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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: GaznDon on Thursday 06 May 21 20:21 BST (UK)
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Hi,
I'd like to ask for some help in dating this photograph, please. It says 'Post Card' and 'British Made' on the reverse.
I think the photo may be of my gg-aunt, although I don't know for definite. She lived from 1887-1925.
Many thanks in advance. :)
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I would say 1920s
Carol
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So - maybe not who you think it is?
- I think she looks younger than 30+ doesn't she?? :-\ :-\
Wiggy
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Thank you Carol, I was unsure but thinking somewhere between 1920s and 1940s..... so yes Wiggy, that means it's unlikely to be the person I thought it might be. Never mind!
The mystery continues.....
GaznDon
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I have a very similiar photo of my mother taken in about 1942, she was born in 1921.
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Thank you Maid of Kent - much appreciated. :)
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Having had a look at women's coats online, I think it's more likely to be 1940s than 1930s. The trench coat style was apparently popular in the 1940s. The coats in the 1930s seem longer and more likely to have a flair or pleats - whereas the coat this lady is wearing seems like quite a straight simple cut.
I think this website focuses on American fashions rather than British but it gives an indication.
https://vintagedancer.com/1940s/1940s-coats-women/
You have to scroll down quite a bit on this second link for the 1930s coats.
https://vintagedancer.com/1930s/women-1930s-fashion/
Of course, it's not an exact science. Could have been an old coat, or a very new coat, or just what the person had access to?
Hope you find out the answer!
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After taking a closer look, if it was 1940s I would expect the coat to be shorter, but it could be 1930s.
I have said many times before on here that there are many factors affecting the fashion of the day and that dating old photo is not an exact science. Hand-me-downs,home made or altered garments to create a different look or whether clothes worn are up to date. Materials were in short supply for some time after the first and second war wars. Also the social background of the wearer.
Carol
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I think is probalby 1930s rather than 1940s.
This is a tiny pic from 1837:
http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~victorianphotographs/history/date/a1937.htm
and one from 1933:
http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~victorianphotographs/history/date/a1933.htm
Longer coats/dresses appeared post WW2. Earlier 40s clothes were short because of rationing - see
http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~victorianphotographs/history/date/a1943.htm
Gadget
PS - I'm sure I had a similar styled coat in the early 1970s (post mini ;D)
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I think the coat style is very generic and most likely seen over different decades. Here is one similar from the 1930s. The style of photo I feel doesn't fit with 1940s. these ladies coats are similar.
Carol
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I agree, Carol - my previous links have some examples of the type of hemlines over the 20s-40s period. My fashion dating books also confirm.
Further, the background is suggestive of 20s-30s. I've never seen that background used later than early-mid 30s. The more I look at it, the background is as much a clue as the coat style.
Stanwix's mother's coat is likely to have been a carry over from the 30s.
Gadget
Added - because of teh background, I'm starting to wonder if it could be just post WW1 - early 1920s now ::)
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Thank you so much everyone, for your interesting and helpful replies.
Even if I never find out who it is, at least I feel like I've learned something, which could be of help in future research. 😊