Have you ever looked at an old photograph and wondered where it was taken? What something is in a picture? Or whose face it is staring back at you?
What’s That Picture? is a site for anyone who wants hints, tips and practical help to find out where, what, or who is featured in an old picture.
Here you’ll find Recent Discoveries, new Mysteries, and coming soon some helpful hints and tips to help you identify and date your own photographs. There’s also the In Focus section, shining a spotlight on wonderful vintage images from around the world.
Recent posts
Weekly twitter digest: 2012-01-27
- Eastman Kodak: 130 years of history – in pictures: http://t.co/ejWLiw8i #
- Loving use of @Historypin by local history societies to share images e.g. Cambridge http://t.co/cVireLIM & Biggleswade http://t.co/ch3bwniH #
- The Parade, Leamington, c. 1880 – then&now Street View overlay via @Historypin – http://t.co/a8b2posD #
- "Do you know this man? A bit of detective work for you today" – mystery photo on wall http://t.co/FxqrEccF #
- Great, isn't it Maureen? What good pictures have you found? RT @PhotoDetective: @historypin Congratulations- I love your app! #
- RT @phmuseum: Photo of the day: Tea House, Guangzhou, 1872 http://t.co/cH89Qo9U #
- @KeethInk great, isn't it. Even if boyfriends aren't my thing, I love it just for the superb pictures! http://t.co/tOEIgTjW in reply to KeethInk #
- @dannybirchall @phmuseum not sure how you define a 'colonial' but yes, he certainly was Scottish! Nice info at http://t.co/IXAu0KCn in reply to dannybirchall #
- @dannybirchall you should add that as a comment on the blog post and I'm sure they'll correct it in reply to dannybirchall #
- @dannybirchall shame on me for not realising the venerable @Henry_Wellcome would have purloined some of Thomson's work for his collection in reply to dannybirchall #
- @dannybirchall Sorry, @Henry_Wellcome did of course acquire the photographs perfectly legitimately, not 'purloin' them at all #
- @RebekkahAbraham @historypin Very nice to see you too. Good luck with the mystery photo! in reply to RebekkahAbraham #
Weekly twitter digest: 2012-01-20
- Great site for anyone interested in old images of San Francisco – http://t.co/dLipuOv6 #
- Carte de visite albums of famous names, nobility and royalty like this don't come along every day – http://t.co/qlCsXjeF #
- Spotted on #Flickr Jim & Pip: BeautyOfThePast posted a photo:
Cabinet Card portrait of a boy and his dog. P… http://t.co/7ZDus0zy #
- @Henry_Wellcome I'm sure you'll find love. But beware, some girls will then run off with anyone who has money (and a big clothes shop) in reply to Henry_Wellcome #
- .@Henry_Wellcome Timely, I am in need of some new stone steps for my mansion. Where might one acquire this free masonry that you talk of? #
- A superb pictorial history of one man's facial hair, @Henry_Wellcome to be precise – http://t.co/aofJNCAw (via @welcomelibrary) #
- @Henry_Wellcome I wondered if this may be you and Borroughs in earlier, happier days. But by this time he was dead! http://t.co/VPZBD5Gz #
- Sorry for the lack of new old images – life is rather busy. Meanwhile, step back in time with my interactive timeline http://t.co/CYaABlZc #
- @paulabray thanks for mention. There's also one for Flickr Commons http://t.co/7yKmO8f6 tho had to limit before 1900 as sooooo many pics! in reply to paulabray #
- @katiembaldwin somethinjg tells me you're not the type to let a 7 year old win. Though it is a potential excuse. in reply to katiembaldwin #
- Just stumbled across this Directory of Photographic Collections in the UK – useful! http://t.co/yFfo7kOf #
- My GGG-Uncle went to Argentina in early 1900s RT @nicklebygirl: RT @BBCWorld: Images of British immigrants in Patagonia http://t.co/plvjgThg #
- @time_image Found this pic of @kewgardens via @historypin. Any other Kew images? http://t.co/rU0y90wV (Street View: http://t.co/eL4CnGKs) #
- @time_image thanks, I should have guessed. Good to see it on @HistoryPin. I've added it to my Vintage Kew Collection – http://t.co/vjZkcLiW in reply to time_image #
- @nicklebygirl Albert Edward Morley b. Lambeth 1888, d. Buenos Aires 1965. Son Alberto Eduardo served in Argentinian RAF squadron(?) in WW2 in reply to nicklebygirl #
- Spotted on #Flickr Bomber Crew: D. Sheley posted a photo:
L-R:
S/Sgt. Richard L. Guess (KIA)
T/Sgt. Arch M…. http://t.co/okXWyiHr # - @thehistoryguy busy, busy – but what a fun life! Are you at @WDYTYALIVE this year? in reply to thehistoryguy #
- @janetedavis thanks for the follow and the listings. Glad I'm not on the Dead and non-humans list though! #
- @janetedavis Oh, I see I've inadvertently revealed my other persona. Maybe I'm only half alive?! Good to make contact. #
Weekly twitter digest: 2012-01-13
- Researching an article on Ealing photographers. Found an image from my collection by Alfred Raines – someone I had never encountered #
- And I've just found my first Hanwell photo studio – T Bolland, right near where I live (sadly excited, think I may become a train spotter!) #
- @Historypin I am trying to get this bloke to upload his street photography to the site – wouldn't they be great?! http://t.co/mGPIGyvG #
- @EastMarple1 actually, collecting numbers would be soooo useful for dating images. But I'd leave the work to others, like you?
in reply to EastMarple1 # - New on Flickr: Unknown men in top hats (groom and ushers?) by Wakefield, 1 High Street, Ealing: whatsthatpicture… http://t.co/PjQ5eP4r #
- New on Flickr: Unknown women by Wakefield, 1 High Street, Ealing, early 1900s: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
… http://t.co/kr4glmWI # - New on Flickr: Unknown man & woman (groom & bride?) by Wakefield, 1 High Street, Ealing: whatsthatpicture posted… http://t.co/Ylv3Lhhq #
- @2nerdyhistgirls I thought twins too. Definitely sisters. Thanks for all the RTs, they're a nice batch, aren't they? http://t.co/1d0IFURp in reply to 2nerdyhistgirls #
- I'd not spotted these nice, illustrated, fashion-based photo dating guides from @V_and_A before. http://t.co/gBK2DMOk #
- @DrFrond a sneaky fern frond makes an appearance in this one! http://t.co/U2dOL33x #
- What a classic mid/late 1890s dress with leg-of-mutton sleeves. Lovely setting and pose too – http://t.co/U2dOL33x #
- Perfect example of an earlier image (c. 1860, poss. ambrotype) copied onto a later format (early 1900s cab. card) – http://t.co/L94lAFlQ #
- @JayneShrimpton Hi Jayne, I think you'll like this – do you think original image may even be 1850s? http://t.co/L94lAFlQ #
- @margotnote it's definitely a printed book, so quite possibly a bible. More about the story behind this image – http://t.co/lp8Ilpn5 in reply to margotnote #
- Have just added a couple of local (Hanwell, London) public domain Wikipedia images to @Historypin http://t.co/5COOemEm #
- Lovely early portrait of a rather fulsome lady, probably c. 1860 http://t.co/03IJNASz #
- Funny how you can use a word and then feel the need to check you've used it correctly: "Fulsome" (as in fulsome figure) http://t.co/J8zHJngi #
- Is T Bolland the only early photo studio to have existed in Hanwell? Found two images http://t.co/aSISt7zX & http://t.co/4OQoJU9K #
- Great lateral thinking and detective work has pieced together these 3 early 1900s Brighton images http://t.co/DtQk0dqX .@JayneShrimpton #
- Spotted on #Flickr The darling buds of May (undated): pellethepoet posted a photo:
Real photo postcard. Pos… http://t.co/sOmxiwPe #
- New on Flickr: Portrait of Ethel Hook in her house, June 1906: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Another love… http://t.co/Vlw7XY8M #
