Old Mystery Photo

[johnnyboy]

John, the glasses look to me to be early NHS ones - see this site

http://gallery.e2bn.org/image657871.html

The NHS was post war, 1948 I think, so I still opt for 50's. I remember my gran still wearing her 1930's fur coat way past it's sell by date in the 60's. Come to think of it I have a pair of flared trousers in the wardrobe. Us Northerners tend to hang on to our clothes longer than perhaps we should.   

Dave

My thinking in estimating the date of the photo is influenced by the image of Katharine Hepburn and that Archie Leach fellow (can't recall his stage name) in "Bringing Up Baby." He wore very round, black-framed spectacles, similar to those worn by two of the women in the photo. The film is from 1938, which is why I went with the 1940s.

Of course, one has to make allowance for the difference in styles in the U.S. (Hollywood) and the U.K. at any particular time, though when I was eight or so I had a pair of glasses identical to the tortoise shell frame (second from the top) in the image on the NEN site. I still have the glasses stored somewhere, as well as the odd pair of bell bottoms.

John 

[Redroger]

My grandmother wore glasses all the time I can remember her (c1943-1953) which always had frames that looked like the early NHS glasses, so perhaps the dating period for the photo is wider than I first thought.

[Jan_down_south]

Hello everyone 

I just thought I'd have a look at my thread and am amazed that it's still creating interest four years later!!

Johnnyboy - many thanks for your input, marvellous work!  Redroger many thanks for your thoughts too.

The photo was recently reproduced in the newpaper "The Halifax Courier" but there was only one positive response and that gentleman was going to contact someone else who lives in France.  He believed one of the gentlemen in the picture is his grandfather.  As yet nothing more has been heard but if I do I'll update this thread.

Thanks guys 
Jan

[johnnyboy]

Hi Jan: Thanks for the compliment. (Had to post something, since I am not being notified of replies to the thread.) Waiting with bated breath until word comes from France!

John