Date and ID of Photo of British soldier from Ranikhet, India

[lorna llan]

This is a scan of photocopies of a carte de visite, very unsatisfactory, I know. But I'm not especially interested in the photo itself, because the original can be properly duplicated later on.
I am looking to find out the approximate age of the image and if I can learn something about the uniform, that might be a clue to the sitter.
 I am hoping that someone may know something about Clayton and Co, Magnet Studios,  Bareilly, Ranikhet. I know Ranikhet was a hill station. I haven't been able to find Clayton and Co or Magnet Studios though.
 I am hope the soldier in question might  be John Alexander Sutherland born in England in 1878, who died in East Africa in the course of WW1.   He went out to S Africa in the 1890's.  Any help with dating would be much appreciated.  Does the uniform give any clues?

Another candidate for this picture is Andrew Minto who died in Lucknow in 1858 aged 34. He had been a sergeant in logistics in the Indian Army at the time of his death.  However I think the style of the artwork on the back of the picture might be later than the 1860's, but am happy to be told otherwise.

[japeflakes]

Sorry, restoration not required so removed:

[PrueM]

Hi lorna llan

What did you want doing to the photo?  Were you after restoration as well as dating? 

For a date, I'd go for the 1890s, which is suggested by the design on the back of the card.  If you want to try to identify his uniform, I can put a link on the Armed Forces board asking for the experts there to come and have a look and give their advice

Cheers
Prue

[mahalia]

Something a little different but you might like it

Cheers

Maureen

[lorna llan]

Thanks to mahalia and japeflakes for producing those improvements. Straight edges and borders really do add something!   
However, I was really after some help with the dating of this picture; should have made that clear in the title line. The type of uniform would be a help with that, as well as the design on the back.  I don't know where to start with military uniform matters and would be glad to get some guidance on that.

[PrueM]

I've posted a message on the Armed Forces board:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,605307.0.html
 

[charles w]

.

[PrueM]

Folks, please remember to respect the wishes of the poster - they have asked for a date and uniform ID only, not restoration 

[philipsearching]

Joseph Byron Clayton and Walter Clayton set up the Magnet Studio in Leicester in 1873; the partnership dissolved in 1874, Walter Clayton revived the name in 1880 and kept the studio in Leicester until 1888 when he moved premises to Portland House, retiring in 1892 and dying in 1893.  Joseph Byron Clayton was in England until he emigrated to the USA in 1888, where he lived until his death in 1923.  I can't find a reference to Clayton's Magnet Studio in India.

Going by hairstyle - I would expect muttonchop type sideburns in the Indian Mutiny period - the hairstyle and jacket collar look Edwardian to me.