- New on Flickr: John Hook studio portrait c. 1905: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
I believe that this is th… http://t.co/RdJcrCsZ #
- New on Flickr: John Hook seated in the garden, with walking cane and cigarette: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:… http://t.co/qK9tPwfR #
- Can anyone help identify this mysterious, derelict tower? It feels like Miss Haversham would live there! http://t.co/nUmaiVUb #
- New on Flickr: Unidentified lady, possibly Ethel Hook, beside a glasshouse: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
- New on Flickr: Hook Edwardian family album – Outside the back door #3 whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
One … http://t.co/0d3Fy72w #
- New on Flickr: Hook Edwardian family album – Outside the back door #2 whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
One … http://t.co/sFFwSPp3 #
- @anna_boman yes, guess it was taken at the same time. It is a nice album, isn't it? Only half way through sharing it, so more to come in reply to anna_boman #
- @anna_boman They are going on almost daily. My latest 3 Flickr images get automatically tweeted or keep an eye on http://t.co/dJ8EsQyL in reply to anna_boman #
- ooooh, 998 followers. Not sure why, but I'll feel like I've achieved something if I reach 1,000 in <1 year (I joined late Jan 2011 I think) #
- Fascinating. Not often you get such insights into a photographer's life. Via @jimmyleiderman http://t.co/SZDGTxf5 #
- Thanks to @bue_si and @CassiniMaps for getting me to 1,000 followers! If you know anyone who likes vintage photos do spread the word #
- As I reach 1,000 followers I'd love your feedback. What do/don't you like? What do you want more of? Requests/challenges always welcome! #
- @EYorksPud you're right, 'downstairs' shots pre WW1 huge challenge! This “Fireplace, Lacock Vicarage Kitchen” is nice http://t.co/JHW2VNsh in reply to EYorksPud #
- @EYorksPud a few more: 1908 girl in kitchen http://t.co/RnSPGkfH; staged stereo – http://t.co/Mh7jAVba; 1910s US http://t.co/8rDqr9dY in reply to EYorksPud #
- @EYorksPud Oh, and not to forget this gorgeous Australian shot "inside a settler's hut" http://t.co/4PllegeZ in reply to EYorksPud #
- @EYorksPud nice pic, but Manheim not London?! in reply to EYorksPud #
- @JayneShrimpton thanks for yet more dating advice "prob c.1860-63. Early 60s photos may retain 3/4 length 1850s pose" http://t.co/L94lAFlQ in reply to JayneShrimpton #
- New on Flickr: King William's Temple at Kew Gardens (stereoview): whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
I'm very … http://t.co/wdNVJBCN #
- New on Flickr: Palm House Pond and Museum No1 at Kew Gardens (detail from stereoview): whatsthatpicture posted a… http://t.co/fLWYa82w #
- New on Flickr: King William's Temple at Kew Gardens (detail from stereoview): whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
… http://t.co/pMyUYt0E # - @EYorksPud No problem – glad you liked them. Not sure the term "downstairs photos" sounds quite right! in reply to EYorksPud #
- @EYorksPud ah, where in London? I love to visit Portabello Road browsing for old pics. Mostly rubbish, but you do get some gems each time in reply to EYorksPud #
- Or is that @PhotosOfThePast ?! RT @Historypin: Great new images from @jamesinealing King Williams' temple at Kew http://t.co/g5TS32GS #
- @Historypin Don't worry I confuse myself too RT @Historypin: @PhotosOfThePast Your multiple identities are getting the best of our tweeters! in reply to Historypin #
- Spotted on #Flickr Bertha and Connie Sias, and (top) Winnie Harrington, Dummer, New Hampshire, about 1908: JFGr… http://t.co/N0J94Nix #
- I was hunting in my desk for my anaglyph 3D glasses and rediscovered this early (2D) railway album. So wonderful http://t.co/ixcRLBs2 #
- Straw poll – how many people here own red-cyan glasses for viewing anaglyph stereo/3D images? #
- RT @BishopsgateInst: Flyover traffic carnage?, Here's a more serene Hammersmith Bridge during the boat race (1928) http://t.co/KBivOVgK #
- @Henry_Wellcome Wellcome back Henry, good to see you on such fine form once again. Trust you're in good health? #
Ealing’s Victorian photographic studios and early photographers
I am starting to pull together all the information I can find about Ealing’s early photographic studios. This is just a first attempt – very much work in progress – to share this information with others who may be interested and especially for anyone who may be able to contribute.
Ealing is a suburb about nine miles due west of the centre of London. I have lived there, in four different houses now, for nearly 20 years so it seemed an obvious topic to cover! For the purposes of this article I am restricting ‘Ealing’ to the areas of Ealing Broadway, South Ealing, North Ealing, and Northfields. I will probably also include Hanwell and Boston Manor, as that is where I live, and then in time look to expand it to cover areas such as Acton, Brentford, Greenford and and Southall. By early photographers I mean pre World War 1. And by their nature, most of these studios were portrait studios, so most examples are of unknown individuals rather than old views of Ealing itself.
Photographic studios
Here’s a first stab at a simple list of all the Ealing photographic studios I have found, and a summary of what I know about them so far. Initial sources are:
1. Photographer listings on www.photolondon.org.uk
2. Items seen listed on eBay
3. Items shared by other users on Flickr
4. My personal collection as shared on Flickr
Note that I have not yet consulted the excellent (but not free) www.victorianphotographers.co.uk which I am sure will fill in a lot of gaps and answer many questions, especially in relation to dates. I will also try to undertake some genealogical research, and have made contact with the Ealing Local History Centre where I will aim to look at local trade directories, maps etc.
Bell, Edwin
Listed as a photographer living in Ealing in 1881, 1891 & 1901 census records. Formerly assistant with Lock & Whitfield. [1a]
Examples: Cabinet cards [2, 2, 2, 2]
Bridge, E.L.
There is no mention of EL Bridge on www.photolondon.org.uk [1]; the only reference to this studio I have found so far is from the carte de visite that was listed on eBay (see below)
Examples: Carte de visite [2]
Hopgood, E.
Edwin James [Jas] Hopgood b1862, or father Edward (both photographers). Check comments in source link for further location info, provided by Flickr user Paul J Hilton [3j]
Neither Edwin nor Edward Hopgood is listed on www.photolondon.org.uk [1]
Sandringham Studio, High St [3k]
Examples: Carte de visite [2, 3v (6 images)]
Lock & Whitfield
A well known and sizable studio, first based in central London and then opening a branch in Brighton. I am not sure as yet when the Ealing studio opened, but I suspect it was around 1880.
Samuel Robert Lock and George C Whitfield [3s]
“printing establishment moved from Kensington to Ealing March 1869; still in operation 1908.” [1b]
When sold in 1908 address given as Burlington House, Uxbridge Road, Ealing Common [1b]; this address, assuming it to be the same, is now a council run care home and is situated as you leave Ealing Broadway heading east (into London) along the Uxbridge Road, just before Ealing Common.
Also at 178 Regent Street, September 1856 – 1894 [1b]; shown on cabinet cards – see examples below
See also George Carpe Whitfield, in Additional Names section below – I now believe that this is the Whitfield related to the Lock & Whitfield studio.
Examples: Cabinet card [2, 2, 2, 2, 4c]; unknown format(CdV?) [3u]; Woodburytypes [3t (many images)]
McLanachan, J.L.
