Old Photo Dating and MAtching

[IgorStrav]

Twilight's vanished, come back! - this will surely throw the identification of Grandfather and Great Uncle into complete disarray - 30 years variation in date is a bit of a problem, surely 


Added:  just noticed, she's in Australia.  Forgiven for not being on the board currently 

[twilight]

 Sorry folks, definitely 1886 & there is no doubt about who they are.

The little guy, my grandfather, was born Jan 1883. Unfortunately I don't have the original. This is a scan of the copy that came to Aus with my grandfather just pre WW1. It was a post card, but a reprint, as were many others he brought with him.  There is also a companion pic. of their little sister wearing a similar coat & lace-up shoes & dark socks.   I do have an "Original Copy" (Cabinet Card) of the same two boys taken 1883.

I also have in my collection, pics of two of my uncles (unrelated) wearing similar coats, made by their mothers.  One taken 1915 with dark socks & laced shoes & the other, 1921, with white socks & open shoes.  A fashion revival ??

I'm no expert, but I think Alison's photo is of the same two boys that are in the family group.

Twilight

[alisona]

Thanks for looking at the photo, sorry it caused a controversy while I slept blissfully unaware in the land of Oz.
There is a chance the boys are the sons of the eldest boy in the 1880s photo.  A cousin of mine had a heap of family photos with no names. Unfortunately I have no better copy, as my dad took a sneaky photo of the original photo when visiting said cousin.
I personally think it is either the boys in original photo  (born 1884 and 85)or it could be the two sons of the oldest boy Samuel who were born 1906 and 08.
Thank you all for helping out here.
Alison

[chinakay]

How about this...the Buster Brown suit that first became popular for boys around 1906, then for girls about 1910. By 1914 it had made its way into the pattern books.

[IgorStrav]

So what did Twilight's relatives' dressmaker have?  A crystal ball?  20 years ahead of the times?

[alisona]

Last one (maybe)
Again I would appreciate help to date this one, it may be the two boys in the previous photo( the two on their own with ball and stick.) A date may confirm this and settle a family discussion- I am thinking around 1912? It is taken in a garden and seems very informal.
Thanks everyone for helping.
Alison

[twilight]

Igor,
 My G Gran was the dressmaker& very skilled, as were her sisters.  No crystal ball, she just kept up with the fashions of the times.  The caps worn by my little rels. were fashionable in 1880 & that fashion continued with minor variations for quite some time.  Google  "The Delineator (Sept 1880)"   scroll just past halfway through & look on P 137 at the child's cap (item 7189).  Then ask Mr Google to find "Wisconsin Historical Society  Boy's Footwear 1880's" and you should find the boy's black leather button shoes.  The ones my rels were wearing were not passed down from their sister --- she was the youngest & got to wear their hand-me-downs.

 Sorry China & Jim, but there is no doubt about the date or the subjects in my photo. It was taken in Portsmouth in the English summer of 1886. I knew my grandfather well -- he taught me to tie my shoelaces when I was 4 & he told me then about his button-up shoes which often popped undone!  He much preferred laces!!
Twilight.

[chinakay]

1912 looks about right, Alison.

Couldn't locate The Delineator, Twilight, but thanks for the interesting discussion. Is your photo a reprint, then?

Cheers,
China