need help dating clothing

[buckeye]

Could anyone help to date the women's clothing in this photo?  It was found in an old family album, but there are no names or dates on any of the photos.  Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

[ricky1]

Hi Buckeye


Welcome to Roots


If you google Frederick Downer, Watford

seems to be a photographer in and around 1880 /1889

Frederick Downer had studios at High Street and Loates Lane, Watford, in 1881

regards
ricky

[Lexi]

Hi buckeye,

Here's a link that may help

http://www.cartes.freeuk.com/time/time.htm

Lexi

[buckeye]

Thank you for your responses.  I was hoping the photo may have been from the early 1850's because my g-g-grandfather came to the US in 1852.  I was hoping that he had brought it with him, but it doesn't appear that it was taken that early.  Thanks again.

[terry h]

Can't help with date but here's a light clean.

Terry

[chinakay]

Stop! Wait! Not even close...Ricky, you may have found a son of the photographer...

This is a very early photo, in fact the clothing style suggests 1850s, but the type of photo, and card the photo is mounted on, did not become available until 1860. There's a bit of a mystery here, because the kind of photo process available in 1852 was a one-off with no negatives, and no chance of making a copy.

I would like to see the entire photo including the corners of the mount, if possible, and scanning it at 300 dpi at least would be helpful to the restorers.....you will have to change the filename slightly...just adding a letter or number to the filename would be fine.

It's not often such an early one comes along...I look forward to seeing a higher-resolution scan.

Oh, and welcome to Rootschat, buckeye

Cheers,
China

[PrueM]

Definitely 1860s, and most likely quite early in the 60s too.  Fantastic picture!

[ricky1]

Stop! Wait! Not even close...Ricky, you may have found a son of the photographer...

This is a very early photo, in fact the clothing style suggests 1850s, but the type of photo, and card the photo is mounted on, did not become available until 1860. There's a bit of a mystery here, because the kind of photo process available in 1852 was a one-off with no negatives, and no chance of making a copy.

I would like to see the entire photo including the corners of the mount, if possible, and scanning it at 300 dpi at least would be helpful to the restorers.....you will have to change the filename slightly...just adding a letter or number to the filename would be fine.

It's not often such an early one comes along...I look forward to seeing a higher-resolution scan.

Oh, and welcome to Rootschat, buckeye

Cheers,
China

Hi China

How do you know its the son of Frederick Downer

ricky

[Gadget]

There is something odd about this photo. From the censuses:

1871
Watford - RG10/1381 F 56 P 2
Frederick Downer, 30, Photographer, b. Watford

(not found in 1861 as yet)

1851
Watford - HO107/1714 F 167 P 6
David Downer, 38, Hair dresser and stationer, b. Watford
... others................
Frederick Downer, son, 10, b. Watford


gnu