Likely John Lorimer McLanachan; b. 1845 Ayrshire [3b]
2 The Mall [3c]
It is suggested that he may have only been in Ealing for a couple of years c. 1881 (possibly after which EC Porter took over at 2 The Mall) – see comprehensive comments from Flickr user Paul J Hilton[3b]
There is no mention of JL McLanachan on http://www.photolondon.org.uk [1]
Examples: [3w (5 images)]
Muir, Samuel John
78 Uxbridge Road [2]; 78 Uxbridge Road, Ealing 1895 – 1904 [1c, 3n]
In 1891 he is recorded as living at 67 Eccleston Road, Ealing (I suspect far too small to run any sort of business – I used to live at 84), and then in 1901 at the studio address at 78 Uxbridge Road [1c]
Percy John Muir, Samuel’s son, is listed in 1901 as a photographic assistant living at 78 Uxbridge Road, Ealing [1d]
Examples: Carte de visite [3n]; Cabinet card [2]; Real photo postcard [3p]
Porter, Edward Cecil
6 The Esplanade [3e, 3i, 3m]
2 The Mall [3g]
20 The Mall [2]
Census records show him at 2 Cumberland Terrace in 1892 as an artist/painter, then as a photographer at 2 The Mall in 1891, then 20 The Mall in 1901.
Kelly’s Directory for Ealing records (accessed via www.historicaldirectories.org):
1889-90: 2 The Mall
1893-4: 20 The Mall and then states “photographer (Holcombe)” which I’m not too clear on the meaning of.
1907: 21 The Mall
There are several records of the surname Porter on www.photolondon.org.uk, but none for Edward Cecil. The most notable is Mary Ann who was a photographic mounter living on Windsor Road in 1891 and 1901 – I have a feeling she will be a relative of Edward [1e]
Examples: Carte de visite [2, 3f, 3h, 3l, 3o, 4a]; Cabinet card [3a, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3d]
Raines, Alfred
The only record I currently have of this studio is a single cabinet card that I own. Raines is not listed on www.photolondon.org.uk. There are however records on www.victorianphotographers.co.uk which I shall have to access.
7 Queens Terrace, Ealing Dean [4b]
Examples: [4b]
Wakefield, Frank
21 The Mall, Ealing 1897 – 1901 [1f]
1 High Street, Ealing 1902 – 1904 [1f]
The census records show him in 1901 as a photographer living at 24 Oxford Road, Ealing [1f]; his three sons also worked in the business – Edward Arthur, Frank Graham & George Hamilton Wakefield; he had worked until 1880 in the City in partnership with Henry Holden Bray
Examples: Cabinet card: [4a (7 images)]; Unknown format [3q, 3r]
Whitfield
see Lock & Whitfield
Additional names
I have come across several other names of photographers who at some point lived in Ealing. These may all warrant further research, but for now I shall just list them. All information is sourced from www.photolondon.org.uk unless stated.
Atkinson, Arthur Woodcroft – 1901: photographer living at 65 Warwick Road, Ealing
Bagley, Arthur John – 1881: photographer living at 4 Coningsby Road, Ealing
Bradshaw, Alfred Herbert – 1901: photographer living at 92 Park Road North, Acton.
Bradshaw, Charles Frederick – 1901: photographer living at 92 Park Road North, Acton
Bulley, Herbert – 1881: photographic assistant living at 20 Princes Road, Ealing
Bullingham, Henry – 1891: photographer living at 8 Heathfeld Road, Acton.
1901: photographer living at 40 Avenue Road, Acton (studio was in Kensington)
Burow, Ralph – 1901: photographer living at 9 Churchfield Road East, Ealing (studio in Regent Street)
Edwards, Benjamin Joseph – 1901: photographic chemist living at Greylands Lodge, Castle Bar Park, Ealing (not a photographer as such, but I have included him as the photolondon listing shows many fascinating looking photographic patents against his name, and his firm moved to Castlebar Works, Ealing Dean in 1905)
Fleming, Mary – 1891: photographer with father Lewis Baldwin Fleming, living at Norwood Villa, High Street, Hanwell
Foxlee, Edward William Michael – 1881: photographer living at 1 Gloucester Villas, Acton. 1891 & 1901: photographer living at 22 Goldsmith Road, Acton.
Garratt, James Philip -1901: photographer living at Wooden Cottage, Warwick Road, Ealing.
Gay, David – 1881: photo enameller living at 2 Shirley Villas, Hanwell. 1901: retired, living in Ealing.
Gill, Sydney – 1901: photographer living in Ealing.
Glasse, Thomas Allan – 1891: photographer living at 30 Arlington Road, Ealing.
Hall, William Henry – 1881: photographer living at 18 Coningsby Road, Ealing.
1891: photographer living at 7 Shakespeare Road, Acton.
Hyatt, James Hallett L – 1891: photographer living at 1 Hamilton Road, Ealing.
1901: photographer living at 3 Kent Villas, Kent Gardens, Ealing (studio in Great Russel St, Bloomsbury)
Lewis, Stephen Charles – 1881: Autotype printer living in Hanwell (studio at 3 Ealing Terrace, Uxbridge Road, Hammersmith 1888 – 1889)
Martyn, Frank – 1901: photographer living at 12 Argyle Road, Ealing. Also artist (earlier, studios in Islington and Westminster)
Mason, Frederick G – 1891: photographer living at 25 Coldershaw Road, Ealing.
1901: photographer living at 8 Holly Park Terrace, Hanwell
Parker, William Edward – 1901: photographer living in Acton.
Praetorius, Charles B – Employed at Autotype Establishment, Ealing June 1870. Studios in Kensington 1872-1891
Sawyer, John Robert Mather – 1881: photographer living at 51 Windsor Road, Ealing. 1884: photographer living at 3 Windsor Road, Ealing. In addition there are several mentions of companies, patents and bibliographic references relating to printing processes, including autotypes.
Sisman, Thomas Limbird – 1891: photographer living at 1 Broomfields, Broomfield Road, Ealing Dean.
1901: photographer living at 37 Broomfield Road, Ealing Dean.
Spencer, John Alexander – 1874: photographer living at Brownlow House, Ealing Dean. Joined Autotype Company in 1870
Taylor, Joseph & Harold – father & son; 1901: both photographers living at 18 Alacross Road, Ealing
Vidler, Frederick William Wilson – 1881: photographer living at 5 Avenue Road, Ealing (later, studios in Willesden)
Watson, Edward Ellis – 1901: photographer living at Burlington House, Uxbridge Road, Ealing.
George Carpe Whitfield – 1881: photographer living at 14 Sandringham Road, Ealing. Several business interests and mentions of printing, especially Woodburytypes, and also as the founder of the Paget Prize Plate Co and patent holder for Paget colour plates. However, other sources typically list this as G S Whitfield, and I have since discovered that in 1891 he worked with a George Sydney Whitfield (relationship unknown). I now believe that George Whitfield is linked to the Lock & Whitfield studio. [3s] gives the names as Samuel Robert Lock and George C Whitfield, and I have also found many excellent examples of Woodburytypes by this studio [3t].
Whiting, Charles Rowland – 1881: photographer living at 14 Denmark Villas, Ealing. Lodger.
1891: photographic operator living at 48 Denmark Road, Ealing. Studios in Camden and Shepherd’s Bush various dates 1866-1887.
Wilkinson, William Thompson – 1881: photographer living at 1 Bloomfield Place, Broomfield Road, Ealing Dean; bankrupt in 1882 then studio in Kensington 1883-4.
