A clean and Date for my Butchers please

[Mr Jules]

Here are 3 butchers. A date would help me identify them - check out the 'tache on the right (!)

Many thanks as always

[charles w]

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[Rabbit B]

Hi Mr Jules,

What a lovely picture!  I shall watch with interest to see what the experts make of that!

Rabbit B 

[James1950]

Are they Russians? The instrument looks like a balalaika 

[jim1]

Well there's not much here that's dateable but I would suggest not
earlier than about 1910 but could be in the 1920's.

jim

[chinakay]

I think that thing is a dombura. From Uzbekistan. That could explain the lip caterpillar, anyway

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dombra

Cheers,
China

[James1950]

Of course silly me 

[Rabbit B]

I think that thing is a dombura. From Uzbekistan. That could explain the lip caterpillar, anyway

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dombra

Cheers,
China

Hi China,

I will go along with that do you think that is snow or sawdust they are standing on??  It looks a bit like like a dusting of snow to me!     It cannot be snow    on second thoughts, I cannot see any behind the picket fence!

Why have butchers got a musical instrument   I know Mr Jules says they are butchers, but despite the steel and the smallish knife, it doesn't look like a proper shop or abattoir?  Not clean enough!

I am cleaning the picture up now, have a look at the window on the left it is boarded over!  And there seems to be a board missing?

That has to be around 1910 ish doesn't it Jim.  When were they wearing rounded collars like that!  Not as late as the 20's I think. 

Rabbit B 

[robbo43]

I would have said it was snow, and is the middle man holding an axe with the blade towards the camera.  Clearly all dressed up for the photo, with freshly washed & ironed aprons (starched as well?).  A butcher's shop trio?  (well if you can have barber's shop quartets ...)  Would high, stiff collars like that still be being worn in the 1920s?

Robert