on Tuesday 23 August 16 21:38 BST (UK)
This photo has intrigued me. I am hopeless at dating photos but I had the feeling that the tone of it was earlier than suggested. I thought the main clue would be the coats. They are all the same basic style with the large collars and the buttoned belt.

I've trawled my way through thousands of fashion photos over the last day or two, trying to find something similar and the nearest I could get was ones from the 20s and 30s.

Then I decided to focus attention on the (clearly painted) backdrop, which obviously would be a studio.

Eureka !!  I am going to settle on circa 1930 after seeing  THIS (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lovedaylemon/2746863646/)

Hit the zoom and check out the background.



Title: Re: Alleged picture of my great grandmother Elizabeth Moxham
Post by: XPhile2868 on Tuesday 23 August 16 21:48 BST (UK)
we could be wrong Elizabeth died young and I presume possibly of an illness if she is the one sitting down she doesn't look well, the girls with her could be her daughters there is a likeness,
do let us know If your rellie does know.

She died of stomach cancer, I'm not sure what caused it or how long she had it though.

Stephen :)
Title: Re: Alleged picture of my great grandmother Elizabeth Moxham
Post by: XPhile2868 on Tuesday 23 August 16 21:52 BST (UK)
This photo has intrigued me. I am hopeless at dating photos but I had the feeling that the tone of it was earlier than suggested. I thought the main clue would be the coats. They are all the same basic style with the large collars and the buttoned belt.

I've trawled my way through thousands of fashion photos over the last day or two, trying to find something similar and the nearest I could get was ones from the 20s and 30s.

Then I decided to focus attention on the (clearly painted) backdrop, which obviously would be a studio.

Eureka !!  I am going to settle on circa 1930 after seeing  THIS (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lovedaylemon/2746863646/)

Hit the zoom and check out the background.


That's a good find, although i don't really know who the other two women would be.

Stephen :)
Title: Re: Alleged picture of my great grandmother Elizabeth Moxham
Post by: Handypandy on Tuesday 23 August 16 22:01 BST (UK)
The photographer was Charles Howell ' Official photographer of Blackpool Pleasure Beach' The postcards were 6 for a shilling!!
Title: Re: Alleged picture of my great grandmother Elizabeth Moxham
Post by: Meelystar on Wednesday 24 August 16 23:48 BST (UK)
Somehow it seems hard to date.
I think it could be 1920s, it's the hair styles and bare faced I think that are making me think that. The coat of the woman on the left is unusual. Would it fit if your Great a grandmother was one of the women standing rather than the older woman who is sitting?
Title: Re: Alleged picture of my great grandmother Elizabeth Moxham
Post by: XPhile2868 on Thursday 25 August 16 07:01 BST (UK)
Somehow it seems hard to date.
I think it could be 1920s, it's the hair styles and bare faced I think that are making me think that. The coat of the woman on the left is unusual. Would it fit if your Great a grandmother was one of the women standing rather than the older woman who is sitting?

It's possible, although the person who gave m the photo seems fairly convinced that she's the woman sitting down.

Stephen :)
Title: Re: Alleged picture of my great grandmother Elizabeth Moxham
Post by: Meelystar on Thursday 25 August 16 07:31 BST (UK)
Did they tell you who the other two are?
Title: Re: Alleged picture of my great grandmother Elizabeth Moxham
Post by: Handypandy on Thursday 25 August 16 07:44 BST (UK)
As it is already established that the photo is circa 1930 from the studio evidence, this would make a person born in 1897 in their early 30's, which in my opinion is consistent with the seated lady.
The two girls look to me, to be 20ish +/- 3yrs or so. As the coats are unusual, yet all the same basic style with the large collars and the loose belt with button, it would lead me to think that the 3 women are close, either relatives or friends. I would be exploring the possibility of cousins, if a sister connection has been ruled out.
Title: Re: Alleged picture of my great grandmother Elizabeth Moxham
Post by: Meelystar on Thursday 25 August 16 07:50 BST (UK)
Apologies Stephen I just re read the thread, I didn't see that you didn't know who the other two women were.
Title: Re: Alleged picture of my great grandmother Elizabeth Moxham
Post by: sandiep on Thursday 25 August 16 18:42 BST (UK)
I suppose you have gone through all your family pictures and not been able to see any likenesses
I see from Ancestry on tree I think is yours that Elizabeth had a daughter Bertha b 1920 could one of the girls be her?
Title: Re: Alleged picture of my great grandmother Elizabeth Moxham
Post by: XPhile2868 on Thursday 25 August 16 18:55 BST (UK)
She has a resemblance to a few relatives, as does one of the women. Bertha could be one of the women who are standing, but I have no idea what Bertha looked like.

Stephen :)