Comments
Just compiling this overview highlights a few things of note:
- a number of photographers used the studio at 2 The Mall
- most of the records and examples found date from c. 1880 or later. This may be no coincidence, as it was at that time that Ealing expanded rapidly with teh arrival of the Metropolitan District Railway (now London Underground’s District Line)
- I am fascinated by a couple of mentions of Ealing in the Additional Names section above, especially the many mentions relating to autotypes and one of the “Autotype Establishment, Ealing”. I have not pursued this line of enquiry in any depth, but a quick search found information about the Autotype Company which moved from Brixton to Brownlow Road (in what is now known as West Ealing) and at one point employed 70 people – see http://www.aim25.ac.uk/cgi-bin/vcdf/detail?coll_id=13318&inst_id=118&nv1=search&nv2=. Furthermore the company that acquired Autotype, MacDermid, has a page about the history of the company and a photograph of the Ealing works. It also states that they moved away from Ealing by 1978 and “There are currently no traces of the old factory in Ealing as the site was used by the Ealing council to provide social housing” – see http://www.cps.eu/autotype.nsf/pages/europeaboutHistory
- likewise through George Carpe Whitfield and George Sydney Whitfield I have discovered that the Woodbury Permanent Photographic Printing Co was at Kent Gardens, Ealing until moving in 1897 – see http://www.photolondon.org.uk/pages/details.asp?pid=8659
Weekly twitter digest: 2012-01-06
- New on Flickr: The Fisheries 1907 (possibly Kent): whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Another informal shot of… http://t.co/1rwzZ7RG #
- New on Flickr: Hook Edwardian family album #4 whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
This is the fourth full page… http://t.co/chehHfpq #
- New on Flickr: Unknown mother and son on a garden bench, c. 1907: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
I have ma… http://t.co/FcsiFbnN #
- New on Flickr: Unknown Edwardian lady, probably Hook family, 1907: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Not quit… http://t.co/G1bmpd0x #
- New on Flickr: Edwardian man and dog, possibly John Hook, 1907: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Is this Joh… http://t.co/9urjtTey #
- New on Flickr: Hook Edwardian family album #3 whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
See more images from this fa… http://t.co/E0D3pzrp #
- Can any photo 'detectives' out there confirm if this is a police uniform? http://t.co/MZhu9TgW #
- @JayneShrimpton Hi Jayne, can you confirm that this is late Victorian, rather than Edwardian? http://t.co/dz3Eunsv We think c. 1897 #
- Happy New Year everyone – just 50 minutes of 2011 left here in London! 12 months ago @PhotosOfThePast wasn't even on Twitter. What fun had! #
- Late night, awful rainy day – perfect time to just relax and scan more of the Hook family Edwardian photo album http://t.co/t6omUVbV #
- @JayneShrimpton thanks Jayne, that's great to know. Do look at the rest of the album as I upload them – some real gems. Happy New Year. in reply to JayneShrimpton #
- New on Flickr: Hook Edwardian family album #6 whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
These two photos were posted… http://t.co/UfMhoEWr #
- New on Flickr: Unknown Edwardian lady in doorway, December 1907: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Possibly t… http://t.co/kpzo7m2U #
- New on Flickr: Hook Edwardian family album #7 whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Click on links in notes to … http://t.co/W2ygUv6q #
- Every Christmas needs a sleeping uncle! "Uncle Glen De Boeck." http://t.co/u2RCr6gz #
- @veela_valoom daguerreotype looks like a mirror, tintype usually dark. Other possibility is ambrotype. Happy to take a look … in reply to veela_valoom #
- @veela_valoom yeap, that looks 99% like a tintype to me. Another test is to put a magnet on the back and see if it sticks. in reply to veela_valoom #
- Tee hee. Great captions! RT @annakrentz: Embarrassing drunk pics from a 1942 ski party in the blog today: http://t.co/6Ohv5rkI #
- Am I wrong to be tempted by this amazing looking @EastmanHouse 5day course here in UK at Lacock Abbey? http://t.co/6rT4a8Ze #hidecreditcard #
- @GildedDays no earlier than 1870s, possibly later I think http://t.co/hpEHykp3 in reply to GildedDays #
- @margotnote oh dear, you're supposed to say don't do it! And it's at Lacock Abbey too – what a venue. in reply to margotnote #
- New on Flickr: Edwardian man and boy, probably father and son: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
The boy here… http://t.co/9EX4iqqP #
- New on Flickr: Man and baby – probably John Hook, with son John Stapleton Hook, August 1907: whatsthatpicture po… http://t.co/zE1vPN98 #
- New on Flickr: Woman and baby – probably Ethel Hook with son John Stapleton Hook (b Q1 1907), March 1907: whatst… http://t.co/YGQlz1E8 #
- Edwardian ladies in wonderful large hats under the old oak tree, June 1907 http://t.co/gxygLzPn #
- Lovely Edwardian interior 'snapshot' with lady on chair and glass cabinet of ceramics, 1906 http://t.co/JmvYPAXk #
- @RyanD my thoughts exactly
Just need to get credit card company to realise that paying $1,600 USD via PayPal isn't actually fraudulent! in reply to RyanD # - @RyanD Thanks. In the meantime I've emailed Stacey to get a space reserved. Was it you who tweeted about it? Can't remember how I saw it in reply to RyanD #
- New on Flickr: Unknown Edwardian man in working cloths – carpenter, blacksmith?: whatsthatpicture posted a photo… http://t.co/XegwpxNi #
- New on Flickr: Aspidistra pot plant, c. 1905: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Pride and joy, sitting on the… http://t.co/H5onarq3 #
- New on Flickr: Unknown Edwardian ladies in garden #3 whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
I'm not sure, but I t… http://t.co/BrOm7N1g #
- A huge surge in followers (thank you all!) means I'm just 29 short of the magic 1,000! #
- @RyanD payment now successfully made
12 hour delay = extra £30 due to exchange rate change. Damn credit card companies! in reply to RyanD # - @Debs_Dwelling @katelockhart @ArchivalBiz @CornAndCotton thanks for mention – just 24 more to go now
# - Some stunning images you've found Anna RT @annakrentz: 19th century portraits of dogs in the blog today: http://t.co/F1k8hKz9 #
- Could you get more wrapped up than this cute Edwardian baby in his pram? http://t.co/NXUDecyq #
- Who would have thought this informal Edwardian family picture is10 years before Downton Abbey series 2 was set?! http://t.co/fvtP3w05 #
- Interesting composition – I think the photographer wanted to take a picture of the tree rather than the boy! http://t.co/lySakGUS #
- I love this more each time I see it – Edwardian interior showing Ethel Hook at her piano, c1907 http://t.co/wnmGMvKW #
- I promised I would donate 10p per view of http://t.co/VPZBD5Gz to Macmillan/Movember. Have just given £60 to each – http://t.co/eryXZr2Z #
- Technical perfection in a photograph isn't everything – this one has a definite, if fuzzy, charm about it http://t.co/pr2SzGha #
- Brilliant, though surely staged?! MT @delaval_astley: My grandad's uncle Fred Wood 'World Champion Bicyclist' http://t.co/ls2r3qqh #
- My family are all cyclists, but I don't have any wonderful pics like this! MT @delaval_astley: http://t.co/ZHYVQqlk #
- New on Flickr: The waterfront, Maldon, Essex, early 1900s: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Not sure if the … http://t.co/LsPqDBOK #
- New on Flickr: Unknown Edwardian lady with a very fine hat!: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Another myster… http://t.co/466cLJvl #
- New on Flickr: Ethel Hook at her piano, c. 1907: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
I'm pretty certain this is… http://t.co/v4Uuu4Sw #
- New on Flickr: Superb Edwardian interior with fireplace and piano: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Nice int… http://t.co/7gDQMZWu #
- New on Flickr: Baby John Hook in wonderful wicker chair, 1907: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
I am pretty … http://t.co/uhESKB92 #
- New on Flickr: Hook Edwardian family album #12 whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Click on links in notes to … http://t.co/hqdhfdQ1 #
- New on Flickr: Edwardian family group with dog, underneath the oak tree, 1907: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
… http://t.co/EhkAdiLF # - New on Flickr: Unknown Edwardian lady, possibly one of the Hook sisters, 1907: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
… http://t.co/oWpKufhP # - New on Flickr: Hook Edwardian family album #13 whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Click on links in notes to … http://t.co/lTiQnltU #
