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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: BenRalph on Wednesday 19 September 18 06:33 BST (UK)

Title: Help with any [guessed] info on this picture
Post by: BenRalph on Wednesday 19 September 18 06:33 BST (UK)
I've always been very interested in this photo since I was a child. It was in a box of old photos of my great grandma's and I can't recall (if I was ever told any) any details of it.

It's not a regular photo. It's more of a negative type print which is about 2mm thick.

I'd love to know more info to hopefully be able to narrow down who it could be. Sorry that it's low quality. The photo is quite damaged.

Title: Re: Help with any [guessed] info on this picture
Post by: Treetotal on Wednesday 19 September 18 10:49 BST (UK)
Could be 1930s.
Carol
Title: Re: Help with any [guessed] info on this picture
Post by: BenRalph on Wednesday 19 September 18 11:00 BST (UK)
I was thinking the start of the 1900s but know nothing to help date photos. I always thought it was two women but I think that's a man riding the bike.

Thanks for the suggestion.
Title: Re: Help with any [guessed] info on this picture
Post by: groom on Wednesday 19 September 18 11:12 BST (UK)
I was thinking the start of the 1900s but know nothing to help date photos. I always thought it was two women but I think that's a man riding the bike.

Thanks for the suggestion.

I think it's a woman on the bike - the hat looks as if it has decoration on it. Also it looks more like a dress than jacket and shirt.
Title: Re: Help with any [guessed] info on this picture
Post by: Treetotal on Wednesday 19 September 18 11:17 BST (UK)
I was thinking the start of the 1900s but know nothing to help date photos. I always thought it was two women but I think that's a man riding the bike.

Thanks for the suggestion.

I think it's a woman on the bike - the hat looks as if it has decoration on it. Also it looks more like a dress than jacket and skirt.


I agree, two women. Just to see it better.

Carol
Title: Re: Help with any [guessed] info on this picture
Post by: Creasegirl on Wednesday 19 September 18 17:00 BST (UK)
Looks like motorbike and other woman on sidecar.  Maybe 1920s
Title: Re: Help with any [guessed] info on this picture
Post by: Treetotal on Wednesday 19 September 18 17:10 BST (UK)
Looks like motorbike and other woman on sidecar.  Maybe 1920s

I would expect them to be wearing cloche hats it if was 1920s but agree with motor bike and sidecar.
Carol
Title: Re: Help with any [guessed] info on this picture
Post by: familydar on Wednesday 19 September 18 17:13 BST (UK)
The woman on the bike seems to be sitting quite low, making me think it's what is known as a saddle tank, which hugs the frame tube rather than slung beneath or perching on top of it.  Also it looks like an acetylene rather than electric light.  So bike must be post 1928 mid 1920s (I think that's when saddle tanks came in), acetylene lighting remained popular for many years after that even though the new-fangled electrickery was available.  Lights were an optional extra!

Could it be continental or US?  Chair is on the "wrong" side.

Jane :-)
Title: Re: Help with any [guessed] info on this picture
Post by: groom on Wednesday 19 September 18 18:49 BST (UK)
Quote
Could it be continental or US?  Chair is on the "wrong" side.

Jane :-)

Well spotted, unless the print has been reversed.
Title: Re: Help with any [guessed] info on this picture
Post by: Treetotal on Wednesday 19 September 18 19:13 BST (UK)
Quote
Could it be continental or US?  Chair is on the "wrong" side.

Jane :-)

Well spotted, unless the print has been reversed.


I suspect it has been reversed too Jan.
Carol
Title: Re: Help with any [guessed] info on this picture
Post by: BenRalph on Wednesday 19 September 18 19:25 BST (UK)
Thanks for all the responses so far everyone.

I would think this is 95% a reversed image as I don't know anybody connected to this part of the family that'd send them a picture from USA or Europe.

Doesn't he lady's shoes help at all in dating it? It's not clear but they look like big feet for a woman.

Any guesses at the ages also?
Title: Re: Help with any [guessed] info on this picture
Post by: BenRalph on Wednesday 19 September 18 19:32 BST (UK)
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/727061/Vintage-motorbikes-sidecars-auctioned-for-50000

could it be one of these models?
Title: Re: Help with any [guessed] info on this picture
Post by: groom on Wednesday 19 September 18 20:13 BST (UK)
I was also trying to work out whether she was wearing trousers, if so would that help with dating?
Title: Re: Help with any [guessed] info on this picture
Post by: Greensleeves on Wednesday 19 September 18 20:35 BST (UK)
Here's the image reversed.  Looks like our motor-cyclists might be wearing trousers, and a long coat.
Title: Re: Help with any [guessed] info on this picture
Post by: Gadget on Wednesday 19 September 18 20:41 BST (UK)
Just a thought ~

I have a pic of my Mother and her sister on a motor bike/sidecar combination with backdrop  taken in a studio circa late 1920s - early 1930s.

