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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: Whipby on Tuesday 13 February 18 14:29 GMT (UK)
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Hi folks
I wonder whether anyone could enhance this photograph enough for me to be able to read the sign above the workshop door?
I don't have the original, nor any way to re-scan - this is all I have, unfortunately.
Would anyone care to take up the challenge?!
Many thanks in anticipation.
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I have tried but unfortunately I have had no success.
Pat
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Sorry, I can't work it out either. Have posted a couple of attempts, with large and small versions (sometimes you can see it better from further away). Perhaps from local knowledge and the few discernible letters someone might be able to work it out.
Cheers, Peter
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If I stare at this any longer I shall go into a trance........trance.........trance
Giggsy
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I keep seeing Mason at the end
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Well I did wonder about that Gadget....Gadget......Gadget
Giggsy
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When I first downloaded it and played with it, I thought it read The Freemasons Inn but it's a workshop ???
;D
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Hi Whipby
Do you know who the people were? Is that a carriage to the right of the picture? Any idea what business it was?
Just giving you something to do why we continue to ponder!
Giggsy
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I keep seeing The Coachman...but not sure. I feel like I have seen this one before?
Carol
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I thought mason at the end, but there seems so be an extra letter mas?on.
I keep putting my glasses on and standing back from the screen, it does make it a bit clearer, but as yet I am up and down like a yo yo and getting nowhere ;D
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Could it be waggon at the end?
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Firstly, thank you everyone who has replied, enhanced the pic and tried to help! Much appreciated.
I may well have posted this pic before, a few years ago (it's part of a larger photo and I may have posted the whole thing at the time). So some people might have seen it before.
It's a photo from the family of a lady whose family tree I was helping to research. She was told it was a workshop - it may not be. She didn't know for certain who the people are, but was hoping that the man in the doorway was one of her ancestors. And yes, that's a carriage, or a waggon of some sort, at the side, not hitched up.
The ancestor was called George Chapman, and his son Henry Chapman. George was a joiner and Henry a builder and we know they had a business in Middlesbrough. They were pretty well to do. George was the man who built the first house in Middlesbrough, and Henry was a town councillor.
So I was hoping that the sign might contain the name Chapman! I'm afraid I can't remember what was decided in the previous posting of the pic, and I can't find it, if indeed I did post it here 😳.
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George was the man who built the first house in Middlesbrough
Surely there were houses in Middlesbrough before the advent of photgraphy ???
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I feel like I have seen this one before?
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=641659.msg4885321#msg4885321
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The first house was built in 1830, Gadget. But - forgive me - I don't understand your point?
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I feel like I have seen this one before?
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=641659.msg4885321#msg4885321
Thank you JenB!
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There were settlements there before 1830.
I think the photo might be dated circa 1900 +/- 10 and the man in the photo would surely not be around in 1830.
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You're right, there was a farmhouse there and the odd workers's cottage. But the first house of the new town of Middlesbrough was built in 1830.
I was hoping the photo was from the 1870s, when George was still around, or from the 1880s/90s, when Henry was still around. However, we have a copy of a portrait of George, and a copy of a photo of Henry, and it's difficult to discern any resemblance between either of them and the older man standing in the doorway.
I don't know when Henry died, however. If the photo was much later, in the 1920s, say, it's still remotely possible to be him, although I'd doubt it.
It may be someone else from the family of course, or someone else entirely!
Thanks for your thoughts! 😊
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I thought I had seen it before.
Carol
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You have good memories! I couldn't even remember whether I'd posted it 😂
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You have good memories! I couldn't eve remember whether I'd posted it 😂
I knew I'd seen it before. I just searched 'workshop' and your username and found it immediately :)
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I never thought of that 😳
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George is retired in 1871 aged 72 and Henry is employing 10 men and 3 boys aged 28 by 1861.
Jennifer
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Even with eye strain I don't see "Coachman".
The streak down the signage isn't very helpful in determining whether the L.H. side of the sign has one or two words. Maybe two surnames of a partnership perhaps, but who knows. I'm pretty sure the first letter of the first word is a large "H"(Hire?)
The proprietor at the end of the sign looks to be an "F.Chapman"
Does any of the Middlesbrough trade directories give any clues?
How many years would it take for rambling flora to fully cover a roof? It looks to have been there for many decades.
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Apologies Rena, I've only just seen your reply, thank you.
I don't think I'll ever be able to figure out who this man is because the sign is so difficult to read. When I look at it, I think I can see Chapman, but that might be because that's what I want to see 😳
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Isaac chapman? or Mason
havent read other replies.. just decided to have a quick look
xin
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What country is the photo supposed to be taken in? It could be that it's not in English. Looks like it ends in "Masnān"
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Thanks Xin and DrDude45 - not 100% sure of the location, but in theory it should be England. Could be Middlesbrough or possibly Piercebridge, both NE England.
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Hi, Had a go at this, I did see Chapman straight away (must have been sitting at the right angle ::) )
but the rest at the beginning...........I'll try again later.
Terry
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hello Terry xxx well done you
xin
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Hi Xin :)
Just got lucky, eyesight just seemed to hone in :o ;D ;D Hope you're doing ok and still loving the seaside. :-*
Terry
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xxx
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Thanks Terry. What did you do to the photo to show the name?
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Looking at the original posting, I wonder if the coach in that picture could be a horse drawn hearse.
Just the style of the lamps and footrest has me thinking that way. It is just a thought, which if shot down will be no suprise.
AC
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Not at all, you could well be right 😊