- @annakrentz one of my faves from my own collection is a Victorian dog – http://t.co/7kwh1sky #
- If you wanted your photo taken in 1902, looks like you just had to commit a bit of larceny (via @TWArchives on Flickr) http://t.co/UZXSo9RU #
- @JayneShrimpton thanks for the RT. These dated Edwardian images are, for once, ones I don't need your dating skills for! Nice, aren't they? in reply to JayneShrimpton #
- Oh, *this* James Dawson http://t.co/lXDf4N4F RT @EastMarple1: @PhotosOfThePast I don't like the look of James Dawson!!!! #
- @EastMarple1 In contrast the women prisoners just look sad and destitute, especially Mabel Smith http://t.co/fbL62Gc5 in reply to EastMarple1 #
- New on Flickr: Two Edwardian ladies and a dog, at the back door, 1907: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
The … http://t.co/2GxRQesO #
- New on Flickr: Hook Edwardian family album #14 whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Click on links in notes to … http://t.co/QDGnf8LT #
- New on Flickr: Ethel Hook and baby John, one month old, February 1907: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Beau… http://t.co/sGFv3Zb2 #
- I'm starting to feel I would like to be John Hook, back in 1907 – seen here relaxing in his 3-piece & boater http://t.co/soxfyjPk #
- Amazing record of photographer killed whilst working. William Bartier died 1915 while photographing HMS Black Prince http://t.co/fKuK1Kjs #
- New on Flickr: Edwardian blackmith (or other trade) in a workshop: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Another … http://t.co/XpY8O6jM #
- New on Flickr: Unknown Edwardian lady reading: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Another intriguing interior … http://t.co/Qx8izcMb #
- New on Flickr: Delightful Edwardian interior shot with picture of lion above fireplace: whatsthatpicture posted … http://t.co/BlBdM1ud #
- @naagovau have just uploaded some wonderful WW1 portraits of soldiers to #Flickr – http://t.co/5ffKHGIJ #
- New on Flickr: John Hook, seated with cigarette in hand, 1907: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Yet another … http://t.co/7qxBBymV #
- New on Flickr: Hook Edwardian family album #17 whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Click on links in notes to … http://t.co/JyUDqheX #
- New on Flickr: John and Ethel Hook at the back door of Park View, 1907: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Thi… http://t.co/GniDnlIP #
- It never ceases to fascinate me which of my vintage images are the most popular on Flickr – http://t.co/aIOhmwIS – some quite unexpected #
- New on Flickr: Ethel Hook and baby John, April 1907: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Another portrait of Et… http://t.co/gHU0ifTX #
- New on Flickr: Hook Edwardian family album #18 whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Click on links in notes to … http://t.co/KxeW93J3 #
- New on Flickr: John Hook and dog, August 1907: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
I hadn't spotted this image … http://t.co/YbuP3o57 #
- Excited to be attending the Eastman House workshop at Lacock Abbey in June – http://t.co/6rT4a8Ze It was that or a new laptop
#easychoice # - Can anyone *not* smile at at this cute 1907 baby picture, complete with mittens and bonnet? Awwwwww. http://t.co/xwwfRacz #
- New on Flickr: Baby John Hook, possibly with his grandmother, 1907: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
I think… http://t.co/C5Q8vm8V #
- New on Flickr: Hook Edwardian family album #19 whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Click on links in notes to … http://t.co/pYIQ5SSJ #
- New on Flickr: Baby John Hook in his pram, complete with mittens and hat, December 1907: whatsthatpicture posted… http://t.co/eiTHIQgr #
- Wow, the Fox Talbot Museum now has 18,564 items online http://t.co/dRWygb85 incl 6,669 scanned images (use filters to restrict to photos) #
- What a gorgeous Edwardian pram Ethel Hook had for baby John back in 1907 http://t.co/ATJKwUVz #
- Fascinating piece on post mortem pics RT @margotnote: article begins: "The traffic in dead babies is booming, on eBay." http://t.co/UUnnnE7z #
- I have just had invite "This event is really something for ALL generations, GRANDMOTHERS, MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS" – no blokes allowed then? #
- New on Flickr: Ethel Hook with baby John in the park #3 whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
In this very varie… http://t.co/uR11ZZYd #
- New on Flickr: Ethel Hook with baby John in the park #2 whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
In contrast to the… http://t.co/S0wVWrPY #
- New on Flickr: Ethel Hook with baby John in the park #4 whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
What a glorious pr… http://t.co/DRmV6bBL #
- "a pivotal development in history of photography" – Fox Talbot's 'An Oak Tree in Winter' c.1842/3 – http://t.co/wDLgyms3 #
- So much emotion and energy in one photo RT @annakrentz: A wonderful, enthusiastic welcome home, WW2: http://t.co/hBnUnbJ1 #
- That last tweet reminds me – another plug for one of my favourite Flickr contacts and his 'Peculiar Snapshots' set – http://t.co/XYXJFckQ #
- New on Flickr: John Hook sitting by the piano, July 1907 – Hook Edwardian family album #22 whatsthatpicture pos… http://t.co/dkLhm87Q #
- @anna_boman oak trees can even take center stage in snapshots! http://t.co/gxygLzPn in reply to anna_boman #
- "Mrs Rosanna Forster from Kent is a chimney sweep, carrying on her husband's business while he serves abroad" @I_W_M http://t.co/GJJzj6fI #
- The Horace Nichols images of women at work in WW1 from @I_W_M is amazing (if a little patronising by today's standards) http://t.co/CudCIwmh #
Weekly twitter digest: 2011-12-30
- Wow, in just 5 days my Flickr Commons @Layar mobile app has had >1300 people use it from >100 countries! http://t.co/uVtvqYL3 #
- @margotnote intrigued by relievo suggestion – this the only ambro I own that is sealed like a daguerreotype http://t.co/LVxKSG9x in reply to margotnote #
- @RyanD gigapixels? Are you offering to buy me a nice new scanner for Christmas? Have a good holiday. in reply to RyanD #
- @RyanD 'primary digitization rig' – serious toy envy! At best I have a dslr on a tripod with a cobbled together lighting rig! @margotnote in reply to RyanD #
- New on Flickr: Vintage Christmas interior: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Not a great quality image, and v… http://t.co/jxTNaYMy #
- New on Flickr: This lot know how to have a good time at Christmas!: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Sorting… http://t.co/k3bnSZ40 #
- New on Flickr: Christmas party hats: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Sorting through a bagful of snapshots … http://t.co/VMm7mb04 #
- @RyanD For small numbers maybe, but for an album of 200 cartes de visite, fronts and backs, I simply don't have the time (or patience) in reply to RyanD #
- Wishing all my Twitter followers "a very merry Christmas & many of them" with these 3 sweet young children – http://t.co/EAkkPRFN #
- New on Flickr: To dear Willie wishing him a very merry Christmas & many of them: whatsthatpicture posted a photo… http://t.co/LMRzUDs9 #
- New on Flickr: Unboxing Day: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Before Christmas I had a bit of a tidy and fou… http://t.co/9BiS9HnM #
- New on Flickr: "Wishing you a Happy Christmas" – Cabinet Card greeting: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
I j… http://t.co/cj82QPEi #
- New on Flickr: Ghosts of Christmas Past?: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
In amongst hundreds of snapshots … http://t.co/YJakecTO #
- Spotted on #Flickr christmas, diane arbus style: unexpectedtales posted a photo:
For many more unusual, bea… http://t.co/6Mcsvsty #
- Spotted on #Flickr party like its 1926: unexpectedtales posted a photo:
wonderful low light 1920's shot
For… http://t.co/XnH3ozYz # - New on Flickr: Room for, errr, one: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Another pair of snapshots found in my r… http://t.co/wyIvx5a9 #
- Just found out my GGG Uncle Tutton was captain of the St George RYS & sailed 43,000 miles around world in 22 months, 1891-2 #genealogy #
- @MarDixon good thanks. Just sitting at my parents watching 1960s family cine films my aunt has had put on DVD. How's you? in reply to MarDixon #
- Spotted on #Flickr Memories: BeautyOfThePast posted a photo:
A small cabinet card with lots of lovely detai… http://t.co/phvpgTtU #
- New on Flickr: E Scott & Co, Brixton Carriage Works, 53 Acre Lane, Brixton SW2 – 1932: whatsthatpicture posted a… http://t.co/5PkoqUGY #
- Then & Now: E Scott & Co, Brixton Carriage Works, lorries cars and char-a-bancs, 1932 on @Historypin http://t.co/k3jACsLW #
- Usually it's my images identified on Flickr, but it's nice to return the favour – Richmond Mansions, Old Brompton Rd http://t.co/BUy1Rxah #
