A J MacEach(e)/(a)n - Identify Dress/Uniform, Date, Age & Restore please?

[Treetotal]

Do you know if he had any Brothers Annie...as Gadget inferred, it's a bit of a stretch, if it was taken in the early 1880s that would make him 36/7ish.
Carol

[Rosinish]

My first impression was Railway Worker.

The family were Crofters on the Isle of South Uist...

I have 3 brothers b 1888 - 1963, 1890 - 1914 (AJ) & 1891 - 1915 all Seamen

Parents married 1886, father a Crofter

Annie

[Trishanne]

I've tried to restore this existing copy, but you will get much better results with a better copy.
Pat

[Rosinish]

Thanks Trishanne, I can see how a better scan would be easier to work with.

I will try to get an email address for the chap soon & I'll send the copies from here to show what can be done & I'm sure he'll oblige.

Thinking I will wait a few days when the holiday period is done.

Annie

Add...I think he looks older in this one than the original?

[Ruskie]

Carol and Gadget might know the answer to this -:

Would you expect his feet to be “cut off” in a studio portrait?

I think I can see an edge of the photo at the bottom so I am wondering if this postcard has been mounted which is why the feet are not visible.

It maybe something you could ask the owner Annie?

Another think to consider Annie, is that this photo may be of someone from the other side of the owner’s family.

[Gadget]

It certainly is missing the border at the bottom, which the other 3 sides have. However, I have seen quite a few photos of this type which have feet missing from the image.

[Rosinish]

I think it's possible the version I have has been cropped a tad although I don't really know?

I will be sure to ask about absolutely everything including the surrounding/outside frame, the back & to tilt for any markings on the front.

Annie

[Ruskie]

It certainly is missing the border at the bottom, which the other 3 sides have. However, I have seen quite a few photos of this type which have feet missing from the image.

Thanks Gadget. 

It’s an interesting photo Annie. I hope your contact can answer all of y/our questions. I look forward to finding out more about this sad chap.

[Rosinish]

I'm more concerned it's not who was 1st thought...how do I word such without offending 

I have a few days to think about it!

Edit...Knowing it's working clothes & not a uniform, I'm hoping the chap does know for sure it's AJ & the clothes were just old ones belonging to his father being used?

Annie