Could this have been taken in a similar photo studio set?

Gadget
Title: Re: Help with any [guessed] info on this picture
Post by: BenRalph on Wednesday 19 September 18 20:46 BST (UK)
Just a thought ~

I have a pic of my Mother and her sister on a motor bike/sidecar combination with backdrop  taken in a studio circa late 1920s - early 1930s.

Could this have been taken in a similar photo studio set?

Gadget
I also have a photo from another branch that have this type of photo. I automatically thought the same.

I thought the lady on the bike looked to be in her 50s. I can't imagine a lady of that age in trousers in that period though.

I must say, they both look thrilled to be there.
Title: Re: Help with any [guessed] info on this picture
Post by: Greensleeves on Wednesday 19 September 18 20:47 BST (UK)
To be honest, Gadget, I've been wondering the same thing - I am sure shots like this would have been very popular at the sea-side!
Title: Re: Help with any [guessed] info on this picture
Post by: BenRalph on Wednesday 19 September 18 20:53 BST (UK)
I know that everyone thinks the person on the bike is a woman but could it be the man in this photo? And the sidecar lady the lady on the right? The boy was born in 1927.
Title: Re: Help with any [guessed] info on this picture
Post by: groom on Wednesday 19 September 18 21:00 BST (UK)
Looks similar, but the person on the bike isn't dressed as a man - hat with decoration, long coat, low neck rather than a shirt and tie. Unless he's in fancy dress!
Title: Re: Help with any [guessed] info on this picture
Post by: Greensleeves on Wednesday 19 September 18 21:15 BST (UK)
I think cross-dressing was frowned upon in those days, unless of course they were theatricals!
Title: Re: Help with any [guessed] info on this picture
Post by: groom on Wednesday 19 September 18 21:17 BST (UK)
I think cross-dressing was frowned upon in those days, unless of course they were theatricals!

 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Help with any [guessed] info on this picture
Post by: Gadget on Wednesday 19 September 18 21:43 BST (UK)
I think cross-dressing was frowned upon in those days, unless of course they were theatricals!

I'm not sure of that because I remember a pic of same aunty acting a male part in an am-dram play around the same time.

I wish I could find it. I recall that my Mother was in female clothing though!

 ;D
Title: Re: Help with any [guessed] info on this picture
Post by: Treetotal on Wednesday 19 September 18 22:30 BST (UK)
See my post that I have raised titled "Auntie in Drag"  ;D Can't post a link from the iPad. I have another photo of a relative dressed as a sailor.
Carol
Title: Re: Help with any [guessed] info on this picture
Post by: Gadget on Wednesday 19 September 18 22:32 BST (UK)
See my post that I have raised titled "Auntie in Drag"  ;D Can't post a link from the iPad.
Carol

On laptop so here's the link:

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=199571.0


 ;D
Title: Re: Help with any [guessed] info on this picture
Post by: Treetotal on Wednesday 19 September 18 22:33 BST (UK)
Thanks Gadget...she was a bit of a comedian  ;D
Carol
Title: Re: Help with any [guessed] info on this picture
Post by: Greensleeves on Wednesday 19 September 18 22:56 BST (UK)
I think the female to male impersonations were generally regarded as fun, whereas men had more difficulty getting away with it,  unless they dressed as a pantomime dame or Charley's Aunt.....   ;D

Great photo there, Carol and Gadget!
Title: Re: Help with any [guessed] info on this picture
Post by: Treetotal on Wednesday 19 September 18 23:06 BST (UK)
I posted one on here some time ago with the title "Is this for real" or something similar of a mock wedding where both men and women were dressed as the opposite sex  ;D
Carol
Title: Re: Help with any [guessed] info on this picture
Post by: Jool on Wednesday 19 September 18 23:08 BST (UK)
The motorbike couple do look very similar to the couple posted in reply #17.  I wonder if they just swapped hats or even hats and coats for a fun photo at the seaside.

I have a late 1920s family photo of 6 men and boys who all swapped hats for a seaside photo.
Title: Re: Help with any [guessed] info on this picture
Post by: BenRalph on Thursday 20 September 18 07:06 BST (UK)
The motorbike couple do look very similar to the couple posted in reply #17.  I wonder if they just swapped hats or even hats and coats for a fun photo at the seaside.
They look to be having the time of their lives on that bike!

That hat on the woman does look to be a bowler hat type. If it's the couple in the second photo, there's a 18 year age gap between them.