- I LOVE this image of an Edwardian lady with snow covered coat, from a wonderful early 1900s album http://t.co/6jQgolG4 #
- I really should listen to @PhotoDetective: Turn your piles of pictures into a model of photo organization in 5 steps. http://t.co/9xNJL6ai #
- @EastMarple1 Have uploaded the HOOK family pics to Flickr. I'll leave you to report on your genealogical sleuthing – http://t.co/qn27GoiP #
- Excellent! RT @orlaffitz: Pet Pictures – Irish dog photographs 1870-1920 http://t.co/2pEn1iqc #
- Anyone heard of a studio "Kanige/Kanice(?) West, in Rochester, Kent, UK? Around 1924 http://t.co/qn27GoiP #
- New on Flickr: Hook children, studio portrait December 1924: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
With the early… http://t.co/7UOhxSFw #
- New on Flickr: Hook family portrait, December 1924: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
With the early 1900s Ho… http://t.co/svCk8vEY #
- New on Flickr: Soldiers in Asia? "A color print made by Kodak": whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
The one and… http://t.co/bZ9XTlul #
- @CdLCreative thanks for RT. @monaxle @medwayeyes this site has "Karise West" but no other info on them anywhere else http://t.co/gTMjcVWr in reply to CdLCreative #
- Hello, hello, hello, who's the mystery onlooker?! http://t.co/MZhu9TgW #
- Beautiful, intimate Edwardian family 'back yard' portrait of parents and their five daughters – http://t.co/dz3Eunsv #
- @2nerdyhistgirls @DrFrond absolutely, wonderful ferns! Sadly I think the pot is empty in other shots #
- New on Flickr: Family of five daughters(?) from Hook family album, c. 1905: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
- New on Flickr: Policeman in Hook family album, with mystery onlooker!: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
The … http://t.co/NUGorFYk #
- New on Flickr: Hook family album – unknown wrestler, boxer or … ?: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
An int… http://t.co/Jja52uni #
- @HouseHistorian @JayneShrimpton I think you will especially appreciate this c. 1900 paneled interior http://t.co/D02VdzBg #
- @DrFrond thanks for the comments. Did you know my 'day job' is working at Kew Gardens? I still remember the old fern house
in reply to DrFrond # - @DrFrond wow, bet you were pleased when you found that one! I'll keep an eye out for more, and ask our archives team in reply to DrFrond #
- @DrFrond hard to tell from a small detail. Instinct tells me it's a real photo postcard – correct? If so, likely early 1900s in reply to DrFrond #
- Beautiful RT @lifeasdaddy: Circa 1865 tintype. Very unusual mother/daughter pose for that era methinks. http://t.co/jlbMTQBr #
- "I'll sit on the polar bear skin, you stroke its head" – unusual 1924 studio prop for childrens' portrait! http://t.co/qn27GoiP #
- @DrFrond could you resend link to full pic – I think I'm being a bit dim! in reply to DrFrond #
- @DrFrond I really, really am being dim – just found it open in another browser window! http://t.co/k0OZXp1N in reply to DrFrond #
- @DrFrond ah, a cabinet card? Reverse blank? SUPERB picture, just my taste. Poss 1890s, I shall do some more research. http://t.co/k0OZXp1N in reply to DrFrond #
- Not sure I've ever seen as many moustaches in one shot as in this large group of men, August 1907 http://t.co/egVwV1Di #
Weekly twitter digest: 2011-12-23
- @shell7 @RyanD @paulhagon a bit of fun for a Friday afternoon/Saturday morning 'Mapping Flickr Commons' – http://t.co/uVtvqYL3 #
- @RyanD @shell7 @paulhagon here's your @eastmanhouse live kml feed. Get geotagging, quick! http://t.co/L700dHKc in reply to RyanD #
- @sebchan Thanks Seb. I'll DM you link to Google Maps prototype. Layar all set up but waiting for @Layar to approve it http://t.co/yv7wvf5g in reply to sebchan #
- @shell7 @dwythe @RyanD @paulhagon @paulabray Here's a kml feed with just Brooklyn images – http://t.co/5t6q6ans in reply to shell7 #
- @RyanD @shell7 @dwythe @paulhagon @paulabray there's a bit of caching but if you load on map and pan/zoom it should refresh. I see 3 now. in reply to RyanD #
- @RyanD It looks like it's only as quick as Flickr is – http://t.co/KhBxGpH5 – have you geotagged more? in reply to RyanD #
- @Layar: any estmate when my 'flickrcommons' layer might get approved? I've mentioned it at http://t.co/uVtvqYL3 and had some interest #
- Spotted on #Flickr "The Widow" – Modelled from Sand. Manly Beach -1929: john cowper posted a photo:
Found i… http://t.co/tHWWjZMT #
- Just found two photographers and their floating studios – Taunt, UK http://t.co/WE4mCrtM & Doremus, US http://t.co/GGzMvgBR #
- "In teh footsteps of Henry Taunt" – amazing resource for this prolific photographer – http://t.co/RkMsNGPr #
- Spotted on #Flickr In their Sunday Best: LJMcK posted a photo:
A mid to late 1840s daguerreotype of two wel… http://t.co/fa7GzdYA #
- New on Flickr: Flickr Commons on Google Earth – screen capture: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
My regular … http://t.co/N32SsudX #
- @MarDixon do you have Google Earth installed? If you do, just click the link http://t.co/aC2rxfwk then zoom to somewhere nice – Paris, NY.. in reply to MarDixon #
- New on Flickr: Colours of Another Age – the Rothschild Autochromes: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Last we… http://t.co/L3tZtlWV #
- What the nanny saw – nicely illustrated new piece about the work of Vivian Maier in 1950s Chicago – http://t.co/C5MafMfE #
- Mind you don't burst it! Two 1930s pics of airships over St Pauls – British: http://t.co/6qeHXYcQ & German: http://t.co/lqS2Pj6m #
- Spotted on #Flickr Today last Advent Sunday: I wish a Merry Christmas to all my Flickr friends! Boldog Karácson… http://t.co/G1WpcMGT #
- @shell7 @dwythe @RyanD @paulhagon @paulabray @sebchan @jonvoss @mia_out: 17k+ Flickr Commons images now on your mobile! http://t.co/tPaCdHFp #
- @Layar no worries, it went live at 1am this morning! Thanks http://t.co/tPaCdHFp in reply to Layar #
- @mia_out but Layar is one of most widely accessible clients – iPhone, Android, Nokia, Blackberry … in reply to mia_out #
- @paulabray Thanks. Sydney was one of my favourite testing locations – so may great, geotagged Commons images! Would welcome feedback … in reply to paulabray #
- @paulabray it will only return nearest c. 50 images whatever range, and there are *lots* of images in Sydney. Do you think that is reason? in reply to paulabray #
- @foe try this in Greenwich – great spot for Commons images! MT @PhotosOfThePast: 17k+ Flickr Commons pics on yr mobile! http://t.co/tPaCdHFp #
- @paulabray ah, OK, I'll take a look. Thanks for trying in reply to paulabray #
- New on Flickr: Flickr Commons on Layar augmented reality mobile app – screen capture: whatsthatpicture posted a … http://t.co/m2teebvn #
- Wonderful story of lost medal bbc.in/soS1Gv connected to 1916 Hartlepool bombardment photos from @YuffyMOH http://t.co/Pc92h8IZ #
- @PhotoDetective Hi, this is my favourite Christmas photo I've seen this year (c1960 – it's not even early!) http://t.co/tgkacS7Y in reply to PhotoDetective #
- @treesrch I will retweet and see if anyone can help. Tintypes & children – both notoriously difficult to accurately date! Are you on Flickr? in reply to treesrch #
- Every now and again you stumble across a great site you wonder how you've never seen before – http://www.classyarts.com from @Classyarts #
- @treesrch Flickr is a great place to share photos with community of knowledgeable & friendly folk. Success stories – http://t.co/YqU8zzfL in reply to treesrch #
- @treesrch if it's a single image and you grant me permission, I could share it there for you on my account to see – http://t.co/Oke6pwzO in reply to treesrch #
- RT @WhatWasThere: In 1880, Broadway btwn Union & Madison Squares gets electrical lighting. 1920s/Now: http://t.co/7mqmEuBG #
- New on Flickr: With Best Wishes From The Front, Christmas 1915. Highland Casualty Clearing Station. Somewhere in… http://t.co/ZVtBkNa6 #
- Amazing picture, and the story of its discovery "League of American Wheelmen, Batlimore, Maryland 1888" http://t.co/0F0Qr3vh #
- 1.Just been followed by @sweenysdublin 2.Looked nearby Google Earth via http://t.co/uVtvqYL3 3.@NLIreland pic 1932 http://t.co/wq39G74M #
- New on Flickr: Tintype of unknown boy in tartan, possibly Quebec: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
I was ask… http://t.co/BKCnmBev #
- @treesrch Forgot to let you know, your lovely tintype is now on Flickr at http://t.co/B8LX5Cwm Everyone loves it, but no real clues yet! in reply to treesrch #
- Don't see this every day! MT @j0hncoburn An elephant ploughing a field in the English countryside. http://t.co/jQRDFdje #
Mapping Flickr Commons
Did you know that Flickr Commons, home to some of the finest images from many of the best public collections in the world, currently has 181,247 images of which 17,456 (9.6%) are geotagged?
