A clean and Date for my Butchers please

[Mr Jules]

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!

Well, I come from 4 generations of butchers going back to 18th Century - when I received this scan from a distant relative it was titled 'unknown butchers' so I just naturally assumed...

 

[Niksmum]

A clean

Irene

[chinakay]

Looks like snow, and it continues into the building through the doorway. There doesn't seem to be a door. I don't think it's a working building....

[jim1]

Agree with China,I don't think this is a working building either,
the snow is still heavy around the doorway which would indicate
it's unused.I thought this might be into the 20's as the chap in
the centre seems to have a pin through his collar which I believe
was a fashion starting around WW1 & was worn well into the 20's.
As Robbo pointed out they were properly booted & suited prior to
this being taken so these are not working clothes,so nothing to
indicate they're butchers,look more like barbers to me.

jim

[Rabbit B]

Looks like snow, and it continues into the building through the doorway. There doesn't seem to be a door. I don't think it's a working building....

Hi China,

I agree it looks like snow, but look behind that picket fence!  No snow there!

I cannot think why a Barber would use a steel Jim, and that knife wouldn't shave anyone!  A cut-throat and strop would be better if they were barbers!   

That building is not conducive to either trade is it?  Butchery at a pinch is the better option, but  that doesn't explain the musical instrument!

Rabbit B   

[Niksmum]

When I was cleaning it I got the impression it was all "staged" as the whole thing had a studio kind of feeling. It was kind of like a movie set with just the facade of a building. Just my opinion

Irene

[Maggie.]

Hi everyone,

I'm having a go at this and I am a complete novice so be please be kind to me if......... and it's a big 'if' I post what will be my first effort   .

I agree with Niksmum that it looks staged - that picket fence and the tree look like a painted backdrop.

Maggie

[Rabbit B]

Hi Maggie,

Welcome to the learners, I still have my L plates up!

Now folks, while I have been playing with my feeble effort, I would like to say that I think that this is a 'stage set'  The chap on the right has a wonkey 'tash', the chap on the left with the cigarette in his mouth, has a bread knife and a meat fork in one hand.  The chap in the middle has either a broom or some sort of ski stick he also looks as if he has a rubber glove on his right hand.

The whole of the front of this building looks like materiel when blown up to 400.  and I think that background tree and fence have been painted on some sort of cloth!

My OH suggested that it might be a musical production of 'Sweeny Todd' we couldn't think of anything else with butchers or barbers in!

Rabbit B 

PS so busy trying to get this right I had not noticed that others are thinking the same thing!  Oh well, 'Great minds think alike' and all that! 

[Rabbit B]

Here is my sepia effort!

Rabbit B