A Challenge, me thinks!

[Gravy]

I have recently discovered this photograph in very poor shape which is the only one of my Gt Gt Grandfather William b.1836 and wife Mary with one of their daughters.  It must have been taken before 1883 when Mary died aged 48.  It seems a bit unusual as the reverse is plain with no indication of the photographer/studio - does that mean it was a copy I wonder.

It would be so good if this could be restored to a point of seeing William's face more clearly and then hopefully get a reasonably accurate fix on the date when it was taken.  Hopefully I can establish which one of the daughters was in the studio.

I've really struggled to date the clothing that's being worn - a 15 year spread is all I can do.  I wonder if anyone can do a little better?

[miagre1]

Hello Gravy,

Removed a lot of luminence noise.

Best regards George

[mudge]

me thinks as well 
Mudge

[genie.fan]

Best I could do

[old rowley]

Hi Gravy,

The best that I can come up with is a date line for the last eight years of Mary's life, this being 1875 to 1883. Sadly there is not much to go on in this photograph for me to date it properly by but with the style of hair that the woman has, the length and form of the sleeving to her bodice and the over all pose of all in the study I would go with the date line I have given. The only thing that I can say about the male is that the whiskers that he is seen sporting were known as a "Newgate Frill". Sorry...not much help I'm afraid but hope it helps anyway.

old rowley

[Gravy]

Thank you everyone for the help you've given me.  It's very impressive how you've managed to get rid of a lot of the noise, I didn't think for one moment that it would be easy.

So, William was sporting a "Newgate Frill", not fox-fur on his coat collar!  I'm slightly surprised beards were tolerated where he worked - the Huntley & Palmer's biscuit factory.  I can imagine a few customers finding a bonus hair when they opened their packets of digestive creams.   

Not that I'm at all good at guessing people's ages, but the little girl looks to me to be aged around 8.  Being there is only one child in the photo, I imagine it to be the youngest who was Edith born 1872.  This would make the photo to have been taken say 1879/80, with William aged 44 and Mary 45.

Thanks again everyone.
Gravy