In a review I wrote about websites and services for displaying vintage images on maps (and in mobile apps for that matter) I mentioned that there was no such thing, as far as I was aware, for displaying Flickr Commons images. Well, I felt I ought to fill that void, so I’ve spent a little time reminding myself how to write code, and learning a few new tricks along the way. Still very much work in progress, but the results so far are:
Flickr Commons on Google Earth
Google Earth is a very neat bit of software that allows you to explore the whole world in 3D. It has lots of built in stuff you can display, but you can also add your own things, through a format known as kml. So all that was needed was something that would use the excellent Flickr API and convert it into kml, and then a tool to just display what was in the current view and stop overloading everything with over 17,000 images at once.
How to view Commons images on Google Earth
First you’ll need to make sure you have Google Earth installed. Then you simply click on this link – www.whatsthatpicture.com/flickr/commons.kml – and make sure you open it in Google Earth.
Once it’s loaded you’ll get the latest 100 images from the area on view. Pan around and zoom in and out, then when you stop it will display the 100 images for that region – just give it a few seconds to fetch them. Try zooming (or ‘flying to’ as they call it) Paris, Sydney, London, New York …
Have a play and see what you think. There are also a couple of ‘hidden’ features in my code that allow the more technically savvy to filter by keyword and by Flickr Commons member institution. For example here are all the war images (just add ?q=war or whatever search term you wish), and here are all the images from the National Library of Ireland (add ?owner=47290943@N03, or the userid of one of the other 50+ Commons organisations you want – find them all in this xml)
Flickr Commons on Layar – now live
Finally, and because 90% of the work was already done, I’ve created a version that displays Commons images in the Layar augmented reality mobile phone app. Wherever you find yourself you will be able to open up the app on your smartphone and browse around you for the nearest Flickr Commons images.
I’ve submitted it for approval to Layar, and all being equal it should be available publicly in the next few days. Update 19/12: the Flickr Commons Layer is now live – http://layar.it/u3CSgE. If you open the link on a compatible smartphone* it should take you straight to the layer, or prompt you to download the app if you don’t have it installed. Any user with Layar already installed can also search for it within the public library which comprises thousands of layers worldwide.
*You’ll need a smartphone, and to install the Layar app, which is available for iPhone, Android, Symbian (Nokia) and Blackberry.
Flickr Commons custom map – coming soon
It’s very straightforward to also display the kml for Google Earth in Google Maps, giving access via a standard web browser. You just go to Google maps and paste in the address of the kml file – like this.
The user experience leaves a lot to be desired though, and I personally find it almost unusable as it jumps around a lot, and the info windows suddenly disappear.
I’m working on a custom version (screengrab of prototype shown here) which I hope will be live soon – if there are any developers with Google Maps experience reading this who’d like to lend a hand …
Feedback
These are very much ‘work in progress’ – if you spot any issues, or have any suggestions, then please leave a comment or drop a note to me.
Weekly twitter digest: 2011-12-16
- @JayneShrimpton Tram crew uniforms? That's specialist, even by your standards! in reply to JayneShrimpton #
- Absolutely – RT @annakrentz: #FF to the wonderful @2nerdyhistgirls , of course! If you don't follow them, you need to!! #
- I am flattered! Always happy to accept requests/challenges – what would you like to see next? #
- New on Flickr: Cased ambrotype of unknown gentleman: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
The final one of four … http://t.co/54Le37DJ #
- New on Flickr: Cased ambrotype of unknown gentleman – detail: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
The final one… http://t.co/AIYJ4BkT #
- New on Flickr: Case of early ambrotype: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
The final one of four cased images … http://t.co/tHrrwA73 #
- Is this image of 'wolf boy' Dina Sanichar my most plagiarised ever? http://t.co/cWBz5aQS (109 results at http://t.co/mc42o6Hj ) Ho hum! #
- Decorated Christmas tree, in this lovely 1927 interior. http://t.co/E9XTvMIc #
- A bit of fun – two bathers in this wonderful 1928 seaside photomontage http://t.co/lfTRm26D #
- @tyler_konarik If it's early 1900s, it's certainly not daguerreotypes. They're more 1850s. Send me an example and I'll identify it. in reply to tyler_konarik #
- @SonyaJMills thanks for mention. If you like old photos, follow me @Photosofthepast and you'll get a constant stream! in reply to SonyaJMills #
- @EastMarple1 what a shame the postage on these identifiable (and rather fine) 1920s wedding photos is so extortionate! http://t.co/byZfGs42 #
- @margotnote that tintype is superb – nice find. Looks like it was the ladies having all the fun though! http://t.co/Z3HUMLt9 in reply to margotnote #
- @EastMarple1 have I found something you won't sleuth?
Don't worry I hope to get back to posting more regularly this week to keep you busy in reply to EastMarple1 # - @eastmarple1 in the meantime, here's one for you (not from me though) "Massam Family Album". Nice group shots. http://t.co/uTVymR2Q #
- Superb early image of family in front of house, Rippingale, Lincolnshire http://t.co/GTRbojbl #
- @EastMarple1 That last album does in fact have some IDs. e.g. on house pic I just posted. George, Sarah, & Felix, Clara, Ernest, Robert in reply to EastMarple1 #
- Great example of a very early carte de visite, without even a studio name: "Gent with top hat, 1860s" http://t.co/HHCo8PEo #
- @HalaasK @Old_photos @Photohistory Nice idea – let's share Christmas images, and can I suggest hashtag #vintagechristmas ? in reply to HalaasK #
- Santa Claus at a tram in Stockholm 1950 #vintagechristmas http://t.co/0UWj3zds #
- Christmas 1895 – Haya Parlor at 605 Magnolia Avenue, Hyde Park: Tampa, Florida #vintagechristmas http://t.co/cng2kX5Q #
- Check out the begging cat! "Tea on the verandah of a Mount Nutt home, Bowen, Queensland, ca. 1900-1910" http://t.co/NZq0aho3 #
- A Pictoral Walking Tour of the 1893 World Columbian Exposition in Chicago http://t.co/5xockmle #
- @JayneShrimpton any thoughts on date for this intriguing wedding shot? http://t.co/5AU37EoL #
- Spotted on #Flickr wonder wedding: unexpectedtales posted a photo:
its from a CDV, date anyone ?
