1890s? cdv by J Bertolle

[goldie61]

Can anybody lighten this photograph please?
I don't need it coloured - just not so yellow!
I have had it on file for many years, and can't find it again on-line anywhere now to get a bigger file. Sorry.

I think it's dated about 1890.
The back is J Bertolle at 268 Caledonian road.

There looks to be some writing at the bottom, but it's very difficult to see.
Does anybody have a trick to make it more readable?

Thanks for any help

[loord74]

my try

[goldie61]

Thanks very much loord.
Great job!

He looks a bit older than I first thought from the other picture.
Perhaps 19 or so?

Any luck with the  bit at the bottom to see what is written  there?

[McGroger]

Sorry, goldie, I can’t see what it says; it just pixellates too much to work it out.

Funny what you pick up sometimes when restoring photos. I knew approximately zero about banjos. I started wondering about that indent about half way along the top of the neck and started googling. I now know it’s part of how a 5 string banjo was made, and 5 string banjos were very popular in the late 19th-early 20th century.

Anyway, hope this version is okay.

Peter

[goldie61]

Thanks McGroger.
Brilliant!

If it's the same person I think it is - I can't find evidence it is, but it may be.
James Bertolle (the photographer named on the back), was also a banjo player and taught his son James Charles to play.
James Charles was quite renowned as a banjo player - there is quite a lot about him and various partners as duos.
If you come across 'Dexter' banjos, that was his 'band''s name with a partner Gordon Tait.
Supposedly he actually made them, but that is doubtful - more likely he just lent his name to them.

Is this a photo him as a young boy learning the banjo taken by his father?
I don't think I'm ever going to prove it, but it's interesting speculation. 

[McGroger]

Glad I could help, goldie.

What a frustrating exercise! You'd think with photography in their genes and a successful band there'd be at least a few photos out there of young James. Good luck with your search.

Cheers.
Peter

[goldie61]

I know!

There were several Bertolle photographers in London, and not one photograph that can be definitively said to be of any of the family, apart from one I found of another son of James, a Richard, who lived to Lincolnshire.

Very frustrating indeed!