photo for dating and restoration please of john spencer

[bradelkington]

Hi all I had this photo sent a few years ago, I believe it to be my third great grandfather john spencer who was a gardener born in 1849 in ledwell Oxfordshire he moved to Wolverhampton in 1870s and died in 1931 aged 82 years. Could someone please give me a idea on date on this photo sorry I cannot scan the back as I don't own the photo, he was born 1849 and I guess hes over 50 in the photo?
PLus can anyone make it look alittle better too many thanks

[trellisick]

hope this is a little better for you, as for dating will leave that for someone else, Trellisick.

[Craig Edwards]

Hi I had a crack at it. I tried to be a bit subtle with what I did. Given the condition of it I tried to preserve as much information whilst also trying to make it clearer. As you can see, you can now tell the difference between his coat and waistcoat. He also appears to be wearing an apron.

As to date: I think you answered your own question in your description. I don't see how you'd ever get an accurate date from the photograph. Being essentially working class, he isn't going to be wearing clothing that indicates a particular period in time. Working on the assumption that he is anywhere from mid 40's to mid 50 years old, and born in 1849, I reckon your looking anywhere between 1895 to 1910 ish.

If you ever see whats written on the back I love to know.

Craig.

[bradelkington]

These are both fantastic thanks so much im very pleased with them both. Its nice to have another opinion guessing it to be around Edwardian time which would fit in with his age.
Thanks again
Dave

[bradelkington]

Just to bump up this post, I contacted the original photo owner as to who the photo is of and apparently it says on the back granddad walter spencers brother, walter spencer was john spencers second eldest son born 1873.
The eldest William Harold born 1870 , youngest was Edward born 1884, this photo seems to be older than what would fit someone being born those years ?
Maybe the person writing it got it muddled up as should be granddad walters father instead of brother? any second guess on dates please, thankyou

[chinakay]

Did you scan and post the photo exactly as it looks to you? In other words, is what we're seeing the same as what you're seeing, including the colour of it? What the gent is wearing could be typical of just about any decade, so we need to try other clues such as the colour, the mount, the surround etc. Also if there is any printing on the back could we see that as well?

Cheers,
China