Please can anyone date this photo?

[Sparky53]

It was believed this fellow was my gt gt grandfather Archibald Spark 1811-1896 but someone has come up with a picture of Archibald carefully labelled & it is not the same fellow.
The photo says Mr Spark on the back & I now wonder if it could possibly be Archibald's father William Spark 1791 to between 1851 and 1855. William was a shoemaker - look at this fellows hands, nice shoes too!

Thank you

Jane

[chinakay]

Hi Jane, lovely photo you have...

This gent is wearing a style of whiskers known as a Newgate Frill, described by our expert Old Rowley as being grown under the chin and without a moustache. The look was fashionable in the 1850s and 1860s.

Men's clothing is hard to date and the only other clue I can see is the fact that while the center of the photo is nicely in focus (despite the grainy quality of the scan), this gent's shoes are not. This indicates an early camera lens which could not accommodate all parts of a photo equally...so I'd guess at 1855-1860 being a reasonable time frame.

That's my guess, but you may get others especially if Old Rowley visits the thread

Cheers,
China

[chinakay]

Oh and I meant to add that this gent either has a naturally wide mouth, or he is smiling....which is so unusual that I don't think I have ever seen it before. Especially for a man, and a photo this old. You just did not "smile for the camera" back then...unheard of.

Cheers,
China

[Sparky53]

Thanks China - fascinating stuff.
In case I am going mad this is definately not the same guy? Do you agree?

Jane

[Lolly2881]

i dont think they are same man but they defo look alike, could it be a brother?
the gentleman in the bottom pic looks older facially.

[Lolly2881]

the top pic reminds me of a pick i have of Thomas Francis Blatchford B1859, I think you pic might be slightly older, my pic was taken around 1880s, so i would date yours defo between 50s and 60s

[Niksmum]

Hi Lolly
You really didn't think you could post a pic here and not have someone play with it did you?   

Irene

[Lolly2881]

well Irene thank you very much its come out lovely.

[Sparky53]

i dont think they are same man but they defo look alike, could it be a brother?
the gentleman in the bottom pic looks older facially.

I now think chap at top (William) was father to Archibald. Archibald didn't have any siblings
Here is Archibald taken in 1890 I would guess. He is 79 in this photo.

If it is William in the top photo he would be around 60years of age.

Any thoughts? Cheers - Jane