RootsChat.Com
Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: bolttail on Tuesday 20 April 21 18:28 BST (UK)
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Is there anyone out there will a knowledge of historical fashion who could give me an opinion as to the approximate dates of the attached photos.
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Crickey! I'm amazed. Many thanks 'IBAGUE'
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I'd say these are late 1860s/early 1870s.
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The one of her is mid-late 1870's.
No reason to believe the one of him isn't the same.
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My concern about these being later than mid 1870s is the card stock. The square corners and the rather simple stamp/style of the name and place of the photographer seems more early 70s than later.
It would be best if we could see the backs.
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I would have gone earlier because of the square corners too, but agree that the backs would help.
Carol
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I based the date on her bodice style which is mid-late decade
but I agree seeing all of it + the back would help.
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Many thanks folks. I'd also like to see the backs, but nobody seems to know where the originals are, or even if they still exist. I have done some more research and discovered that Cleopas Harris originally ran the photography business in Merthyr Tydfil with his partner, John Jones. The partnership was dissolved in 1871 and from then on traded as Harris & Co. Looking at newspapers held by the National Library of Wales, it appears that his son George Frederick Harris became a partner in or about December 1877 when he would have just become 21. From then on the business traded as Harris.Son & Co. Robert Dodds Scott, the man purported to appear in the photograph, died in 1873, so it seems that he can't be the man depicted. However, he did have two grandchildren named Robert Dodd(s) Scott, so there may be some confusion regarding identification.
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They look to be around the 65/70 mark so a couple
born around 1805-10 I would think.
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They look to be around the 65/70 mark so a couple
born around 1805-10 I would think.
So that would make the photos 1870-1875.
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I see that bolttail has given a date of about 1802 for Robert:
Attached are two photographs which purport to be of Robert Dodds Scott, born Ancrum, Roxburghshire, Scotland, in about 1802, and his wife, Dinah Edwards. Robert spent almost his entire adult life in the Merthyr Tydfil/Llancarfan area.
I'll check to see if he's on SP.
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The poster said that the photographer became Harris, Son & Co.
in 1877 so that makes it mid-late.
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Census info
Robert 48 and Dina 49 on the 1851; 58 and 60 on the 1861; 69 and 71 on the 1871
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They had a son John, b.c 1821-16.
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I knew I'd seen the names before.
This is their back in the early 1880s
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=433031.msg2973644#msg2973644
Also, from the OP of that thread:
I would welcome any suggestions as to a possible date for this (as yet) unidentified ancestor. The photo was taken by Harris, Son & Co at 88 High Street, Merthyr. Investigation suggests that they were trading from that address up until 1895/1898 as in an 1899 directory they have moved to 13 High Street. I'm uncertain when they began trading out of 88 High Street but they are listed there in a directory for 1875. !
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Sorry about this - I'm trying to work out who this is if it's not Robert Dodds Scott.
I've used the photo from the other thread for comparison purposes. Although there are similarities, I'm not sure that they are the same. There's roughly 20 years difference between the two pics.
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There's no problem with the history of Robert Dodds Scott. Born about 1802 in Ancrum, Roxburghshire. Moved to Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, Wales, when he was about 20 and married Dinah Edwards. The couple lived in several places including Merthyr, Llanfabon, Troedyrhiw, and Nelson. Robert died in 1873 aged about 70 and Dinah died in 1888 aged about 97. I have been recently supplied with two sets of photos. Both purport to be of Robert and Dinah. I'm not convinced that the photos depict the same couple. (Other set - see Robert Dodds Scott and his wife.2). I posted in the hope of getting some idea as to roughly when each set of photos was taken. I thought the (1) set were much later than is being suggested, but if you're looking for a person who knows absolutely nothing about Victorian fashion or photography, it's me.
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I think we are trying to help you decide whether they are the same couple. I have referred to your other post and also to other photos by the same photographer to attempt to get a close date.
Clothing is not the only way of dating a photograph. For example, the mount - note that these have squared corners but the link that I gave were curved. The curved ones were dated 1880. curved edges became popular in the early 1870s
I don't think that the men are the same.
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Many thanks 'Gadget' for all your input. It is much appreciated. I think you are right. These images don't seem to be the same man, even though I'd very much like them to be. The time period your suggesting does work for the man concerned. The man in image 1 has a seriously injured right hand. Unfortunately, the man in image 2 has his right hand inside his coat. This could be to hide an embarrassment, or it could be just a pose.
My best hope is that someone recognises either or both of these images. Ever the optimist.
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These photographs are marked as being the work of Harris Son & Co., Merthyr.
Looking at old newspaper notices and adverts, the firm appears to have traded under the name Harris & Co. from 1871 to December 1877. From 1878 it traded under the name Harris Son & Co.
Robert Dodds Scott (born about 1802, Ancrum) died in 1873.
It would appear that the photo alleged to be RDS was therefore taken sometime after his death.
If anyone knows the identity of the man shown, please let me know. He's almost certainly a Scott from the Merthyr Tydfil area of Glamorgan, Wales.
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I gave Robert a light clean for you, he was looking a bit tired :D
Carol
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and Dinah couldn't be left out :D
Carol
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That brilliant. They both needed a spruce up. Thank you very much.
If you could get them to talk that would be great. I need to ask them some questions.
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Aw sorry, my crystal ball is packed ::) ;D ;D
Glad you like them, they are worth saving.
Carol