For many m… http://t.co/vCQsuZX9 # - Spotted on #Flickr life: unexpectedtales posted a photo:
For many more unusual, beautiful and bizarre snaps… http://t.co/GtjuXVDt #
- @HalaasK @JayneShrimpton thanks. I'll assume the end date should have read 1895
Confirms my instinct it was C19th in reply to HalaasK # - Brilliant! MT @annakrentz: Amazing RT @theretronaut New Capsule: Black Cat Auditions In Hollywood, 1961 – http://t.co/06ch3Scs #
- @JayneShrimpton Thought we'd be able to rely on you to date this wedding pic – nice discovery! @HalaaskK @HistoryFitted http://t.co/5AU37EoL in reply to JayneShrimpton #
- @JayneShrimpton Jyne, I've added a comment on the item on Flickr and duly credited you – name + link to your website & twitter in reply to JayneShrimpton #
- @JayneShrimpton I could say I was running short of characters, but the missing 'a' was just my mistake, apologies *Jayne* in reply to JayneShrimpton #
Weekly twitter digest: 2011-12-09
- Wow! "Family with Slave Nanny. Half-plate ambrotype of an antebellum family" http://t.co/R028Q5Nt #
- Another great find RT @margotnote Pets in Collections http://t.co/ql3NNckO Pets & other creatures in library, archive and museum collections #
- @margotnote check these animal pics from @annakrentz http://t.co/0jtbkUPt and these from @statelibrarynsw http://t.co/h7U7DjET #
- Possibly my favourite pet image ever? "Soldier's goodbye & Bobbie the cat, ca. 1939-ca. 1945 / by Sam Hood" http://t.co/6CCEIX2K #
- A very topical new group on Flickr "Vintage Christmas Photographs" http://t.co/2wiPRe0i #
- New on Flickr: Cased tintype – mother and baby: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Bought at auction with thre… http://t.co/KfhMQ9gh #
- New on Flickr: Cased tintype – mother and baby (sorry, poor scan!): whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Bought … http://t.co/pjepidPC #
- Damn, damn, damn, I was going to bid on this unusual CdV album. Someone got a bargain! bit.ly/vh32M2 #
- @HalaasK don't make me regret it even more – I am so annoyed with myself! If you look at the listing pics there are cabinets and CdVs. in reply to HalaasK #
- Spotted on #Flickr Selling sweet to kids, Shanghai 1900: China Postcard posted a photo:
- Great military collection online (>16,000 photos) but huge watermarks on med images?! http://t.co/RCX5aq8Y & search http://t.co/xhqVfF08 #
- Yes but haven't checked back for ages. Every town should have one! RT @bathintime: @PhotosOfThePast Have you seen this? http://www.bathintime.co.uk #
- The Dufaycolor slides from @bathintime are wonderful http://t.co/94Thp9DF My fav is the orange petrol tanker in Chester http://t.co/p73REjPW #
- Dufaycolor – an early additive four-colour photographic film process invented in 1908 for motion pictures and stills http://t.co/TduOgZa4 #
- New on Flickr: Cased tintype – mother and baby (view of full case): whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Bought … http://t.co/29a3P20v #
- New on Flickr: Cased tintype of baby (view of full case): whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Bought at auction… http://t.co/88sekl9l #
- New on Flickr: Cased tintype of baby (full image): whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Bought at auction with t… http://t.co/rpZGpvHT #
- Nice! "Catching A Shadow: Daguerreotypes in Philadelphia, 1839-1860" – great online exhibition from @librarycompany http://t.co/9XUdL7Cs #
- Should anyone want to buy me a Christmas present, this CdV of Joseph Hooker would do just fine http://t.co/55KMOxxB #ohyouspoilme #
- New on Flickr: Is this an embossed studio name? Cased tintype of baby (crop): whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
… http://t.co/P6AhvbP4 # - Some handy links for dating tintypes via @HalaasK (thanks) http://t.co/jg6bM6kK #
- Spotted on #Flickr Tintype of a Boy on a Rocking Horse: Photo_History posted a photo:
I would like to see t… http://t.co/oODtCJAa #
- New on Flickr: 1860s Carte de Visite of two small children by W Porter, Fleetwood and Blackpool: whatsthatpictur… http://t.co/P9a8FrL6 #
- Spotted on #Flickr Tintype of a Man with a High Wheel Cycle: Photo_History posted a photo:
The knee length … http://t.co/2a4vfkna #
- Can any photo sleuths identify the location of this harbour panorama from the late 1800s? http://t.co/ac1iMvmA #
- New on Flickr: Unknown harbour panorama – full image: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
The two constituent i… http://t.co/7n7iCb9E #
- New on Flickr: Unknown harbour panorama image 2: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Part of a typical 'grand t… http://t.co/ThNPNPa1 #
- New on Flickr: Unknown harbour panorama image 1: whatsthatpicture posted a photo:
Part of a typical 'grand t… http://t.co/tJAVuqYv #
- Mystery 1800s harbour panorama: Valetta? No. Marseille? No. Genoa? Spot on, solved! http://t.co/ac1iMvmA #
- Spotted on #Flickr 1939, Easter: elinor04 posted a photo:
Mum and her cousin standing in school uniforms, m… http://t.co/VZTKbmBX #
- @unmuseum what, I thought there was only one Nelson in Canada http://t.co/WTsyXqNy #
- @paulhagon thanks for the plug Paul. Yes, Flickr really is great. Have you seen http://t.co/rq3a1rqI ? in reply to paulhagon #
- Brilliant, weird, & wonderful "50 Unexplainable Black & White Photos" http://t.co/sp7qKo0H #
- @HalaasK thanks for the part you played in determining such an early date (1856-60) for this tintype of a baby http://t.co/GjUOw2wp #
- @annakrentz I see your submission of the classic @AWMemorial image to My Daguerreotype Boyfriend has proved popular! http://t.co/xzomszfC #
- @HalaasK I'd have said this frame was later – more ornate, thinner mat. I have some early ambros to upload today with much simpler frames in reply to HalaasK #
- Beautiful RT @margotnote: Daguerreotype of Dog Posing for Portrait in Photographer's Studio Chair by Rufus Anson http://t.co/vGGMPkMK #
- @margotnote A few years later and one of his doggy mates went one better with the chair posing tricks – http://t.co/7kwh1sky in reply to margotnote #
- More at http://t.co/TE0xYslc RT @JayneShrimpton @theretronaut @2nerdyhistgirls 'Parting the veil of Faery', 1890s – http://t.co/xr1ktKzd #
- New on Flickr: Ambrotype of bearded gentleman, possibly late 1850s – full case view: whatsthatpicture posted a p… http://t.co/hFSgt8FH #
- New on Flickr: Ambrotype of distinguished looking bearded gentleman, possibly late 1850s: whatsthatpicture poste… http://t.co/ye9LCqSh #
- New on Flickr: Ambrotype of bearded gentleman, possibly late 1850s – case detail: whatsthatpicture posted a phot… http://t.co/AdKumBNO #
- Spotted on #Flickr Didsbury Police Station's Early Days: Greater Manchester Police posted a photo:
This ima… http://t.co/d1E7aEKT #
- Just added 14 new groups to my Flickr 'Vintage Photographs Directory' – http://t.co/kn7gHmcF (scroll right down to see 150+ great links) #
- Spotted on #Flickr Snack Time: theirhistory posted a photo:
A large dog brings his mid morning snack outsid… http://t.co/psYTFwzN #
- Maybe this is more one for Friday afternoon, but do we care?! "Funny Found Photos" group on Flickr http://t.co/Ezrg3lGL #
- Not often I tweet a link to the Daily Mail! Tower Bridge 1890s construction photos – http://t.co/UwOhyka8 #
- Woo hoo, Happy Birthday! RT @annakrentz: In commemoration of someone's birthday (mine
) a 1930's birthday party: http://t.co/LZKvq4Cq # - Photos Of The Present! Love these modern tintypes RT @schill: Flickr Tintype Portraits (a Gallery) http://t.co/VTsQaDqo #
- @JayneShrimpton You should ask if people mind if you share their images online and showcase your service/skills … in reply to JayneShrimpton #







