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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: Andy May on Saturday 21 October 17 10:43 BST (UK)
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Good Morning Chatters !
I have a family wedding portrait that I'm trying to date - or, more to the point , use as a starting point to date a couple of others. Let me explain : the two young bridesmaids in the pic are DEFINITELY my mum (probably abt 7-8 yrs old) and her 2-yrs younger sister , probably 5-6 . This would date it to 1934-5 (mum born 1927) . The bottom left corner of the pic has a hand written signature style mark "Swains" and , in the opposite corner "NORWICH" . I've GOOGLED for Swains of Norwich and they were quite prolific photographers for a number of years but George Swain Snr died in 1932 so I'm assuming this is the work of his son , George Jnr . All fairly good so far .
I also have 2x different male head-and-shoulder portraits (8"X6") in almost identical frames. Only one has a photographers mark : a lightly embossed (almost invisible to the naked eye) "Mr & Mrs G Swain" in a fancy cursive script, and NORWICH in capitals. Again thru' GOOGLE , I see that George Snr and his wife were running the business prior to his death.
So I suppose my real question is : Can anyone help date the 2x male portraits, either from the style of photo and clothes AND/OR know when Swains were using that style of marking on their prints, please ?
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My guess is late 1920s to very early 1930s, but the expert dating people will know better.
Cheers, Peter.
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I think Peter has it about right. Both men are wearing collar stiffeners which if memory serves became the norm around 1928. George Snr. dying in 1932 gives a rough date of 1928-32.
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Thanks Peter & Jim . . . . I'll go with 1930 and see if I can determine who the heck they are !
Any guesses on these gents age ? Mid-20s , 30 tops maybe ?